Your tour takes place along the U St corridor, which is rich with DC flavors & history. Making stops at several local restaurants for tastings, which are plentiful, you'll hear about the evolution of the area, including events, historic venues, architecture, and street art. Over the course of the experience, you'll walk about 1.5 miles, enjoy plenty of food for lunch, and learn about this iconic, off the beaten path neighborhood that has played a significant role in DC and American history.
What a wonderful and fun tour. Ellen from Blue Fern Travel was very knowledgeable and friendly and just a joy to learn from. We tried food we’d never would of and it was a pleasure seeing all the history and local culture.
The tour was great and the food choices were really good. Our guide was friendly, knowledgeable, and shared a lot of interesting history about the neighborhood. My only complaint is that the pace was a little too slow for me. I would have preferred to move along a bit quicker between stops.
Had a great time! The history lesson along with the food was awesome! Highly recommend!!
It was a safe, interesting and well planned tour. Kyle was wonderful. The food was delicious. My sister recommended it to her friends coming next month.
Neka was an amazing and engaged tour lead. The tour was chock full of delicious food and a wealth of information at a very fair price. The biggest “wow” was my husband and I were the only to sign up, and the tour ran as scheduled. We’ve booked with other operators who have disappointingly cancelled.
Oir tourguide, Soneka was excellent! She was personable, knowledgeable and upbeat. We hit some really good spots that introduced new cuisines. Def a must do!!
My friend and I were lucky in that we were the only ones signed up for the tour so we received an excellent private tour. The guide was friendly and very knowledgeable. I left full from the food and great conversation.
We ate some yummy food and learned some unique history of DC that isn’t as commonly known. We have done food tours in many cities across the US, Canada, and Europe, and this was probably our least favorite experience we have had - there was nothing bad, but we feel we have gotten more food options from other tours. It also didn’t feel as organized as other tours we have been on. We got chili cheese dogs at Ben’s chili bowl and a bag of ruffles chips. Then we next stopped over an hour later at an Ethiopian restaurant, which was delicious but maybe an awkward choice for a food tour, since we eat the injera with our hands and there was one serving for our group to share. A bit strange for everyone’s fingers to be on the food that we are all eating! Then we finished with a delicious pastry dessert and then went next door for some Indian ice cream. We are glad we did the tour, as we did learn some new info and got to explore an area of DC that isn’t part of the main tourist areas of the city. Our just, Vanessa, was very knowledgeable and friendly.
Really enjoyed the pastelitos at Colada Shop. Highly recommend you try the guava cheese ones. Fun way to spend an afternoon. Our guide Vanesa was very personable.
Jenn was a great guide who balanced the history of this interesting area and stories with delicious food. The tour was relaxed and well paced with just enough food, and time to chat with her and others on the tour. We particularly enjoyed the famous hotdogs, and the Ethiopian experience. We would highly recommend this tour.
Generally, weaving histoical underpinnings of the neighborhood together with the food samplings. Ethiopian food stop was a new experience for me and my spouse and we really enjoyed it. Also the portions were ample!
Our tour guide was punctual and personable. Apart from that, this tour was not worth the cost. It's ridiculous and unsanitary to expect a group of strangers to share a plate of food that you eat with your hands. And Jenny's Ice Cream as a tour stop? I just don't feel like we got to experience the culinary richness of U Street. This tour needs to be reorganized.
We had a great tour with Jim! Loved hearing about the history of the U Street Neighborhood. Delicious food. Large servings so bring an appetite!
As a DC local, I wholeheartedly recommend this guided food tour! It offers a fascinating insight into the rich history and transformation of U St, helping you understand its vibrant character today. The tour includes stops at four diverse restaurants, showcasing American, Ethiopian, Cuban cuisines, and ending with a delightful dessert. Our guide, Vanesa, was incredibly knowledgeable and approachable, eagerly answering questions and engaging with everyone. The walking route is mostly flat and covers just a few blocks, making it accessible for all ages. It truly offers a delightful experience with something for everyone to enjoy!
The guide was fabulous, and the history was outstanding. The food was so-so - 4 stops with one being a regular ice cream store. Interesting foods, but not always tasty.
Such a great tour. We ate at 4 different unique restaurants and had a comprehensive tour of the U street area! Sanika and Vanesa were amazing tour guides. Super informative and fun.
1. Great food. Half-smokes were my favorite. My wife leaned towards the pastelitos. 2. Excellent tour guide in Rasheed - he was highly knowledgeable and shared a ton of local history and personal experiences with us. 3. Very cool area to walk around and learn about the food and culture. Overall great tour - THANKS!
