Fed up with street food tours that feel more like influencer marketing than genuine exploration

I recently joined a popular street food tour in my neighborhood, and it was blatantly obvious that every stop was chosen for its Instagram appeal rather than its culinary merit. We spent more time posing with colorful tacos than actually learning about the recipes or the vendors' stories. The guide kept emphasizing the 'perfect shot' angles, and I felt like I was part of a content creation campaign. It's frustrating because street food used to be about spontaneous discoveries and authentic flavors, not staged setups for social media. I remember a time when you'd stumble upon a hidden gem by chance, not because it had a neon sign and a hashtag. This shift is diluting the essence of what makes street food tours special. If we're not careful, we'll lose the raw, unfiltered joy of exploring food cultures. Let's push for tours that prioritize substance over style!