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Golden Gate Fortune Cookies

4.5 star rating
based on 146 reviews

Categories: Ethnic Food, Desserts

Neighborhoods: Nob Hill, Chinatown
56 Ross Alley
(at Jackson St)
San Francisco, CA 94108
(415) 781-3956
Hours:

Mon-Sun. 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Price Range:
$
Accepts Credit Cards:
No
Parking:
Street
Wheelchair Accessible:
No

146 reviews for Golden Gate Fortune Cookies

Review Highlights   

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"they always are super friendly and would give lots of free samples." (in 13 reviews)
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"I was so hooked, I had to buy a bag to take home." (in 63 reviews)
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"I love walking down the alley to this place." (in 4 reviews)
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Sort by: Yelp Sort | Date | Rating | Elites'
Photo of Deana I.

Elite '09

70

133

Deana I.

Walnut Creek, CA

5 star rating
11/3/2009

After a not-so-nice dim sum experience, my boyfriend knew how to turn my "frown upside down" by taking me here!  This place was tucked inside an alley but inside was pure heaven.  My co-worker and I used to buy the flat fortune cookies (aka "tea cakes) all the time from the Longs/CVS across work, but GG Fortune Cookies was far better than the store bought ones, hands down.  I didn't think I would be able to eat WARM, FRESH FROM THE OVEN cookies but I did; and they were stellar.  The people working there were unbelievably nice and gave us free samples.  So addicting!!!  I was so hooked, I had to buy a bag to take home.  It came with 3 flavors - original, chocolate and strawberry.  I know right - chocolate and strawberry flavored cookies?!?

I may not go to Chinatown for dim sum, but I'm sure as heck wouldn't mind hiking up the "mountains" of SF for some yummy fortune cookies.

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Photo of Tiffany K.

Elite '09

179

315

Tiffany K.

Carmichael, CA

5 star rating
10/27/2009 1 photo

Recently featured in a documentary in Australia, my mother-in-law really wanted to see this place. So straight off the plane, we drop in. I remember coming here when I was just a kid! Nothing has changed.

The same two old ladies she saw on TV in the documentary are still there dropping in little white paper fortunes, by hand no less, into awaiting fortune cookies. Talk about carpal tunnel syndrome! But it must be interesting for them as there are always tourists coming in to gawk.

It costs 50 cents to take a photo! At least, that is what the sign says. There is also a supply of samples to taste, hot off the press, in an old cookie tin.

BEWARE: The cookies are addictive. I recommend getting the bag of flat ones for $3.50. Why pay for extra air? Oh, unless you like reading all those fortunes...

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Photo of vicky t.

Elite '09

204

1103

vicky t.

Santa Cruz, CA

5 star rating
10/18/2009

The Glade/ Air Freshener people need to get their scientist developers over here and re-create the smell of this store to the masses.

I hadn't been in forever (last time was five years ago with my high school students doing a scavenger hunt of Chinatown).

Not much is left to be said that everyone else hasn't covered.

Instead of Halloween candy imma be a chubby bunny by eating the bag I got through out next week :-P

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Photo of cheryl y.

 

7

27

cheryl y.

Gardena, CA

5 star rating
10/22/2009

I dont know how those ladies make fortune cookies taste like lil round pieces of crack!

Every trip to SF, we stop by to grab some cookies to bring back to LA.  I complain about carrying them since you have to be careful not to crack them when i bring them on the plane.  But everytime I get excited when i get to open the bag and munch away.  I figured their not fried, so how bad can they possibly be :)

When you go here its like a huge step back in time, which makes it more awesome.  The samples they give you, amazingly fresh that they dont go stale even if you dont seal them up and put them in a ziploc.

One of the two things that are a must on my visit to SF Chinatown, some Dim Sum and Fortune Cookies!

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Photo of Kat C.

Elite '09

18

91

Kat C.

Los Angeles, CA

5 star rating
10/23/2009

Classic and never fails to deliver on the vintage joy that fortune cookie rounds bring.

You can purchase happiness, and it's $3.50 down Ross Alley.

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Photo of Tony L.

