How it all began…
Lucky Cheng's opened in 1993 in NYC's East Village as the first Chinese Restaurant & Bar where the entire staff were exotic Asian Drag Queens and transgendered women.
Named after former busboy and later co-owner Mi Ching Cheng, Lucky Cheng's featured a delicious California-Asian menu created by Executive Chef, Chris Genoversa of the famed China Grill and was the most unique spot in all of NYC. Mr. Cheng himself was a star character going from table to table each night speaking with every guest and offering shots of liquor if they were celebrating an occasion.
Fame!
Lucky Cheng's was catapulted into the spotlight in 1994 when Prince Albert of Monaco came in for a drag dining experience and liked it so much that he asked for two Asian Drag Queens to serve for his table. Suddenly, Lucky Cheng's became an overnight sensation attracting celebrities, musicians, and artists through the years such as talk show host Joan Rivers, Robin Leach (Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous), Ivana and Ivanka Trump, Jerry Springer, Mary McFadden, Patrick McMullan, Grace Jones, Luther Vandross, Gary Coleman, Elvira, Boy George, The B52s, Bananarama, Britney Spears, Madonna, Mick Jagger, Taylor Dayne, Cyndi Lauper, Sarah Michelle Geller, The Cast of All My Children, Jack Wagner, Heather Locklear, Kelly Ripa, Leonardo DiCaprio, Danny Bonaduce, Stephen Baldwin, Bernadette Peters, Amy Irving, Sam Harris, RuPaul, Lady Gaga, and many more.
In 2004, the Ladies of Lucky Cheng’s were featured in the movie documentary, New York Drag directed by Roger Sewhcomar.
Lucky Cheng’s and several of the staff were also featured in Allure magazine, The Howard Stern Show, The Jerry Springer Show, Season 1 of Sex and the City, Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, The Jersey Shore, Bethany Ever After, America’s Next Top Model, and The Long Island Medium to name a few TV shows. Many of Lucky Cheng’s staff have gone on to fame themselves: Laverne Cox (TV Personality), Jamie Clayton (TV Actress), Dominique Silver (Elite Model), Bianca Leigh (Broadway), Ongina, Thorgy Thor, Acid Betty, Bob the Drag Queen, and Yuhua Hamasaki (RuPaul's Drag Race).
In 2012, Lucky Cheng’s moved out of it’s East Village home of 19 years and into the Times Square/ Hell’s Kitchen/ Theatre District where it continues to entertain and celebrate the masses. 2026 marks it’s 33rd year as the longest running drag cabaret in the USA!
In 2012, Lucky Cheng’s relocated from its original East Village location to the Times Square/Theatre District. Following the passing of the original owner, Hayne Suthon, in 2014, her husband, Robert, and daughter, Josephine, took over the business to ensure her legacy continues. After a brief stint under the direction of Russian drag performer, Gioconda, Lucky Cheng’s is back to it’s roots and featuring the exotic staff of the renowned Lucky Cheng’s.