Prez Orders Dim Sum in Surprise Visit to Chinatown

President Obama ordered takeout dim sum at a restaurant in San Francisco's Chinatown this afternoon in a surprise visit on his way to a fundraiser.

Obama, who arrived at San Francisco International Airport early this afternoon, stopped by the Great Eastern Restaurant at 649 Jackson St. shortly after 1 p.m., a restaurant manager said. He ordered several dim sum dishes to go, and stayed in the restaurant for about 20 minutes greeting guests, manager Wing Lyn said.

The president's security force crowded into the dining room as Obama shook hands with the restaurant's patrons and posed for pictures, Lyn said.

Lyn said he was thrilled to serve the president. "It's amazing," he said. After the restaurant visit, Obama was scheduled to head to a private reception at the Mark Hopkins Intercontinental Hotel on Nob Hill at 2 p.m.

Obama is then attending a private fundraising dinner at a Pacific Heights home, and will give a speech at an 8 p.m. fundraiser at the Nob Hill Masonic Center featuring a performance by Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell.

--Bay City News