Meet the Team/ Our Cast
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Tora Dress - Manager & Maître d'/ Performer
A former photographer’s model and designer, Tora is one of the original ladies that opened Lucky Cheng’s back in 1993. She supervises the floor and brings with her decades of experience and wisdom with a great pair of legs!
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Gretchen - Waitress/ Performer
Affectionally called “Mother”, Gretchen came to Lucky Cheng’s in 1994 and brings her sassy style of hospitality, shocking and thrilling the audience every time leaving a lasting impression for generations.
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Prima Love - Show Host/ Performer
Joining us in 2022, Prima is our enchanting and exotic burlesque artist whose act incorporates stunning acrobatic moves and sexy costume reveals, Many of the costumes and headpieces she makes herself as well as for noted burlesque artists! A fan favorite as attested by rave reviews!
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Angel Au - Waitress/ Performer
Hailing from Hong Kong, Angel also joined us in 2022 and brings comedy and culture to her performances. She is also a fashion model who has walked the catwalks in addition to being featured in fashion magazines!
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Anylah "The Doll" - Waitress/ Performer
Anylah is a recent 2024 addition to the cast and brings acrobatic performance moves that will shock and amaze you. She is currently holds the pageant title of Miss Monster 2024.
Follower her on Instagram
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Boyish Charm - DJ/ Performer
The 1980s-90s Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy Performer and DJ. One of the most charming and nicest people you’ll ever meet.
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The Only JMV - Performer
"Just My Vibe" is a non-binary burlesque dancer that joined us in 2024. They are active with Broadway Bares and other charities.
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How it all began…
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 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. 2024 marks it’s 31st year as the longest running drag dining experience in the USA!
Lucky Cheng’s left it’s East Village home in 2012 and moved to the Times Square/ Theatre District. After the passing of original owner Hayne Suthon in 2014, Lucky Cheng’s has changed hands and is now in the control of new creative people under the leadership of Gioconda Productions.
