food tour nyc chinatown

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Visit  Manhattan Walking Tour  for even more experiences!

Chinatown Food Tour

Small Group Sizes

Friendly Local Guides!

More Than Enough Food for Lunch!

Experience immigrant history, along with incredible food! New York’s Chinatown is a complex and diverse expanding Asian community. This is truly a culinary experience coupled with amazing stories of New York’s history.

Incredible food

Fun facts and stories

Comfortable pace

Click the Tabs to Find Out More

Trip details.

$109 per person

Departure time

12:00pm sharp

Meeting point

Exact meeting location given in confirmation email

Availability

Runs everyday, but with only 8 guests per tour, it sells out quickly.

Approx. 2 hours

8 max. All tours are semi private with 8 people or less.

Tour guide, water, and lots of food. Please come hungry!

Not included

Gratuity for guides

Substitutions

• Substitutions: Vegetarian option is available. Please advise at time of booking if required.
• Any other dietary needs cannot be accommodated on this tour (vegan, kosher, nut allergies, dairy-free, or gluten-free diets).

What to bring

Wear comfortable shoes, and bring an umbrella or jacket in case of rain. Tour goes out, rain or shine.

Participation requirements

It is a walking tour, but the pace is slow and comfortable. We recommend comfortable walking shoes since we will be going inside food vendors and strolling old streets.

Overview of Your Tour

Experience authentic Asian cuisine like soup dumplings and roasted pork on our Chinatown walking tour. Stroll through the bustling markets and take in the area’s rich immigrant history. This neighborhood has been Irish, Jewish, and Italian before it was Chinatown​.​ The overlapping experience of all these New York City immigrants is what makes us New Yorkers who we are today, and that’s what your Manhattan Food Tours guide brings to life for you. We bring the culture to life in a way you will never forget.

Frequently Asked Questions

Of course! We love seeing kids reactions to the awesome food and hearing their questions!

The tour lasts about 2 hours, but we will only cover about 0.8 miles of total walking at a relaxed pace.

All tours are held rain or shine. However, we supply ponchos if it rains. We recommend you check the weather forecast to help you choose your shoes and garments and that bring an umbrella.

Restaurant server gratuities are already included in the tour price. While it’s never expected, if you enjoyed your tour and want to give a tip to your tour guide, please do! Most guidebooks and American Express suggest 20% of the full tour price. There is even an option to tip your guide while booking a tour.

Have more questions? Check out our FAQ page!

Check out what our guests are saying, christopher d., february 2018.

Nancy led my wife and I on an awesome food tour of Chinatown. From the honey roast pork at Mulberry Meat Market to the many delicacies of Yeah Shanghai Deluxe, we enjoyed delicious food as well as cool sights and history. Read Full Testimonial

Wonderful combo of interesting history and lots of tasty food. Alex is a great guide who really knows the area and is enthusiasm mkaes the experience great fun. Read Full Testimonial

November 2017

My tour guide Annabel, a New York native, was fantastic. She has a deep knowledge of history and is passionate about NYC. […] I thought the specific places we stopped at and the specific food items selected were spot on. I highly recommend this tour for someone like me who doesn’t know where to begin or where to eat in this fascinating area of NYC. Read Full Testimonial

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(917) 628-4427

THE CHINATOWN EXPERIENCE

CHINATOWN FOOD TOURS

Join me on my walking food tour through Manhattan's Chinatown! We'll weave through the streets discussing the evolution of this historic area while tasting three of my neighborhood favorites. We will also visit Chinatown's largest food market and I will provide insights and explanations on the practices of Chinatown's businesses. 

About Chad!

I'm a chef with the bulk of my experience in New York City fine dining. My interest in Chinese cuisine grew to passion after moving to Manhattan's Chinatown several years ago. This neighborhood became my true home as I built relationships with local small business owners over the years. I’m passionate about sharing my love for Chinatown along with its food and history.

BE IN TOUCH

Let me know what I can do for you including questions regarding special tours or dietary restrictions.

Manhattan Walking Tour uses cookies to give you the best possible service. If you continue browsing, you agree to our use of cookies. More details can be found in our terms and conditions .

