International City Noodle Tour

International City Noodle Tour - Frying Pan Adventures - Dubai Food Festival (3)

International City Noodle Tour - Frying Pan Adventures - Dubai Food Festival 2

Discover 7 unique noodles dishes across 5 authentic restaurants in International City with a Chinese noodle aficionado—a unique bonding experience!

Meet a Chinese gastronome and noodle aficionado who will decode the many geographical and cultural influences of Chinese cuisine.
Steer away from stereotypes of Chinese take-out and try 7 noodle bowls that native Chinese love to order across 5 different restaurants, from a deconstructed bowl of Cross Bridge noodles to chewy hand-pulled flat noodles licked with chilli sauce.
Compare the flavours and diversity of Chinese cuisine and its major influences. We’ll explore the umami flavours of the East, the mellow notes of the Cantonese region, and the hot and spicy flavours of the Sichuan province.

Runs year long.

7 unique noodle dishes.

Carry earphones for the audio system used by our guide.

Minimum age of 14 years recommended. If your child is younger than 14 years, please reach out to us before booking.

Walking only; our stops are located close to one another.

Tastings include Gluten/Lactose/Dairy/Nuts. Not recommended for vegetarians or anyone with serious gluten intolerances. Please notify us of severe allergies.

The tour requires a minimum of 6 guests; we may cancel and refund tickets if the minimum is not met.

Dress comfortably to walk.

Yunan Province
Tuck into a curiously named noodle bowl and learn about how a wife’s desire to cook for her scholarly husband gave birth to this signature dish. (N/M/P/S)

Gansu Province
Slurp on silky hand-pulled noodles immersed in rich broth that have become iconic Chinese fast food. (G/M)

ShaanXi Province
Sample spicy, flat, wide noodles that are hand-pulled into a uniquely satisfying chewy texture. A bowl of cold mung bean noodles will also be featured. (G/N)

Guangdong Province
Cantonese cuisine is, perhaps, the most popular of all the regions of China. Indulge in a chopstick duel with slippery rice noodles folded over shrimps. (N/S)

Sichuan Province
This noodle bowl is not for the faint of palate! Tackle noodles drenched in fiery chili oil and mouth-numbing Sichuan peppercorns. (G/N)

Allergens Key: Contains G-Gluten; D-Dairy; N-Nuts; M-Meat (Beef/Lamb); P-Poultry; F-Fish; S-Shellfish. We regret that there may not be substitutes for dishes. Even if specific dishes do not contain these ingredients, we cannot guarantee against cross-contamination of allergens in the restaurant kitchens.

All prices below include 5% VAT and all the food and water that the guide orders for the group on the tour. Soft beverages are not included.

Shared Tour:

We offer 2 ticket types. The non-refundable ticket may not be changed/refunded for any reason once booked.

On public tours, the flex ticket may be either (a) rescheduled or (b) refunded minus a 35 AED cancellation fee per ticket, anytime up to an hour before the tour commences. Within an hour of the tour start time, no changes are possible on a flex ticket. Once rescheduled, a flex ticket will become non-refundable/non-reschedulable.

Non-refundable option: AED 472.50 per person – *AED 435 till 12th Dec 9PM
Flex option: AED 519.75 per person – *AED 478.50 till 12th Dec 9PM

Rates per private group based on group size below:

6 guests or fewer – AED 4056
7 guests – AED 4484
8 guests – AED 4982
9 guests – AED 5480
10 guests – AED 5893
11 guests – AED 6382
12 guests – AED 6871

Refund/Rescheduling Policy on Private Tours:

21 days or more before tour date: All tickets may be fully refunded or rescheduled.
8 to 21 days before tour date: Tour may either (a) be rescheduled for a fee of AED 25% of the original group ticket price paid or (b) partially refunded (70% of total price paid).
7 or less days before tour date: No changes possible.
Only one date reschedule possible per private group booking, depending on availability.
In the case of reductions in the group size, the same refund policy as above applies. A full refund 21 days or more before tour date; partial refund (70% of the difference) 8 to 21 days before tour date; no changes 7 days or less before tour date.
If gift cards or gifted tickets have been used for any portion of the private tour booking, any full or partial refunds due will be made to the original gift card or gifted ticket.

As an example, if the tour is on the 25th of November:

Full refunds/free rescheduling is possible up until the 4th of November only (= 25th Nov minus 21 days)
Between the 5th of November and 17th of November ( = 25th Nov – 7 days), the partial refund/pay-to-reschedule policy applies.
18th November onwards, no changes would be possible.

We meet near our first restaurant stop in International City. Please review your confirmation email closely for meeting point details.

