Boston has its fair share of themed city tours, from costumed guides on the Freedom Trail to land and water excursions all over town. But some might argue that Boston’s best tours are also the tastiest ones. Italian food crawls, romps through Chinatown, chocolate-centric tours and insider food expeditions are among the most popular you’ll find in town.

For almost 20 years, Michele Topor has been offering food tours in the North End, leading groups through the winding streets of Boston’s Little Italy neighborhood. The trained chef, who has lived in the North End for 40 years, loves to share the delights of the neighborhood, as do her experienced guides. Along the way, participants can expect plenty of samples, recipes and cooking tips from local experts. In 2006, Topor added a tour of Chinatown, where guests can learn about various regional cuisines, enjoy samples and wrap things up with a dim sum lunch.

The Boston Foodie Tour company offers a number of different walking adventures around the city, from the Back Bay to Faneuil Hall, and various neighborhoods in between. Owner Audrey Giannattasio has gained the trust of many of Boston’s best chefs over the years, who welcome her small tour groups. A particularly popular walkabout takes groups around the Rose F. Kennedy Greenway, where stops include chef Jody Adams’ restaurant Trade, and Blue Inc., which is owned by Jason Santos. Both are well-known and highly regarded chefs who have competed in competition cooking shows over the years.

The unique Boston Chocolate Tours has three outposts: one in the Back Bay, one in the South End, and one that scours a few different neighborhoods in search of the city’s best cupcakes. The delicious adventures are more than two hours long, giving participants time to walk off some of what they eat.

Each tour company makes it a point to keep group sizes relatively small, so no one ever feels crowded or has to struggle to hear the guides. For a great way to get to know Boston and learn more about its unique neighborhoods and cuisines, food tours are quite satisfying, in more ways than one.