New York: Hell's Kitchen Food Tour with Local Picks

4.84

(147 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

"You gotta try the empanadas here — trust me, I eat them twice a week," our guide Tony grinned, already waving to someone behind the counter. That was maybe five minutes after we’d met outside a bodega in Midtown, and it set the tone for the whole food tour. We weren’t herded around like a school group; it felt more like tagging along with someone who actually lives in Hell’s Kitchen and knows which places are worth skipping lunch for. The air smelled like grilled onions and something sweet I couldn’t place — maybe that bakery two doors down?

We wandered block by block, ducking into spots I’d never have noticed on my own (one had no sign at all, just a faded red door). Tony let us pick whatever looked good — dumplings steaming behind glass, spicy falafel wrapped up tight, pizza slices that flopped over when you picked them up. It wasn’t those tiny sample bites either; we got enough food to call it lunch, no question. At one point I tried to order in Spanish and totally butchered it — the lady at the counter just laughed and handed me extra hot sauce anyway.

People in our group started chatting between bites — two sisters from Dublin, a solo traveler from Japan who took photos of everything before eating (I get it). Tony kept dropping little stories about each spot: which ones stay open late for Broadway crews, where he takes his mom on Sundays. The city noise faded into background chatter and kitchen clatter. By the last stop (a bakery with these sticky pastries), I realized I hadn’t checked my phone once. I still think about that cinnamon smell every time I walk past 9th Avenue now.