Under the Surface of Montreal's Chinatown: Guided Food Walking Tour
Traveler rating
5.0/5
Based on 24 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Under the Surface of Montreal's Chinatown: Guided Food Walking Tour worth booking?
Under the Surface of Montreal's Chinatown: Guided Food Walking Tour is a 4.5-hour experience in Montreal, Canada, from $145 per person. It scores 68 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Solid Choice”, based on a 5/5 rating across 24 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 68 / 100
- Rating
- 5/5 (24)
- Duration
- 4.5 hours
- From
- $145 per person
On this guided walking tour, you'll explore the evolution of of Montreal’s Chinatown, from its pre-Chinatown beginnings to the current mix of people, food and businesses. Learn about the history and impacts of the differ
What you get
- Light refreshments
- Professional guide
- Snacks
- Lunch 12-courses
About this experience
On this guided walking tour, you'll explore the evolution of of Montreal’s Chinatown, from its pre-Chinatown beginnings to the current mix of people, food and businesses. Learn about the history and impacts of the different waves of immigration and immigration policies, while discovering the food, and stories of local chefs, merchants and colorful characters.
What's included
Included
- Light refreshments
- Professional guide
- Snacks
- Lunch 12-courses
Not included
- Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase)
- Gratuities
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Transportation to/from attractions
What you'll see and do
Chinatown
This 4hour tour scratches the veneer and gets beyond Chinatown's facade to taste its best treasures! Visit seven food tasting stops and explore the history of Chinatown and its local characters. After meeting at Place d'armes in Old Montreal, your guide will give a brief overview of the history of Montreal. Then take a short stroll to Chinatown. If there are children in the tour group, you'll make a stop at the water garden at the Chinese Holiday Inn. Head to the largest Chinese grocery store in Chinatown, learn about its history and take time to look around and shop. Afterwards, enjoy a Bahn Mi sandwich and learn how to make this local treat. Next, enjoy a quick bite of szechuan, Dongbei and Hunan food, while tasting some crispy pork, BBQ pork and duck. Then follow your guide to a classic Hong Kong style dimsum. Eat a fortune cookie and learn about the oldest business in Chinatown that makes them! Afterwards, taste Chinese pastries at a Cantonese bakery, try some famous dragon's beard candy and finish off with high quality tea from a Montreal based company with farms in Southern China. You will be very full at the end of this tour. Step into a different world that you may have never found on your own!
240 minutes here
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
Montreal
We will be at the bottom of the Monument to de Maisonneuve with black and white bags with orange writing on them. If the weather is really bad, we will meet under the overhang of the Notre-dame basilica.
Hotel pickup
No pickup: everyone meets at the start point.
Ends at
Returns to the starting point
Options you can book
Under the Surface of Montreal's Chinatown: Guided Food Walking Tour
Private Chinatown Food Tour
Private Tour: This option is exclusively for private tours (4 guests maximum)
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- de, en, fr
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 15 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Round Table Food Tours
Know before you go
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- When you go to shops, any purchases you make above and beyond the tour are your responsibility.
- Your local tour operator will provide ponchos in case of rain but you need to dress appropriately for the weather otherwise.
- You'll be provided a bottle of water and a juice in the summer as well as a choice of a dessert or bubble tea at the end and tea
- There is a 30 minutes of walking
- There is also some time outside and in the winter, Montreal weather in winter can be quite cold
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 24 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
Food and drink
9 mentionsThe tastings and food stops are a highlight for most reviewers.
Knowledge and storytelling
8 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
The guide
7 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Good for families
2 mentionsReviewers traveling with kids report it landed well with their group.
Pace and timing
2 mentionsSeveral reviewers comment on how the schedule is paced.
Traveler reviews
24 verified traveler reviews for Under the Surface of Montreal's Chinatown: Guided Food Walking Tour. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
A must-do in Montreal: Melissa’s Chinatown food tour
Melissa’s Chinatown food tour was a highlight of our trip to Montreal! She has a deep knowledge of the neighborhood and does a wonderful job weaving the history of the community with the food served at each stop, so the tour never felt like just a list of restaurants. She also made it genuinely engaging for our teenager, which isn’t easy to do with a history-heavy tour. She was incredibly generous with her time and never rushed us. Highly recommend if you're looking for both good food and context on the neighborhood. Five stars.