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New Tour Alert! SWEETS AND SCREAMS: A SUGARY SWEET GHOST WALK OF GREENWICH VILLAGE

Chinatown Food Tour

Savor Authentic Asian Food

Discover the Immigrant History of This Dynamic Neighborhood

Private Version of Tour Available

Taste the authentic Asian flavors in the heart of the city

Uncover immigrant history in New York City’s vibrant Chinatown. Tales of the struggle and survival so far from home , how the community has maintained its character, and dumplings to die for await you on this mouthwatering food tour . Your palate will be singing, and your mind dazzled as you indulge in the delicious flavors and discover the stories that set this neighborhood apart.

Experience immigrant history…..along with incredible food!

Discover how the neighborhood evolved from its origin as the Five Points

Taste the varied cuisines the neighborhood has to offer including Vietnamese and Malaysian

There are way too many restaurants for one tour! We’ll give you our favorite recommendations for when you’re not with us!

Click the Tabs to Find Out More

Trip details.

• Nearby Tourism Tips

$109, but your best value is the combo tour. This tour combines with our Historic Downtown Tour

Tours require a minimum of 2 guests to open, and then single travelers can join. If you are a single traveler, and are having trouble booking, please email or call.

Departure time

Meeting point.

Upon your reservation, you will receive a confirmation with maps and best mode of transportation to get to your meeting point

Finish Point

Mott Street & Bayard St.

Availability

Seven days a week, rain or shine

Approximately 120 minutes

All tours are semi-private with 8 people or less

All your food and drink at five different spots is included, and a fully qualified, knowledgeable, award-winning tour guide

Subsitutions

Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if required. Any other dietary needs cannot be accommodated on this tour (vegan, kosher, nut allergies, dairy-free or gluten-free diets)

It is a walking tour, but the pace is slow and comfortable

Private Tour Option

All of our tours are available as private tours . Enjoy the same great tour with just your friends and family, and one of our guides. Get in touch to plan your tour today!

What You’ll Do and Eat

Experience immigrant history , along with incredible food on our Chinatown walking tour. We’ll show you the oldest tenement building in New York City, and bring the culture alive, both old and new. New York’s Chinatown is a complex and diverse community. We’ll show you the hidden gems of New York City’s best diverse Asian restaurants and then the best Chinese Ice Cream Factory in the USA. New York’s Chinatown is a complex and diverse expanding Asian community. Let’s not forget that over half of Chinatown is composed of all the other Pacific Rim Nations, so you can get the finest Thai, Vietnamese, Malaysian and Japanese foods here in Chinatown as well . We know the best places to eat in NYC’s “China town.” Where else can you find dumplings with soup in them instead of dumplings in the soup?

This neighborhood has been Irish, Jewish, and Italian before it was Chinatown. The overlapping experience of all these New York City immigrants is what makes us New Yorkers who we are today, and that’s what your Manhattan Walking Tour guide brings to life for you.

Whether it is barbecue pork with honey glaze or just wasabi peas, New York’s Chinatown has it all. Even choosy New York foodies love this tour of Chinatown! This isn’t just a Chinatown food tour-it’s a culinary experience coupled with amazing stories of New York’s history . So come hungry, the food is plentiful – enough for a full lunch and join us in Chinatown for an unforgettable day re-tracing New York’s family history – maybe even yours.

After your tour you will be very close to a lot of other great attractions and neighborhoods. NOHO, Little Italy, Nolita, St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral, the Tenement Museum, City Hall Park. Chinatown’s downtown location is a great place to catch your NYC subway ride. Almost all New York City trains go to the Canal Street stop in Chinatown, meaning fast and easy access to wherever you are coming from or going to.

Remember, we are a custom NYC walking Tour Company and can make your New York tour match you and your wants or needs. We also offer a guided tour of historic downtown that pairs perfectly with Chinatown at a substantial discount . It is seamless and your guide travels with you from one tour to the other. The Chinatown / HistoricDowntown Double Combo tour (opens in a new tab) lasts about 3.5 hours.

