Spring Break in NYC: Exploring the LES

by Jimena Galindo | 03/16/2015 | 6:00am

Spring Break in NYC: Exploring the LES

Food tour gives you a taste of Manhattan's history.

New York City Urban Adventures says it's most popular tour is Tenements, Tales, and Tastes. The tour walks you through Manhattan's Lower East Side, largely focusing on the history of immigration. The Italians, Jewish, and Chinese have all made their marks on the LES.

Hidden on Mosco Street in Chinatown is the first stop, a restaurant called Fried Dumpling.

Tour operator David Naczycz says Fried Dumpling is a great representation of how Chinese immigrants have influenced the Lower East Side.  

"Fried Dumpling is great because it's a current immigrant shop. You know this is a living, breathing Chinese community on the Lower East Side. So to get that experience and the dumplings are delicious, people really like that."

From dumplings to knishes to fresh mozzarella, the tour dives into the many cultures that have called the Lower East Side home over the years.

According to Naczycz, becoming familiar with what tenement life was like back in the 1900s is just as important as enjoying the food.

"How these immigrants lived and how difficult the conditions were...the overcrowding in tenements, and the hardships these families overcame to come here to live the American dream."

The Tenements, Tales, and Tastes tour not only leaves you with a greater knowledge of the city's immigrant history but also with a full stomach.

Weekdays at Noon

Ticket Giveaways from WFUV