Ahoy NY Food Tours Blog

Chinatown and Little Italy are two unique and historical neighborhoods in New York City so it is no surprise to see either as popular filming locations. It is always a lot of fun to visit some of the iconic locations you see in your favorite films so from classic mobster flicks to superhero blockbusters, here…

Right in the middle of Doyers Street aka The Bloody Angle (find out the fascinating history of this street on our walking tour!) is the Nom Wah Tea Parlor (13 Doyers St), the oldest tea parlor in Chinatown. While the neighborhood may be constantly changing Nom Wah remains one of its mainstays. The feel, the…

For a New York City neighborhood that is only a few blocks long, Little Italy draws visitors from all around the world, not only during the summer but all year round. The history, the food and the shops are all appealing. In fact, several of the shops and restaurants in the neighborhood have been in…

Restaurant Week comes around twice a year and it is one of the more exciting times to be a foodie in New York City! Every year the list of participating restaurants grows. To help, we went through all the restaurant week menus of our favorite restaurants and here is our NYC Restaurant Week summer 2014 recommendations! Butter Midtown – 70 W 45th St Alex Guarnaschelli’s Butter recently moved to a new location in Midtown and Restaurant Week is a great opportunity to check it out. It is just off Times Square and their ricotta ravioli and braised and grilled beef short ribs sound amazing. Ken & Cook – 19 Kenmare St Ken & Cook is a popular neighborhood restaurant just outside of Chinatown and Little Italy. Their food is always top notch and they have an exciting Restaurant Week menu…

Walk around Chinatown and Little Italy and you will see both have undergone a lot of changes that last two years or so. Among the changes, new restaurants are seemingly popping up every month. So from buzzworthy breakfast spots to local burger joints, here is a bunch of exciting, new restaurants in Chinatown and Little…

“Where can we shop in Chinatown and Little Italy?” This is a question that we are often asked on our food walking tours NYC. Chinatown and Little Italy are sometimes neighborhoods that are underrated as shopping destinations but we want to clear the air and share with you some great shopping gems. These neighborhoods have…

Chinatown is a historic neighborhood in New York City that is full of surprises, wonder, and excitement. Whether you are visiting Chinatown for the first time or whether you are on a return trip, Chinatown has a lot to do and a lot to see! Here is Ahoy New York’s everything you need to know…

Are you looking for fun things to do in New York City for July 4th? From free concerts to excellent food, there are a number of great options. Here is our little guide to help you plan your weekend. Watch the Macy’s Fourth of July fireworks The annual Macy’s Fourth of July fireworks is one…

While walking around Chinatown, have you ever stopped and looked at the fresh fruit stands and wondered what some of them were and what they tasted like? New York City’s Chinatown boasts an abundant amount of fruit stands and markets where you will be sure to come across some unusual and exotic fruits. If you haven’t tried any of these before… you must! Here is our list of the unique and exotic Asian fruits that you can find in Chinatown. Lychee The lychee is a sweet and juicy fruit which tastes similar to a cross between a pear and a grape. It is used in many Chinese treats and desserts but of course they are best eaten fresh! The lychee is probably the most popular Chinese fruit. Longan The longan which means dragon eye is also best eaten fresh. It…

Chinatown is known for their many noodle shops. There is surprisingly quite a bit of variety that you can find. From Chinese wonton noodle soup to cold Japanese soba noodles, here are the best noodle shops in Chinatown, New York City. HK Wonton Garden – 79 Mulberry St HK Wonton Garden is the premier place…

There are hundreds of pizzerias in New York City and often we find that there are some great gems that get lost in the crowd. Ahoy New York wants to highlight some of these great finds so here are the best off the beaten path pizzerias in New York City. Whether you like thin or…

Often we are asked for some ideas on what to do after our tour of Chinatown and Little Italy. We find that sometimes museums are overlooked as a fun thing to do in New York City and so we enjoy recommending a few of the gems that are located nearby and in lower Manhattan. Here…

Looking for Asian foods at a good price? Searching for ethnic or exotic ingredients for tonight’s dinner? Chinatown New York is the place to visit. This New York neighborhood’s grocery stores and markets provide locals with hard to find items and delicious imported goods. As we all know Chinatown can be overwhelming at times, so…

It is no secret that New York City can be an expensive city to live in or visit but there are some bargains to be found. Whether you are looking for a good hearty lunch or a nice tasty snack, we scoured the city for the best lunch specials, bargains, prix fixe menus and more!…

There really is no better time to be in New York City! We want to highlight some the fun things to do in New York City specifically for spring and summer 2014. As always, we also would love to hear your suggestions to add to the list. Hester Street Fair – April 26 to October…

Although it may not seem like it at times in New York City, spring is here and summer is right around the corner. When we think of summer, we think of ice cream, the ultimate summer treat! So we are very excited to present the best ice cream spots in New York City. Chinatown Ice…

Di Palo’s Fine Foods (200 Grand St) is a traditional Italian specialty store located in the historic Manhattan neighborhood, Little Italy. It is a blast from the past and is run by the fourth generation of the Di Palo family. When visiting New York City you will find that shops such as this one are…

Restaurants like Masa and Peter Luger Steakhouse can offer once in a lifetime experiences but these iconic New York City restaurants are often pricey and have long wait times. It may be hard to replicate these unique dining experiences but here are our alternatives to the most popular restaurants in New York City. You can’t go wrong with any of these alternatives and you will certainly have a delicious, memorable meal without the wait and for a fraction of the cost! Instead of Peter Luger Steakhouse try Smith & Wollensky Peter Luger Steakhouse (178 Broadway, Brooklyn) is often the first place that comes to mind when it comes to New York steakhouses. It is incredibly popular so there are very long wait times and it can also be difficult to get a reservation. Plus their steaks can be expensive. Smith…

There are only a few more days for Chinatown Restaurant Week 2014. It should be on your foodie to do list unless of course you’ve already visited some of the great participating restaurants! It is a perfect opportunity to explore the rich, vibrant foodie ecosystem in Chinatown. There is truly everything from Chinese to Vietnamese…

Some of our go to places for a good, quick meal are actually chain restaurants. From Chipotle to Xi’an Famous Foods, here is Ahoy New York’s list of the best chain restaurants in New York City. Xi’an Famous Foods – 67 Bayard St & Other Locations Xi’an Famous Foods started as a small hole in the wall place located by the Manhattan Bridge. Xi’an has quickly built a loyal following for their pulled noodles and spicy cumin lamb burgers which in turn has led them to quickly expand throughout the city. Simply put, we just love their noodles and burgers. They are full of flavor and they have a nice little spice to them. Five Guys – 56 W 14th St & Other Locations Whether you want mushrooms, bacon, mayo or the classic lettuce & tomatoes at Five Guys, you…