Chinatown & Little Italy Food Tour: 6 dishes, local stories

Taste your way through two neighborhoods' real food and real past

A 3-hour food tour of Chinatown and Little Italy in Lower Manhattan where you taste six dishes at local spots while a guide tells the history of these immigrant neighborhoods, from the Five Points through Columbus Park, Canal Street and into Nolita. The itinerary and menu shift based on what's available that day, so contact the operator about dietary needs before you book.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Chinatown and Little Italy

• Visit Columbus Park in Chinatown
• Walk through vibrant Chinatown streets
• Explore Canal Street shopping area
• Discover Little Italy neighborhood
• Pass through picturesque Nolita

The experience

The tour starts in Columbus Park, the site of the Five Points: a 19th-century immigrant ghetto so dangerous it inspired the film Gangs of New York. From there you walk into Chinatown proper, where the guide points out the markets selling fresh and dried fish, the bubble tea shops, the restaurants packed with locals eating dumplings and hand-pulled noodles. You'll taste crispy handmade dumplings and a freshly baked roast pork bun at stops along the way, then move through Canal Street, the cultural crossroads that connects Chinatown to Little Italy.

In Little Italy, you eat New York Italian pizza and authentic pesto arancini. The final stop brings the signature secret dish. The one that gives the tour its name. The whole route covers Lower Manhattan's densely packed blocks, moving through neighborhoods where the sidewalks are still packed with souvenir stores, herb shops and the kind of cafes where people actually sit. You'll also pass through Nolita, the upscale edge of Little Italy where designer boutiques and weekend street vendors line Prince Street. A guide in English or Spanish walks the whole route with you, sharing stories about how these neighborhoods built themselves.

The 3-hour pace is steady but not rushed. You're eating all the way through, which means you're stopping, tasting, listening. Public transportation is nearby if you need it. The menu can shift based on what the restaurants have that day and the weather, so it's worth confirming any dietary needs with the operator before you go.

What’s included

• Six dishes tasted at local restaurants (crispy handmade dumplings, roast pork bun, Dan Dan noodles, New York Italian pizza, pesto arancini, and the signature secret dish).
• a live guide in English or Spanish.
• walking access to Chinatown, Little Italy, Nolita and the historic Five Points site.

Options for this experience

2 options

Small-Group TourGuide in English · 6 departure times: the first at 11:00, the last at 16:00Enjoy our Chinatown and Little Italy food tour in a small group of no more than 12 people.

Private Tour OptionGuide in English or Spanish · 11:30 and 13:30Choose the private tour upgrade for a food tour of Chinatown and Little Italy reserved exclusively for you and your group.

You pick the guide language when booking.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day7 departure times: the first at 11:00, the last at 16:00

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Youth (13 to 17 years) · Child (3 to 12 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 12

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48h

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Secret Food Tours

Is this one for you?Choose the small-group option if you want to meet other food travelers and hear the neighborhoods' stories from a guide who knows them. Pick the private tour if you'd rather move at your own pace with just your party and ask the guide questions without a crowd around you.

Traveler reviews

4.94★★★★★★★★★★

3,460 verified traveler reviews

5 ★3,349

4 ★66

3 ★18

2 ★16

1 ★11

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

In English, with 7 departure times. In Spanish, at 11:30 and 13:30.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 17 years); Child (3 to 12 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What exactly are the six dishes I'll taste on this tour?

The six dishes are crispy handmade dumplings, a freshly baked roast pork bun, Dan Dan noodles, New York Italian pizza, authentic pesto arancini, and the tour's signature secret dish. The exact stops and menu can change based on restaurant availability and other circumstances, so the operator will confirm the lineup when you book.

Does the tour include transportation between neighborhoods?

The tour is a walking tour through Lower Manhattan, moving on foot from Columbus Park through Chinatown, across Canal Street and into Little Italy and Nolita. Public transportation options are available nearby if you need them, but the walking itself is how you move between stops.

What's the history of the Five Points that the guide talks about?

Columbus Park, where the tour begins, was built in 1897 on the site of the Five Points. A neighborhood that was the most dangerous immigrant ghetto in 19th-century New York. The area was so notorious it became the subject of the book and film Gangs of New York. The guide shares this history as you walk through what is now a public park where locals do Tai Chi, play chess and mahjong.

Can I do this tour if I have dietary restrictions?

Yes, but you need to contact the operator in advance to let them know what you can and can't eat. They'll work with you to make sure the restaurants on the tour can accommodate your needs that day.

Is this tour private or in a group?

You can choose between a private tour or a small-group tour when you book. Both follow the same route and taste the same six dishes. The difference is whether you go with just your party or with other travelers.