New Ho King
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New Ho King is a Chinese restaurant in Chinatown, Toronto.[1] It first opened in 1976, and rose to popularity thanks to its feature in Kendrick Lamar's 2024 diss track "Euphoria" and Drake's rebuttal "Family Matters" during the Drake–Kendrick Lamar feud.[2] It is currently owned by Johnny Lu.[3]
History[edit]
The restaurant has been open since 1976, and has long been a "favourite late-night Chinatown dinner spot" amongst Toronto residents.[3] Its current owner, Johnny Lu, has worked at New Ho King since he was 14 years old, and bought the restaurant in 2019.[4]
In January 2016, a shooting occurred outside the restaurant, which left two dead and four injured.[5]
On April 30, 2024, Lamar released "Euphoria", a diss track aimed towards Drake. New Ho King was briefly name-dropped, with "I be at New Ho King eatin’ fried rice with a dip sauce and a blammy, crodie."[2] There are theories to Lamar's motives. Complex speculated it relates to when Drake was robbed at gunpoint on May 2009 in a Toronto restaurant.[6]
A few days later, on May 3, Drake released "Family Matters", which featured the restaurant in the music video, wherein Drake is seen with an array of dishes.[7]
In an interview, New Ho King's owner said that business had gone up 300% as a result of the mention.[4] In honor of Lamar, the restaurant began offering the 'Kendrick Lamar special', a series of dishes featuring fried rice, deep fried shrimp with chili and crispy garlic, spicy fried chicken wings, and beef and broccoli.[7]
References[edit]
- ^ Saponara, Michael (May 2, 2024). "Kendrick Lamar's 'Euphoria' Name-Drop Gives Toronto Chinese Restaurant Major Boost". Billboard. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
- ^ a b Brown, T. M. (May 6, 2024). "A Chinese Restaurant Is Winning the Kendrick Lamar-Drake Beef". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
- ^ a b Liu, Karon (May 13, 2024). "We ate at Toronto's New Ho King, the spot Kendrick Lamar name-dropped. Here's what to order". Toronto Star. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
- ^ a b Blasi, Weston (May 11, 2024). "The real winner of the Drake-Kendrick Lamar feud is Chinese restaurant New Ho King". Morningstar, Inc. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
- ^ "Man believed to be leader of Heart of a King gang charged in Chinatown double murder". CBC News. February 21, 2017. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
- ^ Cowen, Trace William. "Does Kendrick Lamar's "Euphoria" Diss Include a Sly Nod to Drake's 2009 Robbery?". Complex. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
- ^ a b Clark, Meredith (May 12, 2024). "Chinese restaurant names dish for Kendrick Lamar after mention in Drake diss track". The Independent. Retrieved May 25, 2024.