Additional Things We Recommend for You to See and Do

For those of you who want to discover New York City landmarks on your own, here is a list that works well with your Chinatown food tour:

• Score major bargains on NYC souvenirs and a world of other merchandise in the stores and bustling sidewalk markets for which this area is famous.
• Head over to the Lower East Side and The Tenement Museum, where you can be immersed in the immigrant history and folklore of New York City.
• Spend time at Ground Zero and the 9/11 Memorial and Museum. Ascend 102 stories above New York City to the One World Observatory in The Freedom Tower, the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere.
• Catch a free ride on the Staten Island Ferry for great views of the Statue of Liberty and the NYC skyline.
• Wander the trendy streets and shops of NYC’s hip Tribeca neighborhood, and maybe even spot a celebrity.
• Enjoy magnificent views of the Brooklyn Bridge from City Hall Park, also a pedestrian access point to this iconic structure known as “the eighth wonder of the world.”
• Visit the storied St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral in Nolita, one of NYC’s oldest surviving churches and where the baptism scene in The Godfather was filmed.

Check Out What Our Guests Are Saying

Lmease750 – testimonials, happy client.

Nancy was a great tour guide, very knowledgable about the area and food. I look forward to doing another food tour with this company.

Wonderful combo of interesting history and lots of tasty food. Alex is a great guide who really knows the area and is enthusiasm makes the experience great fun.

Billy was fantastic. He was really knowledgeable about the area and the food was amazing! We’re all still full!

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A Top NYC Food Tour on TripAdvisor

My boyfriend and I decided to take a food tour of Chinatown and Little Italy to try some new foods and learn about the culture/ history of these neighborhoods and Hannah did not disappoint! As a picky eater, this was a great way to open up a bit more while learning + sightseeing the area. Hannah provided great insight into how these neighborhood + cuisine developed, answered tour and non-tour related questions, and made this a great experience for us. You could tell Hannah truly enjoys sharing this experience and I would recommend this to tourist and locals alike!

A wonderful experience with great food, lots of history, and fun! Shout out to our guide Lily who absolutely made the experience. She was knowledgeable and added lots of fun to the tour!! 11/10, would recommend and even more so if Lily is the guide!!

This tour is amazing. Liz, our guide, was very personable and knowledgeable. We had an array of delicious food from various ethnicities (and plenty to fill you up). We enjoyed learning the history of Nolita and walking around to see it. I also love this is a woman owned small business. I highly recommend the tour!

Liz S was amazing and a great tour guide! She gave the history and information about what we were eating and we learned a lot on the trip.

Amazing tour - Maryana was THE BEST. Delicious food and so much history, perfect activity to do with teens.

The tour was amazing! I consider myself a foodie and this met all my needs. Valerie was the BEST tour guide - she is full of energy and made the entire tour so much fun. I asked what other tours she did just so I can come back! Definitely would recommend 10/10!!

We took 4 food tours while on our trip and this one is by far the best! Patrick was FANTASTIC and got us trying foods that we never would have stumbled upon on our own. We sampled tons of wonderful food and learned so much history about the city. We left full and will definitely do it again next visit!

Little Italy & Chinatown Food Tour

Enjoy the best food tour of little italy & chinatown.

Enjoy our signature 2-hour authentic food tour of two wonderful NYC neighborhoods. Embark on a Delectable Culinary Adventure with Our NYC Food Tour – Indulge in the Best of Little Italy’s Pizza, Chinatown’s Dumplings, and More from Iconic Street Vendors! Uncover the Rich History and Authentic Flavors of These Legendary Neighborhoods with Our Expert Guides.

Meeting Location: 119 Baxter St, New York, 10013 Your guide will be standing outside the black door that says “119” checking guests in on a phone/tablet. Guide clothing may vary. We look forward to welcoming you then!

