Lower East Side Food Tour: Taste NYC’s American Dream
Overview
Available languages
3 hours
Mobile ticket
Join this 3-hour New York City walking tour to sample the best ethnic foods in the Lower East Side. But this experience includes much more than sampling delicious foods, as you’ll learn about the history of the dishes, establishments, sites, and people along the way from your guide.
Additional Info
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
This tour was created as well-balanced and thoughtful gastronomy experience (Ethnic dishes samples) and features visits to establishments that are not always able to cater to all dietary requirements. Unfortunately, this tour cannot cater for vegans and gluten allergies, intolerances. For any specific dietary request, we need to know 24 h before the tour start time.
Experience happens rain, shine, or snow unless such weather constitutes a dangerous situation.
This is a child-friendly tour. Children under the age of 6 are permitted to join this tour free of charge. Please inform us at the time of booking if you’ll be bringing a child under the age. Children between the ages of 6 and 11 inclusively are permitted on this tour at the adult’s rate. Please inform us at the time of booking if you’ll be bringing a child between 6 and 11 years old. You can do so in the special requirements box on the checkout page
Suitable for all ages and fitness levels, but please note that this tour covers 1.6 km (1 mile) of walking.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
Friendly Local, English-speaking food lover guide
Stroll in the Lower East Side, Chinatown, and Little Italy on 3 hours food walking tour
Get tips on what else to see, do and eat during your stay
Sample 4 historic dishes on 4 Food stops (dish samples such as dumplings, pizza, knish, empanada)
See 100-year old bakery, churches, and historic New York sites
Gratuities
Drinks and additional food
What To Expect
African Burial Ground National Monument
We discuss the discovery of the burial ground and the building of the memorial and monument, including the significance of some of the design. We also talk a little bit about the early African experience in New York through those that were brought here as slaves and those that were freed.
New York City Supreme Court
We talk about the history of the surrounding area that was once a poor Irish community and before that a polluted pond. You get to see the building that is now most famous for being featured on most episodes of Law & Order.
Options
Small Group Tour
Small Group Tour
Private Tour
Reviews
1,019 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Delicious Dive into LES History – Highly Recommended!
T7782LGadamm,
Nov 15, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00The Lower East Side Food Tour was great. Listening to the guide's stories of old bakeries, churches, and historic sites made it seem as if NYC's American Dream came alive before our eyes. Empanadas, dumplings and Italian delicacies at the four stops - everything tastes great. Being a small group, I got personal attention. There was only a little more walking, so comfortable shoes should be worn.
Brilliant
adamdA3718NS,
Nov 1, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Great tour and wonderful guide, Alex was super knowledgeable and easy going. Would definitely recommend this tour!!!
Amazing food.
Inspire30049368516,
Nov 1, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Was a great tour, Alex our guide was amazing. Dumplings were the best food on the tour and loved the seeing little Italy and China town.
A must do: NYC Food Tour
Magee707,
Oct 31, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We were not sure what to expect in a Food Tour but Erik was amazing and kept us totally engaged with the history of today's New York and how migrants have played an important role in what we see. Walking through the past with a taste to a man's heart#Food#. This tour carried its own experience, fast paced and attention seeking. Highly recommended when visiting NYC. Thank you Erik for making our visit so enjoyable and guiding us how to spend the rest of our day.
Awesome cultural experience
424anitac,
Oct 29, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We enjoyed the food tour with Lee very much, especially his detailed stories and historical accounts. Highly recommend!
Fabulous Experience!
lastminutetraveler98,
Oct 23, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This tour was a highlight of our trip to New York City. Lee is an exceptional tour guide and an absolute delight — we learned so much through his knowledge of the neighborhoods which he brought to life with storytelling, humor, and food tastings. We loved it!
Good walking history tour
Elizabeth S,
Oct 22, 2025
- Review from Viator
4.00The tour guide was super knowledgeable and friendly. I will say this was more of a walking tour about immigration history of NYC (very interesting!) with some food along the way, vs a tour centered around food. There was only one stop we actually went inside a restaurant and sat down for a minute, the rest was all outdoors, walking. So be prepared! This being said I wasn’t disappointed, it was just different than other food tours I’ve been on that are focused on.
Good foody tour
RIchard035,
Oct 21, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00David took us on this tasting tour of China Town, Little Italy and the Lower East Side. There were only 6 of us on the tour which made it quite personal. 4 others didn't turn up which meant we started a bit late as we waited 15 minutes for them. We didn't lose out though as the tour lasted slightly more than its allotted 3 hours. We were provided with a good history of the area and its different waves of immigrants. We stopped for a number of snacks along the way. Being vegetarian was not a problem. We had specially made vegetable dumplings and a Portuguese tart (as made in Macau) in China Town. We then had some artisan cheese in Little Italy. David was intending to take us to a donut shop (I'm not sure of the relevance of this) but this was closed so we had an excellent slice of pizza instead. We ended up with a pastry in Essex Market on the Lower East Side. Disappointingly, we never go the promised knish. We had plenty of time in Chinatown and Little Italy but thought that the final part of the tour in the Lower East Side was a bit rushed.
Wonderful View into The Lower East Side
Kathleen124224,
Oct 12, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I highly recommend the Lower East Side Food Tour. Erik was a wonderful guide who shared both the history and flavors of that neighborhood. The pace was perfect and Erik delivered the tour in a fun and information rich manner. Definitely a great way to learn about NYC's Lower East Side.
Best Tour of the lower " New Amsterdam"
A7981XVkatherineg,
Oct 10, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Erik was an amazing tour guide. He has so much knowledge of the history of the neighborhoods. This was a GREAT way to try some treats and get a feel for the layout of that area and the history of it! I would highly recommend this to anyone, new or veteran of NYC. - Katie Gray
From $80.56
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Operated by Intrepid Urban Adventures - USA