Comedian Jenny Yang has transformed her nationwide summer tour into an unconventional fusion of entertainment and activism, performing stand-up comedy in cultural grocery stores rather than traditional comedy clubs. The Good Egg Immigrant Grocery Store Stand Up Comedy Tour represents a uniquely creative response to the current political climate facing immigrant communities across America.
Yang, a stand-up and sketch comedy veteran known for her role in Netflix’s “The Brothers Sun,” is bringing her humor and message of solidarity to immigrant enclaves through nearly 20 performances at community grocery stores. The tour, which began June 5 in her hometown of Los Angeles, has taken her to cities including Minneapolis, Phoenix, New York, and San Francisco, with plans to conclude September 26 in Los Angeles where Yang will film a performance for a proposed comedy special.
The unconventional venue choice has become part of Yang’s comedic appeal. Instead of managing the typical distractions of comedy clubs—clinking glasses and patrons entering and exiting—she navigates rolling shopping carts and the aroma of international foods. Yang has leaned fully into the setting, even buying snacks to throw to audiences when jokes miss their mark. “I got to buy a bunch of small snacks and shrimp chips and throw it into the audience every time I felt like a joke didn’t land,” Yang said. “I mean this is my dream.”
The tour’s origins trace back to December, when Yang, who immigrated from Taiwan, traveled back there for a failed round of in vitro fertilization treatment. Sitting in front of an omelet breakfast and heartbroken, she lamented not having “one good egg” to start a family—the phrase that would eventually inspire the tour’s name. As she contemplated a new project, her thoughts turned toward the immigration crackdowns affecting Asian, Latino, and Black communities. That combination of personal experience and political consciousness sparked the idea for a tour that would weave her past work as a labor organizer with her passion for stand-up comedy.
Yang’s vision extends beyond entertainment. She wanted to perform in cities with significant immigrant populations where she could give back directly. Working with the Asian Law Caucus, a legal and civil rights organization serving Asian Pacific Islander communities, Yang and her team selected grocery store venues and local nonprofits based on recommendations from community organizations. The partnership proved valuable, as the Caucus offered its extensive network of Asian American leaders and immigrant-centered nonprofits across the country.
Aarti Kohli, executive director of the Asian Law Caucus, explained the organization’s connection to Yang: “They hired Yang not just for her comedic touch but as somebody who culturally could relate to the communities that we serve.” Kohli emphasized the importance of cultural engagement in reaching communities: “Although we are a legal civil rights organization, we understand that so much of how we reach community is through, especially for Asian communities, food and culture.”
The impact of the tour extends to the broader economic and social struggles of immigrant communities. For over a year, international grocers have struggled with tariffs and the absence of immigrant customers fearful of venturing out due to heightened immigration enforcement operations. Some stores have closed temporarily or permanently as a result. At Shuang Hur Supermarket in Minneapolis, where Yang performed in July, workers reconfigured shelves near checkout lanes to accommodate 150 chairs for her show. The venue sits less than half a block from where ICE agents fatally shot Alex Pretti.
Grocery workers have found creative ways to serve their communities amid the challenges. Some have taken shopping lists via text and delivered groceries to fearful customers, demonstrating the deep bonds between these businesses and their communities.
Yang’s comedy tackles a range of topics, from her personal experience with infertility to broader awareness of immigrant experiences in the United States. She approaches stand-up as an extension of her values, explaining her philosophy: “I am of the mind that my stand-up comedy is just an extension of my values and I believe in punching up, not down.”
The tour’s financial structure reflects Yang’s commitment to the cause. While she fundraises separately to cover her travel expenses, lodging, talent fees, and production costs for video creation and editing, local organizations receive the majority of ticket sales proceeds. The Good Egg is fiscally sponsored by the Asian Law Caucus, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Yang has created not just a tour but a video series documenting the performances.
The response to the tour has exceeded expectations. What began as five planned performances has grown to nearly twenty shows across the country. The remarkable expansion underscores both the public’s hunger for this type of activism and the urgent need Yang identified in immigrant communities.
Yang hopes the tour provides momentary relief from the broader political anxiety affecting these communities. “It’s just a way to remind people, yes, there’s a lot of doom and gloom,” she said. “But, we got to make room for joy.” By staging comedy shows in grocery stores that serve as cultural anchors for immigrant communities, Yang has created a space where laughter, solidarity, and community healing intersect.