Delight in 4 tastings during your fun & engaging tour, great for tourists and locals alike:

• Four different food tastings in locations that blend together rich history, rich culture, and even richer flavors!
• Tickets include all the tastings, more than enough for lunch
• Visit our favorite family-owned shops, support NYC locations that are off-the-beaten-path, and enjoy the history of establishments that have been in business for over 100 years.
• Feel connected with our smaller group sizes led by historian tour guides who want to create a custom, unforgettable experience

Food Tour Highlights:

• Satisfaction Guaranteed, tours run rain or shine! We never miss a bite!
• Photography Encouraged, see the lights of Little Italy and the lanterns (for good luck) of Chinatown!
• All people with all dietary restrictions are welcome! Whether you’re gluten free, vegan, vegetarian, or lactose intolerant, we have plenty of great options for you!
• We run tours daily at from 11 AM to 1 PM

Our Delicious Tastings (family run businesses, some 100 years & older)

• A traditional Chinese sponge cake (Vietnamese coffee available too!)
• An authentic Chinese Dim Sum dumpling
• A slice of pizza from the best spot on Mulberry Street
• Everyone’s favorite Sicilian pastry, the cannoli

Book Today!

Please click the button bellow to book a NYC Food Tour tour.

ANY QUESTIONS?

How to Eat Flushing: A One-Day Food Tour of NYC's Greatest Chinatown

Time and again we've extolled the virtues of Flushing, the Queens neighborhood at the end of the number 7 line that's home to one of New York's largest and best-fed Chinese communities. Few places in this city will feed you better or cheaper, and with an empty stomach and strong resolve, you can fill up on killer dumplings, noodles, and crispy cumin lamb all within a few blocks.

When travelers to New York ask me where to eat, I send them to Flushing. When locals ask me about a new restaurant I'm excited about, the answer's often there. But let's say you have just one day to take a whirlwind tour of the neighborhood. What do you need to try?

Flushing veterans each have their own list of must-eats, and some may disagree with mine. But after years of leading groups of neophytes to feast around Flushing's busy streets, I've come up with an itinerary that's managed to satisfy the most ardent chowhounds. Take a few friends and, depending on how much you devour, you can get away with spending less than $40 a head all day.

Don't eat breakfast.

Mid-Morning Dumplings (and the Food Court of Your Dreams)

Hop off the 7 train and make your way up Main Street to a grubby-looking complex called the Golden Shopping Mall . There, you'll find two floors packed with food stalls hawking everything from hand-pulled noodles to spicy lamb sandwiches (this is one of the first locations of the mini-chain Xi'an Famous Foods ) to exquisite dumplings.

How exquisite? Meet my favorite dumplings in the world : the lamb and green squash dumplings from corner stall Tianjin Dumpling House . This northern Chinese stall sells about 10,000 dumplings a day in over a dozen flavors, but these juicy, aromatic dumplings with tender-yet-chewy skins are the best item on the menu. Also seek out the ace vegetarian dumplings, filled with scrambled egg, glass noodles, and garlic chives. And don't be afraid to ask for some freshly made garlic sauce: raw grated garlic tempered by sesame oil, rice vinegar, and a touch of sugar.

You can get these dumplings (and 98 other varieties) at the nearby Dumpling Galaxy , but they're cheaper here—$5 buys you 12 lamb dumplings—and easier to eat on the run. But do stick around at the Golden Shopping Mall for some fiery Sichuan fare at Chengdu Heavenly Plenty, or Fujian-style tiny wontons at the upstairs Lao Wang Ji shop, or a plate of cold skin noodles from Xi'an. It's hard to go wrong here.

Don't fill up, though. You still have plenty of work to do.

Tianjin Dumpling House

Golden Shopping Mall, 41-28 Main Street, Flushing, NY 11355

Lunch, Part One: More Dumplings

With the Golden Shopping Mall behind you, it's time to start thinking about lunch. But first: appetizers. And yup, you'll be eating more dumplings. Flanking your soon-to-be-lunch-destination are two shops with exceptional wontons in very different styles. If you're feeling ambitious, you can tackle them both, or just stick with one to keep your metabolism from seizing up.

White Bear: A tiny, much-loved shop with a well-known specialty: menu item number six, "wontons in hot oil." Light, juicy pork and vegetable wontons with gossamer skins come dressed in not-actually-spicy chili oil, ground up roasted chili, and nubs of funky, salty preserved mustard root. They're as flavorful a plate of wontons as you could hope for.

