Taste of Ogden Food & History Tour

Telling Ogden’s Story, One Bite at a Time!

ABOUT THE TOUR

This leisurely-paced walking food tour carves a path through the streets of historic Ogden, Utah. We’ll be exploring Ogden’s surprisingly vibrant food scene as we stop for drinks and sample the fare at several of OTown’s best restaurants, bakeries, bistros, and boutiques. From the savory to the sweet, this tour promises a culinary experience to remember.

Typical Tastings May Include:

• Maki Rolls
• Sushi and Sashimi
• Shrimp and Grits
• Brussels Sprouts
• Authentic Sicilian Cannoli
• Scratch-made Macarons
• Artisan Utah Chocolate

Colorful and Fun History of Ogden:

You get the best of both worlds with this tour–food and history! While the food takes center stage, tour guide Rick Proffer also shares tasty tidbits and wild tales of Ogden’s colorful past. Telling stories of local characters, shady and heroic, that define the history of OTown.

Click here to see a map of each exciting stop on the tour.

QUICK DETAILS

Tour Type(s): Walking Food Tour
Duration: 2.75 hours / 1.5 miles of walking
Number of Stops: 5
Where: Tour starts at Union Station
Group Size: 2 – 8 guests
Season: Open Year Round
Private Group Tours Available?: Yes
Price: Starting at $82/person

What people are saying about OTown Food Tours

You’ve Got to Take This Food Tour! If you love delicious food, and want to experience the engaging stories of the people and places that make up Ogden’s fascinating history, this is the tour for you! I’m a “foodie”. I loved sampling the savory dishes and the sweet treats from some of Ogden’s best restaurants and shops. Rick, our tour guide, loves Ogden and he has a passion to share what he knows as you walk along Historic 25th Street. A really fun experience, with amazing food and interesting stories, this tour has it all. I highly recommend it!

James Cole

“My husband and I were able to do O Town Food Tour for a Friday night! We had a blast with the other guests and Rick himself. Lots of funny stories and also great food! I was definitely hesitant about the brussel sprouts we had at Table 25 but they were absolutely amazing! For sure a must try. The poached pears we had were not only stunning to look at but the perfect dessert. One of our favorite parts of the tour was walking down 25th Street hearing about all the original brothels and darker history of Ogden. I definitely would do this tour again! My husband and I still talk about how much fun we had!”

Alex O.

“We did the OTown Food Tour with friends and we absolutely loved it! Rick’s knowledge of the history of Ogden is amazing. During the walking tour, he shared many fascinating stories about the local haunts and cultural icons of the area. Ogden’s history is way more interesting than I ever imagined. I loved the restaurants we visited and the presentation of each dish was first rate. The food and wine pairings were also spot on. Will definitely do again!”

Doug Burton

The proprietor/guide Rick has a great depth of knowledge of local history and the story of how Ogden became what it is. Combine that with his passion for culinary experiences, and one gets an amazing tour! We made new friends, sampled some amazing dishes, and met some of the dedicated business owners – discovering new places to dine and support. His walking tour was of the highest caliber, and will please visitors and locals alike!

Garry Hunter

We had a most delightful afternoon learning the lore of old Ogden and experiencing fantastic food with our wonderful host! I am looking forward to repeating this adventure and exploring more of what Ogden has to offer. Thank you so much!

Sheila Burton

We had a blast on our O-Town Food Tour. I signed up for the tour because I was interested in the restaurants featured on it. The food on the tour is absolutely delicious, but I enjoyed learning about the history of Ogden as well. Rick, retired from public education, is a natural at presenting information, and the whole tour was engaging and fun. We even talked with the owners/chefs of some of the restaurants while eating and learned more about the behind the scenes work in their restaurant. Great experience all around.

“Some friends of mine and I booked an OTown Food Tour last Saturday and, honestly, my mind was BLOWN! From the start of our journey at the train station to the very last stop, our tour guide (and founder), Rick, from OTown Food Tours, provided the perfect balance of fun facts and interesting history of Ogden’s historical 25th Street. Not only did Rick provide fascinating historical facts, he also provided a background of the restaurants that we visited along with details of how the food was conceptualized at each establishment. Needless to say, I had no idea how varied and amazing the dining is just a short drive up north. I’m definitely planning on scheduling a tour with my wife and family in the near future!”

This tour was so insightful and fun. The history behind Ogden is very fascinating and Rick does a great job sharing stories and his love for Ogden. The food was fantastic and we will be returning to each of the restaurants very soon for more amazing cuisine. We will be booking more of his future-themed tours!

We had a great time on our food tour! Rick is very passionate and knowledgeable about Ogden and it shows. He has taken great care to choose restaurants which not only have delightful food, but whose owners are personally invested in the community and dedicated to local sourcing of ingredients whenever possible. We got to chat with several of the restaurant owners and employees (including the owner of Tona) which added an extra layer to the experience.

The tour is about half Ogden history (which is vibrant!) and half food experience, so there’s something for everyone. All in all I would highly recommend this tour for locals and visitors alike.

Taste of Ogden Food Tour Calendar

Select a date to begin booking your food tour

Where the Taste of Ogden Food Tour takes us…

The story of any great town is told, in part, through its people and food. Food and community go hand in hand. Come with us as we taste and tell the story of OTown.

A sampling of what you’ll experience…

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Vintage photo of Ogden's Union Station-an integral part of Ogden's rich history that you'll learn more about on your OTown Food Tour

Railroad

Find out why Ogden became Junction City and how the iron rails brought people, power, and opportunity, along with vice, graft, and grifters.