 

50

223

Tony L.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
11/6/2009

I've been here months previously with a friend who showed me the place. Personally, I have never seen an actual bakery of fortune cookies, where one can see the fortunes actually being stuffed into the cookies....  they still do it by hand? Dam right, and not even wearing gloves!!! But the samples were available and delicious. The warm ones were hot but tasted like nothing I've ever tasted before - which is true!! Since when dos a guy eat warm/hot freshly baked fortune cookies? I must confess that for the duration of my temporary stay in my hometown, I've been buying my stuff from another store/bakery but after today, I think I'll start buying from THiS bakery instead ~ the taste is completely unique and delicious!!! PLus, I always see cute tourists here, or as my sis says: 'em white people....  hahahahaaa

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Photo of Tina C.

Elite '09

46

174

Tina C.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
10/11/2009

A lot of places sell fortune cookies, but none has the history and ambiance of this fortune cookie making gem located on historic Ross Alley.

Growing up, I've had their fortune cookies countless times. They are always crispy and delicious. They have various types and you can buy them in bags at the store itself.

It's also a wonderful place for tourist to check out. The alley gives you a feel of "old" Chinatown and it's like walking into the past. The antiquated feel of this fortune cookie shop makes it unique. I've had friends tell me that they should "upgrade" themselves and make themselves more "effective" and "productive" for the 21st century. However, I disagree in that part of the charm is the genuine historic feel of this place.

Walk in, ask for a sample, and talk to some of the workers. Every time I have to cut across the area, I purposely walk through Ross Alley instead of some of the larger cross streets because I am lured by the smell of freshly baked fortune cookies!

A great place to learn about Chinatown history and check out this fortune cookie institution for tourists! A true delight for the locals. Yummy cookies and great for gift giving. You can even ask for customized messages =) Time to get creative!

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Photo of Christina P.

Elite '09

52

291

Christina P.

Los Altos, CA

5 star rating
10/3/2009

A great San Fran relic! My friend demanded we go here when she came to visit and it was a fun experience. For some reason even the cramped and questionable cleanliness were out the window to me!

Bring cash! If you go here, make sure to buy a bag of flat fortune cookies, everyone loves them!

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Photo of Christina G.

Elite '09

82

121

Christina G.

San Jose, CA

5 star rating
9/14/2009

Three cheers for this sweat... errr, sweet shop.

"Don't give woman bicycle or she may peddle it all over town."
"Man who make war with woman during day get no piece at night."
"You can separate the men from the boys by the size of their toys."

and my favorite... "LEARN CHINESE."

I recommend that you pick up a bag of their "dirty" fortunes (which are really more suggestive than anything).  Or the flat reject-cookies and sesame-seed coated cookies.

If you have trouble find this place (trust me, you will), it's on an alleyway between Washington and Jackson streets in Chinatown.

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Photo of calvin o.

 

1

5

calvin o.

Santa Clara, CA

5 star rating
10/14/2009

Chinatown as I remember from my childhood, is rapidly disappearing.
I noticed recently that most of my fortune cookies were coming out of  LA or NYC. In a panic, I googled up GGFC to see if they to are now a historical memory also. To my relief they're not. Last time I took my daughter there was seven years ago. I think it's time to take another walk through old Chinatown to see what's left of it and get another sack of  my favorite fortune cookies.

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Photo of Sarah K.

 

7

25

Sarah K.

San Mateo, CA

5 star rating
11/7/2009

I was a little freaked out walking down the alley to get to this place, but ohhh it was nice.  They gave us free samples and we looked at the lady making the cookies by hand.  Then we bought a bag, and the dearest man took my daughters face in his hands, kissed her, and gave her more cookies.

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Photo of Karrot L.

 

0

10

Karrot L.

Saratoga, CA

4 star rating
10/11/2009

We went to the wrong place at first, down some stairs but then went back up after we smelled rice cooking so thought "this can't be the place".  Then a old man waved us into the next store with a smile saying to us "fortune cookie"!  

We were slightly shocked at how dingy the place is and the fortune cookie making equipment looks like it's an antique!  But again, that's all part of the experience of visiting this place.  It's been on my list of "got to see" next time I'm in Chinatown for a while, and I'm glad I finally visited. Cookies are fresh and tastey, we got a large bag of unfolded cookies. We had the old guy take our picture with the woman making cookies on that old press.  All part of the Chinatown experience, and we'll visit again.

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Photo of Ellen S.

 

2

35

Ellen S.

