Taste Dallas. Ride History.
Discover Uptown Eats!, the original Food Tours of America experience, bringing together five restaurants, nine tastings and a ride aboard a real historic McKinney Avenue Trolley in one Dallas food adventure. Launched in 2011, this is the tour that started Food Tours of America.
Come hungry—there’s plenty of food for a meal, with flavors spanning the globe and Texas. Taste Moroccan-Lebanese specialties at Baboush, Texas-born favorites at Velvet Taco, family recipes from Thailand with a custom Food Tours of America tasting flight at Ka Thai, Guatemalan sweets at San MartÃn Bakery and Texas comfort food at The Rustic. From chicken shawarma and Heaven Beef to alfajores, elote and brisket tamales, there’s something different to discover at every stop.
Then there’s the trolley. Ride aboard an authentic historic streetcar from the McKinney Avenue Trolley fleet—not a reproduction. These cars have stories all their own: some came to Dallas from around the world, while others lived surprising lives after leaving the tracks. One became part of a home. Another became a playhouse for children and grandchildren. And Rosie, the fleet’s oldest car, traveled all the way from Portugal.
Go behind the scenes at the McKinney Avenue Trolley Car Barn, not generally open to the public, and see where these historic cars are restored and maintained. Meet members of the trolley team and talk with a conductor about the cars and the people who keep them rolling. When John Landrum, son of MATA co-founder Ed Landrum, is there, guests may even get to meet someone who grew up around these streetcars and loves sharing their stories.
Five restaurants. Nine tastings. A real historic streetcar ride. And behind-the-scenes access to the cars and people who keep a piece of Dallas history rolling.
Food Tours of America proudly supports the McKinney Avenue Transit Authority (MATA) with a donation for every tour visit.
Please Note: The age and varying design of the historic MATA trolley cars can create accessibility challenges for some passengers and require a few steep steps to enter and exit the trolley car. The trolley cars are not wheelchair accessible.
- Five Restaurants, Nine Tastings — enjoy a generous lineup of Moroccan-Lebanese, Texas, Thai, Guatemalan and Texas comfort food, with plenty of food for a meal.
- A Custom Tasting at Ka Thai — sample family recipes from Thailand through a tasting created especially for Food Tours of America.
- Ride a Real Historic Streetcar — ride aboard an authentic McKinney Avenue Trolley car, not a reproduction, and experience the character of Dallas’ historic streetcars (when operationally possible).
- Stories Behind the Streetcars — learn about the McKinney Avenue fleet and
- Behind-the-Scenes at the Trolley Car Barn — step inside a facility not generally open to the public, meet the team and see where the historic cars are restored and maintained (when operationally possible).
- The Tour That Started It All — Uptown Eats! launched in 2011 as Dallas’ first walking food tour—and it’s still going strong today. The original Food Tours of America experience that started it all.
- 9 generous tastings at 5 handpicked Dallas restaurants — enough food for a meal, including a sweet treat
- Custom Food Tours of America tasting at Ka Thai — enjoy a tasting created especially for the tour featuring family recipes from Thailand
- Ride aboard a real historic McKinney Avenue streetcar — these are authentic historic streetcars, not reproductions, with remarkable stories of their own (when operationally possible)
- Behind-the-scenes visit to the McKinney Avenue Trolley Car Barn — step inside a facility not generally open to the public, meet the trolley team and see where the historic cars are restored and maintained (when available)
- Discover the stories behind Dallas’ historic streetcars — hear where the cars came from and the surprising lives some lived before becoming part of the McKinney Avenue fleet
- Guided Uptown Dallas foodie experience — your Food Tours of America guide brings the neighborhood, its food and historic streetcars to life along the way
- Water provided at restaurant stops
- Restaurant gratuities
Excluded:
- Alcoholic beverages — available for purchase at select stops only
- Guide gratuity — not included and always appreciated
- Transportation to and from the tour, parking fees
The historic McKinney Avenue trolley ride and behind-the-scenes trolley car barn visit are special parts of this experience and are included whenever operationally possible. Because these are working historic streetcars, rare mechanical, maintenance or operational issues may occasionally prevent the trolley ride, car barn visit or both.