135-02 Roosevelt Avenue (on Prince), Flushing, NY 11354

map 718-961-2322

Sifu Chio: Also known as CHML H.K., Inc., this is where you'll find the finest Hong Kong-style wonton noodle soup in New York. The wontons are packed with crisp shrimp and juicy pork, loaded into a rich chicken broth with some leaves of tender greens, and finished off with thin noodles that retain their bite.

Pro-tip: on a nice day, take either of these dumplings to-go and eat them in the quizzically-named Bland Playground across the street.

40-09 Prince Street, Flushing, NY 11354

map 718-888-9295

Lunch, the Main Event: Fu Run

A growing set of Flushing's Chinese demographic hails from Dongbei, a northeastern region of the country with a taste for sturdy griddled buns, doughy wheat noodles and dumplings, and simple country-style meaty seasonings. Witness the Muslim "lamb chop": a rack of lamb ribs braised until fall-apart tender, blitzed with cumin, sesame seeds, and ground chili to set your mouth on fire, battered, and deep fried. It's one of the main reasons you're heading to Dongbei-style Fu Run , but hardly the only one .

Fu Run's fish is also delicious, from delicate whole-fried flounder topped with chili bean paste to nubs of battered "crispy sliced fish" coated with chili and cumin (fish McNuggets!). An unassuming stir-fry of eggplant, taro, and green pepper ("triple delight vegetables") is a reliable hit with a deep, satisfying brown sauce. And for dessert: nubs of taro coated in molten sugar that you pick up with your chopsticks, drop into cold water to set the caramel coating, and pop into your mouth like candy.

map 718-321-1363

I know how you feel now. You are bloated. You have dumpling sweats. You are ready to roll yourself home.

Don't give up. Now's time for a tea break.

Head around the corner and halfway down Roosevelt Avenue to a near-unmarked storefront that leads you down a long hallway. This is in fact one of Flushing's many mini-malls, and if you take the last door on your right, you'll find yourself at Fang Gourmet Tea , a shop where a fiver will buy you a tasting of world-class tea .

Fang specializes in fine teas from China and Taiwan with prices that can climb to several hundred dollars a pound. But for five bucks you can taste any of them in a serene tea ceremony, a half-hour-ish process that shows off the full range and depth of flavors in a tea by steeping it five times. The merchants are some of the city's most knowledgeable but also the most approachable—don't think you need any tea know-how to love this place. And if you're looking for a place to digest your meal(s) in peace, there's no better spot in Flushing.

Fang Gourmet Tea

135-25 Roosevelt Avenue, Flushing, NY 11354

map 888-888-0216 Website

Grocery Break

I know—no more food! (Not yet, anyway.) Instead, we're going grocery shopping, because half the fun of a day in Flushing is bringing the neighborhood home with you.

With 30,000 square feet of space in Flushing's largest shopping mall, JMart is a supermarket to be reckoned with, one of the largest Chinese markets in New York. The selection is astonishingly vast: a lengthy fish and meat counter; aisles and aisles of sauces, condiments, sweets, and instant meals; high quality produce; dry and bulk goods; frozen dumplings, seafood, and buns; and small shops selling Chinese sausage.

Also of note is a small stand called New Flushing Bakery , the sister shop to the location on Roosevelt and Main, and home to New York's finest egg custard tart . Go for the Portuguese variety with its vanilla-flavored custard, burnished top, and beyond-flaky crust. It's best fresh from the oven, but a room temperature tart for the subway ride home is always a good idea.

New World Mall, 136-20 Roosevelt Avenue, Flushing, NY 11354

map 718-353-0551 Website

Dinner: Barbecue or Dosas

It's getting close to dinner time, but your appetite may not be back yet. So that's why your next stop will take you on a 15-minute walk outside of downtown Flushing and into the neighboring suburban communities. Hike one way and you'll hit Murray Hill, a Korean enclave with some great barbecue restaurants. Walk up Kissena Boulevard instead and you'll eventually find a large Indian community clustered near a beautiful Hindu temple.