Chicago, IL

5 star rating
9/15/2009

This place is a must for bringing visitors to SF.  Shell out the 50 cents to have your picture taken in front of the old Asian ladies working at the fortune cookie machines who all look like they think you're a bumbling idiot.  There are bags of regular, chocolate, variety, and "adult" fortune cookies for sale, and they do promotional fortune cookies too.  I got the adult ones, but they're like the least racy fortunes I've ever read.  You do get a gem here and there though, like this one:  "Fu Ling Yu Says: Kiss is upper persuasion for lower invasion."

Waka waka.

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Photo of Farida B.

 

5

66

Farida B.

Lanham, MD

3 star rating
9/23/2009

Quite over-rated.  I walked in, paid my 50 cents (actually he kept 70 cents but whatevs), took a picture and was ready to go.  I tried a piece of fortune cookie scraps and it was run-of-the-mill.  Bought a small pack of cookies for a buck, for the novelty of it.

This really isn't a "factory".  Its a dingy room with two fortune cookie machines.  If you're walking through Chinatown, go ahead and stop by.  Otherwise I'm sure you can catch it on the Food Network or something.

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Photo of Aaron A.

Elite '09

6

105

Aaron A.

Chicago, IL

5 star rating
7/26/2009

Here is the deal.

For a tourist trap it is anything but. The people folding those fortune cookies are not there to care.  It is a great atmosphere.

Down a little alley on Jackson Street, between Grant and Stockton. The place is a total hole in the wall and it looks like, despite it's massive sales of cookies, they have held true to their tradition and have not changed a thing to make it tourist friendly. Finally.

Tips:
Ask for a sample straight out of the freshly made bin.

Parking:
Don't even try in China town. Take the Stockton 30 bus and get off on Jackson.

Price:
Is right. $3.50 for a regular good size bag. You can also get a mixed of chocolate, regular and strawberry for a dollar more. Or spring for the giant fortune cookie for $12.

Bring cash.

Yelpified.

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Photo of Laurie c.

 

1

117

Laurie c.

New York, NY

5 star rating
10/15/2009

Pretty neat little factory ;] Stop by for a quick lesson on how fortune cookies are made. The women are amazing! The place is kinda dark and hidden, but they are very welcoming, give you free samples, and let you take pics!

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Photo of Cindy C.

 

3

9

Cindy C.

Garden Grove, CA

4 star rating
8/20/2009

I love this place.

The first time I went here was in February for my birthday weekend in San Francisco. I'm a southern californian and when I heard about this place I just had to go. It wasn't as hard to find as mentioned by some of the previous people because I guess I already had those expectations and I earnestly was searching for the secret alley-way that led to this glorious fortune cookie factory.

Finally, I found it with my group of friends and yes, you're walking down the pathway to this delicious place and you can smell the lingering cookie smell becoming stronger, indicating you're getting nearer. Found it!

It's just like others have described, a little tine cookie factory with Chinese people working there. We took pictures inside and they give out free samples for you to try. Since it was my first time, I didn't grab that many bags, but after devouring them on our way back home... I wish I had grabbed FIFTY bags!

I got the multi-colored little coin shaped cookies. They were delicious. You can taste the individual flavors that was indicated by the color: pink (Strawberry), brown (Chocolate), and original (Original). Boy, eating those was amazing. Plus, we later went to Fisherman's Wharf and I swear a seagull was eyeing me. Eventually one snatched one  of my delicious cookies right out of my hands... be weary fortune cookie connoisseurs for the seagulls are keeping an eye on that delicious prize of yours.

So my friends got the "adult" fortune cookies. Let me tell you this, reason for the one missing star, the word "adult" indicated to my friends and me that it was suppose to be kinky. Actually, it's no where near there. It's the same mumbo jumbo fortune you would find in any other fortune cookie. I like the original ones because they have better fortunes in my opinion.

So in conclusion, if you are ever visiting good ole San Francisco and you stop by in Chinatown, don't forget to stop by the Golden Gate Fortune Cookies favtory. You won't regret it, it'll just make your day even better :)

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Photo of Hannah E.

Elite '09

69

236

Hannah E.

Boulder, CO

3 star rating
4/15/2009

We decided to wander by here pretty early on a Monday morning - 9:00 or so - so we were the only people around.  This made for a somewhat awkward experience.  We stood timidly in the doorway, peering in, trying to figure out if this was the place, until a man inside yelled 'Come in!'