Porters and Waiters Club and Joe McQueen, Local Jazz Icon

Hear how the Porters and Waiters Club rose from a respite for railroad “Red Caps” to a mecca for such greats such as Fats Domino and B.B. King through the influence of local jazz legend, Joe McQueen, and the indomitable AnnaBelle Weakley.

Vintage photo taken outside the Porters and Waiters Club-One of the famous Ogden establishments you'll learn more about on your OTown Food Tour
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One of the delicious dishes from Table 25 that you'll sample while on your OTown Food Tour
Table 25-One of several eateries that you'll enjoy while on your OTown Food Tour

Table Twenty Five is a family-owned restaurant located on historic 25th Street in Ogden. Emphasizing locally-sourced, sustainable, and seasonal ingredients, served in an approachable, yet refined atmosphere. Creative, comforting and delicious.

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Prostitution, Crime, and Corruption

Learn about the seedy side of 25th Street – how prostitution proliferated under multiple madams and murder was commonplace, while city coffers swelled and police, politicians and businessmen grew wealthy on the sin tax system.

Rose Davie-A "colorful" character from Ogden's rich history that you'll hear more about on the tour.
Vintage photo of immigrants dining out in Ogden-history that you'll learn more about on the OTown Food Tour

Immigrants

Come hear how immigrants from all over the world called Ogden home and helped make it into what it is today.

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Some of the delicious food you'll taste on the OTown Food tour at Tona Sushi Bar and Grill
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Vintage photo of equipment used to make illegal alcohol during Prohibition in Ogden-one of the historical facts you'll hear more about on OTown Food Tour

Prohibition

It’s been said that alcohol was more plentiful in Ogden during Prohibition, than anytime before or after. Learn how businessmen transformed their bars into soda parlors, ingeniously built for booze.

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Sapori

A family-owned Sicilian bakery and bistro, specializing in made-from-scratch unique pastries such as cassata and sfogliatella, as well as world class cannoli, along with authentic, savory dishes such as bolognese. Delicious, exceptional, and always made from the heart.

Photos of some of the delicious treats you'll experience at Sapori on the OTown Food Tour
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Vintage photo of the "boom times" in Ogden-part of Ogden's rich history that you'll learn more about on OTown Food Tour

Boom Times and WWII

Find out about the boom times when Ogden was living large and how soldiers and sailors helped spread the word of infamous Two Bit Street to the four corners of the globe.

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Gorgeous, decadent little jewels, handmade by Crisi and her crew daily. Stunning to look at, even better to eat, these tasty little sweet treats make great gifts, stunning desserts, or an awesome indulgence for one. No need to go to Paris–when Crisi’s got you covered right here in OTown!

Criss Cross Macarons
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Vintage photo of one of Ogden's buildings that was demolished during the city's decline

Decline

See how the development of the interstate highway system led to Ogden’s decline and how key visionaries saved her historic landmarks before it was too late.

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The Queen Bee-a part of the OTown Food Tour

An Ogden gem, locally owned and operated, hiding in plain sight on historic 25th Street. A delightful emporium of books, handcrafted gifts, toys, and myriad other items carefully curated by the owner, with a stunning selection of chocolate of the highest quality taking center stage. Locally-produced, single origin, and unique chocolate from all over the world.

The Queen Bee-A few of the delicious treats you'll taste on the tour
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Ogden downtown revitalization that you'll enjoy on the OTown Food Tour

Revitalization

See OTown as she is coming into her own. Learn how tenacious entrepreneurs dug in and helped revitalize Historic 25th Street and how the Winter Olympics and investment accelerated her transformation into who she is today.

Whether you’re planning to visit Ogden or live here year-round, an OTown Food Tour is the perfect way to learn about the history of the town and have an amazing culinary experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

A: As our tour covers up to 1.5 miles of walking and standing over the course of 2.75 hours, please wear comfortable and supportive footwear. We operate rain/snow or shine and are outdoors for a good part of the tour, so please dress appropriately for the weather conditions.

A: Our Taste of Ogden tour lasts about 2.75 hours.

A: Our Taste of Ogden tour features a curated menu of pre-selected tastings highlighting the best our taste partner restaurants and shops have to offer–think: “Love on a Plate”. For this reason, substitutions are generally unavailable. Tastings may include gluten, meat and seafood, eggs, dairy, or other ingredients not conducive to those with food allergies.

We are pleased to offer private tours for guests wanting a tasting menu curated to meet their dietary needs. Please contact us for information and availability.

A: Our Taste of Ogden tour begins in front of Union Station and ends between the 100 and 200 blocks of 25th Street. Your guide is happy to walk with you back to Union Station at the conclusion of the tour.

A: Guests will partake of 4 savory and 3 sweet tastings over the course of the tour. We take the Goldilocks approach on how much food is offered–not too much or too little. The amount of food provided should be plenty for the average eater.

A: Tastings possibilities include hand-rolled maki, sushi, sashimi, scratch-made pasta, to-die-for brussels sprouts, shrimp and grits, authentic cannoli, gelato, fresh-baked macarons, and local artisan chocolate, among others.

A: Generous 20% tips for the wait staff at the partner restaurants are already included in the price of the food tour, making our tour price all-inclusive. That said, if your tour guide delivers an exceptional experience, you may tip your tour guide with cash or Venmo at the end of the tour. If you prefer, you may instead/also include a tip for the guide when you book the tour.

A: Guests taking our Taste of Ogden tour can find parking lots to the north and south of Union Station. Parking is also available behind the north side of the buildings on the 100 block of 25th Street just across from Union Station.

A: We will conduct our tours with as few as two guests; we also cap our tours at 8 guests in order to ensure the highest quality experience possible. Private tours are available for large groups up to 25, as well as for those seeking a more intimate experience. Please contact us for more information.

A: Yes! They can be purchased here.