Chinatown Take-Out: President Obama Visits Great Eastern Restaurant In San Francisco

President drops by for dumplings, bao & baby wrangling...
UPDATE: The President gets criticized for his visit because the eatery serves shark fin soup
In San Francisco on the way to a $35,800/ticket fundraiser at the swank Mark Hopkins Intercontinental Hotel, President Obama on Thursday made a "surprise" stop in Chinatown at Great Eastern Restaurant for an impromptu Eat & Greet. He is arrival at 1:22 PM by motorcade at the Jackson Street eatery caused shrieks of excitement from the lunchtime crowd, who yelled "Obama! Obama!" as he entered. The President was clad casually with no jacket, his shirtsleeves rolled up, ready to work the room. (Above: The President chats with customers)

"How are you? Good to see you!" President Obama said repeatedly, as he shook hands and posed for photos.

A local landmark, acclaimed for its offerings, the restaurant has been open for 26 years and is best known for its dumplings, according to server Wing Oin, who placed the President's take-out order and dished the details to Obama Foodorama. The President asked Wing to make the selections for a party of 14: Three orders of Shrimp Dumplings, three orders of Pork Dumplings, three orders of Shanghai Dumplings, and three orders of Sesame Bao. Each order contains either three or four dumplings/bao. (Above: The President and a future voter)

Mr. Obama "just walked in and said he wanted dim sum, and said you order," Wing said, adding that he was "not nervous."

The President paid about $120 cash in cash, according to Wing, and the order was packed into two take-out bags that read "Thank You" on the side.

Other patrons were more excited than Wing, who seemed to take it as a matter of course that the Eater in Chief would drop by for dumplings. The delighted crowd rushed toward the President as he entered, "leaving plates of lo mein behind," according to pool. (Above: The President paying for lunch)

Wing, who came to the US from Canton, has worked at Great Eastern for a decade, and said the President is not the first luminary he's served...but he couldn't remember the names of the other high-profile patrons who have visited. The eatery does not have a website.

The President's visit was a surprise: "He just showed up," said Wing.

The President spent time working the dining room, posing for pictures and shaking hands. After picking up his take-out order, the President worked a small rope line outside the restaurant. Then he walked back inside the restaurant and paid for his lunch. He'd been greeted at the airport on his arrival in San Francisco by California Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee, and State Attorney General Kamala Harris.

The fundraisers...
After the dim sum interlude, as the motorcade drove along San Francisco Bay toward the President's fundraiser at the Mark Hopkins Intercontinental Hotel, big crowds were gathered on the side of the road, waving and snapping pictures. (Above: The President departing with his take-out bags as press Secretary Jay Carney and Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett, left, look on)

The cable cars stopped as the motorcade cut through the city. According to an OFA official, the President's fundraiser at the Intercontinental was scheduled to have approximately 20 supporters.

On Thursday evening, the President will attend a fundraising dinner with 70 supporters at a private residence in San Francisco - where there will be a performance by Al Green - followed by a fundraising reception at the Nob Hill Masonic Center. There will be 2,500 people in attendance and that event will feature a musical performance by Chris Cornell. Tickets for the dinner cost $35,800. Tickets for the reception start at $100.

All proceeds from Thursday’s events will go to Obama Victory Fund, a joint fundraising committee authorized by Obama for America and the Democratic National Committee.(Above: Another photo of the President with diners)

On Wednesday evening, the President raised close to $3 million at an event in Los Angeles, CA, and on Thursday morning attended a fundraiser in Corona Del Mar, CA.

Information: Great Eastern Restaurant is at 649 Jackson Street, San Francisco, CA. 94133. Phone: (415) 986-2500.

*Photos by AP/Getty pool