The Surprising History of Fortune Cookies
If you've ever cracked open a fortune cookie at the end of a Chinese restaurant meal, you might be surprised to learn that fortune cookies aren't actually from China. Their true origin is a fascinating tale that spans continents, cultures, and more than a century of culinary history. From humble temple snacks in Kyoto to the most recognizable dessert in American Chinese cuisine, the fortune cookie's journey is anything but ordinary.
Japanese Roots
The most widely accepted theory traces fortune cookies back to Japanese immigrants in California during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Japanese-style crackers called "tsujiura senbei" (fortune crackers) were sold in Kyoto as early as the 1870s, containing paper fortunes tucked inside. These crackers were a common sight near Shinto shrines, where visitors would purchase them as a form of omikuji — random fortunes that are a deeply rooted part of Japanese spiritual life.
These traditional Japanese crackers were larger, made with miso and sesame rather than vanilla and butter, and were sold at temples and bakeries. The fortunes inside were often spiritual predictions or poetic verses rather than the inspirational one-liners we know today. When Japanese immigrants brought this tradition to America, the recipe was adapted to suit Western tastes, becoming sweeter and lighter with the addition of vanilla extract and butter.
The San Francisco Connection
Multiple people have claimed to have invented the American fortune cookie. Makoto Hagiwara, who designed the famous Japanese Tea Garden in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park, is believed to have served fortune cookies there as early as 1914. He reportedly commissioned a local bakery, Benkyodo, to produce the cookies as thank-you gifts for visitors to the garden. Another contender is David Jung, a Chinese immigrant who founded the Hong Kong Noodle Company in Los Angeles around 1918. Jung claimed he created the cookies to distribute to the homeless near his shop, each containing an uplifting scripture passage.
The debate over the true inventor became so heated that in 1983, the Court of Historical Review in San Francisco actually held a mock trial to settle the matter. A key piece of evidence was a set of iron cookie molds from Benkyodo bakery, dating back to the early 1900s. The court ruled in favor of San Francisco (naturally), though Los Angeles disputed the verdict. To this day, the question of origin remains a topic of friendly rivalry between the two cities.
The Chinese Restaurant Connection
So how did a Japanese-American invention end up being associated with Chinese restaurants? During World War II, Japanese Americans were forcibly interned under Executive Order 9066, and their businesses — including fortune cookie bakeries — were taken over or replicated by Chinese Americans who saw an opportunity. After the war, Chinese restaurants widely adopted fortune cookies as a complimentary dessert, and the association stuck. By the 1960s, fortune cookies were a standard offering at nearly every Chinese restaurant in the United States, and most Americans had no idea the tradition wasn't Chinese at all.
Interestingly, when fortune cookies were introduced in China in the 1990s, they were marketed as "genuine American fortune cookies" — a humorous twist that highlights how thoroughly the cookie had become an American invention despite its Asian roots.
Fortune Cookies Today
Today, approximately 3 billion fortune cookies are produced each year, with the vast majority consumed in the United States. Wonton Food Inc., based in Brooklyn, is the world's largest manufacturer, producing over 4.5 million fortune cookies per day. The company employs a team of writers who craft hundreds of new fortunes every year, cycling through thousands of messages to keep things fresh for repeat diners.
The fortunes themselves have evolved from profound Confucian-style wisdom to include lucky numbers, learning Chinese words, and even marketing messages. Some companies have even experimented with personalized digital fortunes — which is exactly what we've done here at Fortune Cookie! The range of fortunes now spans from classic philosophical musings to humorous quips, romantic advice, and career encouragement.
The Digital Revolution
As technology advances, the fortune cookie experience is being reimagined for the digital age. Interactive web experiences, like ours, bring the tactile satisfaction of breaking a cookie into the browser with physics simulations and beautiful animations. Modern rendering engines and physics libraries make it possible to recreate the satisfying crack of a real cookie, complete with fragments that scatter realistically across the screen.
While nothing quite replaces the crunch of a real cookie, there's something magical about discovering your fortune with the click of a mouse — and being able to share it instantly with the world. Digital fortune cookies also unlock possibilities that physical ones never could: rarity systems, daily fortunes that connect a global community, streak rewards for returning visitors, and an ever-growing collection of wisdom from around the world.