Mapo: If you're feeling the craving for flame-licked Korean barbecue, Mapo is tops , with its real-deal charcoal grill (for a smoke flavor that will permeate your meat and your clothes) and superior marbled short rib for kalbi . The banchan here are plentiful and delicious, and sides like soups are deeply flavorful (and may come on the house if you're nice).

But this place is really all about the beef: order the kalbi (and plenty of it) and watch the servers grill, flip, and snip your barbecue to perfect doneness; no sauce required to cover up this beautiful meat. A meal here is a little pricier than other barbecue spots, but the upgrade in quality is certainly worth it.

149-24 41st Avenue, Flushing, NY 11355

map 718-886-8292

Ganesh Temple Canteen: For something completely different, visit the basement of America's oldest Hindu temple for a taste of the finest dosas in New York . The temple's canteen, which is open to the public seven days a week, serves a whole roster of south Indian vegetarian food, but crackly-crisp, ultra-buttery dosas are the best of the lineup. Try the paneer dosa, with chunks of paneer folded into spicy mashed potato, and the ghee roast, shaped like a traffic cone and loaded, if you can imagine it possible, with even more browned-butter flavor than the others.

While eating at Mapo can get pricey—as much as $50 a head for a big, meaty meal with drinks—you can stuff a crowd of eight at the canteen for 40 bucks.

Ganesh Temple Canteen

45-57 Bowne Street, Flushing, NY 11355

map 718-460-8484 Website

And for the Subway Home

You've done the hard work now and you're ready for a nice trip home on the 7 train. If you haven't bought some already, head to the Roosevelt-and-Main location of New Flushing Bakery to pick up an egg custard tart. Do note they run out in the late afternoon and close for the evening.

Fortunately, Coco is open later and is even better for soothing stomachs. The international chain makes consistently delicious, high quality tea; you can control the level of sweetness, and the bubbles are fresh with a soft chew. My go-to refreshing specialty: a tart, bracing grapefruit green tea with no milk or bubbles whatsoever. It's exactly what you need after a feast day of epic proportions.

CoCo Fresh Tea & Juice

39-22 Main Street, Flushing, NY 11354

map 718-321-8566 Website

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Our Guide to New York City’s Chinatown

By Betsy Blumenthal

Emerging from the Canal Street station in Chinatown is an experience. There's not only the sensory overload—the aroma of roast duck, the striking visual of the neon green “hair” on hot pink rambutan in a fruit vendor's cart, and the cacophony of hawkers, passersby, and traffic—but also the uncanny warping of time. More than most of New York 's other neighborhoods, Chinatown is a time capsule lined with generations-old family-run businesses. But it is undoubtedly one of the most dynamic neighborhoods in all of New York City; its long history is still being written as its streets evolve, with new ventures emerging between the storefronts of the old guard. It's this juxtaposition that makes Chinatown so intriguing.

But the coronavirus pandemic has been particularly harsh on the neighborhood. Beyond the ubiquitous business closures that erased decades of history, the racist stigma associated with the virus led to attacks on the city's Asian American Pacific Islander communities. But Chinatown—and its residents—are resilient. The next generation of business owners is already reshaping the bright future of the neighborhood, reviving some classics and introducing their own spins on cuisine, commerce, and culture. Before the pandemic, Nancy Yao Maasbach, president of the neighborhood's Museum of Chinese in America, told Condé Nast Traveler she believed "there’s never been a more exciting time for this neighborhood in New York City." And while she might not have predicted the challenges faced by Chinatown over the last 18 months, her sentiment is perhaps even more true today.

To help get you started on your own journey through the neighborhood, we've collected our favorite things to do in Chinatown below.

This article appeared in the September/October 2021 issue of Condé Nast Traveler. Subscribe to the magazine here .

