Belly Laughs Comedy & Food Festival Brings Hasan Minhaj, Kumail Nanjiani, and Margaret Cho to L.A. LIVE

Los Angeles knows how to eat. Los Angeles knows how to laugh. What it doesn’t often get is a festival smart enough to fuse both into one unapologetic, culture-forward experience. That’s exactly why the Belly Laughs Comedy & Food Festival feels less like another summer event and more like a long-overdue statement.

Landing at L.A. LIVE on July 12–13, the Belly Laughs Comedy & Food Festival brings together heavyweight comedians, next-generation Asian American chefs, and a crowd that actually gets the joke. With headliners Hasan Minhaj, Kumail Nanjiani, and Margaret Cho, this is a weekend designed for big laughs, bold flavors, and a city that thrives on both.

Why Belly Laughs Comedy & Food Festival Hits Different

Most festivals pick a lane. Comedy over here. Food over there. Belly Laughs Comedy & Food Festival refuses to choose.

This first-of-its-kind event spotlights Asian American culture through the twin languages of humor and cuisine—two things that thrive on timing, edge, and shared experience. The result? A festival that feels alive, a little chaotic (in a good way), and unmistakably L.A.

You’re not just watching stand-up. You’re eating your way through stories, memories, and heritage—sometimes spicy, sometimes comforting, always flavor-forward. Expect laughs that sneak up on you and dishes that hit just as hard. And yes, laughing while chewing is strongly encouraged (relatable, because it will happen).

The Comedy Lineup: Heavy Hitters Only

Let’s be clear: this isn’t an “up-and-coming” situation. This is a stacked bill.

Hasan Minhaj brings his razor-sharp social commentary. Kumail Nanjiani delivers that perfectly calibrated mix of awkward honesty and big-brain humor. Margaret Cho—an icon, full stop—anchors the lineup with decades of fearless comedy that helped pave the way for festivals like this to exist at all.

Beyond the headliners, more than 30 comedians from across the Asian diaspora take the stage throughout the weekend. Different voices. Different styles. One shared mission: make you laugh until your face hurts. Big laughs, belly laughs, the kind that make strangers feel like friends for five minutes. Fun-loving, no doubt.

A Culinary Lineup That Refuses to Play Safe

If the comedy is sharp, the food is sharper.

The Belly Laughs Comedy & Food Festival features a curated roster of Asian American chefs, restaurateurs, and food entrepreneurs from across Los Angeles—each bringing their own interpretation of heritage flavors, street food classics, and comfort dishes with a twist.

This isn’t watered-down festival food. This is crave food. Expect next-gen spins on traditional recipes, bold sauces, unexpected textures, and flavors that make you pause mid-bite (twice). It’s playful. It’s soulful. It’s deeply fun-loving. And it pairs suspiciously well with laughter.

The newest wave of culinary additions only deepens that experience, expanding the range of regions, influences, and personal stories on the plate. Because food, like comedy, works best when it’s honest.

Why L.A. LIVE Is the Perfect Backdrop

There’s something poetic about hosting this festival at L.A. LIVE—a place built for spectacle, energy, and cultural convergence.

Set in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles, the venue mirrors what Belly Laughs Comedy & Food Festival represents: a crossroads of voices, flavors, and identities. It’s central, electric, and unapologetically urban. You can bounce between stages, grab bites on the fly, and feel like you’re inside a living, laughing food court with punchlines.

Also, let’s be real—this is the kind of event where you’ll want space to walk, snack, digest, and laugh again (relatable, especially after round three).

More Than a Festival—A Cultural Moment

What makes Belly Laughs Comedy & Food Festival land isn’t just talent. It’s intention.

This festival doesn’t treat Asian American culture as a trend or theme—it treats it as a living, evolving force in Los Angeles. Humor becomes a way to process identity. Food becomes a way to share it. Together, they create something that feels communal, loud, and joyful.

For broader context on the growing influence of Asian American culture in food and media, organizations like Asian Americans Advancing Justice provide valuable insight: https://www.advancingjustice-aajc.org.

Mini FAQ: Belly Laughs Comedy & Food Festival

Q: When is the Belly Laughs Comedy & Food Festival?
A: July 12–13 in Los Angeles.

Q: Where is the festival held?
A: At L.A. LIVE in Downtown Los Angeles.

