If you use Groupon because we introduce you to new and exciting restaurants, then wouldn't you want to know one of our favorite primary sources for discovering Chicago's coolest eateries? The messenger pigeon that we call upon to chirp its secrets and sweet nothings into our large, unsightly ear is none other than the Chicago Food Tour. Chicago Food Planet Food Tours has been giving these amazing expeditions for years, highlighting all sorts of hidden restaurant and specialty food store gems to even the most astute local epicureans.

The Chicago Food Tour usually costs $42, but with today's Groupon you pay just half the normal price: That's $21, including all the food samples you'll enjoy along the way! You'd likely pay twice that amount for a nice meal at one of the five places you always visit, so why not fill up on the tour and discover lots of new interesting restaurants? The tour lasts three hours and includes exciting food samples at each stop - enough for a complete lunch. (By the way, we refuse to make a three-hour tour joke: We are such dedicated fans of Lost that we do not acknowledge the existence of other desert island shows, even classic ones from the 1960s.)

You can choose between one of two 180-minute tours. The Bucktown/Wicker Park Food Tasting & Cultural Tour includes visits to:

• George's Hot Dog's: Top rated Chicago-style hot dog "stand" (est. 1948)
• Milk & Honey: A homemade breakfast and lunch cafe (est. 2002)
• Hot Chocolate: Chicago’s top pastry and dessert restaurant (est. 2004)
• Goddess & Grocer: A gourmet foods and organic grocer (est. 2004)
• Coco Rouge: An artisan chocolate truffle lounge (est. 2000)
• Piece Pizza & Brewery: New-Haven style pizzeria and brewpub (est. 2001)
• iCream: Designs and creates ice cream instantly on the spot (est. 2008)

The Near North tour will take you to:

• Bacino's Pizzeria: Award-winning Chicago-stuffed pizzeria (est. 1978)
• The Spice House: America’s top spice and herb specialty shop (est. 1957)
• Catering | Chocolate: A gourmet foods store and cheese shop (est. 1977)
• Ashkenaz Deli: An authentic Ashkenazic Jewish deli (est. 1975)
• Old Town Oil: A balsamic vinegar and olive oil specialty store (est. 2007)
• Tea Gschwendner: A specialty loose tea and tisanes merchant (est. 1978)
• The Fudge Pot: A chocolate and fudge confectioner specialty store (est. 1963)

You'll discover all kinds of places you never knew about, from "mom and pop" specialty food shops to one-of-a-kind ethnic eateries. Imagine eating your way through Chicago as you learn about local history and architecture - which are more tied to Chicago cuisine that one might expect. For example, did you know that the Sears Tower's primary load-bearing columns are insulated with Vienna beef sausage casings? It was the cheapest non-biodegradable insulator available when the famed tower was built during the city's fiscal crisis. In fact, this is why (for the sake of historical accuracy) that they're considering renaming it Weiner Tower (not, as it has been reported, after old-money Austrian profiteer Weiner von Weiner III, who currently holds the leading bid in the open auction for naming rights).

Check out all the rave reviews people give the Chicago Food Tour:

• “Ranked #1 of 503 Chicago attractions” - TripAdvisor

• “A 3-hour Chicago eats tour for food lovers; we had great fun on this gastronomic junket through stores off the beaten path!” - Chicago Tribune

• “Ahoy, food lovers, a 3-hour Chicago eats tour even Gilligan would love... This gastronomic junket through stores that seemed obscure, we had great fun for $42!” - Chicago Tribune

• “Hungry for culinary travel? 5 tasty vacation recommendations include discovering Chicago's cultural gems while tasting delicious food with Chicago Food Planet Food Tours!” - Andrew Knowlton, restaurant editor at Bon Appétit

• “Chicago Food Planet focuses on showing people spots that are local secrets, helping you get off the beaten path!” - CNN Travel

Vegetarian? The Food Tours provide options for you. Love to eat, but hate to read? Feel free to skip all the above text, because Groupon's got you covered with this here video.

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