Magpie
5.0(38 reviews)

The United Kitchens: Going Deep in the Borough of Global Eats

From$150
5 hours
Max 7 people
Flushing, USA

About this activity

On this full-day Queens food tour, we’ll visit Corona and Elmhurst, two of the boroughs more diverse neighborhoods where we will sample more than a dozen specialties of Latin America, Southeast Asia and more.

Highlights

  • Culinary walking tour
  • Visit to Corona Neighborhood
  • Visit to Elmhurst Neighborhood
  • Taste of South American Specialties
  • Taste of Asian Specialties

Full description

The largest of New York’s five boroughs, Queens is the home of over two million people, half of them born outside the United States, speaking more than 150 different languages. It’s also home to countless immigrant stories of the most classic kind: a newcomer arrives and sets up shop – or, more frequently, cart – selling the food of his or her homeland as the first step towards making it in America. As a result, for the culinary explorer, Queens is truly the promised land. On this deep dive into Queens, we’ll visit several neighborhoods that have managed to stay under the radar. We’ll start our day off in bustling Corona Plaza, with a visit to a family-run Mexican bakery. From there we will be ducking into markets and stopping by vendors representing Mexico, Ecuador and Argentina. We'll also head over to Elmhurst, home to a number of immigrant communities from throughout Asia. 
We’ll end our Queens food tour at a neighborhood cafe – part of a local mini-chain opened by an immigrant family from Taiwan – that specializes in desserts made from the intriguing durian fruit, for an end of the day sweet and another reminder that what has always made America great is the ability for anyone from anywhere to come here and make a successful new start.

Included / Excluded

  • Guided tour through Plaka and Anafiotika neighborhoods
  • Tastings of traditional Greek dishes and local specialties
  • Wine tasting featuring small Greek producers
  • Transportation to and from the meeting point

Meeting point

Start Location

103-14 Roosevelt Avenue, 103-14 Roosevelt Ave, New York, US

Important information

Know before you book

  • The tour is conducted in English; proficiency is recommended.
  • Some stops may not be suitable for individuals with mobility impairments due to stairs and uneven terrain.
  • The tour operates rain or shine; dress appropriately for the weather conditions.

Know before you go

  • Wear comfortable walking shoes for the cobblestone streets.
  • Bring a light jacket or sweater as evenings can be cool.
  • Ensure you have a valid ID if you plan to participate in wine tasting.

Cancellation policy

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the activity starts

More than one week before the beginning of the activity: 90% Refund Less than one week before the beginning of the activity: 50% Refund Less than 72 hours before the beginning of the activity or no-show: No Refund

Reviews

5.0(38 reviews)
Google
Erin McCaughey
Aug 2026
5.0

The tour was awesome and we highly recommend. We were expecting a larger group but were excited to show up to a private tour with Kasumi. She made the tour very personal and did an excellent job making the tour feel casual while teaching us lots of new things. She had the cultural knowledge and also mentioned that she continues to learn every time she takes a new group around. Some of the restaurants and shops we stopped at had lovely owners and workers, who were willing to teach us and share their knowledge happily. It was a good mix of foods and Kasumi made sure we were well hydrated and had plenty of time to rest on a hot day. We had a great day and we highly recommend it!

Google
Lynda Royal
Jul 2026
5.0

We thoroughly enjoyed our tour with Ken. He is an interested and interesting tour guide and it was a wonderful well-paced day. This was our second time doing this tour in Tokyo. No regrets, worth every cent. Culinary Backstreets Tours are the best food tours we have done everywhere in the world.

Google
Justin Markley
Jun 2026
5.0

We really enjoyed our tour with Dennis, great food and conversation! It was a great introduction to Tokyo and we really appreciated all his helpful tips for navigating the city

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