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Lucky Cheng's

Lucky Cheng's Lucky Cheng's is a legendary restaurant and bar, located in the subterranean speakeasy, The Secret Room, that features New York City's best drag queens serving food & drink with a wild and raunchy drag show. The establishment requires reservations and admission tickets through their official website, while also adhering to NYC's COVID-19 vaccination mandate. Lucky Cheng's is not appropriate for children under 15 years due to adult language and explicit content. Lucky Cheng’s remains a small family owned business that has been delighting and entertaining since its opening in 1993, making it a popular spot for celebrities and partygoers alike.
(1813)

Recent social media posts

04/11/2026

Get tickets ➡️ www.luckychengs.com Lucky Cheng’s is THE place to celebrate Friends, a Birthday, Bachelor/ Bachelorette Party, or Divorce 😜!

Get Lucky with us!

03/14/2026

Buy tickets ➡️ www.luckychengs.com Welcome to Lucky Cheng’s, the #1 CHOICE FOR DRAG BRUNCH in THE UNITED STATES. Lucky Cheng’s is THE place to celebrate Friends, a Birthday, Bachelor/ Bachelorette Party, or Divorce 😜!

Enjoy a delicious hearty brunch with bottomless Mimosa as you experience an incredible show. There are chances to step into the spotlight and win amazing prizes throughout the entire experience! All and even more surprises await you at our incredible new location in the heart of Manhattan!

Lucky Cheng’s Drag Brunch is the perfect place to end your week, celebrate birthdays, bachelor/ bachelorettes, or any other special occasion. Book your table today!

05/12/2025

Congratulations to our very own Jasmine Rice for getting the Golden Buzzer and moving on to the semi-finals!

🥰 Thank you everyone who visited us back in our original East Village location and are sharing your beautiful memories a...
01/06/2025

🥰 Thank you everyone who visited us back in our original East Village location and are sharing your beautiful memories and experiences! ❤️

The ancient Greeks are important to all of us because they are the inventors of so much in our culture—democracy, philosophy, theater and art.

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01/06/2025

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Drag Queens and Performers in front of Lucky Cheng's Chinese Restaurant and Bar at 24 First Avenue, Between East 1st. Street and East 2nd Street, East Village, New York City in 1993.

Lucky Cheng's opened in 1993 in NYC's East Village as the first Chinese Restaurant & Bar where all the staff were exotic Asian Drag Queens and transgender women.

Photo Courtesy of Lucky Cheng's.

In 1993, Lucky Cheng’s opened its doors in New York City’s East Village, quickly becoming a cultural sensation and an iconic symbol of the city’s LGBTQ+ nightlife. Located at 24 First Avenue between East 1st and East 2nd Streets, the restaurant stood out not only for its playful, kitschy decor but also for its groundbreaking concept: an upscale Chinese restaurant and bar where the waitstaff and performers were predominantly Asian drag queens and transgender women.

The establishment was the brainchild of Gilbert Wong, a q***r restaurateur who saw the potential to create a space that combined fine dining with the campy, glamorous spectacle of drag performance. Lucky Cheng’s was ahead of its time, blending food, fashion, and live entertainment in an immersive experience that celebrated diversity and self-expression. Patrons were treated to a unique fusion of Chinese-American cuisine and dazzling cabaret-style performances featuring song, dance, comedy, and playful interaction with diners. Drag queens sashayed through the tables, serving food while delivering biting humor and unforgettable performances.

The performers at Lucky Cheng’s became a core part of its appeal, drawing crowds of celebrities, tourists, and locals alike. The venue’s cast, often dressed in elaborate gowns and stylized wigs, embodied both traditional drag aesthetics and unique cultural influences, helping to redefine mainstream perceptions of drag artistry. Many of the performers were also transgender women, making Lucky Cheng’s a trailblazer in providing employment and visibility to trans performers at a time when they faced significant marginalization in both the LGBTQ+ community and society at large.

