| Rating |
Date Attended [v] |
Reviewer |
Gender |
Age |
Where From? |
Group Type? |
|
Great Cultural Learning Experience
|
| Thu, Jul 31, 08 9:30 AM |
FULGHAM2 |
Female |
50-59 |
Domestic Tourist(s) |
Individual |
| The opportunity of learning about the Chinese culture and touring Chinatown was a very worthwhile experience. This Market Tour was entertaining and our guide was very informative. Lunch was included and I learned a lot about Dim Sum. This tour was worth the price. |
|
|
Touring Chinatown with Jim
|
| Sat, Jul 26, 08 9:30 AM |
fredhixon |
Male |
40-49 |
Local |
Other |
| I went on my second Topor tour with Jim as our guide. Jim was also my guide on the North End tour. Jim is a retired chef and Asian studies graduate, also speaks two Asian languages. With those credentials I anticipated a fantastic Chinatown tour.
Chinatown and Jim did not disappoint. He was very knowledgeable about Chinatown
and no questions went unanswered. We toured shops ingesting samplings of Boba Tea, Chinese baked goods and Authentic Chinese BBQ. With texture being a main
theme in Chinese cooking. This theme held true with Chinese baked goods.
One of the baked goods was described as squishy/crunchy. First time I heard those
two words strung together. We finished the tour with a terrific Dim Sum meal. My first
tasting of Dim Sum. Jim took the mystery out of our Dim Sum meal. I WILL be going back for a second meal. The Chinatown tour was fun, informative and tasty. I highly
recommend this fun tour. |
|
|
Excellent Tour -- Highly Recommended
|
| Sat, Jul 5, 08 9:30 AM |
ctorbin |
Female |
20-29 |
Domestic Tourist(s) |
Couple on a Date |
| Our culinary tour of Chinatown was equally educational, interesting and fun. Our guide, Jim, has a wealth of knowledge about Asian cuisine and culture, having studied and lived abroad for many years. Besides learning about the history of Chinese immigration in Boston and the development and evolution of Boston's Chinatown, the tour provided tons of information about local dining and shopping favorites -- as well as more "off the beaten path" establishments that Westerners (local Bostonians or tourists) might not venture into on their own. To top it off, we were able to sample various Chinese foods and finish the morning with a delicious dim sum lunch.
The tour would be a fun activity for visitors to Boston or locals who want to learn more about Chinese cuisine, cooking and culture. |
|
|
It's like entering China with a personal guide.
|
| Sat, Jul 5, 08 9:30 AM |
lindadirksen |
Female |
40-49 |
Local |
Family Without Children |
| Jim's knowledge of the area, cuisine and language immersed us in Asian culture for a day. His delivery was perfect and unintimidating. Although I used this tour as a surprise for my sister visiting from out-of-town, I am more likely to shop in Chinatown now that Jim has shown me the unique items and bargains that are readily available. The Dim Sum lunch alone was worth the price for the entire tour. My sister left feeling enlightened and entertained. I'm sure she will spread the word to the rest of my relatives. We will definitely be doing this again with our visitors. Even for locals, it's a great way to spend a Saturday morning and get to know a mysterious part of the city. |
|
|
Informative guide
|
| Sat, Jun 28, 08 9:30 AM |
cathyrundell |
Female |
30-39 |
International Tourist(s) |
Individual |
| The guide was very informative and had amusing anecdotes to share. We had a great meal at the dim sum restaurant and the tasters around China Town were fantastic.
The timing was flexible so we could spend longer discussing queries as they arose or spend longer in the individual shops. I would recommend this tour to others. |
|
|
Enjoyable educational experience
|
| Sat, Jun 28, 08 9:30 AM |
JoanneLonda |
Female |
50-59 |
Local |
Family With Children |
| My husband , myself, and our two teenage boys were delighted with our tour of Chinatown. Our guide was very pleasant and informative. He shared history, culture, and highlighted the most interesting aspects of Chinese eating. The places we visited were well chosen. We especially enjoyed the Chinese grocery store. Our "Dim Sum " lunch was an unforgetable experience. For an area that we knew little about and hadn't explored, we now have an insight and appreciation for Chinatown. |
|
|
Fun and Fascinating!
|
| Sat, Jun 7, 08 9:30 AM |
zanstevens |
Female |
50-59 |
Local |
Group of Friends |
| The tour was thoroughly enjoyable! Jim was great (as he was on our North End Tour) and his knowledge of the area and the Chinese customs and culture is superb. The food samples were delicious and now we feel comfortable going into many of the shops in Chinatown. In fact, 3 days after the tour we stopped into the Barbeque shop for take-out! Finishing up with the dim sum lunch is an excellent idea. We have already recommended this tour to friends. |
|
|
Insider's View of the 3rd Largest Chinatown in U.S
|
| Thu, Jun 5, 08 9:30 AM |
Neptune6 |
Female |
40-49 |
Combination |
Family Without Children |
| My husband and I, who currently live in Boston, took his aunt and uncle who were visiting us from the midwest on this tour on a Thursday morning. We can't say enough good things about it. Jim is extremely knowledgeable about Chinese culture, and his absolute comfort level with the language and customs of China and with this unique neighborhood of Boston gave us the confidence to immerse ourselves in the Chinatown experience. The uncle is anything BUT an adventurous eater and Jim was quite sensitive to and respectful of that. Imagine our surprise, then, when at dim sum the uncle chose to eat chicken feet! I attribute that to his absolute trust in Jim after we had spent the morning in his company. At the conclusion of the tour we went back independently to several of the Chinatown businesses we had visited to get food and merchandise to take home. One last note: There is lots of good eating on this tour, even before dim sum, so don't eat a big breakfast beforehand! |
|
Great fun
|
| Sat, May 31, 08 9:30 AM |
kkarrake |
Female |
50-59 |
Domestic Tourist(s) |
Individual |
| Very interesting. Like an easy visit to a foreign country. Guide is very knowledgeable and nice. |
|
|
It was a wonderful day
|
| Sat, May 31, 08 9:30 AM |
jdauray |
Female |
50-59 |
Local |
Other |
| My friend and I had very much enjoyed the North End Tour a few years ago and so this time opted for the Chinatown tour. Our tour guide, Jim, was very knowledgeable and delightful as well. This tour was far more exotic. We fully enjoyed the entire experience (and every fascinating bite).
The lunch at the end was the best part. A fantastic treat all told. I would highly recommend both tours! |
