New York's food is fragmented the way the city is fragmented. 20 bookable food tours below — plus the neighbourhoods and dishes the city is built around.
Top picks
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The guide
New York's food is fragmented the way the city is fragmented. Every cuisine is here. Every cuisine is the best in the country at it. The version you get depends entirely on which six-block radius you're in. Half the defining dishes are immigrant inventions (the bagel, the slice, the pastrami sandwich, the chopped cheese). The other half come out of a restaurant economy that runs hotter and crueler than anywhere else in the world. Famous restaurants close after twelve months. An Uzbek bakery in Rego Park has been there for thirty-five years. Eat across boroughs. The cliché that the best food is in Queens is also true.
Where to focus
Four neighbourhoods to anchor a few days of eating
Lower East Side
Old-Jewish-deli holdovers (Russ & Daughters, Katz's), dumpling shops in Chinatown two blocks south, the rare bagel shop that still hand-rolls.
Flushing (Queens)
The largest Chinatown in the Western hemisphere. Sichuan, Northern Chinese, Korean Chinatown adjacent. Take the 7 train; eat your way down Main Street.
Jackson Heights (Queens)
Indian on 74th Street, Tibetan and Nepali on Roosevelt, Colombian and Mexican on the avenues between. One of the densest eating neighborhoods on earth.
Williamsburg / Greenpoint
The current Brooklyn dining strip: natural wine bars, neo-bistros, late-night pizza, plus the older Polish places that have outlasted the gentrification.
What to eat
The dishes the city is known for
- 01
Pizza by the slice
· Foldable, thin-crust, sold from corner shops. Joe's Pizza is the reference for the classic style; ten newer places are arguably better. - 02
Bagel with lox
· Hand-rolled bagel, cured salmon, schmear, capers. The dividing line between real and fake bagel shops is whether they boil and bake on premises. - 03
Pastrami sandwich
· Cured beef, hand-cut thick, on rye with mustard. Katz's is the tourist landmark; the actual best may be Pastrami Queen on the UES. - 04
Chopped cheese
· A Harlem and Bronx bodega sandwich. Beef, onions, cheese, on a hero. Cheap, fast, easy to find within thirty blocks of any subway stop. - 05
Korean fried chicken
· Twice-fried, lacquered, sold in Koreatown 32nd Street boxes. Eat with cured daikon and beer. - 06
Bialys
· Older than the bagel, with an onion-filled depression instead of a hole. Kossar's on the LES is the survivor.
Practical notes
Meal timing, tipping, payment
Tipping in the US is 18–20% on the pre-tax total, more for excellent service. New York adds 8.875% sales tax. Reservations through Resy or OpenTable for anywhere with a name; walk-in seats are common at counter restaurants. The subway is the fastest way between neighborhoods.
All 20 food tours
Viator last revised 2026-11-09The full list · sponsored partner links
- 01
Greenwich Village Food Tour | Tasty Tours NYC
Join us on the ultimate food tour in Greenwich Village. This 2.5-hour tour explores one of New York City’s most vibrant neighborhoods rich with history, sightseeing, and incredible food. On this tour, you'll eat, learn,
2.5h - 02
Greenwich Village Food Tour: 6 Tastings + Iconic Sites
Six tastings, twelve guests, three hours, and one guide who actually lives here. You'll eat your way down Bleecker and MacDougal through the falafel counter, the pizza window, and the fry shop that locals line up for, an
3h - 03
Lower East Side Food Tour in NYC: 6 Tastings + Famous Landmarks
Explore the Lower East Side on a small group, three hour walking tour through one of New York City’s most dynamic neighborhoods. Take in the sights, sounds, and savory food of an area experiencing more change than anywhe
3h from $99 - 04
NYC: Greenwich Village Food Tour with 6 Locals Favorites Dishes
Experience the ultimate New York City food tour in historic Greenwich Village. Led by a local expert, you’ll explore Manhattan’s most iconic neighborhood, famous for its bohemian roots and vibrant culinary scene. This to
3h - 05
Original NYC Food Tour of Chinatown & Little Italy- 8 tastings
The original food tour of Little Italy and Chinatown since 2009 explores the tastes and history of two diverse NYC neighborhoods. The delicious food tastings range from delicious dumplings to a sit-down authentic Itali
3h - 06
#1 Rated NYC Chinatown Food and History Walking Tour with FNYT