So we went in, and stood there watching two women at fortune cookie machines pluck burning hot cookie molds from the metal circuits, lay a fortune across the center, and then fold them - all so quick we could barely follow the process.  Except for the machine sounds, it was entirely silent and I couldn't shake the feeling that I was in a sweatshop, observing the workers work in a lineup.  Yes, I KNOW that wasn't what was going on, just how my extrapolating, dramatic mind interpreted it.  I'm sure it would have been less creepy had more people been in the space than just us, and had they been conversing, or smiling, or had there been any jollity to the proceedings and/or observations.

It was, however, really neat to see how fortune cookies are made - who hasn't wondered how they get that paper in there? - and I love that they're willing to show their process to anyone.  They've got free samples all over the place and fortune cookies are definitely better flat and straight off the press.  My boyfriend bought a bag, and I eyed the sesame cookies, but we had just eaten a gigantic order of dim sum from Good Mong Kok and I just couldn't imagine that I would ever be hungry again in my life, so I didn't buy them.  I regretted THAT one when I was on the plane later!

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Photo of Rennie L.

 

4

50

Rennie L.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
5/8/2009

Were you aware that the fortune cookie was invented in San Francisco? Yes, it's true. At GGFC, you can watch real live chinese san franciscans on the factory line, peeling the cookies off the conveyor belt and folding them into the crunchy clairvoyant confections.
You can also do a special order and have personalized messages put in your wedding/anniversary/chinese baby adoption party/bar mitzvah fortune cookies.
This is also a good one to add to your cheap-eats-in-Chinatown lists. You can buy a big bag of cookies for a few bucks here.

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Photo of DJ M.

Elite '09

141

519

DJ M.

Feasterville-Trevose, PA

4 star rating
3/22/2009

Walking down many alleys in San Francisco's Chinatown can smell pretty fishy, except for Ross Alley, which lures you in with the aroma of the fresh fortune cookies being baked.

Ever had a hot fortune cookie right out of the oven?  It's a totally different scene, than the been wrapped in plastic and sitting in a box forever, scene.  I used to take those fortunes seriously, then I grew up, which almost ruined the whole experience.  Our walking tour of San Fran's Chinatown made me a believer in fortune cookies again.

Hello America!  We had the first fortune cookie, China adapted the use and custom many years later!  See how it pays to take the prepaid walking tours of a big city?  Or do what we have done many times and gather close behind and in ear shot.  

The fortune cookies are made right before your eyes and fast.  The hot cookies are peeled from a hot iron and formed over a rod and the fortune is tucked in and the final shaping is done.  Watch it again and again, because they will amaze you with their speedy skills.  They are one of the largest producers of fortune cookies for restaurant usage.  The two others being in LA and NYC.

The fortune they carry contain messages from Bible verses, lottery number or risque and you should take these messages very seriously, when in San Francisco's Chinatown, only!

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Photo of NANCY L.

 

0

177

NANCY L.

Seattle, WA

3 star rating
9/18/2009

It's a good place to take my out of town friends.

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Photo of Cristelle J.

Elite '09

19

127

Cristelle J.

Pittsburg, CA

5 star rating
4/13/2009

I like eating.
I had a craving for fortune cookies for the past year...that's right year. Came to china town with the boyfriend and decided i NEEDED to stop by and when I did let's just say I left with around 3 bags full of cookies and by the time I got home I only had 1 bag left. Now the bags aren't small infact  they are rather big (that's what she said) and I ate all of it. haha they were sooo good.

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Photo of Francis Q.

 

1

21

Francis Q.

Orem, UT

5 star rating
4/2/2009

When I was growing up in San Francisco, my father would bring me by this factory to either buy a bag of cookies or grab some samples.  While in college and working as a Chinatown tour guide, I brought tourists here so they could see how cookies are made and sample them.  

Now that I live 900 miles away from San Francisco, I have to wait for an opportunity to visit my hometown and then buy several bags to bring back home to my family.  When I do have the opportunity to go back to San Francisco with my family, this place is always on the list of places to stop by.  All four of my boys love the cookies here.  It's definitely one of the hidden gems in Chinatown and no other fortune cookies can compare to these.

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Photo of phillip w.

Elite '09

159

518

phillip w.

San Francisco, CA

3 star rating
4/22/2009

I think this is really the only place where you will see fortune cookies made in front of your eyes...a nice tourist attraction..

