How to Use the Fortune Cookie Generator

Click Open Fortune Cookie — or click the fortune cookie emoji directly — to crack open a virtual fortune cookie and reveal your message. Each click draws from over 130 authentic fortune cookie sayings ranging from wise and inspiring to playfully absurd. Copy your fortune to save it or share it with friends.

The History of Fortune Cookies

Fortune cookies are one of the great culinary mysteries of modern times. Despite being associated almost exclusively with Chinese-American restaurants in the United States, they are virtually unknown in China itself. The true origin of the fortune cookie is disputed — both Japan and the United States have strong claims.

The most widely accepted history traces fortune cookies to Japanese immigrants in California in the early 20th century. Similar cookies called tsujiura senbei (fortune crackers) were sold at Shinto shrines in Kyoto well before American fortune cookies appeared. When Japanese businesses were seized during World War II internment, Chinese-American entrepreneurs took over their operations and the fortune cookie became associated with Chinese-American cuisine.

Today, around 3 billion fortune cookies are produced annually, almost entirely for consumption in the United States. The Wonton Food Company in Brooklyn, New York is the world's largest manufacturer.

Fortune Cookie Wisdom Through the Ages

Fortune cookie messages tend to fall into a few categories:

• Inspirational: Generic encouragement about perseverance, opportunity, and success
• Romantic: Hints about love, connection, and relationships
• Philosophical: Paraphrased wisdom drawn from Confucius, Lao Tzu, and ancient proverbs
• Lucky numbers: Many fortunes include lucky numbers on the reverse
• Self-referential: Jokes about the fortune cookie itself

Frequently Asked Questions

Are fortune cookie fortunes actually prophetic?

Fortune cookies are entertainment, not prophecy. Their messages are intentionally general enough to feel applicable to almost any reader in any situation — a phenomenon psychologists call the Barnum effect (also known as the Forer effect). We recognize wisdom in vague, positive statements because we are wired to find personal meaning in ambiguous information.

Why are fortune cookies only found in American Chinese restaurants?

Fortune cookies spread through American Chinese restaurants during and after WWII. They became a cultural institution tied to the Chinese-American dining experience rather than to actual Chinese food culture. In China, meals typically end with fresh fruit, not dessert cookies. The fortune cookie is now so culturally embedded in the American Chinese dining experience that it would feel bizarre to omit them.

Can I use fortune cookie messages for my own project?

The short, pithy sayings in fortune cookies are generally not copyrightable because they are too brief to meet the originality threshold. Many are paraphrases of ancient proverbs and public domain wisdom. They are safe to use for personal projects, party decorations, and creative work.