Here’s What Past Guests on This Tour Are Saying

International City Noodle Tour hosted by Farid and Xini was excellent, well organized and they were ready for any little hiccups with the restaurants. A truly gastronomic journey around China’s most popular ‘fast food’ twenty minutes from downtown Dubai!
read moreread less

Meena R. 07/05/23
Whether you are a long-time resident of the UAE or you are a visitor, Frying Pan adventures should be on your to-do list if you are a foodie. "It is just going to a bunch of restaurants and eating, why cant we do it ourselves?" some people might ask. Well, Frying Pan takes it to the next level. I attended the Noodle Walk with them and I can say I would have never gone to the restaurants they took me to in a million years, despite being a resident of the city. They have carefully curated authentic restaurants and dishes to give a truly amazing experience, second to none. Our guides Farida and Xin were extremely knowledgable about Chinese cuisines and gave us a thorough introduction to noodles and the art of eating them. From crossing the bridge noodles (and its origins) to delicious hand-pulled noodles, we had some of the best that Chinese cuisine has to offer. What a wonderfully amazing experience!
read moreread less

Naaz A. 06/05/23
Noodling our way through International City Whether you are a long-time resident of the UAE or you are a visitor, Frying Pan adventures should be on your to-do list if you are a foodie. "It is just going to a bunch of restaurants and eating, why cant we do it ourselves?" some people might ask. Well, Frying Pan takes it to the next level. I attended the Noodle Walk with them and I can say I would have never gone to the restaurants they took me to in a million years, despite being a resident of the city. They have carefully curated authentic restaurants and dishes to give a truly amazing experience, second to none. Our guides Farida and Xin were extremely knowledgable about Chinese cuisines and gave us a thorough introduction to noodles and the art of eating them. From crossing the bridge noodles (and its origins) to delicious hand-pulled noodles, we had some of the best that Chinese cuisine has to offer. What a wonderfully amazing experience!
read moreread less

naaz_ar 30/04/23

Should I join this tour if I am vegetarian?

We regret this tour is not veggie friendly.

How do I get to the tour?

The metro doesn’t stop in International City, so your best bet is to drive or take a taxi. If you choose to drive, please arrive early as parking sometimes runs out on the weekends.

Do we only walk around and sample food?

Absolutely not! Our walking food tours are immersive experiences that combine food tastings with history, culture and personal stories.

What should I bring with me?

Earphones with a 3.5mm jack for the portable audio system that helps you hear the guide clearly. You can also purchase these while booking the tour.

Please don’t carry anything too heavy as we will be walking. If you plan to purchase edible souvenirs during the tour, please make sure to carry both cash/your credit card (most, but not all, locations accept credit card).

What if I have dietary restrictions or allergies?

Please be sure to let us know if you (or anyone in your group) have a dietary restriction (e.g. vegetarian, diabetic, allergy, etc.) when you purchase your tickets. In most cases, nuts, lactose and gluten may be in the foods featured on our experiences and there is a risk of cross-contamination. If you have a serious allergy, we recommend contacting us at munch@fryingpanadventures.com prior to purchasing tickets to enable us to advise you if our tours are suitable for you.

Are toilet facilities available on the tour?

Yes, some of the restaurants featured do have toilet facilities.

Is the tour offered in different languages?

At this time, the tour is only offered in English.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

We regret that this tour is not wheelchair accessible due to the small nature of some of the places featured.

Are children allowed?

We recommend this tour for older children who are 14 years and above.

What do we do in case of bad weather?

The tours are very rarely cancelled due to bad weather. We will email you at least 4 hours prior to the tour should it not be advisable to walk outside due to a thunderstorm or sandstorm; please make sure to check your email if you are aware of bad weather. We also advise you to check weather conditions for your tour and dress appropriately and carry an umbrella if required.

Do I need to purchase tickets in advance?

Yes, advance ticket purchase is required through this website. Our experiences, typically, sell out quickly during the peak season (November to April). To maximize your chances of getting the date, time, and number of tickets you prefer, please book well in advance.

What are the change policies on my booking?

Please review our cancellation policies under our Terms and Conditions here.

Do I need to tip?

Gratuities are always appreciated but are not mandatory.

Please note that our tour routes and featured stops, including restaurants and other establishments, are subject to change. These changes can occur due to unforeseen circumstances such as lack of availability, closures or operational adjustments at any of our planned locations. In the event of such changes, our team will adapt the tour to offer a comparable experience. However, we do not offer refunds due to these alterations, as they are beyond our control. We appreciate your understanding and flexibility, and are committed to ensuring you have a delightful and memorable experience with us.

Please click here for our complete list of terms and conditions.