So the tour costs Php1500... the food presented didn't exactly feel like Php1500 or even half of that. It started off fine with the first 2 restaurants. Fresh lumpia, tofu, noodles and empanada. Had I known that was going to be the highlight of the FOOD tour I would've just stuffed my face then and there. The third resto we were given like 3 pieces of small dumplings each. No water. Fourth was mango sago (basically mango shake with sago) and a type of steamed bun. One of my companions didn't get his immediately, so the guide Ivan just takes it from our table and assumes we didn't want it and gives it to another table. We were kinda speechless. When the meal was ending, and we were getting up, Ivan was no where to be seen. The tindera outside had to tell us that he went ahead and to just keep right. When we found him he was all like hurry up and kept announcing each of our names on his mic. Fifth... I won't even consider it as a fifth stop because what was offered to us was a 1 piece of mooncake (the small one) for the whole group (we were approximately 30 btw).

In conclusion, we were better off just doing research and exploring the area on our own. We did a binondo food tour the year prior, half the price and probably quadruple the amount of food and more cultural stuff. We even got to visit some temples. Old Manila Walks may be ok for the old gen tourists who are more into the cultural aspect but I would suggest interested people just hire a freelance tourguide that is more flexible with time or just Google the area.

This is a good way to experience various eateries in Manila's Chinatown without the intimidation factor. Anyone who has been to Manila, let alone the Chinatown district, knows that trying to maneuver it on foot is not for the faint of heart. We had a great guide, Ivan Dy, who was very passionate not only about his job but his heritage. Starting with a traditional lumpia house to favorite breakfast place among locals, to a dumpling house owned by a family from Northern China, then a visit to a restaurant that served steamed buns I've never had before (and I've had plenty), and ending with a visit to a famous "hopia" house. One of the charms of this tour is that you will not leave hungry. Ivan encouraged us to eat as much as we wanted as the tour includes the price of food with an all you can eat deal. After the tour, he even escorted us to a local store where we could buy some hard to find goodies like mahu and dried squid. You do have to keep up though. With crowded streets one could easily lose sight of their guide.

What a great tour to learn about Manila's history and sample the food in Chinatown! Ivan was so knowledgable and professional. The best part was sampling food that I would have never considered trying. It was delicious!! I really thought it would be very small portions of food but it was quite a large amount and we all walked away very full! I highly recommend this tour- very fun!