Social media star Pei-Yun Chung, 35, is making headlines for all the wrong reasons after allegedly skipping out on bills at a string of New York City eateries—and now she’s landed behind bars with seven arrests on her record. The Instagram influencer, who boasts more than 26,000 followers thanks to her dramatic food photos and restaurant reviews, reportedly turned dining-and-dashing into her signature move, according to the New York Times.
Cops say Chung’s crime spree started on October 22, with each incident racking up a new theft-of-services charge. Her alleged unpaid tabs include $100 at Brooklyn’s chic Italian spot Misi, $123 at Sea Thai Brooklyn, and the latest: a pricey $149 feast at Mole Mexican Bar & Grill that got her hauled into court on November 22. Chung’s penchant for flashy food pics was always on display—but apparently not her credit card, claim several restaurant owners. Apparently, Chung would sometimes offer to give their cuisine a shoutout on social media as payment instead.
Her luck ran out on November 23, when she was locked up in Rikers Island and slapped with a $4,500 bail, according to jail records. Chung and her legal team have yet to break their silence or respond to media requests.
Liad Matatyahu, who owns 12 Chairs Cafe—a spot where Chung allegedly tried her dine-now-pay-never act—told the Times that word spread fast among restaurateurs. “Everyone started warning each other about her,” Matatyahu said, admitting there’s some comfort in the way the local community has banded together against bill dodgers.
Chung’s last Instagram post, dated October 23, showcases a lavish meal from Francie, a swanky Michelin-star French eatery. That venue too reportedly fell victim to her disappearing act—twice, according to sources.
The influencer is set to face a judge on November 26 for a hearing, as the city’s food scene watches closely. Will Chung pay up, or will this be her last bite of New York nightlife?
