Fortune cookies are the invention of Chinese 49ers who wanted to brighten the lives of those who worked on building the great American railroad through the Sierra Nevada into California. The Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory, located in San Francisco Chinatown, was opened in 1962. The factory makes traditional fortune cookies, as well as chocolate flavored fortune cookies, almond cookies, and other sweets. Visitors fall in love with the tiny factory where a couple of ladies use ancient machinery to make fortune cookies by hand.

The tradition has passed to the second generation, Kevin Chan, the general manager and nephew of the owners. Kevin started to help in the factory when he was nine. Being proud of the fact that Golden Gate stills does everything by hand, Kevin also added some special programs for visitors - such as creating their own souvenirs by customizing fortunes at the fortune writing counter. The factory was selected as one of the ten Best Geeky Places in San Francisco by Wired Magazine.