The greatest hits

On the corner of Mott and Mosco, down a dark flight of stairs, unassuming neighborhood stalwart Hop Kee has been serving up no-frills Cantonese fare since 1968—but the lack of fuss is exactly why you go (and why Anthony Bourdain loved it). Slide into a booth and order the crabs Cantonese style, served in a rich brown sauce, and the salted squid with spicy green pepper. Over on East Broadway, Hwa Yuan Szechuan ’s white tablecloths are great for a dressed-up family dinner or a Friday night on the town; for something more low-key, Noodle Village on Mott is the perfect casual spot to roll into around 4 p.m. on a Saturday for steaming bowls of pork wonton noodle soup. On Doyers, Nom Wah Tea Parlor has been open since 1920, making it the oldest continuously running restaurant in Chinatown—and it’s still buzzing today, with locals and visitors who pack in each weekend for dim sum staples like shrimp shumai and Shanghainese soup dumplings. By contrast, Mee Sum Cafe on Pell Street feels like a place that time forgot, with hulking dun-colored cash register and metal barstools crowned with burnt-orange leather. Order one of the banana-leaf-encased sticky rice bundles, which sit by the dozens in trays on the counter, and a whole fish, marinated in soy sauce and scallions, if it’s available.

New kids on the block

Though Koreatown is technically three miles north, some of the best KFC—Korean fried chicken, that is—is on Pell Street, where Boka Korean Fried Chicken opened in 2019. Do a 10-piece order, along with a gut-busting helping of bulgogi French fries and a watermelon soju cocktail—served straight from a mini melon. Tonii’s Fresh Rice Noodle on Bayard opened in October of 2019, though with its scuffed white floors, random stoner art, and half-empty boxes of supplies, it looks more like it’s moving out than in. But the young crew behind the counter makes you forget all that—as do the pillowy rice noodles, with fresh shrimp and roasted duck. Tucked beneath the Manhattan Bridge, Hak Box is a sliver of a store at all of 200 square feet, but its namesake Hak Rolls, rice noodles stuffed with scallions and coated in bits of Spam and dried shrimp, are worth the squeeze. Fong On , the next-gen incarnation of the shuttered neighborhood staple Fong Inn Too, sits on a quiet stretch of Division, with red floors and white tiles that feel unimposing but cool.

Indulge your sweet tooth

Traditionally, Chinese meals end with something light, like a platter of seasonal fruit; full-fledged dessert items are typically reserved for snack time, and in Chinatown there is no shortage of snacks to be had. Start at Keki Modern Cakes on Mott Street, where the sweet scent of baked sugar hits you the second you step inside. The shop is known for its “bouncy cheesecake,” but the fluffy cream puffs, loaded with fillings like bright purple ube and delicate matcha, are every bit as memorable. Continue down Mott to Pinklady Cheese Tart , a tiny four-stool joint that sells exquisite tartlets (be sure to sample the nutty black sesame), delicately packaged in individual boxes, before backtracking to Alimama Tea , a hip café on Bayard with polished concrete floors, exposed brick walls, and a jumble of fairy lights hanging in the window that will delight Instagram influencers. Both the cartoonishly pink lychee rose tea and Onyx mochi doughnut, dredged in a shiny chocolate lacquer with flecks of gold and silver, taste as good as they’ll look in your feed. But on a hot summer’s day, there’s nothing better than heading a block west on Bayard for red-bean scoops (ideally in an M&M- studded sugar cone) from the Original Chinatown Ice Cream Factory .

Do try this at home

To re-create the flavors of Chinatown in your own kitchen, hit Po Wing Hong , whose ruby-red awning—and the shopping attendant who diligently parks customers’ rolling carts outside—makes visits feel like a trip to the theater. Inside, the space opens up to reveal long aisles stocked with everything from bottled sauces and bagged noodles to purplish dried sausages and slick jellyfish slices. (You can also pick up dried goods like plums and sea cucumbers, sold by weight.) Aqua Best , on Grand, sells glistening fluke, branzino, and sea bass, all propped up on ice. If your day starts early, swing by the fruit stands flanking both sides of Mulberry Street near the intersection of Grand: Vendors hawk fresh oranges and just- ripe cherries, prickly dragon fruit, and unwieldy durian beneath multicolored beach umbrellas.

