You might be forgiven if you thought the fortune cookie was created in China – after all, when was the last time your Chinese food order wasn't accompanied by one of the crispy, golden treats?

Every Friday night of his childhood, Kurt Evans and his mother would order cartons of Chinese takeout, the cardboard boxes filled to the brim with classics like shrimp lo mein, egg foo young, General ...

Fortune cookies have become an integral part of a Chinese meal in America -- but that hasn’t always been the case. - Scott Suchman/The Washington Post/Getty Images Every Friday night of his childhood, ...