Lower East Side Food & History Tour

Discover the incredible layers of cultural heritage spanning the Lower East Side bite by bite through new and original family-run eateries.

Take a morning to uncover the rich layers underpinning the vibrant Lower East Side. You’ll sample everything from classic dishes like bagels and authentic Jewish deli meats to the international food that continues to be introduced to the neighborhood and keeps its food scene thriving. By meeting with the local shop owners, you’ll learn more about the family traditions passed down through generations which combine to make this one of the most in-demand food destinations today.  

One of the best ways to get a sense of a neighborhood’s identity is through its food. On this comprehensive tour of the tastes of the Lower East Side, you’ll get a true reflection of how its past has influenced its vibrant present. Nowhere is this more visible than through its local dishes.    To begin, step inside one of the Lower East Side’s cultural institutions run by the same family for over 100 years. Katz's Delicatessen serves up classic American breakfast foods and perfecting giant sandwiches since the 1888. Here you'll bite into their signature pastrami with mustard sandwich.

 Breakfast foods are an art in New York, so you’ll stop by a Dominican breakfast counter next to get a variety of what’s on offer in the locality.  

Then, you're off to a historic local market for a stop at a popular cheese shop, named the best in the US by Food and Wine magazine. You'll taste a selection of handmade cheeses and cured meats from around the world.   You’re sure to see many bodegas dotted along corners of New York—a visual reminder of its history brought over by the Jewish community in the early 19th century. You’ll visit a new twist on the classic bodega and sample a modern interpretation of a New York style bagel sure to impress.     With Chinatown right around the corner, it would be impossible to pass by the delicious aromas infusing the streets. That’s why you’ll stop by one of the newer additions to Chinatown and sample some of their specialties such as Fujian peanut butter noodles or thin-skinned pork dumplings. 

This stop pays homage to another food brought over by Jewish immigrants that made the Lower East Side their home in late 19th century. Try the delicious family pickle recipe passed down for generations.     For the final stop, you’ll get a taste of some of the Lower East Side’s delicious baked goods at a beloved artisanal doughnut shop. Prepare yourself for a doughnut unlike any other you’ve had before with their innovative flavors.