Q: Is this just for comedy fans?
A: No. If you love bold food, cultural storytelling, and fun-loving energy, this festival delivers—even if you come hungry first.

A New Wave of Must-Try Bites

In a true L.A. twist, many of the festival’s newest food vendors were handpicked by the comedians themselves, showcasing flavors they love — and stories they’ve lived. The newly announced additions include:

• Biriyani Kabob House – bold, aromatic South Asian flavors

• Bopomofo – viral Taiwanese-American comfort food from YouTube star Philip Wang

• Borneo Kalimantan Cuisine – soulful Indonesian bites rarely seen on mainstream menus

• Heng Heng Chicken Rice – Singaporean-style poached perfection

• Jilli – a modern take on nostalgic Chinese home cooking

• Kuramoto Shavery – handcrafted Japanese shaved ice, reimagined

• Standstill Tea – thoughtfully brewed, artisan tea blends to sip between sets

Together, they round out a food lineup that is as diverse, exciting, and unapologetically Asian as the talent onstage.

A Celebration of Culture, Identity, and Joy

Belly Laughs isn’t just another food or comedy event — it’s a cultural gathering, a statement, and a celebration of community. With music, pop-ups, and immersive experiences adding to the atmosphere, the festival offers an unforgettable taste of Asian American creativity — on the plate and at the mic.

Special AAPI Heritage Month Offer

In honor of AAPI Heritage Month, a limited-time four-pack ticket deal is available through the end of the month. Whether you’re coming for the food, the laughs, or both, now’s the time to lock in your spot.

Because in L.A., we don’t just dine and laugh — we celebrate who we are while doing it.

Comedians performing on July 12th include Hasan Minhaj, Kumail Nanjiani, Zarna Garg, Nimesh Patel, Jonnie Park (Dumbfoundead), Andrea Jin, Jason Cheny, Irene Tu, Dylan Adler, Kiran Deol, Sabrina Wu, James Tom, Tien Tran, Robin Tran, Tatyana Guchi, and D’Lo.

Comedians performing on July 13th include Hasan Minhaj, Margaret Cho, Joel Kim Booster, Sherry Cola, Hari Kondabolu, Asif Ali, Joe Wong, Jenny Yang, Helen Hong, Aparna Nancherla, Fumi Abe, Ismael Loutfi, Aaron Chen, Nori Reed, Paul Ogata, and Yudhi Sharma.

MAMA’s NIGHTMARKET will curate a mouthwatering selection of food, highlighting popular restaurants including Chef Tuệ Nguyễn & ĐiĐi, Bobapop,Feng Mao, Guzzu Bento-Ya, Holy Basil, and more! Alongside the delicious food, MAMA’s NIGHTMARKET will also host cooking demonstrations, karaoke, and an outdoor stage showcasing live entertainment, cultural programming, and interactive experiences that allow guests to immerse themselves in Asian culture. MAMA’s mission of connecting communities through diverse, vibrant flavors takes center stage, offering platforms for underrepresented restaurants and communities to showcase their culinary talents while blending the joy of food with the energy of live entertainment.

Whether you’re there for the comedy, the food, or the cultural celebration, Belly Laughs promises an unforgettable weekend.

Belly Laughs Comedy and Food Festival gives special thanks to the following sponsors for their generous support:

99 Ranch Market

Martell Cognac

Skrewball Peanut Butter Whiskey

Asian Comedy Fest

EDITOR’S NOTE:

Belly Laughs Comedy and Food Festival

Saturday, July 12 + Sunday, July 13, Noon to 11PM

L.A. LIVE

Tickets available via AXS.com

Open to all ages

7/12 ARTIST LINEUP:

Hasan Minhaj

Kumail Nanjiani

Zarna Garg

Nimesh Patel

Jonnie Park (Dumbfoundead)

Andrea Jin

Jason Cheny

Irene Tu

Dylan Adler

Kiran Deol

Sabrina Wu

James Tom

Tien Tran

Robin Tran

Tatyana Guchi

D’Lo

7/13 ARTIST LINEUP:

Hasan Minhaj

Margaret Cho

Zarna Garg

Joel Kim Booster

Sherry Cola

Hari Kondabolu

Asif Ali

Joe Wong

Jenny Yang

Helen Hong

Aparna Nancherla

Fumi Abe

Ismael Loutfi

Aaron Chen

Nori Reed

Paul Ogata

Yudhi Sharma

RESTAURANT LINEUP:

Newly added:

Biriyani Kabob House

Bopomofo

Borneo Kalimantan Cuisine

Heng Heng Chicken Rice

Jilli

Kuramoto Shavery

Standstill Tea

Previously announced:

Chef Tuệ Nguyễn & Điđi

Bobapop

Feng Mao

Good Alley

Guzzu Bento-Ya

Hermanos Empanadas

Holy Basil

Kanomwaan Thai Gelato

Kolkata Chai Co

Mayura

Riviera Seafood Club

Tenkatori

Yum Sະlut

For more information and to sign up for alerts, please visit bellylaughsfestival.com

Who is MAMA?