Loved the story telling and the deep learning every step of the way. Not only did we get the opportunity to taste the culture we were learning about but we truly felt like we walked away with more knowledge than we signed up for
The food tour with Blue Fern Travel was amazing! My boyfriend and I were extremely pleased with our tour guide Jim’s knowledge of the community, his personal stories about experiences he’d had in the U Street Corridor, as well as his desire to ensure we had a fantastic experience. We visited four selectively chosen spots that did not disappoint. This tour was certainly a focus on Quality vs Quantity; and my boyfriend and I were not disappointed. Our favorite stop was an Ethiopian cafe that is sure to please all. It was our first Ethiopian dining experience, even though we live in Houston, Texas and can easily access Ethiopian cuisine. The presentation of the food, cleanliness of the cafe, and eclectic spices used in the dish made our experience one to remember. You too will enjoy it. Ben’s Chili Bowl, and Colada were also superb. However, our last stop was Jeni’s Ice Cream, and it was the perfect finish. This ice cream was served in a warm waffle cone and made every bite worth the time we plan to spend in the gym working it off! Absolutely fantastic tour! We recommend this tour with Blue Fern Travel. You will enjoy it!
I felt that the amount of walking was just right, and everyone was happy with the amount of food. Would have loved to learn more about the food itself. The cost of this tour is a bit high but the company is ethical and approaching things the right way so we're happy to support them.
The tour is a little light. Would enjoy *more* info about neighborhood history, what was going on in the U.S. in general at that time, additional mural visits (I think we visited 2), just more in depth info. Guide was nice and fun, however. We did 4 food stops. First two are neighborhood establishments (savory). Second two (dessert) seemed to be chains? Disappointed compared to other foodie tours we've taken, but we would still recommend to friends.
Pleasantly full is how I feel having just spent the afternoon in the U Street corridor with Jim. A food tour is never just about the food, and wow does this tour deliver. Get ready for a dive into the complex and beautiful story about U Street/ Black Broadway, the complex cycle of urban flight and regentrification, and the efforts of African American soldiers in the civil war. You will emerge knowing more about the city than you entered, and will have munched your way through it all. Arrive with an empty stomach, the first two stops serve full portions (and you will not finish the food at stop two…you just can’t). Starting a Ben’s Chili bowl, then traversing from its Trinidadian roots to Ethiopian cuisine is a culinary adventure. Also, any food tour that begins by giving you a full bottle of water warms my heart right away, and that will get you through stops 1 and 2, with a glass of water meeting you at stop 3 where you journey will evolve from savory to sweet. You’ll leave with a new friend (seriously, he told us to save his number and let him know how our food adventures go from here) and a list of Jim’s favorite DC area restaurants. We will definitely be looking for him on his Georgetown tour in the future.
The black history of the region was very interesting. It was a vibrant community with the blacks helping blacks. Then the riots happened and ruined a good community. We felt like it wasn’t a good value because the food did not justify the high cost. I understand the Ben’s is historical but half smoked dog, bottled water and a bag of chips wasn’t that good. Ethiopian Food and Cuban pastries were thoroughly enjoyed by all. The ice cream was ice cream , not really historical or ethnic.
Sonata was terrific guide--full of historical info and fun facts. In addition to great food, we heard a wonderful series of stories from the African American Civil War historian. Ethiopian food was my highlight, along with amazing history of Ben's Chili Bowl.
The information and food experiences of the local community was very good. Telling the truth is important. It was nice to be in a small group with others interested in African American people and their communities.
The good parts: enthusiastic guide, several fascinating historical sites still in operation, we joined the tour of an in-uniform Civil War soldier who was VERY informative and engaging. Less good: a lot of walking without any context, not a well-focused talk, and there should have been small samples (there was too much food) at the food establishments which would have allowed for quicker time in the restaurants and the tour could have then been shorter. Maybe lunch at Ben’s could have been an hour into the tour, rather than right at the beginning.
Rasheed was a engaging, lively host. Warm, welcoming, personable and funny. Good humoured and knowledgeable. We loved the food and could've gone on all day.
A great walk around this area, rich in history, with our knowledgeable guide! The half smoke at Ben’s, the Ethiopian food, the Cuban pastries and ice cream were all fantastic! Do not eat before, plenty of food!
This tour was disappointing. The tour had very little to do about food. The agenda was focused on the guide's beliefs about her culture more than an enjoyable learning experience about food culture. It was an expensive few hours that should have been fun.