When buying cookies, you can get flat ones where it has no paper inside. We prefer those since its already a nice flat circle and its easier to eat. And whats kind of nice is that they do give you some extra just for the hell of it I guess..

Remember though, if you want to take pictures then you will need to pay. I think its 50 cents but they never clarified for how many pics so I'm not sure how it goes..but its smart~

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Photo of Katie F.

Elite '09

46

227

Katie F.

Vancouver, BC

Canada

4 star rating
5/18/2009

Got here just before a massive schoolgroup thankfully!

I thought it was pretty cool - I've been to SF before but didn't know about this place.  I loved watching how the dough is make and how they get folded by the ladies over a little metal post.  It's pretty cool that they're freshly made here, and you can walk out with a bag of the flat discs (before they're folded) or the actual cookies, in either the regular flavor, chocolate or both.

It's a quick stop when you're in Chinatown and a great tourist spot.  If you want a pic though, they have a sign asking for $0.50 though.

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Photo of Chris T.

Elite '09

400

550

Chris T.

Gilroy, CA

4 star rating
1/14/2009

a.k.a. The Fortune Cookie Factory

Whenever I pass through Chinatown I have to walk down this alley and pop in and do my Gung Hay Fat Choy runs and say WHAT IZZZ IT?!?  Let me get a bag of those adult only fortune cookies and let me get a back of those sessame seed cookies, and a bag of fortune cookie waffers.

The warm waffers they give you hot off the cooker are bomb, especially with some hot tea.  They charge you to take pictures with them and sometimes they don't give you change like one time my cookies cost $8 and they didn't give me change on my $10, but they gave me a bag full of those warm waffers for free.

These alley ways in Chinatown are gangsta.  I always see old Chinamen gambling or playing Majong or some dommino-like games in old run down rooms in these alley-ways.

My cousin's ex-bf from Brooklyn told me a few stories that made me become a vegetarian whenever I'm in Chinatown areas.

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Photo of Bonnie L.

Elite '09

585

245

Bonnie L.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
Updated - 12/19/2008

Every Christmas I buy dozens of fortune cookies from Golden Gate. I dip them in chocolate and top them with crushed peanuts, colored sugar, sprinkles, nonpareils or customize their name with royal icing. I enlist some of my friends to help me.

I love their fortune cookies because it is still hand made, crispy, light and skillet fragrant.

1 hour before fortune cookie shindig:

I eat ONE fortune cookie then another then another....well you know where this is going. I browse the kitchen to find a little somethin' somethin' to spread on my fortune cookie. I see NUTELLA . First, I don't even know why I have something as dangerous as nutella within arm 's length. I eat one fortune cookie then another then another then I'm left with a bag full of fortunes but no cookies......

S   ugar
H   oney
I    ce
T    ea

My posse is coming in about 10 mins. What am I'm going to do? I read some fortunes for help.

                         "Enjoy life! It's better to be happy then wise"
(I definitely enjoyed life with nutella and I'm a idiot, ok it's true)

                         "Keep your plans secret for now"
(Umm..my chocolate hazelnut fat ass is about to be expose any min now)  

                         "Soon you will be sitting on top of the world"                                    
(Roy Orbison?? GO TO HELL fortune cookie which isn't even Chinese-you-were-creating-in-America, you are of NO help)

So the moral of this story is to buy an extra bag of the cheaper deformed fortune cookies for snacking in private because you know you want to dip them in nutella too.

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1 Previous Review: Show all »

  • 5 star rating
    4/22/2008

    This places just screams Chinatown during the railroad track era. Maybe I'm wrong but loving the… Read more »

Photo of Jiff L.

 

7

109

Jiff L.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
2/9/2009

this is the secret chinatown fortune cookie factory.  It's awesome so go.

Hand made and you can watch
you can write your own fortunes and put it in a fortune cookie
you can buy adult fortune cookies.
free fortune cookies.

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Photo of InfodivaMLIS B.

 

1872

378

InfodivaMLIS B.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
12/20/2008 1 photo

It was really cool to walk around the little alley ways in Chinatown.  As part of a scavenger hunt we had to go buy a bag of cookies and then read a large sign in the back of the shop.

The owner Franklin Yee is a nice guy handing out samples/mistakes.  I love how he directed me toward the Adult aka Sex fortune cookies. What are you trying to insinuate Mr. Yee?

Note: If you want to take a picture of the fortune cookies being made, you have to pay 50 cent.  Got that?