Response from the operator: Thanks so much Spence. Tou guys were the bees knees and you really saw the apex of Montreal in the summer: Pride, Comicon, Under Pressure. You really saw the city at its finest! It was a great time to be in Chinatown! It's so nice when enthusiasm is shared! All the best!
via Tripadvisor
Great time! Fun group...
Great time! Fun group of people and excellent food. We experienced a lot of different types of food in Chinatown.
Response from the operator: Yay! Thanks so much Victor. So nice to have you on the tour. You were troopers in the cold. Luckily the restaurants were cozy with delicious food! I appreciate the review! All the best!
via Viator
A Very Informational tour
Fun time- Great tour! Tour guide was extremely knowledgeable and kind. A good amount of food, we were definitely full :)
Response from the operator: Thanks Lisa. :) I'm glad you enjoyed it. All the best.
via Tripadvisor
Well balanced culture/history + food tour
Excellent tour guide, with extensive knowledge of the city's history, but also culinary details and culture. This food tour isn't just about food, it's about Chinatown's culture and history first, with food to pair with this information. It's a great mix should you like both walking tours and food tours. There is a good quantity of food, in 3 main sit-down locations + a few bites while walking, but it's mainly in the second part of the tour, the first is mainly a historical/cultural walking tour. This is different from most food tours I've been on, so to be noted if you want food, food, food and only food. For me, it was a super balance, so I'm super happy!
Response from the operator: Thanks Jennifer! It means a lot from someone so well-travelled and who has toured so extensively!! It also means a lot on a day when all the participants were Montrealers!!! Thanks for coming and reviewing!!
via Tripadvisor
Fabulous and delicious!
Amazing tour! Food stops were phenomenal and the history added a deeper understanding of the area I had never explored even though my family is still in the area!
Response from the operator: Thank you Marielle! I appreciate the great review!
via Viator
Good to know
- Duration
- 4.5 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- 8+
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Price range
- $145 to $512
- Hotel pickup
- No pickup, meet at start point
- Booked in 30 days
- 8
- Verdict
- Solid Choice
Who runs this experience
Operated by Round Table Food Tours, who run 6 experiences we rank across 1 city, with an average Outty Ranking of 59.6.
See everything Round Table Food Tours runsWhy this scores 68
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Under the Surface of Montreal's Chinatown: Guided Food Walking Tour: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Montreal.
How much does Under the Surface of Montreal's Chinatown: Guided Food Walking Tour cost?
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Prices start at $145 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Montreal usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Under the Surface of Montreal's Chinatown: Guided Food Walking Tour take?
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Plan for about 4.5 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 Montreal is not rushed.
Is Under the Surface of Montreal's Chinatown: Guided Food Walking Tour worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 68 out of 100, which we label "Solid Choice". That score blends traveler sentiment (5/5 across 24 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Montreal, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Under the Surface of Montreal's Chinatown: Guided Food Walking 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 Under the Surface of Montreal's Chinatown: Guided Food Walking Tour suitable for kids and families?
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The operator sets a minimum age of 8. Older children generally do well here, and families should factor in the 4.5-hour running time when deciding.
How far in advance should I book Under the Surface of Montreal's Chinatown: Guided Food Walking Tour?
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Around 8 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 Montreal 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 Montreal and add a light layer if any part of the 4.5-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Under the Surface of Montreal's Chinatown: Guided Food Walking 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 Montreal 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 Montreal?
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On Outty we rank every Montreal experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include The Essential 101 Non-Touristy Walking Tour by Spade & Palacio, Old Montreal Walking Tour | Small Group (Max 10) | by MTL Detours, The Full-Day small-group comprehensive tour of Montreal. 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 Montreal?
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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 Montreal?
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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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