The U Street Food and Street Art Tour was the trip of a lifetime! U Street, known as Black Broadway, has a rich cultural heritage unknown to most Americans. Many of America’s beloved musical and stage personalities got their start on U Street. Sampling the food of different countries was amazing! Even more AMAZING was learning history through foods. Our guide was personable, and passionate about sharing the history of U Street. She knew her stuff! If you are in DC, get off the beaten monument path, and travel to U Street! Well worth the price of admission! Two thumbs up!👍🏻 👍🏻
My family and I really enjoyed this tour! We were able to recieve a great history lesson, eat great food and exercise all in one tour! We had the best tour guide...Soneka! She did an amazing job! She has a plethora of knowledge, making the tour super fun and worth it! She also made sure we learned a lot, we ate good and we were pleasantly full! Book the tour, you won't regret it!
The overall experience was enjoyable. The food was decent-I’ve been on foodie tours in other cities and we got smaller tastes at many more locations, which gives you a wider exposure to different foods. Our guide was interesting and very helpful.
Our tour guide, Soneta, was well versed on the history in and around the U Street area. The stop selection was perfect. Ben’s chili bowl AND the Ethiopian restaurants serve up full portions, so start your tour with an appetite! Personally, I think there should be less history and more local food stops, but less food overall. Like, sample size tastings at 5 places. Everyone knows what opinions are like!!! Ha!
The soldiers wall and the history behind it. Learning about the 4 Ls. The food was very good I loved the Cuban food. I think soul food would have been a better choice going forward.
Learning history of the U Street area. The residents supported each other such as opening a bank to provide loans for new businesses to establish themselves and build the community.
We had an excellent experience with this tour. Our guide, Jim, simply did an outstanding job walking us through the U Street corridor and telling about the area’s rich history. Four great food stops added to an already terrific time.
The food, history, and street art tour was a great time!! Jim was an excellent tour guide. I highly recommend the experience.
Soneka was friendly and full of interesting information about the U Street area of DC both historical and current. Tried a variety of interesting and delicious foods along the way. Glad we were able to get a glimpse of this rich part of DC. Maybe more expensive than like tours but part of the proceeds are given back to the local area. (PS - water is provided and make sure you start with an empty stomach)!
We loved the food at each stop on the tour and hearing about the local history. My partner said the chili dog at Ben’s is the best he’s ever had!
this was an incredible tour! The food was good and I appreciate the knowledge gained about the neighborhood!
Fantastic afternoon exploring and learning about U Street from the Civil war era to today with our fun and knowledgeable tour guide Soneka. Loved every one of the tastings which were generous and satisfying, but not overwhelming. We are avid walking food tour fans for exploring cities around the world. U Street was one of our favorites. We live nearby in MD and can’t wait to do it again when bringing future guests to DC
The tour with Jim was more than we expected. We couldn't have asked for a better experience since we are getting to know the area. The food selections and history lessons helped us understand the community better. We couldn't have asked for a better guide and he truly exceeded our expectations! Thank you Jim!
Had a great experience. Wesley was very knowledgeable and patient. I highly recommend! I would definitely go back.
American history brought to life by our guide - some of the untold bits. I discovered a half smoke too and that was yummy from Ben's chilli bowl. The street art was fascinating too.
The food was delicious! The guide was fun and knowledgeable. We enjoyed the history and the many murals! We definitely would recommend this tour for anyone.
Ben's Chili Bowl has such a great history and so many famous people have been there. I have never tried Etheopian food and it was amazing and I want to try again. The Cuban pastry was my favorite and so good and the local ice cream shope was a great way to end the tour. Jim was an amazing tour guied and gave us so many other recommendations at the end of our tour!
Sonique's tour was amazing, she was so bubbly and friendly, put us all at ease straight away! There were lots of food choices and we enjoyed every one! She is a natural story teller and it made the history of the area really come to life! It is also a tour group that gives back to the local community which is commendable! I would highly recommend!
Wonderful trip with lots of history regarding the area. Bonus stop at the African American Civil War Museum. Our guide was knowledgeable, food choices were varied. We definitely recommend.
The tour was fantastic! An awesome blend of history and food, and the guide kept us full of knowledge and tasty delights and kept things moving. We also love the 1-1 benefit provided to the community! Thank you very much!
Such an a vibrant neighborhood. Our guide was super informative and invested in making sure everyone had an amazing experience. Ben’s Chili dogs were excellent. Cuban pastry was absolutely delicious. Although the Ethiopian food was yummy, restaurant had dirty tables and staff there seemed indifferent to a good customer experience. So much history and an overall great experience!
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