Worth it! Food tour of New York City

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ByKaren Dawkins

We’ve made several trips to New York City over the past couple years. Our last trip, we finally booked a food tour of New York City, and wow! I wish we had taken one on an earlier trip. Our food tour was delicious — and informative!

Group posing for a photo during a food tour in New York City Chinatown.

We enjoyed a complimentary tour of Chinatown and Little Italy with Ahoy New York Tours and Tasting, but had no obligation to write a review.

Lily, our guide, is a New York City native with an upbeat personality, great organization and a solid understanding of New York’s history. She managed food allergies and special dietary requests in a quiet and professional manner. She was spectacular!

What to expect on a food tour of New York City

We scheduled a walking food tour of New York City. Our tour began at the Silk Road Cafe on Mott Street in Chinatown.

Chinese tea and a bun from Fay Da Bakery with menu for food tour in the background.
Starter of tea and bun, enjoyed while Lily shared early Chinatown history.

Ahoy Food Tours of New York provides only small group tours, so there was plenty of seating at the restaurants we visited.

Table set for food tour New York City group.
Table set and ready for our group to arrive

And, as we walked through Chinatown and Little Italy, it was easy to hear what Lily had to share about each neighborhood’s history.

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During our tour, we saw another food tour with 30+ participants. The guide carried a flag so participants could find him and they huddled on sidewalks outside restaurants. Ours was much more like a group of friends traveling together.

PRO TIP! When booking a food tour of New York City (or anywhere, really), look for small group tours! The personal attention and ease of travel through city streets definitely makes the experience more special.

When taking a walking food tour, wear comfortable shoes and dress for the weather. City sidewalks and historic buildings aren’t always level, so comfortable shoes really help.

Chinatown Street with group walking on food tour.
Cold, wet weather for our group, but everyone dressed for it. No problem.

As to weather, food tours rarely cancel for rain or snow. Of course, in the case of severe storms or dangerous conditions, they will cancel. In winter, wear layers so you can take off that outer coat when indoors. In summer, consider a sweater or hoodie for air conditioned spaces.

While food tours usually include water and tea or coffee (depending on the stop), you might want a water bottle, especially in summer!

Finally, your food tour booking confirmation will include the starting place. It’s up to you to get there in time for the start of the tour, so make sure you know where your tour starts and how to get there. The New York City subway is quick and convenient. We took it from our hotel to Chinatown and then walked about three blocks to the restaurant where our tour started.

About the Ahoy New York Tour and Tasting

We booked our food tour of New York City directly with the company. They sent a confirmation email at the time of booking. As the tour got closer, they sent a reminder email with the meeting place and time, as well as recommendations for what to wear.

The tour company also asked for food allergy information. Some allergies are harder to accommodate than others, like dairy on a Little Italy food tour. But, Lily and her team did a tremendous job accommodating a vegetarian, two vegans and my shellfish allergy.

A bowl of honey roasted duck over rice.
Honey roasted duck over rice from Hay Hay Roasted.

Our food tour included tastings from 11 different establishments, starting in Chinatown and ending with delicious cannoli in Little Italy.

Along the way, Lily shared the history of how Chinatown developed and evolved through the years. We learned why Cantonese is more prevalent than Mandarin in Chinatown (true of Chinatowns across the United States).

Columbus Park in New York City, with statue and people playing games and pigeons.
A stop at Columbus Park to learn Chinatown history.

We learned about the early slums of New York and how the rich people who lived near Central Park made efforts to improve the area.

We learned about the deadliest corner in New York — where it is (was) and why. We learned how the Italian “mafia” shaped the development of Little Italy.

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We saw murals thoughout both neighborhoods, and learned their meaning.

And, of course, we tasted delicious food like pork buns, potstickers, Hong Kong style sponge cakes (YUM), fresh made pasta, Italian cheeses and eggplant rollatini. Lily explained each food’s history and significance to New York city’s vibrant food scene.

Inside Di Palo's Fine Foods in Little Italy in NYC, showing packaged cheeses, breads, other Italian foods and fall decor.
Inside Di Palo’s Cheese Shop, a Little Italy institution.

Lily’s storytelling, the pace of our food tour and the delicious bites were perfect. Our food tour of New York City surpassed our expectations.

Couple smiling on street in Chinatown with yellow lanterns behind.

We highly recommend that you book a food tour of New York City when you visit. You’ll get plenty to eat as you enjoy food from several restaurants. We booked a tour of Chinatown and Little Italy to learn more about these neighborhoods and their history. But, there are lots of options. Ahoy New York has a Chelsea Market tour, a Nolita (North of Little Italy) tour, and a private tour of Little Italy.

Other companies offer pizza tours, street food tours and secret food tours to name a few. I haven’t experienced them, so read reviews before you book and make sure it’s what you want!

Add a food tour of New York City to your NYC travel plans! And if you’re new to New York, check out our Beginner’s Guide to New York City for more great ideas!