Ronny Chieng Talks Lunar New 12 months, Asian Eating places, and What It’s Prefer 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 Day by day Present and is about to rejoice 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 12 months prosperity needs that grew to become so fashionable he sells “Hope You Get Wealthy” pink envelopes on his website.)

Humor apart, Lunar New 12 months, which kicked off this 12 months on Jan. 29, is a time of custom for the 39-year-old. He informed Journey + Leisure he rang within the 12 months of the Snake at a buddy’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 informed T+L, abiding by the customized of avoiding “washing away” luck, which additionally applies to not cleansing, sweeping, or mopping.

On a extra private be aware, his spouse Hannah Pham, who he married in 2016, additionally launched their very own custom, “the place we now have an prolonged Facetime along with her household and alternate well-wishes fairly formally.” 

However above all else, Lunar New 12 months is about reuniting with household and having fun with symbolic meals, so he and Pham teamed up with scotch model Johnnie Walker to rejoice the model’s limited-edition Blue Label 12 months of the Snake to showcase their favorites, like yu sheng or lo hei salad, which is communally combined in a prosperity toss.

“You’ve bought to shout stuff if you do it,” Chieng mentioned concerning the prosperity toss, referring to auspicious sayings uttered for good luck, well being, success, and, in fact, prosperity. “It’s important to say loads as a result of nobody phrase covers all of it.” Realizing the right four-word idioms is an indication of training. “The extra you’ll be able to say, the extra educated you might be,” 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 choose stuff up on the road.

Sure fortunate meals are additionally essential to eat throughout Lunar New 12 months, 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 in all probability moved so they might cost triple, he mentioned they’re an “wonderful Chinese language restaurant throughout,” particularly going for its pan-fried dumplings. 

Noodles are one other important eat, believed that their size symbolizes an extended life. Chieng’s most well-liked selection is pho, which he enjoys from the West Village’s Hiya Saigon. “It’s laborious to seek out good pho in Manhattan,” he admitted, including that this eatery hits the spot and gives stable decisions throughout its menu.

In relation to his Malaysian roots, he’s a fan of Fish Market, which has two places in Manhattan. “It’s very uncommon, but it surely’s in a sports activities bar,” he mentioned of the South Avenue Seaport authentic. “They’ve soccer, military, and army flags in all places, 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 in all probability the perfect Malaysian meals I’ve had in America!”

Going again to his time in Singapore, whereas the delicacies is just like Malaysian, he says Lou Yau Kee has an ideal Hainan hen rice, whereas one other latest discover was the speakeasy behind 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, but it surely’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 retailers 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 12 months — 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 always making an attempt to determine in any given second whether or not you are alleged to be representing Chinese language individuals, or whether or not you are supposed to only be American,” he informed T+L. “After nearly 10 years right here, I’ve realized there’s no laborious and quick rule. The secret is that it ought to be you who decides — not another person.”

However what he has seen this 12 months is there’s extra of an understanding. “I positively seen extra individuals wishing me a contented Lunar New 12 months,” he says. “I believe it’s as a result of they educate it in faculties now, so youngsters inform their dad and mom, and after they go to the workplace it’s one thing they give thought to after they see an Asian individual, which I do not assume has occurred earlier than.”