Drag Race’s Jujubee Always Hits These Hidden Chinatown Spots When She's Home in Boston

There is a deep, innate pull that brings New Englanders home. We may travel the world, we may pretend we prefer New York City for a while, or even venture west to Los Angeles for show biz, but there is something about this corner of the country, the history, our blunt honesty, a collision of old and new, that means we all come back eventually. Few people understand that better than Jujubee, the renowned drag artist, performer, and star of the upcoming Stop! That! Train!, an action-comedy disaster film co-starring her fellow Drag Race luminaries RuPaul, Monét X Change, and Ginger Minj. The world first fell in love with her as a contestant in the RuPaul’s Drag Race multiverse, where her razor-sharp charisma, uniqueness, nerve and talent turned her into one of the franchise’s most beloved queens.

Though she was born in Boston, Jujubee spent much of her childhood in California before returning to Lowell, Massachusetts as a teenager, the town next door to the one I’m from (my cousins graduated from high school with her). Since then, Jujubee’s career has taken her around the globe. But for all the miles Jujubee has logged, Boston remains her stomping grounds. It’s where she returns for late-night Chinatown meals, afternoons in the leafy Public Garden, and evenings spent catching up with friends at famed drag establishment Club Café, looking sickening , obviously, but certainly never, ever dancing.

Ahead of Stop! That! Train!’s release, we joined Jujubee for a tour of the neighborhoods, restaurants, and institutions that continue to make Boston feel like home. Consider it a hometown tour led by a queen who’s captivated the world but still knows exactly where to find the best pho, the coolest art, and the perfect perch to watch someone else tear up the dance floor.

Jujubee hitting Pho Pasteur in Boston's Chinatown, a spot her grandmother brought her to as a child.

You and I both grew up in the same area of Massachusetts. Tell me about your relationship to Boston now.

I was born in Boston, grew up in Fresno, California, and then moved back to Lowell, Massachusetts when I was 15. My relationship to Boston has always been great. One of my earliest memories was my grandmother taking me to Pho Pasteur in Chinatown. We had a huge bowl of pho, and then, after we were completely full, she took me next door to get bánh mi. That’s what grandmas do, in Boston or wherever you’re from, they always make sure you’re fed!

Boston gets a lot of attention for its classics, lobster rolls, Boston cream pie, clam chowder. How would you characterize the diversity of Boston’s food scene?

One of the things I love most about Boston is how many different cultures are represented through food. People think of us as lobster rolls and clam chowder, and of course those are here, but you can also find incredible Chinese, Vietnamese, Malaysian, and so many other cuisines. That’s one of our city’s greatest strengths.

After spending the covid-era years living in Chinatown, Jujubee's favorite area of Boston is the nearby Public Garden.

I spent several years living in Chinatown, and I absolutely loved it. It’s busy, energetic and full of life. It’s not a quiet, tucked-away neighborhood, there are students, tourists, and locals all moving through it at all hours.

I lived there from 2019 to 2022, which meant I spent the lockdown years in Chinatown. Professionally, it was a strange time because I was working on projects and releasing music, but I was also isolated like everyone else. What really grounded me was spending mornings nearby in the Public Garden. I would sit on a bench around nine o’clock in the morning, take in the scenery, and prepare myself for the day. It became my ritual.

One of my favorite places [is] Hong Kong Eatery. Whenever I didn’t feel like cooking, I’d stop in for roasted duck, barbecue pork, rice and vegetables. It was affordable, delicious, and became one of my go-to comfort meals.

Club Café has long been a cornerstone of the LGBTQ community in Boston. What makes it special to you?

Club Café is great because it offers something for everyone. If you want to dance, you can absolutely do that. But if you’re looking for something more relaxed, there’s the Napoleon Room, where you can hear incredible singers, including people who’ve performed on Broadway. I appreciate that balance. You can have dinner with friends, listen to show tunes, and still be part of the energy of the space and the community.

Me? Dancing? Absolutely not! I’ll get dressed up and look fabulous, but you’re probably not going to find me on the dance floor. I’m in my 40’s now, honey, and I’m perfectly happy watching everyone else dance!

You told me that you do very little drag work in Boston, and that you mostly travel for work these days. I love the idea of you commuting in and out of Logan Airport with all the lawyers and consultants. What do you appreciate about coming home to Boston?

How easy it is to get around. When I lived in Chinatown, I could get from my apartment to Logan Airport in about twelve minutes. When I lived in Revere, I could hop on the Blue Line and take the airport shuttle. The Silver Line is another underrated option, it connects the airport directly to downtown and South Station. People think Boston is complicated, but once you learn the transit system, it’s incredibly manageable!

Jujubee perform during Drag: The Musical at The Bourbon Room in Los Angeles last year

It’s so interesting to me that a queen of your caliber still lives in Boston, and that you haven’t sashay-shantayed off to a more entertainment-forward city like New York or LA.

Boston will always be home! I love the vibe here and throughout New England. People are straightforward. They’re honest. They’re not pretending to be something that they’re not. I really connect with that. I live in [the suburb] Malden now, which gives me the best of both worlds, I’m close enough to the city to enjoy everything Boston has to offer, but I can also come home, work in my garden, and enjoy a quieter pace of life.

It’s constantly evolving, which might surprise people. But because there are so many colleges and universities here, every semester seems to bring a new generation of queens.

There are so many great places! Club Café is obviously a major hub. Legacy hosts fantastic events, especially on holiday weekends. Royale brings in huge crowds for larger shows. Jacques Cabaret is a historic institution that’s been introducing audiences to drag for generations. Carrie Nation hosts one of the coolest drag brunches in the city. And newer spaces like Dani’s Queer Bar are helping keep the scene fresh and exciting. It’s a very welcoming community, and there’s always someone new bringing their own perspective to it.

Finally, I couldn’t speak to you without asking: Is Boston cunt, or just plain “unt?”

She’s absolutely cunt, honey! She has charisma, uniqueness, nerve and obviously talent.