Taste The American Dream: A Lower East Side Food Tour

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Duration: 3 hours

Overview

Tacos, dumplings, knishes, bagels; America would be a food wasteland without all the ethnic groups arriving here throughout history. Join this New York tour to learn about those that dared to live the American Dream.

Highlights

  • Discover NYC from a local perspective, with a local guide by your side
  • Hear stories about New York’s early settlers and taste the eclectic mix of food that they bestowed upon us
  • Stroll through New York's unique cultural historic sites in the Lower East Side, Chinatown, and Little Italy
  • Get a glimpse into New York’s immigrant heritage and how it is shaping the city today
  • Sample some of the delicious iconic treats of New York

Included

Included
Local English-speaking guide
Included
4 Food Stops with 4 ethnic dishes samples (expect dish samples such as Chinese dumplings, artisanal cheeses, knish, empanada ...)
Included
Walking tour through Chinatown, Little Italy & Lower East Side
Included
Cultural and historical insights at key neighborhood landmarks

Excluded

Excluded
Additional food
Excluded
Drinks
Excluded
Tips/gratuities for your guide

Important information

Where do we meet?

In front of the African Burial Ground National Monument, across from 7 Elk Street (between Duane and Reade Street), New York, NY 10007

Where does the tour end?

In the heart of the Lower East Side neighborhood (New York, NY 10002)

What is the duration of the tour?

3 hours

What is the group size of this tour?

The maximum number of people on this tour will be 14 passengers.

What If I have particular dietary requirements?

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. Please emails us at email info@newyorkcityurbanadventures.com.

What if I can't find my guide?

If you have any issues on the day of your tour, please call +1 857 294 0068

Can I cancel my tour?

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before activity.

Highlights

More information

Local Impact: How you will help the local community by joining this tour:
  • By joining this tour, you’ll actively support New York City's immigrant ethnic communities—past and present. You'll visit and purchase from locally owned businesses, helping to sustain local eateries and shops that have been part of the city’s fabric for generations.
  • Your experience also promotes cultural preservation, spotlighting iconic New York foods like knishes and bialys. By tasting and learning their stories, you help keep these traditions alive.
  • As gentrification and large-scale development reshape historic neighborhoods, your guide will highlight the impact on local communities and why supporting long-standing, small businesses is more important than ever. This tour helps redirect attention - and spending - toward preserving the authentic character of neighborhoods like the Lower East Side, Chinatown, and Little Italy.

    • Get a true taste of NYC—both culturally and culinarily—on this immersive New York food tour that feeds both body and mind. We begin at the African Burial Ground National Monument, then journey through the Lower East Side, Chinatown, and Little Italy, uncovering stories of struggle, survival, and celebration among the city’s first ethnic communities. Along the way, we’ll pass historic synagogues, 100-year-old bakeries, and landmarks like the Lower East Side Tenement Museum. Feel the legacy of New York’s early Jewish, Chinese, Italian, and Latin American residents through the food they brought and the neighborhoods they built. Sample traditional favorites like knishes, dumplings, and more tasting the enduring cultural imprint left by generations who arrived chasing the American Dream. From the vibrant streets of Chinatown to the hidden corners of the LES, this tour is a flavorful walk through this very diverse and culturally rich area of New York City.