About Us

THE STORY BEHIND CHICAGO FOOD PLANET

Chicago Food Planet Food Tours started in 2006, becoming the first Chicago food and culinary tour company dedicated to helping visitors and Chicago residents enjoy the best Chicago food and cultural experience off the beaten path. We began our research by enjoying the delicious ethnic foods and diverse musical and entertainment venues that existed within Chicago’s most savory, historic neighborhoods. We sampled the perfect potato pancake, sipped on succulent Rooibos red teas and tasted fresh Vietnamese cinnamon from arguably the best spice and herb specialty store in the world.

These experiences, and many others, inspired us to create Chicago’s finest culinary walking tours that are given in the most beautiful neighborhoods of Chicago starting first with our signature Near North Food Tour (est. 2006), then the Bucktown/Wicker Park Food Tour (est. 2008) and most recently the Chinatown Food Tour (est. 2010).

Chicago Food Planet continues to offer award-winning and entertaining walking, tasting and discovery food tours to local citizens and vacationers from around the world located in the communities where Chicagoans call home. Besides the Public Tours offered, Chicago Food Planet offers Private Chicago Group Food Tours and Chicago Food Tour Gift Certificates are also available.

Besides tasting great Chicago specialty foods, our participants learn the history, culture, architecture and neighborhood entertainment and restaurant offerings. Our goal is for everyone to return to these neighborhoods with confidence and take advantage of the wide range of food and cultural options that they have to offer. We recommend taking our tours at the beginning of your stay so you can return and enjoy these wonderful neighborhoods at your leisure.

Our friendly and passionate tour leaders are proud to share our cultural discoveries and culinary knowledge with you. Let us take you on a three hour journey that introduces you to the best of the best, opening up a whole new world just waiting to be explored!

Bon appétit,

Chicago Food Planet Food Tours
830 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611
(800) 979-3370 | (212) 209-3370 ‎ chicagofoodplanet.com

Note: This address is for Tour Meeting Point location purposes only. For official business mailing address, please contact us.

Executive Team

Shane Kost

Director of Sales and Marketing

Shane started Chicago Food Planet in 2006 after successful start-ups including a bag apparel manufacturing business and an indoor/outdoor décor lighting company. Shane started Food Tour Pros in 2009 to help industrious individuals start and operate their own Food Tour businesses in cities across the globe. Shane has traveled to over 36 countries and between 2009 and 2011 he drove a motorcycle from Chicago, IL to Patagonia, Argentina, covering more than 20,000 miles as part of his ongoing culinary and educational efforts.

Nicki Tader

Director of Tour Operations

Nicki joined the Chicago Food Planet team as the first hired tour guide in 2007 and is currently the Operations Director. Nicki spent five years leading hiking and cycling trips throughout Europe, and worked with a start-up company to organize international volunteer projects throughout Latin America. She has worked as a wildland firefighter, rock climbing instructor, AmeriCorps Team Leader, personal fitness trainer, and ESL professor. Nicki is passionate about Brazilian music and culture and speaks fluent Portuguese and Italian.