Taste the Greatest of the NJ Suburbs
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FAQ
What kind of food will we have?That depends on the tour and the time of year. You can expect a variety of food groups and flavors. Our South Orange tour currently features small batch pastries, Mexican street tacos, legendary sub sandwiches from the birthplace of the sloppy joe, and more.Are there veggie options?Our current tour includes vegetarian dishes, but as menus can change, please confirm ahead of time.What if I have a food allergy?Please notify us at info@chowtownfoodtours.com at least 72 hours in advance of the tour if you have any allergies that prevent you from eating certain foods. We will work with you to ensure your safety and satisfaction at each of the stops on our food tours.Who exactly are you?Chow Town Food Tours is the evil scheme of Max Gray, a native New Jerseyan with strong opinions on food -- the food of the Jersey suburbs, to be exact. He is on a mission to deliver the most fun, entertaining, and delicious food tour experience around by taking the 'BS' out of the suburbs.In all seriousness, Max founded Chow Town to share his love of food and community with folks of all backgrounds and creeds. Book a tour now and come on down to Chow Town!Why the suburbs?The Jersey suburbs are an absolute cornucopia of untapped culinary joy. This underrated, multicultural area is bursting with vibrant food traditions ranging from Italian to Ethiopian and everything in between. Book a tour today and find out what you've been missing!What's the difference between private tours and regular tours?Regular tours are offered on a somewhat predictable schedule during the warmer months of the year, and these tickets are available for purchase by the general public. Regular tours are popular, probably because they have been lovingly designed together with our restaurant partners to appeal to a general audience, with certain aspects of the menu that can be customized for folks with allergies and dietary restrictions. Regular tours are a great way to meet other fun-loving, curious, open-minded people from all across the area. You never know when you might meet a new friend, colleague, or neighbor on one of these dynamic, culinary adventures. Click See Dates to book your ticket!Private tours, on the other hand, are just for you and your own group -- whether it's a celebration with friends, a birthday or bachelorette party, an office gathering, or just an excuse to explore the world with friends or loved ones. They are not open to the public. Private tours can be scheduled for almost any time and are curated to fit the needs and interests of your specific group. Call us at (862)227-2626 to schedule a private tour or navigate to our Corporate Tours page if you are seeking a special package for your office or business team.How long do tours last?It depends on the group and the location, but walking tours are between 2 and 3 hours from start to finish. We recommend you budget at least three hours to enjoy the full experience.What other towns do you do?We run regular, public tours of Montclair and South Orange and are expanding to Madison and Morristown, NJ.
If you'd like to tour a town that isn't on that list, please call us at (862)227-2626 to discuss a private tour. We run private tours of almost any town in northern NJ, seven days a week! We have great itineraries and menus that we look forward to discussing with you.Do you offer refunds?Our tours require a lot of planning and preparation. We pay advance deposits to the small business owners on our tours to ensure the best experience for guests. For that reason, we are unable to provide refunds at this time.However, if you notify us more than 72 hours prior to your tour, we will work with you to reschedule you to a more convenient date at another time.I had a blast on our food tour! How do I support the local restaurant owners we met?We are so glad to hear it! Building up our NJ communities is a big reason for why we do this. We suggest following them on social media and purchasing other products from them after the tour is over.
Another way would be to register for another tour with Chow Town. Click here to read about the other tours we are offering. We love our repeat customers and offer them a discount! It would be a pleasure to see you again.
Now hosting tours all over North Jersey!
Food Crawl & Historic Homes Tour of Montclair
July 18 only!
We join forces with co-hosts Montclair History Center on July 18, 2025 for this insider's exploration of the most fascinating homes and delicious secrets of the Mountain Avenue section of Montclair. Don't miss the event of the summer!
Food Tour of Madison, NJ
Madison is a quintessential New Jersey suburb in many ways. But in recent years, it has quietly become an undercover foodie favorite. There's a lot more to the Rose City than flowers and former presidents!Join us for this specially curated Food Tour of Madison. Chow Town Food Tours will lead this 2.5-hour guided exploration of Madison's outstanding food, culture, history, and community with exclusive tastings from the chefs and owners of some of the best restaurants in the area.