Laura Kiniry

Stacey Lastoe

Jemima Sissons

Shop till you drop

CT Seafood Mart, on the corner of Grand and Chrystie, is a clearinghouse for everything from fresh produce and seafood to pastel-colored bedspreads and bamboo-tile car-seat covers. On Mott, K.K. Discount Store is packed with silverware, rolling pins, and mocha pots of every size; there’s also plenty to covet at the tiny Ting Yu Hong Co., including wooden sandals, delicately wrapped soap bars, and (in a nod to its 1950s origins) the occasional cigarette holder. Now five generations in, Wing on Wo & Co. is Chinatown’s oldest store; make an appointment to browse its exquisite porcelain goods, suitable for everyday use (a turquoise soy bottle) and special occasions (a jade-handle mirror). Beauty haven oo35mm stocks slather-worthy tinctures like Beauty of Joseon Radiance Cleansing Balm. Other noteworthies include Chen’s Watch Inc. , a spot that deals in shiny vintage pocket watches and grandfather clocks from the likes of Le Coultre, and Bok Lei Po Trading Inc. , a martial-arts supply store with a trove of Feiyue shoes and Jing Wu three-button shirts.

Walk it off

Head to Columbus Park’s Dr. Sun Yat-sen Plaza to watch elders play card games for a crowd, or stop at the Chinatown Fair Family Fun Center , a pitch-dark arcade on Mott, for a few rounds of ice ball. Don’t miss the Maya Lin–designed Museum of Chinese in America on Centre, which traces the history of the diaspora. Recently reopened after a devastating fire in January 2020, it’s free for all through September 19.

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New York Food Tour - Secret Food Tours

Hey, let me tell you something about NYC... There are countless places to visit and mouth-watering bites to try, but it can be challenging when it comes to choosing the right ones and really getting the best out of your time in the Big Apple.

But don't worry! We've got you covered with three amazing Secret Food Tours experiences that are guaranteed to tantalize your taste buds! You can savor the iconic flavors of Greenwich Village, indulge in the historic charm of Bensonhurst in Southwest Brooklyn or even discover international specialties in Chinatown and Little Italy. So what are you waiting for? Let's eat!

Our Best-Selling food experience in NYC, and not by chance! Let our local guides lead you on an award winning adventure of the city's quintessential foods!

Experience the vibrant food scenes of Chinatown and Little Italy in NYC! Our guides will take you on an unforgettable culinary journey, introducing you to family-owned businesses that have been serving up delicious dishes for generations!

Discover Brooklyn's gastronomical secrets by understanding how this home to immigrants - from the Netherlands, England, Italy, Eastern Europe, Asia, and Latin America - has become a must-visit place in NYC for trendsetters and foodies!

Step back in time and discover the captivating history and culture of New York with our range of cultural and historical tours. From the famous Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island Tour to the scenic Central Park and The Met Museum Private Tour, we offer an amazing variety of options for you to choose from.

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Queens Food Tour

Asia in Queens: Exploring NYC’s Largest Chinatown

Immerse yourself in America's most diverse Chinatown

Taste the subtle differences between regional noodle dishes

Feast your way through an underground food court packed with obscure delicacies

Feel the steam waft from a basket of freshly steamed dumplings

Meet the master of Flushing's greatest roast duck

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On our Flushing food tour – a full-day stroll through New York’s largest Asian neighborhood – we’ll explore the area’s almost mind-blowing culinary diversity.

A trip to Flushing can feel like taking a trip through Asia itself.

This diversity is perhaps best represented through Flushing’s stellar food scene. On this walk through the neighborhood, we’ll explore the area’s almost mind-blowing culinary diversity while also learning about Flushing’s fascinating history. We’ll visit vendors, the outdoor stands of local restaurants and some of Flushing’s mall-based food courts – considered by locals to have some of the area’s best eats – tasting delicacies from China, Korea, Vietnam and other countries. From stalls selling Hong Kong-style dim sum and snacks to bakeries turning out the Korean take on French pastries and a visit to a local kimchi maker, we’ll dive deep into the best that the neighborhood has to offer. On our Flushing food tour, we’ll take a look at some of area’s unique cultural markers, from a storefront Daoist temple to the Flushing Quaker Meeting House, built in 1694 – a testament to the important role the area, originally a Dutch settlement, has played in the history of New York.

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