3 sit-down INDOOR tastings included with Foods of NY Tours! Chinatown can definitely be intimidating, even for a native New Yorker! It’s a diverse neighborhood with historic landmarks, hidden side streets, delicious foo
3h from $99 - 07
NYC: Chinatown & Little Italy Food Tour with 6 Flavorful Dishes
On our Secret Food Tour: Chinatown and Little Italy, you'll experience New York City’s most iconic neighborhoods. Get ready to experience the rich history, traditions, and flavors of New York City's most internationally
3h - 08
NYC Chinatown & Little Italy Food Tour Full Portions, Great Value
Discover the flavors, stories and cultural heritage of two of New York City's most iconic neighborhoods on a guided Chinatown and Little Italy food tour. Walk through vibrant streets, historic landmarks and hidden corne
2h - 09
NYC: Flushing Chinatown Food Tour – Eat Like a Local
Discover the vibrant heart of New York City's Chinatown in Flushing, Queens, the largest Chinatown in the world. This tour offers an authentic and diverse culinary adventure, surpassing the well-known Manhattan Chinatown
2h - 10
NoLita's Past and Present Food & History Tour with FNYT
HISTORY MEETS ICONIC EATS AND STYLISH BOUTIQUES Tucked off the beaten path between SoHo and Little Italy, NoLita (“North of Little Italy”) is where old-school NY charm meets modern downtown cool. As we stroll through th
3h - 11
Chinatown and Little Italy Food Tour | Tasty Tours NYC
Join us on an epic food tour as we explore Chinatown and Little Italy and try 7 unique foods, learn about the local history, and check out some iconic landmarks. What’s included? - Seven food tastings including dumpling
2h from $85 - 12
Beat the Lines - Viral Food Tour of the West Village
Why choose our food tour? Because we're the only tour that prioritizes quality above hype—and then delivers on both. Some dishes are on Instagram because they're pretty, but others are getting talked about because they'r
2.5h from $99 - 13
The Original Greenwich Village Food & Cultural Tour Since 1999
Join us on a multi-restaurant and specialty food tasting with cultural journey through the charming West Village. Embark on a delicious adventure as we stroll through the charming West Village, a section of Greenwich Vil
3h from $99 - 14
New York Private Food Tour with 6+ Tastings in Greenwich Village
Join our Secret Food Tour: New York – Greenwich Village and eat your way through one of the city’s most iconic and charming neighborhoods. Guided by a passionate local expert, you’ll stroll through historic streets that
3.5h from $340 - 15
SoHo, Little Italy, and Chinatown NYC Guided Walking Tour
Get ready to explore the best of SoHo, Little Italy, and Chinatown! From the charming streets of Chinatown to the trendy streets of SoHo, you’ll discover hidden gems, grab a famous cannoli, and even see where the world’s
2h from $36 - 16
Half-Day Hell's Kitchen Food Tour and Central Park Stroll
You'll experience both our Hell's Kitchen Food Tour and Central Park Walking Tour in this one amazing experience. You will be in heaven on this culinary expedition in one of NYC's most notorious neighborhoods. Hell's Ki
4.5h from $159 - 17
High Line Park and Greenwich Village Food Tour
You'll experience both our High Line Walking Tour and Greenwich Village Food Tour in this one amazing experience! Once an elevated rail line, the High Line fell into a state of decay upon being decommissioned in 1980. T
4h from $159 - 18
Ultimate Chinatown & Little Italy Food Tour in New York City
A lot of the focus of Chinatown tends to be in the historically Cantonese area. In this tour you will experience the entirety of Chinatown. We'll head east to the less-touristy, more Fujianese area, which was once consid
3h from $99 - 19
Private Food Tour in the Upper West Side | Tasty Tours NYC
Join us for an unforgettable walking food tour around the Upper West Side, which is known for its leafy streets, stunning architecture, and vibrant food scene. We’ll visit some iconic food spots and popular landmarks in
2h from $200 - 20
NYC Bus Tour of Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens: Art, Food & Sports
This bus tour spans four of New York City’s boroughs, covering everything you need to see in one day with convenient and comfortable transportation. With your local guide, learn about Harlem’s African-American history
6h
Frequently asked
- How much do food tours in New York cost?
- Roughly $36–$340 per person, with the median around $99.
- When should I book?
- One to two weeks ahead in peak season; same-day is sometimes possible off-peak but limits choice.