Food Tour of Montclair, NJ
Montclair is known locally as a haven for arts and culture, from the Jazz Festival to Montclair Film. But did you know it's also a mecca for food lovers from across the region?Pick from a list of amazing neighborhoods in town, each with its own, unique character:
the eclectic, up-and-coming Walnut Street neighborhood, a a hub for some of the best-loved eateries in the state,
Historic Bloomfield Avenue and Church Street, where crowds gather from far and wide to celebrate a smorgasbord of culinary traditions from almost every continent
Chic and swanky Upper Montclair, home to some of the most exciting and lauded restaurants in north Jersey, framed on all sides by beautiful Tudor and colonial architecture
Food Tour of South Orange, NJ
Join our action packed, 2.5-hour walking tour of this underrated, up-and-coming culinary destination!Over the last century, this formerly sleepy farm town has bloomed into a thriving satellite community of Newark and NYC. Don't sleep on this exhilarating journey through the vibrant Village of South Orange -- come with us, and discover what makes this an unsung gem of NJ’s food scene.
Private Tours
Is it your birthday? Your wedding?
Family or friends visiting you in Jersey?
Or maybe you're just hungry?
We've got just the thing!
Let us curate a private food tour that is personalized to you and your group. Private tours can happen at almost any time, in any town in north Jersey.
What about a tour of...
Morristown? Metuchen? Rutherford? Hackensack?
Or how about a fried chicken tour? An ice cream tour? A brewery pour tour?
A pilgrimage to Anthony Bourdain's favorite eateries?Email us at info@chowtownfoodtours.com to schedule a short consultation. You better believe we will visit the best NJ restaurants around. We look forward to learning about your vision so we can make it happen!
About
Long before he founded Chow Town Food Tours, Max was a kid growing up in north Jersey. Back then, meals were served at eye level. He couldn't quite reach the good stuff. Well, he has come a long way. Today, he can reach anything on the table, and it shows! Max is a foodie who can't wait to share the best of his home turf -- suburban New Jersey -- with you, the newest citizens of Chow Town.Let's grab some chow!
New Jersey
Corporate Events & Team Building
Easy. Fun. Impactful.
Corporate and business clients love our plug-and-play event packages in north Jersey. We take the headache out of planning your next team building event, leaving you with one responsibility -- to eat, drink, and have fun.Let us customize a group activity to meet your unique goals, like:
Enhance communication
Improve collaboration
Reward sales performance
and more!
We curate food tours for groups of all sizes, starting with team gatherings as small as 5 people.Make your next corporate event truly special, whether it's for team building, a regular office outing, or just because you appreciate your colleagues.We work with over 20 restaurants, bars, and breweries to plan a food tasting event that's personalized to your group.We host marquee food tours and team building activities in Montclair, South Orange, Madison, Fairfield, Elizabeth and other communities across north Jersey.
Added Benefits
Contribute to the goals for your team, division, and entire enterprise! Our food tours and customized event packages deliver a suite of added benefits, like:
Support Women-Owned & Minority-Owned Small Businesses
Boost community economic development
Network and build local relationships with neighbors
Strengthen business improvement districts (BIDs)
Contribute to UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2, 8, and 10
Support local charities like soup kitchens and food pantries
Hit marketing KPIs by increasing brand awareness of your business
An Unforgettable Food Tour Experience!Max was absolutely incredible to work with—super responsive, attentive, and incredibly knowledgeable about the Montclair food scene. From start to finish, he made the experience seamless and fun. Our group included both NJ natives and out-of-towners, and everyone had an amazing time exploring this vibrant slice of New Jersey. Each stop was thoughtfully chosen, offering delicious bites and great insights into the local culture. If you're looking for a unique and memorable way to experience Montclair, this food tour is a must! We can't wait to do it again! - Amanda, Director of Customer Service
What To Expect
Itinerary: Visit four outstanding restaurants, led by our knowledgeable guide. Your group will enjoy generous food and beverage options at each location, comfortably seated. Plus, we’ll introduce you to some of the chefs, mixologists, and owners.Group Size: We can accommodate 5 to 30 attendees. Don’t worry, we’ll break larger groups down into digestible sizes, each led by a Chow Town tour guide.Timing: Monday through Thursday, start time is flexible. Friday through Sunday, tours should finish no later than 4:30 p.m.Length & Logistics: Tours are roughly 3 hours long and take place rain or shine. We take an unhurried pace to enjoy the local arts, culture, architecture, and community landmarks between each restaurant, but we can help make transportation arrangements if needed.Pricing: All-inclusive food and drink tours generally start at $120 per person, but vary depending on city, time of day, food and alcohol choices, and other customization.Just fill out the form below and we will schedule a brief 15-minute introductory call to go over your needs. We look forward to working with you!
Contact
Questions about a tour?Want a private tour for your party, or a team building event for your colleagues?Just kind of hungry?Get in touch!
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