Chinatown Food Tour Philadelphia: Dumplings & Peking Duck

Taste your way through Chinatown with a guide who grew up eating there

A guided food tour of Philadelphia's Chinatown led by a Chinese-native guide, stopping at small local restaurants to taste dumplings, Szechuan, Cantonese, peking duck and boba tea while learning the neighborhood's cultural history. The tour covers nearly all corners of Chinatown in 2.5 hours, with water provided at seated stops and substitutions available for vegetarians and pescatarians.

Step-by-step itinerary

Guided food and culture tour in Chinatown

• Explore Chinatown corners
• Visit local restaurants
• Taste diverse Asian cuisines
• Learn Chinatown history and culture
• Discover cultural stores and shops
• Hear personal stories from guide

The experience

You arrive in Chinatown with a free afternoon and no plan. The guide meets you and starts walking the neighborhood's corners, not the tourist strip, but the blocks where the culture actually lives. You'll stop at small, locally-owned restaurants, each one chosen because it represents a different Asian cuisine or a piece of the community's story. The route itself is the curriculum: you taste, you learn why that dish matters, you move on.

The tastings come in sequence: dumplings first, then Szechuan, Cantonese snacks, peking duck, and boba tea to finish. Water is provided at each seated stop so you're never thirsty between neighborhoods. The guide is a Chinese native who knows the history of how Chinatown came to be in Philadelphia, and they share it not as a lecture but as someone who has lived it. You'll learn a new phrase in Cantonese, pick up insider tips about where locals actually eat, and walk past cultural shops and grocery stores that anchor the community. If you've never used chopsticks, the guide knows. This tour is built for first-timers and seasoned eaters alike. Vegetarians and pescatarians get substitutions without asking twice.

The whole thing takes 2.5 hours and covers nearly every corner of the neighborhood on foot. You're moving, tasting, stopping to listen, then moving again. By the end you'll have tried something new, and you'll know Chinatown as more than a place to eat. You'll know it as a place where multiple Asian communities have built something together.

What’s included

• Tastings of dumplings, Szechuan, Cantonese snacks, peking duck and boba tea at local restaurants.
• water at all seated stops.
• a Chinese-native guide who shares cultural history, personal stories and insider tips.
• and a walk through nearly all corners of the neighborhood covering historic and cultural sites like zodiac medallions, grocery stores and cultural shops.

Before you book

Days and timesSaturday and SundayDeparts at 11:30

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (8 and older) · Under 8: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 10 · max 8 per booking

Live guideEnglish and Chinese

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 if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPublic transport nearby

Operated by City Food Tours

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to eat like a local instead of following a guidebook. The guide is from Chinatown and chooses restaurants based on what the community actually eats, not what tourists expect. The 2.5-hour pace means you taste multiple cuisines and neighborhoods without rushing or spending the whole day on food.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Chinese.

What kinds of food will I taste on this Chinatown tour?

The tour includes dumplings, Szechuan, Cantonese snacks, peking duck, and boba tea, all sourced from small local restaurants. Water is provided at each seated stop.

How long does the Chinatown food tour take?

The tour runs 2.5 hours and covers nearly all corners of the neighborhood on foot, with stops at multiple restaurants along the way.

Can I do this tour if I've never used chopsticks before?

Yes, the tour is designed for first-timers as well as experienced eaters. The guide will help, and there's no pressure or judgment about how you eat.

What does the guide tell you about Chinatown's history?

The guide is a Chinese native who shares personal stories and insider knowledge about how Philadelphia's Chinatown came to be, the role of cultural shops and grocery stores, and the multiple Asian communities that built the neighborhood.

Are there options for vegetarians and pescatarians?

Yes, substitutions are easily offered for both vegetarians and pescatarians, so you can participate fully in the tastings.

What time does the tour depart?

The tour departs at 12:30pm. The guide speaks English and Chinese.