Lower East Side Food Tour: Taste NYC’s American Dream

1,022 Reviews 4.85 out of 5 stars Based on 1,022 reviews collected by Cool New York City and TripAdvisor | Recommended by 97% of reviewers |
Badge of Excellence |Badge of Excellence This experience is highly rated by travelers and has met our top quality standards.
New York City, USA

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Don't miss out!
On average, this is booked 11 (1) days in advance.

3 hours (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Instant confirmation
Offered in: English

Overview

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.

What's Included

  • 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)
  • Gratuities
  • Drinks and additional food
See 2 moreSee 2 more

Meeting Location

Meeting point

Broadway
New York, NY 10007, USA

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Detailed check-in instructions, including the exact address, are provided with your booking confirmation.

End point

Lower East Side
New York, NY, USA

Your tour ends in the heart of the Lower East Side neighborhood (New York, NY 10002)

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.
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5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

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.
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5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Columbus Park

We briefly walk through this park on the edge of Chinatown and talk about what used to be here: the notorious neighborhood of the Five Points. We discuss the Irish immigration and show photos of what the neighborhood used to look like.
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5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Chinatown

We walk through part of the neighborhood, discuss Chinese immigration, and visit a dumpling shop that is a local favorite. We also give tips on where else to visit in the large community.
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20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Little Italy

We head up and around Mulberry Street and discuss Italian immigration. We get to see some amazing modern street art, hear stories about organized crime, and visit an historic local Italian food shop for a delicious tasting.
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20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Nolita

We cruise through one of the most trendy neighborhoods in New York today and discuss the changing neighborhood. This used to be Little Italy, but today it’s loaded with hip bars and restaurants and we get to see some of the best street art in the city.
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15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Basilica Of St. Patrick's Old Cathedral

As we walk through Nolita, you get a chance to see the original St. Patrick’s and learn about the hardships Catholic immigrants first suffered when coming to this country.
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5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Sara D Roosevelt Park

Learn about the history of this park, named for FDR’s mother, and take a quick stroll through the northern end. We’ll also stop at the M’Finda Kalunga Garden inside the park to discuss Latin American immigration and how this neighborhood has changed throughout the decades.
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10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Lower East Side

See the transformation of the neighborhood from an area filled with run-down tenements and poverty to one that is currently being gentrified. See lots of great street art and community gardens. Learn about Jewish, German, and Latin American immigration in this neighborhood and sample some traditional food.
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30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Tenement Museum (Pass By)

We share stories about the founding of the museum and its important part in Lower East Side history. Our tour ends very close to the museum and our guides can give you tips on how to get tickets and explore their excellent gift shop.
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Show 8 more stops

Additional Info

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
  • Can dietary requirements be accommodated on this tour? This tour is designed as a well‑balanced and thoughtfully curated gastronomy experience featuring ethnic dish samples. As we visit establishments that are not always able to accommodate all dietary needs, we are unfortunately unable to cater for vegans or guests with gluten allergies or intolerances. For any other specific dietary requests, please inform us at least 24 hours prior to the tour start time so we can plan accordingly.
  • What happens if the weather is bad? This experience runs rain, shine, or snow. In the rare case that weather conditions pose a safety risk, the tour may be postponed or canceled for guest safety.
  • Is this tour child-friendly? Yes! This tour is suitable for families. Children under 4 years old can join free of charge. A reduced child price applies for children aged 4 to 11.

Frequently Asked Questions

(6)

Q: What is the cancellation policy for the Lower East Side Food Tour: Taste NYC’s American Dream?

A: You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund. For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (EST). Read more Apr 2025

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.

Still have questions?

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Activity code: C-5713SUNB

Traveler Photos

Reviews

4.85
1,022 reviews

Average 4.85 out of 5 stars based on 1,022 traveler reviews collected by Cool New York City and partner sites such as Cool Destinations and TripAdvisor

5 stars
931
4 stars
56
3 stars
18
2 stars
11
1 star
6

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Don't miss out!
On average, this is booked 11 (1) days in advance.

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What's Included

Activity name

  • 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
  • Friendly Local, English-speaking food lover guide
  • Gratuities
  • Drinks and additional food

Additional Info

Activity name

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Can dietary requirements be accommodated on this tour? This tour is designed as a well‑balanced and thoughtfully curated gastronomy experience featuring ethnic dish samples. As we visit establishments that are not always able to accommodate all dietary needs, we are unfortunately unable to cater for vegans or guests with gluten allergies or intolerances. For any other specific dietary requests, please inform us at least 24 hours prior to the tour start time so we can plan accordingly.
  • What happens if the weather is bad? This experience runs rain, shine, or snow. In the rare case that weather conditions pose a safety risk, the tour may be postponed or canceled for guest safety.
  • Is this tour child-friendly? Yes! This tour is suitable for families. Children under 4 years old can join free of charge. A reduced child price applies for children aged 4 to 11.
  • Is this tour suitable for all ages and fitness levels? Yes! This tour is suitable for guests of all ages and fitness levels. Please note that it includes approximately 1.6 km (1 mile) of walking, at a relaxed pace with regular stops.
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 14 travelers

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Free Cancellation

100% refund
No refund

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.

  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (EST).

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Cool Rewards Terms & Conditions

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Cool Rewards

  • Cool Rewards is a loyalty program operated by Cool Destinations. Rewards may be earned by any eligible person holding a Cool Destinations account, subject to the Cool Destinations customer Terms of Use.

Earning rewards

  • Rewards can be earned by making bookings on the Cool Destinations website. You will be able to see the value of the rewards you can earn during the booking process.
  • Earned rewards will be issued in a pending state and will move to a confirmed state 24 hours after the start time of the experience.
  • Earned rewards will be available to redeem once they are no longer in a pending state.
  • For bookings that are moved to a different travel date, the rewards will be redeemable after the amended travel date.
  • If a booking where rewards were issued is canceled, the earned rewards will not be redeemable and will be moved to a canceled state.

Redeeming rewards

  • To redeem rewards, you must be logged into your Cool Destinations account.
  • Any available rewards will be automatically applied the next time you make a booking, and their value will be deducted from your order at checkout, unless you choose not to apply them, which requires you to indicate this via the toggle switch. Bookings made using rewards are subject to the standard Cool Destinations Customer Terms of Use.
  • You will not be able to redeem only a portion of your available rewards at checkout. It is only possible to redeem all or none of your available rewards.
  • There is no minimum order value required to redeem your rewards. This means that you can pay for 100% of your order with rewards.
  • Rewards are non-transferable and cannot be redeemed for cash.
  • If rewards are redeemed against a booking that is canceled or refunded, the rewards will be reissued to your account.

Miscellaneous

  • You can check your Cool Destinations account to see the rewards you have collected at any time. You are responsible for ensuring that your rewards balance is correct.
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  • By earning and redeeming rewards, you agree to these Terms and Conditions, as well as any subsequent changes made to them.