Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory
The Verdict
"Free to visit, with a small fee if you want to take photos inside."
What you need to know
The Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory has folded cookies by hand in Ross Alley, one of the older lanes in Chinatown, since 1962. The shop is small enough that the production line and the customer counter share the same room.
What to Expect
Workers operate circular griddles that cook the batter into flat discs. While each disc is still hot and pliable, they insert a paper fortune and fold the cookie, a process that takes a few seconds and has to happen before it cools. The shop sells folded cookies, flat unfolded versions, and chocolate-dipped variations, and custom fortunes can be ordered ahead. A small fee covers photos, and samples are usually free.
Getting There
Ross Alley runs between Washington and Jackson streets in Chinatown, walkable from the rest of the neighborhood’s sights.
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