NYC Chinatown food & history tour
My Chinatown
Taste
Two hours. Three bites. My Chinatown.
Explore the Chinatown chef Eric Kwan grew up eating in, on a tasting walk he created. Your tour is led by Eric or a guide he personally selects. Over two hours, taste Cantonese barbecue, a bakery favorite, and a dumpling surprise while discovering the food, people, and stories behind each bite.
Request this tourPreview the three bites
At a glance
- The experience
- A food and history walk created by Eric, led by him or a guide he personally selects
- Your guide
- Eric or a personally selected guide; confirmed before you book
- Tastings
- Three planned bites; final selections confirmed before booking
- Duration
- 2 hours · Meeting point confirmed with your date
- Price & inclusions
- Eric confirms the total price and what’s included before you commit
Share dietary and accessibility needs with your request so Eric can discuss suitable arrangements.
A personal invitation
The Chinatown I grew up eating.
“I created this two-hour walk to share three bites of the Chinatown I grew up in. Between the food stops, you’ll discover the streets, the kitchens, and the people who make this neighborhood what it is.”
Eric Kwan · chef, New Yorker, and Chinatown kid
Your tasting preview
Three bites of my Chinatown.
Photo by Eric Kwan. Final tasting selections vary. 01Bite 1 · Cantonese barbecue
From the roast shop
Start with a Cantonese barbecue favorite. Your guide shares Eric’s cook’s perspective on the marinades, roasting, and preparation behind Chinatown’s roast-shop windows—and the Chinese kitchens that shaped his own career.
- 02
Bite 2 · A Chinatown bakery favorite
Something from the bakery
Pause for a bakery favorite, such as an egg tart. Discover the textures, traditions, and everyday rituals that make a small bakery bite part of neighborhood life.
Photo by Eric Kwan. Final tasting selections vary. 03Bite 3 · Dumplings made to share
The dumpling surprise
Finish with dumplings and a closer look at the work inside each bite: filling, folding, and cooking. Your guide connects the food on your plate to the people and skills that keep Chinatown fed.
Between the bites
Food with a backstory.
- Explore Chinatown’s streets through Eric’s childhood memories and experience in professional kitchens.
- Hear how immigration, family, and craftsmanship shape the food you taste.
- Look closer at neighborhood landmarks and the people who keep Chinatown’s traditions alive.
The route is tailored to this tasting walk. For the broader Five Points story, explore Beyond Bill the Butcher and our historical highlights.
Meet the chef behind the tour
Created by Eric. Shared by your guide.
I’m Eric Kwan, a Food Network Chopped champion trained at the French Culinary Institute and The Culinary Institute of America. My Chinese cooking background runs from Jolly King on the Bowery to Susur Lee’s Shang, Lotus and Cleaver in Miami, and China Grill.
I led the kitchens at The Boil and served as MOFAD’s exhibition chef for CHOW: The Making of a Chinese American Restaurant. This tasting walk brings that experience back to my childhood favorites and the neighborhood that raised me.
This tour is led by me or a guide I personally select to share my favorite foods and neighborhood stories. We’ll confirm your guide before you book.
Read my Chinatown storyBefore you come hungry
A few useful details.
Will Eric lead my tour?
This tasting walk is created by chef Eric Kwan and led by Eric or a guide he personally selects. We’ll confirm your guide before you book. Eric personally leads all premium tours, scheduled around his availability.
Are the three dishes guaranteed?
The previews show the planned style of tastings. Eric confirms the food selections and inclusions before you book; availability, restaurant hours, and dietary needs may affect the lineup.
Can you accommodate dietary restrictions?
Please include allergies and dietary needs in your request. Suitable alternatives depend on the restaurants and dishes; accommodation and an allergen-free environment cannot be guaranteed.
How much walking is involved?
This is a two-hour walking tour with three tasting stops. Eric confirms the route, meeting point, and available seating before you commit. Mention wheelchair, stroller, or other access needs so you can discuss the arrangements together.
Does requesting a date reserve a spot?
No. Your request starts a conversation with Eric about availability, your guide, group size, food, and price. You are not charged and your tour is not reserved by submitting the form.
Come hungry.
Get to know my Chinatown.
Send your preferred date and group size. Eric will follow up with the details and confirm your guide before you book.
Request My Chinatown TasteQuestions? Email us at bookings@newwokcity.com.