Original Multi-Ethnic Eating Tour

This tour combines the history of the diverse Lower East Side with food sampling from local shops & markets!

Foods are INCLUDED in price.

New York’s first food & history tour! This tour combines the history of the diverse Lower East Side with a series of small food sampling or “noshing” stops from local shops and markets. The main focus of our tour is the history of the multi-ethnic Lower East Side with an emphasis on the neighborhoods of the Jewish East Side, Little Italy, and Chinatown. During the course of our walk we will sample about 11 different items, representing the Dominican, Jewish, Italian, 19th century Free Black and Chinese communities of the Lower East Side. Most of these items are dairy or vegetarian.

All food sampling will be done outdoors and with health & safety Covid protocols.  Most foods will be presented to each person in  individual containers.  When not possible each person will be handed foods by our guide who will wear a mask and gloves.  Please note, we do not include restaurants on our tour. Our “noshing” tour uses the markets and shops to highlight the history and could be considered a light meal.  As we support local shops and markets, Big Onion pays full retail price for all foods.

The Multi-Ethnic Eating Tour cost includes all food samples. Food stops could include: handmade mozzarella, Malaysian beef jerky, pickled pineapple & okra, Chinese ice cream, and plantains…among other items! Napkins and forks provided. Please email us at info@bigonion.com before the tour with any questions about allergens.    If booking a private walking tour the per person cost for food is $15 in addition to our private group tour fees.

We close bookings for this walk one hour before the start of the tour.  This allows time for our food vendors to prepare our noshing stops.  Please plan accordingly. Please refrain from showing up at the meeting site without a reservation. We may not be able to accommodate non-reserved walkers.

Tour Info

Cost: $45
$35 Seniors, Active Military and Full-Time Students
Tour price includes food.

Give a Big Onion Gift Certificate!
Give an experience they'll remember! All tours are available as gift certificates.
Purchase This Tour As A Gift Certificate

Public Tour
Private Tour
Tour Schedule
Saturday, November 161:00 pm
Sunday, December 81:00 pm
Friday, December 201:00 pm
Tour Reservations

Reservations and prepayment are required for the The Multi-Ethnic Eating Tour. Tour price includes the cost of all food samples.

NOTE: You will select your date in the next step.

Reserve Your Spot
Refund Policy

For bigger groups, consider a private walking or virtual tour!

Whether you are looking to integrate a tour into your academic curriculm or entertaining out-of-towners, a Big Onion walking tour is a great way to experience the city.

For more information, or to arrange, please call (718) 499-3001 or email info@bigonion.com.

Meeting Location

Location:
Southeast corner of Delancey and Essex Streets, in front of the Essex Market, 88 Essex Street.

Subway Trains
F to Delancey Street, J/M to Essex Street.

FAQs for In-Person Street Walks

Guides
The finest group of tour guides anywhere. Most of us are full-time graduate students researching and writing doctoral dissertations in history passionate about the history, architecture and people of New York.
More about our guides.

Finding Your Guides
All guides carry an 8×11 sign that says “Big Onion Walking Tours”.

Time & Distance
All tours last approximately two hours. We start on time and walk between one and two miles at a moderate walking pace, stopping at various sites along the tour.

Rain/Inclement Weather
Big Onion generally presents tours rain or shine. In the event of inclement weather please check our home page for notifications or call our hotline [(888) 606-WALK (9255) ext. 1], to confirm our schedule.

Tips
Gratuities are always appreciated, but never expected.

Reschedule Policy
With 24+ hours prior to a walking tour, Big Onion offers a full credit for the value of the booking. Credits will be given as Gift Cards in dollar amounts. Gift Cards are good for two years and can be used on any Big Onion outing. Cancellations with less than 24 hours prior to the tour or no shows cannot be credited.

Walks are held rain or shine, but may be cancelled for severe weather or if museum is closed. In the event of a Big Onion cancellation or museum closure, full refunds or rescheduled tickets will be offered.

More Questions? Check out How it Works for more details.

Helpful Links
Local weather forecast
NYC Subway Map
Weekly Service Advisories
Subway Fares

BOOK NOW