We’ll visit vendors, the outdoor stands of local restaurants and some of Flushing’s mall-based food courts – considered by locals to have some of the area’s best eats
Here we will take in the views and find another awesome bite.
Here we will discuss the history and have something to eat.
Around here we will have some special bites and take in some history
In this area we will take in the history and something good to eat.
Sierra was very knowledgeable and entertaining. They were able to entertain the adults and keep two children, ages 8 and 10, entertained for the full tour. The food was excellent. I would highly recommend!
Summary - Fantastic guide who took us for delicious foods and great historical background to the enormous borough of Queens. Highly recommend if you like (or think you might like) Asian food. We spent 6 hours wandering the streets, food courts, grocery store, malls and restaurants. Each bite was better than the last. We cannot say enough wonderful things about our guide, Sierra. They quickly attuned to our group and provided an outstanding experience. We also have notes for the future so we can return. A big plus for us - the guide tailored the food stops to our tastes as we have lived in China. We made the same stops, but tried different bites or spicier bites than someone who is not as well-acquainted with Asian food as we are.
Amazing experience! Sierra was an incredible guide—very knowledgeable and lots of fun. Food was delicious and showcased the variety of flavors and ingredients across China. Pescatarian diet was easily accommodated. Loved the opportunity to learn more about the neighborhood as well.
This tour was SO amazing! Sierra was such an amazing guide- they knew everything and everybody in the neighborhood, and the context they provided to all of the different types of food we tried and the infrastructure of the neighborhood was fascinating! I loved the whole day!
This was a splendid day in China/Queens. Sierra is an absolutely delightful guide, so informative, engaging and generous. I felt completely transported to Asia for the day. Five Stars!
Guide was knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and adapted to individual needs very well!
Had a great time. The number of people was perfect, the food selections and also the cultural education were well thought out. Our guide was very knowledgeable and attentive to everyone's needs. Really enjoyed it.
Sierra was an excellent tour guide. Enthusiastic, clear, informative, ready to help with any needs like the bathroom availability.
Loved our tour with Sierra, who is extremely knowledgeable about Queens history and culture as well as being an expert on the Flushing Chinatown food scene. Sampled many foods and drinks I never would have found on my own, and I especially enjoyed visiting a large grocery store. Pacing of the tour was excellent, and the time flew by. Well worth the price, and I highly recommend taking this tour.
This is by far the best food tour I have ever been on. Our guide, Sierra was incredibly nice and so knowledgeable. I like that they keep the groups small and that the tour isn't just about food, but about the neighborhood and it's history as well. We had an amazing time. Thank you Sierra! We hope to see you again.
Sierra was a fantastic guide. We learned so much about not only the food but the Flushing area as well. We appreciate how they flexed your dietary preferences and allowed us to try things of interest. A fantastic full day food tour!
The tour of Flushing's Chinatown exceeded my expectations. I went with a friend from California who had been on 2 Culinary Backstreets tours and suggested we take a New York tour. As a long time NYC resident I had been to Flushing numerous times but this tour took us to places I didn't know existed. Our guide Sierra was delightful, incredibly knowledgeable about the food we were eating and the history of Flushing. The itinerary was well thought out and we got to try so many delicious dishes. I'm traveling to LA in September and plan on taking one of Culinary Backstreets tours there.
Sierra was fabulous. Great day! Recommend going midweek (we went on Wednesday).
We explored the tremendous culinary diversity of China in a relatively small area of downtown Flushing with our incredibly knowledgeable guide, Sierra. We sampled so many delicious items that we had no idea existed. Sierra made sure we paced ourselves so as to not to feel ill. Sierra has an extensive culinary background so we learned about Chinese items, food culture and the neighborhood history.
We had a wonderful tour with Sierra last week. They were filled with knowledge enthusiasm and passion about everything we saw— from the different varieties and cross cultural evolution of the egg tart to how the colors of clothing and the amount of landscaping in the post office murals of early Queens settlements can tell you more than you even imagined about the history and sociology of the borough. Oh, and the food — consistneky delish and often surprising — who knew that plain boiled fish dumplings could be so tasty!
Sierra was a great guide. Her knowledge of the area and its history together with her vast knowledge of Asian cuisine was exceptional. We ate delicious food some of which I have never tried before and went to hole in the walls and small outlets. This tour has really added to our New York holiday. Thank you!
Thank you for another wonderful day exploring the food and culture of another NYC neighborhood. We had a wonderful time, are stuffed and thoroughly enjoyed Sierra’s passion and knowledge - what a memorable day!
