The Lower East Side Food Tour in New York
New York, United States

The Lower East Side Food Tour

Outty Ranking 63 5.0 · 5 traveler reviews2.3 hoursFrom $30

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September 2026

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Adults

Age 13 and over

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Age 12 and under

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Outty Ranking

63/100

Solid Choice. Our proprietary evaluation. How we score

Traveler rating

5.0/5

Based on 5 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.

Quick answer

Is The Lower East Side Food Tour worth booking?

The Lower East Side Food Tour is a 2.3-hour experience in New York, United States, from $30 per person. It scores 63 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Solid Choice, based on a 5/5 rating across 5 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.

Outty Ranking
63 / 100
Rating
5/5 (5)
Duration
2.3 hours
From
$30 per person

Learn the culture both historic and modern of the Lower East Side, whether it's the delicious pickles (on a street that once had over 100 pickle carts) or the savory knishes, your taste buds will be satisfied! The port

What you get

  • Guide Fee. Tour cost includes the guide

About this experience

Learn the culture both historic and modern of the Lower East Side, whether it's the delicious pickles (on a street that once had over 100 pickle carts) or the savory knishes, your taste buds will be satisfied! The portion sizes on this pay what you wish tour are rather large. Your guide will explain how to split up every single item. For parties of 1, you are encouraged to team up with other parties of 1.

What's included

Included

  • Guide Fee. Tour cost includes the guide

Not included

  • Food and drink are not included. You choose which items, and how much of it you want.

What you'll see and do

  1. Sara D Roosevelt Park

    This is where our introduction will take place. We once saw Adam Sandler playing basketball here!

    10 minutes here

  2. See the over 100 years old historic bakery and feast on either a savory knish, or the legendary doughy cheese pretzel! Water, coffee, soft drink available for purchase.

    10 minutes here

  3. Larn about the first business to be named "& Daughters" in US history.

    5 minutes here

  4. 24 years old and famous across the city, enjoy a selection of over 300 flavors (48 on display)

    15 minutes here

  5. Economy Candy

    Get some candy!

    10 minutes here

  6. Delicious fried empanadas $2 gets you one empanada. Beef, Chicken, ham and cheese, Mozzarella.

    10 minutes here

Where it starts and ends

Meeting point

New York

We will meet at Yonah Schimmels knishery one block away from the 2n Avenue Subay Station with the F and M train line.

Hotel pickup

No pickup: everyone meets at the start point.

Ends at

We will finish the tour at the south side of the essex market.

Before you book

Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Languages
en
Ticket
Mobile Only
Runs on
Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun
Group size
Up to 9 travelers per booking
Operated by
CityShuffles

Know before you go

  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
  • Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Recommended for anyone that can do 4,000 steps in the weather conditions of that day.

Photos

The Lower East Side Food Tour in New York, photo 2The Lower East Side Food Tour in New York, photo 3The Lower East Side Food Tour in New York, photo 4The Lower East Side Food Tour in New York, photo 5The Lower East Side Food Tour in New York, photo 6The Lower East Side Food Tour in New York, photo 7

What travelers are saying

Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 5 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.

Food and drink

5 mentions

The tastings and food stops are a highlight for most reviewers.

Knowledge and storytelling

4 mentions

Reviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.

The guide

2 mentions

Travelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.

Small groups

1 mention

The group size is repeatedly described as intimate rather than packed.

Traveler reviews

5 verified traveler reviews for The Lower East Side Food Tour. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.

5 star
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LS830 · June 2025

Fabulous Food tour!

This was such an amazing walking tour! Jon is a wealth of knowledge and so personable. It was a highlight of our trip to New York. We’ve done all of his Food tour‘s and one is better than the next! We especially love this one because Jon included so much historyas well as unique places to snack. Thank you, John!

via Tripadvisor

glenntN5593AK · June 2025

Lower East Side Food Tour with Jon.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ We had an amazing time exploring the Lower East Side with our tour guide, Jon. He knew all the best spots to visit—from hidden neighborhood gems to iconic landmarks—and brought the rich history of the area to life with fascinating stories and insights. What really made the tour stand out was Jon’s incredible sense of humor—he had us laughing the entire time! If you’re looking for a tour that’s informative, engaging, and a whole lot of fun, Jon is the guide you want. Highly recommend!

via Tripadvisor

Avivit S · May 2025

Special Food and experience

Great tour, Jon is a great tour guide. Took us to special food experience. Highly recommend. We stopped at places that I’ve never heard of and loved the experience

via Tripadvisor

antrrat · April 2025

If you what to experience local food and culture this is 5 stars

Wow what walk we had today with John. The food was local, excellent and cheap. We learned so much about the lower east side including culture, history and architecture. Well worth going.

via Tripadvisor

karengK3865EV · April 2025

Make sure you come hungry!

We took this tour with John on Thursday April 3, 2025 and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. We had a small group of 4 that day so it felt almost like a private tour. John was engaging and very knowledgeable and he made some great food suggestions at each stop. We particularly liked the interesting information and the history of every establishment we visited which stories were interwoven with the history of the neighborhoods we walked through. The story about how a statute of Lenin ended up on top of a building in the Lower East Side was especially fascinating for us since we were born in the Ukraine when it was still part of the Soviet Union. The food stops were also diverse and the offerings were delicious. We really liked the mix of sweet and savoury options and would highly recommend not eating before coming on the tour. You will not leave feeling hungry. All in all, you will not be disappointed by this tour if you are visiting NYC! . Thank you John!

via Tripadvisor

Good to know

Duration
2.3 hours
Free cancellation
Up to 24h before
Minimum age to book
1+
Availability
Bookable today
Runs on
Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun
Price range
$30 to $34
Hotel pickup
No pickup, meet at start point
Booked in 30 days
2
Verdict
Solid Choice

Why this scores 63

The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.

Traveler sentiment (30% weight)80
Review evidence (18% weight)23
Booking momentum (14% weight)16
Value for money (12% weight)100
Listing quality (10% weight)77
Local standing (8% weight)59
Booking flexibility (8% weight)100

The Lower East Side Food Tour: questions travelers ask

Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for New York.

How much does The Lower East Side Food Tour cost?

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Prices start at $30 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in New York usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.

How long does The Lower East Side Food Tour take?

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Plan for about 2.3 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in New York is not rushed.

Is The Lower East Side Food Tour worth it?

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It holds an Outty Ranking of 63 out of 100, which we label "Solid Choice". That score blends traveler sentiment (5/5 across 5 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable most popular in New York, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.

Can I cancel or reschedule The Lower East Side Food Tour?

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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.

Is The Lower East Side Food Tour suitable for kids and families?

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The operator sets a minimum age of 1. Older children generally do well here, and families should factor in the 2.3-hour running time when deciding.

How far in advance should I book The Lower East Side Food Tour?

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Around 2 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in New York can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.

What should I bring or wear?

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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in New York and add a light layer if any part of the 2.3-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.

Where does The Lower East Side Food Tour start and how do I get there?

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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central New York within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.

What are the best things to do in New York?

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New York has more bookable experiences than any other city on Outty, and the quality spread is brutal. Observation decks are commoditised, so we score them on timed-entry reliability and sunset slots. Food tours and borough walks are where the ranking really separates operators, and the top scores in the city all come from small-group guides. On Outty we rank every New York experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Grand Canyon VIP Helicopter Tour, Half-Day Bus Tour of NYC Top Highlights, NYC Bus Tour of Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens: Art, Food & Sports. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.

When is the best time to visit New York?

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September to early November, and late April through June. Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.

How many days do you need in New York?

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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.

Do I book through Outty or through the operator?

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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.

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