Self-guided Seattle food tour of the Ballard neighborhood

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Ballard Self-Guided Food Tour

Rated 5.00 out of 5 based on 2 customer ratings

$12.95

If you want to avoid tourist traps and find the best food in Seattle, this self-guided Seattle walking food tour of Ballard is for you.

It includes 39 pages to help you explore the artsy Ballard neighborhood of Seattle like a local. It’s a digital download (PDF) that takes you on 8 stops to the best restaurants in Ballard and includes 14 “worthy mentions” in case you’re extra hungry. You can also expect recommendations of what to order, mouthwatering photos, interviews with some of the restaurants, and pro tips to make sure you don’t look like a tourist.

Oh, and I update this guide regularly to keep it fresh. There’s no need to buy again. You get automatic access to the most recent guide when you purchase. No businesses paid to be in this guide. It’s just an ode to my favorite places to eat and drink in Ballard.

Is this a gift? Email me after you complete your order and I’ll send you a custom digital gift certificate. It’ll include the download link directly on it so your loved one can access the most up-to-date version of the food tour anytime.

Category: Food Tours

Description

What you get in this Seattle walking food tour

After you purchase this guide, you’ll be able to download a mobile-friendly PDF with all of the following:

A self-guided itinerary for visiting my 8 favorite local restaurants and bars
A map to help you get a sense of where everything is
14 extra “honorable mention” restaurants to help you customize your tour
Recommendations of what to order and how to avoid crowds
Interviews with my favorite restaurants
Drool-worthy food photos to help you know what to expect
Ideas for non-eating activities to do between eats
Tips for how to get to Ballard and the best time to visit
A look inside Ballard’s historic past and how it became the vibrant neighborhood it is today

You can expect to cover about 1.5 miles over the course of about 5 hours on this Seattle walking food tour. Note that a few of the recommendations are only open for dinner, but there are plenty of alternate suggestions to swap in depending on when you’re available to do the tour.

The benefits of a self-guided food tour

You can avoid shuffling around a neighborhood in a large group.
It offers the flexibility to go at your own pace or customize the adventure.
It’s more affordable.
You pay the restaurants directly (there’s no middle man to take a “cut”).
You don’t have to make small talk with strangers.
It reveals the best places, not just the ones that will accommodate larger groups.

About Ballard

All the guide books will tell you to visit downtown Seattle. But insiders know the best way to experience Seattle is through its surrounding neighborhoods.

Ballard is the #1 neighborhood I tell both visitors and locals to go. It has the city’s best farmer’s market, an incredible craft beer scene, and is home to my favorite restaurants in Seattle. It also has an adorable downtown area that makes it perfect for walking, eating, popping into shops, and then eating again.

It’s home to James Beard-winning chefs, restaurants that brought Seattle its first cupcake and food truck, and craft cocktail bars regularly on “best bars in America” lists. Whether you’re a family with little ones in tow or a hip young adult looking to experience Seattle like a local, there’s something for everyone in Ballard.

About your guide

Hi I’m Adria! I help people discover the best flavors, makers, and unique adventures in the Pacific Northwest through travel guides, food tours, and small group tours.

The Fremont and Ballard neighborhoods have been my home for more than a decade, which means I know where to find the best eats. And since I care deeply about small businesses, I decided to create self-guided walking tours to connect you with my favorites.

I considered hosting in-person Seattle walking tours, but I discovered some things about the industry that made me uncomfortable.

First, there’s an issue with some food tour companies trying to get discounts from restaurants with promises of “exposure”. Second, tours tend to cater to large groups. As a result, some businesses aren’t willing to work with food tours.

To better align with my values of supporting small businesses and authentically sharing the best of the best, I decided to offer self-guided walking tours of Seattle instead. I hope you love them as much as I do, and take pride knowing you are supporting small businesses directly.

FAQS

How much food can I expect on this walking tour?

Tons! The benefit of a self-guided tour is you can customize the itinerary to eat as much or as little food as you want. This tour has 8 stops and assumes at least 4 hungry adults attend. However, I’ve taken it with one other person and got through it all by splitting everything and taking some leftovers home.

You’ll also get 13 honorable mentions so you can try even more places if you’re in a large group. Since this is self-guided, you’ll get full-sized portions when you order. So start hungry!

Are there any alcoholic beverages?

Oh yes! I include one bar on the itinerary and most of the restaurant serve alcoholic drinks.

Is this walking tour good for all ages?

It is! However, I’d recommend skipping the one bar on the itinerary and swapping it with one of the honorable mentions instead. Also note some of the restaurants are fancier and don't have kids menus.

How physically fit do I need to be for this walking tour?

This tour is good for all physical abilities! It’s about 1.5 miles on flat ground with a lot of stops for resting.

What if I have allergies or dietary restrictions?

While the recommended dishes on this tour do not take into account any specific dietary restrictions, you’ll find a mix of meat, vegetarian, and gluten free options. And the best part is you can order whatever you want at these restaurants because this is a self-guided walking tour! I’d say vegans will have the hardest time finding dishes at the recommended restaurants.

How much money can I expect to spend on this tour?

If you order all the recommended dishes on this walking tour, you’ll spend about $200 not including gratuity. If you’re taking this with just one other person, that’s about $100 pp and I’d be really impressed if you can finish eating everything!

Since this is self-guided, you can mix and match your itinerary to fit any budget. Most dishes recommended are under $15, with a few pricier options at the nicer restaurants.

Should I make reservations to the restaurants on this tour?

There are a few I recommend that you do, yes. I note which ones in the guide so you can plan ahead! However, most stops don’t need reservations.

Did businesses pay to be included on this tour?

Absolutely not. I believe strongly that the best food tours include stops that a local would tell their best friends to visit. That means they shouldn’t be recommended places that give them kickbacks!

Can I bring my dog on this tour?

Yes! Since this is self-guided, you can bring your furry friend along. Some restaurants will allow them inside, but for those that won’t, there are plenty of places to tie them up outside.

Can I get a refund?

Unfortunately no. Hopefully you’ll find this jam packed with enough recommendations and insider tips that you’ll think it’s worth the nominal fee that compensates me for my time putting it together!

Can I share this with others after I buy it?

I’d really appreciate if you didn’t. It took me more than 80 hours to put this guide together and the small fee I charge compensates me for that effort. Just as I’m trying to help small businesses grow by featuring them in this guide, I hope you’ll help me grow by not sharing this with others unless you buy it as a gift.

Can you host an in-person tour?

I'm not hosting tours at this time, but I host in-person overnight small group tours to foodie destinations around Washington from time to time. Join me on those for a food trip you’ll never forget!

Can you customize the tour?

Absolutely! I offer personal travel planning services for more than just food tours, but am happy to hone in on a food crawl if you'd like.

2 reviews for Ballard Self-Guided Food Tour

Rated 5 out of 5

Jasmine – May 11, 2021

I bought this tour guide as a birthday gift for a friend who always wants to go to new places, but has a hard time deciding where to go. He was so excited to have a suggested direction to wander and has referenced it several times over to inspire him to go to Ballard for dinner.
Rated 5 out of 5

Adam LaPitz (verified owner) – August 12, 2021

As someone that loves going out in Ballard, I was able to discover several new gems that I had missed in places that I been to before and discovered new places to go to. I’d highly recommend you check out this guide if you are new to Seattle or even a Seattle foodie.