About Lucky Cheng's

Lucky Cheng's — whose décor was immortalized in lush photos printed in NY Magazine—has billed itself as "the Drag Queen Capital of the Universe" since its inception 25 years ago, when it was still located in the East Village. Today, it sits amid the bustle of Times Square/ Hell's kitchen, but many aspects of the business still remain: lively drag cabaret, three-course prix-fixe menu, potent original cocktails outrageously named after the drag staff, and an ever-growing list of celebrity fans of the longest-running and still family-owned. On a break from filming The Wolf of Wall Street, Leonardo DiCaprio and Matthew McConaughey were rumored to carouse on Martin Scorsese's dime at a late-night bash. Cameron Diaz and Kate Upton were spotted here shooting scenes for an upcoming flick, Rikki Lake met her husband here and celebrated their anniversary every year with the Drag Queens, and Ethan Hawke allegedly escaped here to nurse post-breakup wounds. Britney Spears is said to have stormed the stage and plucked off the clothes of patrons competing in a boxers-or-briefs contest. Lady Gaga and Cyndi Lauper had the whole restaurant to themselves while celebrating MAC Cometic's latest Viva Glam campaign. Lucky Cheng's has also appeared on iconic small-screen shows, making cameos on favorites such as America's Next Top Model, The Long Island Medium, Bethenny Ever After, MTV's Jersey Shore, 30 Rock, and Sex in the City. Many of today's Drag Queen celebrities had their humble beginnings at Lucky Cheng's.

But for all its association with Hollywood stars and Page Six-level shenanigans, Lucky Cheng's boasts plenty of drama of its own. The establishment's famed drag performers bring their most incandescent selves to the stage every week, as diners enjoy delicious prix-fixe meals and sometimes even join in on the act.