The location in the East Village was significant—this neighborhood was long known for its countercultural edge and history as a hub for artists, musicians, and activists. Lucky Cheng’s fit perfectly into this landscape of experimentation and rebellion against societal norms, serving as a beacon of joy and empowerment during the turbulent early 1990s, a period marked by the ongoing AIDS crisis and growing political activism for LGBTQ+ rights.

The venue became a hotspot for celebrations such as birthdays, bachelorette parties, and even corporate events, with guests eager to experience its blend of bold entertainment and culinary flair. The staff’s charisma and audacity were the heart of Lucky Cheng’s success, as they balanced humor, ra**ch, and glamour in a way that felt both intimate and larger-than-life.

The legacy of Lucky Cheng’s extends beyond its initial location. It set the standard for interactive dining and helped pave the way for the growing acceptance of drag culture in mainstream entertainment. Drag brunches and themed restaurants that followed owe a debt to Lucky Cheng’s groundbreaking model, which transformed a dining experience into an unforgettable spectacle that celebrated q***r identity and Asian-American representation. It was more than a restaurant—it was a cultural phenomenon that embodied the resilience, creativity, and pride of the LGBTQ+ community in New York City during the 1990s.

Happy New Year!Join us on Saturday, January 4th for Drag Brunch with special guest Brazilian superstar, Ti Tiago!Doors o...
12/31/2024

Happy New Year!
Join us on Saturday, January 4th for Drag Brunch with special guest Brazilian superstar, Ti Tiago!
Doors open at 1 PM
Showtime 1:45 PM
Admission tickets available here: https://www.luckychengs.com/saturday-brunch

12/18/2024

Hello lovelies! Please let us know what you think of the new venue we are performing in, the food, the show, and the cast! Your photos and feedback are greatly appreciated! 😘

Post a review to our profile on Google

Join us for our at the Green Fig (4th floor in the YOTEL New York) A hearty brunch entree with bottomless mimosa...
12/07/2024

Join us for our at the Green Fig (4th floor in the YOTEL New York) A hearty brunch entree with bottomless mimosa and Divalicious Drag Show every Saturday and Sunday!
Admission tickets and more info available at https://www.luckychengs.com/

Secret NYC

Address

570 10th Avenue (4th Floor Of The YOTEL NEW YORK Times Square)
New York, NY
10036

To get to the location at 8th Avenue in New York, you can take public transport by subway and get off at the nearest station. Alternatively, if you prefer driving, you can park your car at nearby garages or on-street parking spaces. Please note that some garages may have limited availability and fees may apply.

Opening Hours

Saturday 1pm - 3pm
Sunday 1pm - 3pm

Telephone

+16465250715

Website

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What people say

Lucky Cheng's is a legendary drag cabaret restaurant located in the heart of New York City. This iconic establishment has been serving up delicious food and drinks with a wild, racy, and raunchy drag show since 1993. Lucky Cheng's is the perfect place to celebrate any occasion, whether it be a bachelorette/bachelor party, birthday, corporate event, holiday gathering, divorce party, anniversary celebration, or just a fun night out with friends.

What sets Lucky Cheng's apart from other restaurants is its unique and diverse staff. Lucky Cheng's was the first restaurant in the world to feature Asian drag-queen and transgender waitstaff, bartenders, and performers. This groundbreaking concept has made Lucky Cheng's an international sensation and a favorite destination for celebrities and celebrants alike.

At Lucky Cheng's, guests can expect an unforgettable night of fun and photo ops. The drag show is not only entertaining but also interactive as the queens often invite guests to join them on stage for some hilarious antics. However, due to adult language and explicit content, it is inappropriate for children under 15 years old.

To ensure the safety of all guests during these uncertain times, reservations and admission tickets are required through their official website. All guests will be ID'd and must show proof of COVID vaccination as per NYC mandate.

Overall, Lucky Cheng's is more than just a restaurant or bar; it's an experience that you won't find anywhere else in New York City. So gather your friends or colleagues and plan your next celebration at this iconic establishment for a night you'll never forget!