Chinatown Part 4: Something Sweet

Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory is one of the more famous places in the Chinatown area. Here, some 20,000 fortune cookies a day are handmade by two women, each manning a conveyor belt of what look like miniature waffle irons. The factory opened in August 1962, and though there are other fortune cookie bakeries in the city, this is the only one where the cookies are still made by hand, the old-fashioned way. Anyone is welcome to stroll in and watch the cookies being made, sample a cookie, and pick up a bag of 40 for $3.

And if fortune cookies don't satisfy cravings for something sweet, check out the following places:


Golden Gate Bakery

What's Special About it:
The line always wraps outside the front of this Chinatown staple. Golden Gate Bakery is known for its custard-filled confections, as well as for its densely sweet lotus seed paste moon cakes. Just point at the sinful looking sweets behind the counter and you'll fill one of those classic pink bakery boxes in no time.

What Customers Say:
"Beware, cash only, and the owners have the MOST RIDICULOUS BUSINESS MODEL, as in they pretend they're on vacation all the time and act bothered when there's business."

“The egg tart is so DARN good that my friend wants to place order all the way from Atlanta, GA.” 

What Else to Order:
Egg tart, coconut tart

Location:
1029 Grant Ave
San Francisco, CA 94133

Neighborhood:
b/t Jackson St & Pacific Ave
Chinatown

Hang Ah Tea Room

What's Special About it:
Located in one of Chinatown's small alleys, this spot considers itself as San Francisco's oldest dim sum house. This place serves homemade ice cream in fruity flavors, such as fresh mango. The restaurant also serves pearl drinks, made from tapioca and various fruits.

What Customers Say:
"This is a hidden gem. And it's wonderful. And hidden. Impossible to see from the direction we came...just went by faith and HALLELUJAH what a meal!"

What Else to Order:
combo fried noodles and the wonton soup

Location:
1 Pagoda Pl
San Francisco, CA 94108

Neighborhood:
at Sacramento St
Chinatown