What you eat matters and MAMA knows best. As a community-driven platform, MAMA celebrates and preserves immigrant culture by sharing diverse flavors and traditions with the world. By amplifying the voices of underrepresented restaurants and food makers through storytelling, experiences and recommendations, MAMA connects communities through multicultural dishes.

MAMA’S NIGHTMARKET brings the mission to life through one-of-a-kind event experiences that immerses you in diverse food and drink culture. It’s a curated selection of restaurants and unique undiscovered or beloved dishes from every corner of your city, combined with a showcase of cooking, entertainment, and of course, karaoke.

About Nederlander Concerts

Nederlander Concerts promotes and produces a wide range of quality live entertainment throughout the United States and in 2024 was ranked among the top 20 promoters in the country by Pollstar magazine. As a boutique, independent event promotion and venue management firm, Nederlander operates and/or programs the most coveted and awarded small to mid-sized venues, including the Hollywood Pantages Theatre in Los Angeles, Vina Robles Amphitheatre in Paso Robles, The Backyard in Sacramento, Portneuf Health Trust Amphitheatre in Pocatello, Idaho, San Jose Civic, and California Performing Arts Center in San Jose, among others. Also, the company promotes events at third party arenas, theatres, and clubs across the country, including the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles, the Grove of Anaheim, San Diego Civic, Bank of America Performing Arts Center in Thousand Oaks, Paramount Theatre in Oakland, Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts in Worcester and many more.

About CAPE (Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment)

CAPE (Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment) is the world’s longest-running non-profit organization creating opportunities and driving change for Asian and Pacific Islander success in Hollywood. For almost 35 years, CAPE has advanced representation in film and television by championing people, stories, and culture. Through our industry-renowned programs such as the CAPE New Writers Fellowship and the CAPE Leaders Fellowship, our consulting and talent referral services, our research and tip sheets, and the CAPE Database, CAPE is breaking barriers to representation from the writers’ room to the boardroom to the living room. Follow @CAPEUSA on Instagram or visit capeusa.org.

About L.A. LIVE

L.A. LIVE is a vibrant 4 million square foot entertainment destination located in the heart of downtown Los Angeles. It is a place that truly captures the essence of the city’s lively and dynamic atmosphere. L.A. LIVE offers a wide array of entertainment options, including world-class music venues, a sports and entertainment arena, restaurants, clubs and hotels.

Developed by Los Angeles-based AEG, L.A. LIVE is considered to be the nation’s most active “live content and event campus.” It features 260,480 square feet of conference center and ballroom facilities, a 100,000 square foot special events deck, the famous Lucky Strike Lanes and Lounge, a one-of-a-kind GRAMMY Museum, saluting the history of music and the genre’s best-known awards show all centered around Peacock Place, a multi-use outdoor event space. L.A. LIVE showcases more events, award shows, sporting competitions, concerts and hospitality options than any other destination in the world.

About GoldHouse

Gold House is the leading cultural ecosystem that unites, invests in, and champions Asian Pacific creators and companies to power tomorrow for all. Our innovative programs and platforms include membership systems and events to fortify belonging among the Asian Pacific community and with other marginalized communities (Membership, Futures, #StopAsianHate, One House); first-of-its-kind investment vehicles and accelerators to propel the next generation of top Asian Pacific founders, creatives, and leaders (Gold House Ventures, Creative Equity Fund, Venture andCreativeAccelerators); and industry-leading research, consulting, and marketing to promote authentic and affirming mainstream portrayals (Gold Story Consultation, Gold Open, Gold List, A100 List, Gold Gala). To learn more, visit www.goldhouse.org or follow @GoldHouseCo on Instagram,Facebook, X/Twitter, Threads, and LinkedIn.