Thai-born global pop star Lalisa “Lisa” Manobal brought a taste of Thailand to American late-night television during her appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
While promoting her upcoming six-track EP “PRESS PLAY”, Lisa introduced host Jimmy Fallon to one of her favourite Thai dishes, som tam, the spicy green papaya salad. She showed him some of the ingredients, including dried shrimp and fresh chilli, before encouraging him to try the dish.
Lisa then shared a drink she said she had discovered online. The mixture combines Korean soju, Thai beer and Sprite, creating a cocktail that she invited Fallon to sample.
Before they drank, Lisa taught Fallon the Thai phrase “mot kaeo”, a drinking expression meaning to finish the glass. Fallon repeated the phrase before trying the drink and gave the mixture a thumbs-up.
The light-hearted segment allowed Lisa to showcase Thai food, language and drinking culture to an American audience while continuing the promotion of her upcoming music.
Her new single “SaWaDiKa”, which takes its name from the Thai greeting “sawasdee ka”, leads the PRESS PLAY EP, scheduled for release on October 23. The project incorporates elements of Lisa’s Thai background across its six tracks.
Lisa also discussed her documentary “Always Lalisa” and her upcoming performances in Las Vegas, adding to a busy promotional period for the singer.
The appearance gave Lisa another opportunity to connect her international pop career with her Thai roots, bringing familiar food, language and cultural references to a global television audience.