Sierra was a great guide! We visited multiple food halls, stopped for snacks at "magic windows" (bao, dumplings, roasted sweet potato, New York version of Macao version of pastel de nata, ..), and also got a bit of history and culture. Who knew that the Flushing post office had WPA murals?
Sierra was incredible. Love loved this tour!!
Excellent food tour of Flushing with Sierra! Even on a non-stop rainy day, Sierra expertly planned out the day with indoor stops and outdoor quick excursions to learn about the neighborhood and get a wide variety of savory and sweet bites and drinks. It was a great way to get a variety of food that I otherwise won't try normally and we all left with more knowledge and happy full bellies all around!
Our guide, Sierra, was a chef and Asian historian - a perfect combination. We had a private tour which made it absolutely worth the money. Not sure if that was luck or design. They were knowledgeable beyond expectation and we are New Yorkers who lived in Asia for 12 years so our expectations were very high. Eager to take more of Sierra’s tours.
I had an awesome experience. Our guide, Sierra, was friendly and incredibly knowledgeable about the food and also the community, culture, and history surrounding the area. The pacing was excellent. The whole experience felt thoughtful, engaging, and rewarding. I would highly recommend this tour for anyone looking to explore the area and try delicious foods.
As New Yorkers, we were skeptical of the high price, but this was one of the most complete and satisfying food tours we have ever done. I feel like I know and understand the Asian community in Flushing and am very eager to go back and try so many of the other restaurants, stands and carts. Sierra Spingarn was our tour leader with phenomenal knowledge of food in general, Asian cultures and the history of Queens. We would absolutely request Sierra again on any tour.
Carly made it such a fun day! Plenty of food, diverse options with lots of history, fun for all ages! Brought our 10-year-old and she loved it!
Sierra was so knowledgeable about all the different varieties of food in Flushing’s Chinatown. So many different things to try along with a visit to an Asian Market. Very full day.. I have found Flushing overwhelming to visit - so nice to have such an expert guide.
Our food tour was outstanding in every way! Our guide Sierra was excellent. Has a deep knowledge of the various Asian food cultures, but also gave us insights into the history of this part of Queens. The foods chosen were well-curated and delicious. Sierra was very engaging and delightful company for our 5 plus hours on the tour. The admission fee was reasonable, considering it included all the foods sampled. This is our third Culinary Backstreets tour (also been on ones in Barcelona and Athens). Highly recommend them!
Sierra was a fantastic epicurean guide. Our tour was filled with unique tasty bites ! Sierra’s knowledge of food , ingredients,world geography and local history made for a truly informative, warm and enjoyable experience. Highly recommend culinary backstreets
My wife and I had a great experience on the tour with our guide Sierra. Sierra is extremely knowledgeable and answered every question we could come up with. The tour was a nice mix of food, culture and history. The group was small, so we were able to get into a variety of places without causing any disruption. We were pretty full by the end of the tour. We learned a lot and would highly recommend.
Wow - what an incredible experience, we learned so much about the wide range of Asian food served in the small markets, restaurants, and storefronts of Flushing's Chinatown. Our guide was incredibly knowledgeable and organized, and we ate and drank more than enough for the whole day. We could highly recommend it to anyone!
Sierra was awesome. Sierra was funny, self-effacing and extraordinarily well-informed and clearly in tune with the food and history of Flushing. From the New World Mall food court to the histrionic Browne House and Free Synagogue of Flushing to the Shanghai You Garden Peking duck sandwich and the New York Food court, the Flushing Culinary Backstreets tour was top flight. At one point toward the end of the tour, Sierra asked us each to pick out our favorite bite. My wife and I could not do it. Everything was fabulous.
Super informative and all of the food was delicious!
I have been on several CB tours. All are 5-star! This one was amazing. Sienna introduced to a hidden world on the streets of Queens the tour was fun, educational and delicious. It was a wonderful way to learn a neighborhood!
As usual, Sierra delivered a knockout tour, our 2d with them. Great food and history, weaving asian continental cuisine into the New York experience. Wonderful to try such nice fresh and thoughtful cooking from hidden doorways!
What an amazing tour with Sierra. She showed us so many hidden places in Chinatown. My daugher and her friend who have lived in New York for years and travel up to Chinatown were surprised at the places she took us to eat. I loved the tour about the history of Chinatown and the places she took us too. Well worth every penny
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