I'll be back for a few bags of cookies and yes for the X-rated ones for sure.

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Photo of Lourdes M.

 

0

18

Lourdes M.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
8/26/2009

I love going to this place. Not only they give you free fortune cookies, they have different varieties of fortune cookies also. They have different colors, shapes and sizes.

The price went up a little bit but it's okay. I love munching on the cookies while at work or at home watching a movie.

I always buy the one I call the fortuneless cookies. It's round, flat and fresh. It's the one that they just freshly removed from the machine and instead of shaping it and putting a fortune inside, they just leave it round, flat and toss in the bin. Once cooled, someone packs it a bag and seal it.

One bag is $3.50 and no tax. Just pick up a bag and give the money whoever is there at that time.

Usually when I go here, there's a tour so the place is packed with people enjoying the place and wanting to buy some cookies before they leave.

I guess today, I was lucky because I beat the crowd!

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Photo of Santi T.

Elite '09

76

131

Santi T.

Waipahu, HI

4 star rating
6/9/2009 3 photos

In a dark, shady alley in Chinatown is a hidden fortune ... fortune cookie that is. While exploring the area, I sneaked to watch the hard working ladies effortlessly fold the fresh cookies to be sold to restaurants and the public. If was unbelievable how they would pull the cookies off the hot cast iron mold and quickly stuff an optimistic fortune and fold it into the perfect shape. The ladies were sweet enough to give me samples of their crispy wafers with a light sweet flavor. They sold it in different quantities and other flavors (e.g. chocolate). For some small frills, go check out how they make it, drop a few dollars on a bunch and leave with a fortune.

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Photo of Dru C.

Elite '09

142

333

Dru C.

Irvine, CA

5 star rating
12/31/2008

I'm munching on one of their flat cookies as I type this. Just too darn addicting. An entire bag of these suckers will disappear in no time. My wife and I bought a bag and didn't even put it out for her family and relatives (it's a big, big family) to share. Sure, call us greedy and selfish. But that's how much we love Golden Gate fortune cookies.

Besides, they can buy their own bag since they live in the area. Plus we drove all the way up from LA to see them. There, I feel better.

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Photo of Mindy F.

 

4

43

Mindy F.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
8/8/2009

I have been to SF's Chinatown on countless occasions since it is near the Immigration Court.  Yesterday, however, was the first time I had visited Golden Gate Fortune Cookies because I rarely get around to actual tourism in the City.

The ladies here were very used to having their pictures taken and I was even able to get a small video.  The cookies were good for fortune cookies although cleanliness isn't this establishment's forte.  All in all, it is a must not miss in ChinaTown.

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Photo of Ming-Jou C.

Elite '09

198

476

Ming-Jou C.

Torrance, CA

5 star rating
12/21/2008

WTF is wrong with me. I log in expecting to update my review, but I hadn't reviewed it yet!

I walked down the alley on a Sunday thinking they were closed, and secretly hoping with all my heart that they weren't. And they were one of the few stores open on the rainy Sunday! Yay.

I walked in and bought a few bags. There was no one in there, probably because of the rain. I took a picture today and didn't get charged $.50 for doing it. I wonder if it's because I bought like 10 bags though.

Every time I've gone in there, there are always people coming and going. Not today though. The rain probably kept most people out. The regular fortune cookies are $3.50/bag, the chocolate and regular mixed are $4.50.

I love this place. I always buy the flat ones and top off homemade parfaits with them. Or I just grab a few and eat them with vanilla ice cream. Yum.

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Photo of andrea v.

 

30

62

andrea v.

Long Beach, CA

4 star rating
5/4/2009

This is a hole in the wall fortune cookie factory. If you ever wondered how they are made, you can see it first hand here. Last time we came here, there was a lady making the cookies. This time it was a man who was telling us we should buy the X rated fortune cookies. lol!

We have bought the chocolate ones and the flat ones. It's a fun little adventure and pretty cool to watch, not to mention the wonderful aroma.

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Elite '09

255

461

CeCe C.

Mountain View, CA

5 star rating
2/9/2009

Yum! It's always a treat coming here!! I always get a bag of fortune cookies here for $3.50 and the man always grabs a handful of the flat fortune cookies and dumps them into my bag! Yay!! :D

This place has a Chinatown feel to it, especially because it's in this alley! It's fun to just look at them make the cookies and see all the different varieties of cookies that they sell!! Look for the GIANT fortune cookie!!! ahahaha It's hilarious!! :D

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4

173

Harold D.

