Boston Chinatown Market Tour

This was more fun/interesting than imagined. Very informative, cant wait to go back to Chinatown now that we know where to shop at all the different stores. We all had a wonderful time and out guide was great

The tour guide was very informed and gave everyone a well rounded experience of Chinatown from the people, to culture, to food. I'd do it again a heartbeat!

We just celebrated a birthday by going on a "Michele Topor Tour of Chinatown" in Boston. Our guide was Jim Becker. We had enjoyed Jim as our guide for a previous M.T. tour of the North End a few years ago, so we knew we were in for a treat. It turns out Jim, a former chef, also studied in China in his earlier years. He clearly had great respect for and knowledge of the culture. As we toured the numerous shops, he was able to speak to the owners and patrons in their native tongue. The tour was part history of the Chinese community in Boston, and part explanation of types of food in relation to their region in China. Very interesting! Jim always was eager to answer any and all of our questions. We visited a bakery, a BBQ shop, a tea shop, a Chinese apothecary, etc. and culminated in a DimSum luncheon. We also received a handout which listed all the places we had visited as well as top recommendations of others places to see. (He did this for the North End tour also). Clearly, I would give this a 5 star rating and would highly recommend it to anyone (though I would pass next time on the "chicken feet" at dim sum.) Kathy B.

I learned a lot about Chinese food and culture from my tour guide. Overall, the tour was definitely a great value considering all the food we got to try.

The tour is a great introduction to Asian culture and food. 4 hours full of history, interesting anecdotes and food. The tour is well thought out and the guides were terrific.

Enjoyed the variety of food and learned a great deal in a short time. The guides were generous with their time and Jim particularly did a great job presenting a great deal of material in a dynamic and personable manner.

We wanted to learn more about Chinatown, its history, food, culture and people. Our tour guide was fantastic - incredibly knowledgeable, very passionate about the subject. The tour "demystified" what's in all the boxes, bags and windows in Chinatwon. Phenomenal tour, great experience!

Our tour guide was knowledgeable about the area, about cooking, the history of Chinatown, and was able to keep us fascinated the entire 3.5 hours, ending with a terrific Dim Sum. What a terrific and tasty way to learn! I am thinking about who I want to give gift certificates to.

I can not say enough positive things about the Chinatown Market Tour! I took my friend on the tour as part of her birthday gift, and both her and I were thrilled with the experience. It was so much fun, and you get your money's worth between all the yummy samples and the delicious Dim Sum lunch at the end. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone, from locals to out of towners. I'm definitely sending my parents on this tour when they come to visit next!

I think Jim Becker does a terrific job. i went into this tour with a bit of trepidation. I love the North End tour and was not particularly enthusiastic about Chinatown (I got it for a friend of mine for Christmas - we did the North End tour last year). Jim hooked me from the start with his history of the Chinese in America, the Exclusion Acts, etc. He was extremely knowledgeable about the culture, history of Boston's Chinatown, types of foods, how to cook them and if they have some meaning (yin/yang, historical, celebratory and the like). By the time we finished the dim sum lunch we were stuffed! The herbalist visit was very interesting (in fact we went back after the tour and made a couple of purchases). All in all, it was a wonderful way to spend the morning and I would highly recommend the tour. Colleen Cannon