Best of Cleveland 2017: Chinese-style Karaoke

Shing Ruan finds American birthday celebrations to be routine. Most of us go out to dinner, have cake and go home. There’s little fanfare. The China native was used to a more exhilarating tradition back home: getting a private room and singing karaoke with friends at a splashy KTV. His Galaxy Karaoke in AsiaTown honors the custom with a 4,500-square-foot space decked out with custom LED light-up tables, shiny patterned wall tiles and slick jeweled banquettes. With 220,000 songs in Chinese, English, Korean, Vietnamese and Japanese, guests are sure to find their song. The option of nine private rooms for four to 20 people or an open mic bar area gives both hairbrush singers and stage performers a comfortable place to bust a tune. The suites boost the VIP factor with a call button for a server to bring drinks or Chinese finger foods, and soundproof walls allow you to loudly croon Justin Bieber (popular with his guests). Others have quickly embraced Ruan’s vision as a special events venue. “They want a different place to celebrate birthdays in Cleveland,” he says. “That’s why they chose here.” 1593 E. 30th St., Cleveland, galaxyktv88.com