Alcoholic Beverages
Alcohol is not included. Guests who would like a drink may purchase one at the meeting location before the tour begins. Because the tour moves between stops on a set schedule, there is not time for additional drink orders along the way. Drinks may also be purchased at the final restaurant, where guests are welcome to stay after the tour. Guests purchasing alcohol must be 21 or older and present a valid government-issued photo ID.
Accessibility
This is a walking tour through Dallas Uptown and includes approximately 1 mile of walking, sidewalks, curbs, street crossings and periods of standing.
Historic McKinney Avenue trolley cars require climbing a few steep steps to enter and exit and are not wheelchair accessible. The trolley ride is a core part of the experience. If you have accessibility or mobility needs, please contact Food Tours of America before booking so we can provide additional information about the tour.
Health Restrictions
Guests should be comfortable walking approximately 1 mile, standing for portions of the 2.5-hour tour and climbing the steep steps required to board and exit the historic trolley. The experience includes both indoor and outdoor portions, so please dress for the weather and wear comfortable walking shoes.At least 72 hours’ advance notice is required for dietary accommodations and menu substitutions. Please provide the name of each guest and their specific dietary restriction or food allergy when booking.
Dietary Restrictions & Food Allergies
At least 72 hours’ advance notice is required for dietary accommodations and menu substitutions. Please provide the name of each guest and their specific dietary restriction or food allergy when booking.
Booking within 72 hours? Please provide your dietary needs at the time of booking. We’ll do our best to accommodate last-minute requests, but some substitutions may be limited or unavailable.
All accommodations depend on each restaurant’s capabilities and cannot be guaranteed. Substitutions may differ from the standard tastings, and in some cases, fewer tastings may be available.
Severe or life-threatening food allergies: Our tours visit multiple independent restaurants, and we do not control their kitchens or the potential for cross-contact. For this reason, our tours may not be appropriate for guests with severe or life-threatening food allergies.
“Great food tour! Baboush Lebanese restaurant was fantastic. Don’t eat before you go! There is alot of food! Veronica our tour guide was great! Friendly and informative. If you like trying different cuisines this tour is definitely worth it. The trolley ride was a great plus as well.“
Tuscan, AZ
Adventure through Uptown!
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What customers are saying…
We very much enjoyed our trolly and foodie experience. Brianna was a great guide. The Moroccan food was our favorite, and we really enjoyed the trolly rides.
We went on a food tour with Brianna, and she was the absolute best!!!! The food was amazing at every stop, the trolley barn was interesting and informative, and our guide knew a lot about the area! She went above and beyond by recommending lots of great places for us to go during our stay. I cannot stress enough how amazing the food was at every. single. restaurant. Thank you Food Tours of America and Brianna for a great tour!! We will be coming back and recommending to a friend!
Private food tours for corporate & special events
Private Tours
If you’re planning a visit with your group and want a private tour tailored just for you, we’ve got you covered! Simply head to our private tours page, fill out the form, and we’ll craft the ideal tour experience to meet your needs.
Still have questions?
Here are the most frequently asked questions about our food tours…
Our tour features a diverse range of cuisines, showcasing the best culinary offerings in Dallas.
Menu substitutions for dietary restrictions or food allergies are available for this tour with mention at the time of booking or by emailing info@foodtoursofamerica.com at least 48 hours before your event. Please note that last-minute menu substitutions cannot be accommodated. Our dietary restrictions coordinator will ensure your overall experience includes an equivalent quantity of food. However, your tour experience may differ significantly from that of your fellow tour-goers. The company assumes no responsibility for any food allergies or intolerances. Guests are responsible for notifying their tour guide of any food allergies upon check-in and must interact directly with each server or restaurant regarding any food allergies before participating in food or beverage tastings. Participation is at your own risk.
Alcoholic beverages are not always included in the base tour price. We offer optional alcoholic and non-alcoholic pairings to enhance your tasting experience.
The amount of walking varies, but it’s generally moderate. Wear comfortable shoes, and be prepared for a leisurely stroll through Dallas’ culinary hotspots.