Orange County, CA

5 star rating
6/18/2009 3 photos

Haza! So calling this a 'factory' is questionable at best. It's a small shop in Chinatown where they make fortune cookies. Quite a hole in the wall. But what the hell? You're in Chinatown, walk down the dark alley and buy yourself a huge bag of cookies for next to nothing. They had chocolate, strawberry, sesame seed and of course, regular flavors. I liked the flat cookies the best. Couldn't even finish the bag during the entire trip, while snacking in our hotel room. Anyway, if you're gonna do the tourist thing, stop here.

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1130

47

Leo C.

Las Vegas, NV

4 star rating
10/7/2008 3 photos

While wandering around aimlessly in San Francisco's Chinatown, we stray towards Ross Alley in hopes of finding hidden treasures. Jackpot. We found it. Staring us in the eyes is the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory. The old Chinese man sitting in front greets us with a warm smile and directs us to go inside to take a look. "Hello. Hi. Come in. Hello. Hi." repeats the old man.

We go in to discover that the name of the place perfectly describes the images we are seeing. It really is just a fortune cookie factory. A lady is sitting in the middle of the room folding the hot freshly made fortune cookies from this huge oven/machine/contraption thing. Just think "Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" minus the crazy Willie Wonka, minus the crazy magical effects, and replace chocolate with Fortune Cookie and there you go.

When you first walk in, a man on the right side opens some containers and offers you some free samples. On the left side is shelves full of fortune cookies ready to be bought. Each bag is ranges from $3.50 to $5 from what I saw. The lady, which I spoke about earlier, is working like a robot. 1. Grab hot fortune cookie circular dough. 2. Fold in half. 3. Wrap around a metal stick to give the cookie its curve. 4. Place fortune cookie in cookie sheet. 5. Repeat. Now imaging doing this for hours upon hours. I'm pretty sure she doesn't do it all day.... but talk about repetitive stress syndrome! Any lawyers out there?

So we purchase some bags of fortune cookies to take home. Cash only. The nice thing is when you buy a bag, the guy throws some extra open cookies in the bag for you to snack on while you are on your way. I thought that was a nice touch... Even though he's probably just trying to get rid of the defective ones who didn't quite meet up to the tough fortune cookie standards.

A cool thing happened while I was finished paying. A tourist couple open up a their tourist book and open the page to this place. In the description, there is a picture of that old man in front! That's crazy! The old man comes in, grabs the book and taunts the other workers in jest of his celebrity status. That gave us all a good laugh. On the way out, I had to take a picture with the guy.

A few hours later when I arrived home, I opened my standard Chinatown pink little plastic bag and started munching on the defective fortune cookies. Still crisp and fresh. I smiled with happiness because 1) I was able to feed my hunger and 2) I was finally letting the defective fortune cookies fulfill their destiny.

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5

7

andrew c.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
6/20/2009

My aunt and uncle came into town and we decided to give them a whirlwind tour of the city.

Wandering around in Chinatown, we couldn't think of too many places to take them to....that is, until my cousin thought of this place. I have to say, I was a little wary of visiting it. After all..its a fortune cookie factory..how cool could it be?

Well, it was frickin AMAZING. We sat and watched someone make fortune cookies. She was so fast at doing it. I later found out they were putting FRENCH fortunes into that batch. HOW NEAT IS THAT?

They also told us that we could bring in our own fortunes and they would put them into cookies. For 50 cents, thats a bargain and a great souvenir!

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0

54

IKE E.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
3/11/2009

So Chinatown is kind of my second home because we frequent here so often... but I did not know of this gem until I stumbled upon it one day walking back to our car.

Me: "Oooh it smells so good!"
Husband: "Oh yeah, this place is a really famous fortune cookie store."
Me: "What, why didn't you ever tell me before?  We come here every weekend and I've never known about this place?"
Husband: ::silence::

Sadly for me, I discovered this place so late.  However, husband was saved when he bought me a big bag of un-twisted aka flat cookies for me to savor on.  I liked the idea of not having to crack open my cookie every time I want to eat it and take that piece of paper out (it's the laziness in me...).  Flat fortune cookies are the way to go!  And these fortune cookies were warm and made just right!

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