HOME > Chowhound > Manhattan >


Lucky Cheng's.. worth the trip?

I can't say how many mixed reviews i've come across for this establishment. From 5 starts to negative if it was even possible.

Stories about the place smelling, looking, and the food tasting like complete garbage and the staff being rude beyond belief.... to the complete opposite of enjoying the food, the drag and the entertainment till they couldn't laugh anymore.

Can anybody point me in the right direction? I thought this might be a fun stop for a day in the city for an outsider to experience.

  1. Click to Upload a photo (10 MB limit)
  1. Hmmm... if you're not from NY and are not familiar with drag (ie - have never sat next to a group of drag queens on the subway, as I'm sure most NYers have), then it might be a fun experience (after several drinks, that is). It is definitely not the place to go for quality Chinese food or even decent service. The people ARE rude, but that is part of the "charm" (or so they say). Let us know - please report back.

    1 Reply
    1. re: RussianGirl

      I think that small h hit it right on the button. Campy fun, if you're in the mood. Indeed campy fun is the point of the place. While it certainly is not a food destination in any way, the food won't kill you. Eat light, save your apppetite for later and another restaurant and, have a few drinks.

    2. I last went to Lucky Cheng's during the brief shining moment when a branch of it was open on W. 23rd St., 15ish years ago. The food was not good. The servers were theatrical drag queens, and they acted like theatrical drag queens, which may strike some as rude, in the same way that brusque deli waiters strike some as rude. It is a campy (obviously), fun place where you can have a great time if you're in the right mood. And not that hungry. Kind of like Sammy's Roumanian.

      1. Do not eat here. I repeat do not eat here. It is "fun" as a place to see a drag show. It will most likely be full of bachelorette parties. If you want to have a few drinks and see a drag show go ahead but eat someplace else before or after.

        3 Replies
        1. re: KTinNYC

          just to echo on what everyone else has said:
          -the food is AWFUL
          -the place is gross. that's not a homophobic statement either. it's just a really filthy restaurant...
          -i'd say that if you really have a desire to go there you should grab dinner and drinks somewhere else and then go there for a drink aafterwards and take in the spectacle. or if you want some of the worst chinese food you've ever had (and that would be quite a record!) grab a table!

          1. re: El Tigre


            Thank you all for the help. We will be back in the city tomorrow, so we might stop in just for the show. As we are both on the "health" kick on food, so that is going to be a big NO NO on eating there lol.

            I'll report back and let you know what happens.

            Her being from puerto rico, she's probably enjoy the show and what not. And as funny as that is, i think it's true about taking the subway every week... i've had plenty sitting next to me lmao.

            1. re: nachonut

              The last time I was there ten years ago I had this feeling I was watching women, acting like men, acting like women ("Victor, Victoria" anyone?). Maybe I'm just naive, but that's what it looked like to me.

              Can't comment on the food as we didn't eat, just drank.

        2. eat prior to....it's a show..

          1. like everyone said you dont go here for the food.....
            but itf you have never been it sure is a specticle, or at least it was 10 years ago when I was there last...