Lucky Cheng’s

Lucky Cheng’s is one of New York City’s most historic drag dining experiences, combining live performances, audience interaction, food and drinks in a gloriously theatrical setting. Founded in 1993, the concept first became famous in the East Village, where drag queens and transgender women worked both as performers and members of the restaurant team. That original location no longer exists: Lucky Cheng’s left the East Village in 2012 and subsequently continued in the Times Square and Theater District area. In 2026, the shows take place on weekends at the Green Room 42 supper club, on the fourth floor of YOTEL New York Times Square at 570 Tenth Avenue.

This distinction is important because Lucky Cheng’s is no longer a conventional restaurant that visitors can enter at any time for dinner. It is a ticketed drag show with a dining component, presented on selected dates. Guests should consult the official calendar and purchase admission before making plans. General, VIP and Diamond admission categories are available, with the ticket level determining the location of the table and the quality of the view. Admission does not include food or drinks, which must be ordered and paid for separately at the performance venue. A food-and-beverage purchase or minimum applies, so the final cost will be higher than the admission price displayed online.

The current programme includes drag brunch performances on Saturdays and Sundays, with doors generally opening at 1 pm. Saturday dinner performances may also be offered, with doors opening at 6 pm. The show begins approximately 45 minutes after doors open and lasts about 90 minutes. Times and dates can change, so the current booking page should always take priority over information found in older guides. Drag brunch includes an obligatory brunch package with an entrée and two hours of bottomless mimosas, while the dinner format operates with its own food-and-beverage minimum.

The entertainment is unapologetically camp, interactive and intended for a lively adult audience. Expect lip-sync performances, comedy, elaborate costumes, audience participation and queens moving throughout the room. This is not the place for a discreet conversation about quarterly results while someone quietly refills the water glasses. Birthday groups, bachelor and bachelorette parties, friends celebrating together and visitors looking for an unmistakably queer New York experience make up a substantial part of the crowd. Gay travelers are naturally welcome, although the audience is mixed and often includes large groups celebrating special occasions.

Lucky Cheng’s has played an important role in New York’s queer nightlife history. Over the years, its stages and dining rooms have welcomed many well-known performers and celebrities, while former members of its extended family have included future stars such as Laverne Cox, Bob the Drag Queen, Thorgy Thor, Ongina and Yuhua Hamasaki. The venue helped bring drag entertainment to audiences beyond traditional gay bars long before drag brunch became an international weekend institution. Its present format preserves that irreverent spirit while adapting it to a modern supper-club environment.

Guests must bring an original government-issued photo ID. The shows are primarily for people aged 18 and over because the humour and performances contain mature material. According to the official policy, guests aged 16 or 17 may attend only with a parent or adult legal guardian. A photograph of an ID on a phone is not accepted. Bringing cash is also recommended for tipping the performers, an essential part of drag-show etiquette and a direct way to support the artists’ costumes, makeup and work.

Lucky Cheng’s remains active in 2026 at the Green Room 42 inside YOTEL New York Times Square. It should therefore not be marked permanently closed, but its misterb&b listing needs a new address and an updated description. Book in advance, budget separately for admission and dining, bring identification and arrive ready to participate. The queens will supply the glamour; sitting silently in the corner pretending not to enjoy yourself is entirely your own questionable creative decision.