Ronny Chieng Talks Lunar New Yr, Asian Eating places, and What It’s Wish to be Asian in America

Comic Ronny Chieng‘s cultural roots have been cultivated everywhere in the world: he was born in Malaysia, raised in Singapore and New Hampshire, and went to school in Australia. Chieng moved to New York Metropolis in 2015 when he was employed as a correspondent on The Every day Present and is about to have a good time his decade-mark within the metropolis. (He’s now one of many late-night present’s rotating anchors, injecting his personal model of humor into the comedy world, just like the bit on Lunar New Yr prosperity needs that turned so widespread he sells “Hope You Get Wealthy” crimson envelopes on his web site.)

Humor apart, Lunar New Yr, which kicked off this yr on Jan. 29, is a time of custom for the 39-year-old. He instructed Journey + Leisure he rang within the Yr of the Snake at a good friend’s home with about 15 buddies, having fun with a potluck dinner and taking part in mahjong, popularly performed through the vacation. He additionally follows most of the superstitions and habits, like consuming vegetarian for the day. “On the extra disgusting facet, we don’t wash our hair,” he instructed T+L, abiding by the customized of avoiding “washing away” success, which additionally applies to not cleansing, sweeping, or mopping.

On a extra private observe, his spouse Hannah Pham, who he married in 2016, additionally launched their very own custom, “the place we’ve an prolonged Facetime together with her household and trade well-wishes fairly formally.” 

However above all else, Lunar New Yr is about reuniting with household and having fun with symbolic meals, so he and Pham teamed up with scotch model Johnnie Walker to have a good time the model’s limited-edition Blue Label Yr of the Snake to showcase their favorites, like yu sheng or lo hei salad, which is communally blended in a prosperity toss.

“You’ve obtained to shout stuff once you do it,” Chieng mentioned concerning the prosperity toss, referring to auspicious sayings uttered for good luck, well being, success, and, after all, prosperity. “You need to say lots as a result of nobody phrase covers all of it.” Figuring out the right four-word idioms is an indication of training. “The extra you possibly can say, the extra educated you’re,” he mentioned.

Chieng himself realized the phrases as a child. “I studied Chinese language formally late in life, at eight years previous, so that they drilled all these idioms into us,” he mentioned, explaining that they run the gamut from new year-specific ones to on a regular basis sayings, like one which interprets to don’t randomly decide stuff up on the road.

Sure fortunate meals are additionally vital to eat throughout Lunar New Yr, like dumplings, believed to deliver prosperity since they resemble gold ingots. Chieng’s favourite “hidden, off-the-beaten spot” is Wonderful Dumpling Home, a former Chinatown staple now in Chelsea. Although he joked that the mainstay most likely moved so they may cost triple, he mentioned they’re an “glorious Chinese language restaurant throughout,” particularly going for its pan-fried dumplings. 

Noodles are one other important eat, believed that their size symbolizes a protracted life. Chieng’s most well-liked selection is pho, which he enjoys from the West Village’s Good day Saigon. “It’s arduous to search out good pho in Manhattan,” he admitted, including that this eatery hits the spot and presents stable selections throughout its menu.

In the case of his Malaysian roots, he’s a fan of Fish Market, which has two areas in Manhattan. “It’s very uncommon, however it’s in a sports activities bar,” he mentioned of the South Avenue Seaport authentic. “They’ve soccer, military, and navy flags in every single place, screens taking part in sports activities, and the bartenders are all from Kansas or one thing.” Juxtaposed with its environs, nasi lemak, fish congee, curried hen, and bok choy are served up. “It seems like a hidden menu,” he mentioned. “I am not even joking, like, it is most likely the very best Malaysian meals I’ve had in America!”

Going again to his time in Singapore, whereas the delicacies is much like Malaysian, he says Lou Yau Kee has an ideal Hainan hen rice, whereas one other current discover was the speakeasy in the back of Kei Izayaka. (Although he admits the bar he frequents essentially the most is Comedy Cellar, the place his photograph went up on the wall in 2017.)

The funnyman additionally usually heads to Manhattan’s Chinatown since his tailor is there, however it’s additionally the place Pham — who has a YouTube channel Pham Bam Kitchen, the place she shares favourite Asian recipes from Vietnamese hen curry to Taiwanese beef noodle soup — usually picks up groceries at Hong Kong Grocery store. Chieng mentioned he finally ends up going to espresso outlets round Chen’s Watches, which he additionally extremely recommends for repairs.

Whereas Chieng has established himself as a staple in iconic Asian American movies — Loopy Wealthy Asians in 2018, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings in 2021, Pleasure Journey in 2025, and Kung Fu Panda 4 final yr — his comedy specials, together with final month’s Netflix particular Like to Hate It and 2019’s Asian Comic Destroys America, are the place he usually delves into cross-cultural points, particularly these which might be difficult to navigate. 

“Being Asian in America, you are consistently attempting to determine in any given second whether or not you are presupposed to be representing Chinese language individuals, or whether or not you are supposed to only be American,” he instructed T+L. “After virtually 10 years right here, I’ve realized there’s no arduous and quick rule. The bottom line is that it ought to be you who decides — not another person.”

However what he has seen this yr is there may be extra of an understanding. “I undoubtedly seen extra individuals wishing me a cheerful Lunar New Yr,” he says. “I feel it’s as a result of they train it in colleges now, so children inform their dad and mom, and after they go to the workplace it’s one thing they consider after they see an Asian particular person, which I do not assume has occurred earlier than.”