Boston Chinatown Market Tour

Our guide was fabulous and very knowledgable. Would definately recommend this tour!

Our guide, Jim Becker, is a former North End chef who had also studied in China. His tour offered interesting historical, political, and cultural insights into that neighborhood and other chinatowns throughout North America. .We visited bakeries, barbecue, herbal shops, as well as a supermarket and finishing off with delicious Dim Sum. We learned to be comfortable wandering through the stores, and not being worried about asking. We happened upon the celebration of a new restaurant complete firecrackers and dragon-dancers to drive out the evil spirits. I especially took home that things are ordered in pairs, that the balance of powers was imperitive and how to say thank you. Afterwards, I went back to the bakery and bought cookies and coconut buns for my church coffee hour, a delicious reminder of a wonderful day I would highly recommend this tour, and hope to take the North End one in the near future

Would like more detail though when in C Market. Perhaps a separate tour.

This was our second tour with Jim Becker. We find him informative to the max, definitely educated in his field, personable and great company! We felt transported across the seas rather than in our own state capitol. In Chinatown color rules, from the brightly painted buildings to the expertly decorated cakes in the two wonderful bakeries we toured. The dim som lunch was the best!!! Try eating with those chopsticks!!! What fun! Learning all about real Chinese cuisene, not that chow mein stuff was an eyeopener too. All in all, we wish there were lots more Michele Topor tours throughout the city. Come on Michele, we know you can think of at least one more for next year!! Thanks again for the experience. Don and Pat Beaulieu

This was a wonderful cultural experience. Our tour guide Jim was very knowledgeable about Chinese languages, customs, history, and of course, cuisine. I highly recommend this tour, especially for Boston locals who will be able to frequent the local shops. My husband and I will definitely be signing up for the North End tour. A bargain considering the amount of time and expertise of the guide! Thanks Jim!

Chinatown is very busy and impossible to go on you own. It was wonderful having a guide who spoke fluently the language and led us through the ins and outs of the area. Since we are foodies ourselves, it was really great taking a walk through the local shops and tasting and learning all the way. The dim sum lunch was outstanding...something we would not have tried on our own. The supermarket was an experience with all the fresh sea life and Chinese-specific vegetables some that I have never seen before but anxious now to use...another reason it was nice to have an experienced chef along.

Perfect driving directions led us to a small parking garage in Chinatown. We were nervous about driving into Boston but it was easy. Jim was a great tour leader with experience living/studying in China and also as a professional chef. He was always concerned for our comfort. It was good to sit in a small garden area for his history lecture before we started out. The food samples were perfect and I think we all saved our little boxes of candy until after our dim sum meal. My husband and I shouldn't have eaten a pastry before the tour since Jim had a savory bun for each of us to begin the tour. We felt welcome in each shop both during the tour and after when we returned to shop. Allow plenty of shopping time after lunch. I highly recommend making a grocery list based on recipes you want to try because there are so many things you will want to buy at the market. I had a folded grocery bag in my purse. It was lovely to share the dim sum lunch with other members of the tour group and have Jim explain each dish as well as more information about Chinatown history. My husband has spent years avoiding trips to Boston but he really enjoyed the tour and thought Jim was a terrific host. All in the tour except my husband had been on the North End Tour. The tours are a great way to learn about very unique neighborhoods. A great map and list of Jim's favorite restaurants was also included. I hope to return soon for more great dining and shopping.

The tour was not lead by Michele but we had a blast any way. The food was really good and our guide made sure we weren't given anything too exotic. He explained them but told us we could go back and get the exotic items if we wished. It ended with Dim Sum and I enjoyed everything that was served to us.

My wife and I are from western Massachusetts and have never explored Chinatown. After this tour with Jim Becker, we plan to enthusiastically go back for many more visits. The tour flew by as we meandered the streets and stopped at the various shops, including bakeries, herbal stores, and restaurants. Throughout all of it, Jim provided the fascinating history of the area in a well-paced and planned presentation. His knowledge of Chinese culture is amazing. No question could stump him and the culminating dim sum lunch was perfect. We're hoping this company will offer more tours like this of other neighborhoods. By the way, Michele's North End tour is also excellent.

Jim was the most professional and knowledgeable tour guide I've seen yet. The tour exceeded our expectations. We learned a lot, tasted some delicious food, and got some great restaurant/cooking recommendations as well. I'd highly recommend it to anyone!