# Are tater tots popular outside the Midwest? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 16, 2014, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-tater-tots-popular-outside-the-midwest/707445 "2014-12-16T22:45:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Motorgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Motorgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motorgirl)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-tater-tots-popular-outside-the-midwest/707445/41 "2014-12-17T17:59:13Z")
They’re reasonably common at non-chain restaurants I frequent in the Boston metro area. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-tater-tots-popular-outside-the-midwest/707445/42 "2014-12-17T18:30:04Z")
> [@Lsura](#): > > I really want tots from the [Universal Joint](http://www.ujointbar.com/) now. > > I grew up with tots, and see them regularly as a side both here in Atlanta and elsewhere. Also, someplace I’ve been recently serves sweet potato tots, and they were awesome. I haven’t been there in a while, but we may be in the Decatur area soon. Not a bad suggestion… ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-tater-tots-popular-outside-the-midwest/707445/43 "2014-12-17T18:34:07Z")
I remember seeing them often enough growing up in upstate NY as a kid. The local sub place had them as a side. ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-tater-tots-popular-outside-the-midwest/707445/44 "2014-12-17T18:40:48Z")
Somewhat related-Hash browns. Sometimes they are just potato cubes and sometimes they are ‘patties’ ---
**Author:** ![missred](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/missred/32/14096_2.png) [@missred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missred)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-tater-tots-popular-outside-the-midwest/707445/45 "2014-12-17T18:47:32Z")
I’ve never encountered them in a sit down restaurant anywhere, but in the Nashville area, several fast food places serve them. I could take or leave french fries, but about once a month, I have to go to Sonic for my tot fix. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-tater-tots-popular-outside-the-midwest/707445/46 "2014-12-17T19:07:02Z")
For those of you that get them from Sonic, they’ll also make “Extreme Tator Tots” for you. They’re not on the menu anymore but they will still serve them if you ask. They add chili, cheese, onions, Ranch dressing and jalapeños. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-tater-tots-popular-outside-the-midwest/707445/47 "2014-12-17T19:44:51Z")
In Virginia I’ve never seen them in a restaurant, but they are almost always in grocery store frozen sections, and we ate plenty with school lunches. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-tater-tots-popular-outside-the-midwest/707445/48 "2014-12-17T19:56:30Z")
It’s amusing to learn that Tater Tots and Chicken Nuggets both date from the 1950’s! Fun Wiki articles on each “parts is parts” concoction. ---
**Author:** ![Lsura](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Lsura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lsura)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-tater-tots-popular-outside-the-midwest/707445/49 "2014-12-17T20:11:42Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#): > > I haven’t been there in a while, but we may be in the Decatur area soon. Not a bad suggestion… Heh. I live about a 5 minute walk from there. When I first moved over there and discovered they had tots it was a Bad Thing. I don’t allow myself to go too often anymore. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-tater-tots-popular-outside-the-midwest/707445/50 "2014-12-17T20:18:14Z")
They can be found at most of the mom-and-pop drive-up burger places here in the northwest (though oddly enough, not at Dick’s), usually served with the regional dipping sauce of choice - tartar sauce mixed with yellow mustard. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-tater-tots-popular-outside-the-midwest/707445/51 "2014-12-17T20:21:49Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > Tater tots common in your area? Nonexistent, AFAIK. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-tater-tots-popular-outside-the-midwest/707445/52 "2014-12-17T22:31:26Z")
They seem to be quite popular at the Preston, Idaho high school. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-tater-tots-popular-outside-the-midwest/707445/53 "2014-12-17T23:17:10Z")
> [@Lsura](#): > > Heh. I live about a 5 minute walk from there. When I first moved over there and discovered they had tots it was a Bad Thing. I don’t allow myself to go too often anymore. 🙂 At Fox Brothers, you can have them smothered in cheese and either Brunswick stew of chili. Zesto has them, as well. ---
**Author:** ![P-man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/p-man/32/3606_2.png) [@P-man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/P-man)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-tater-tots-popular-outside-the-midwest/707445/54 "2014-12-17T23:25:16Z")
Not that uncommon in the DC area; I wouldn’t say they’re hip, but they’re getting there. ---
**Author:** ![JohnGalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johngalt/32/184_2.png) [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2014, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-tater-tots-popular-outside-the-midwest/707445/55 "2014-12-18T02:10:59Z")
Outside of cafeterias or small-town diners here in Minnesota, I can’t say I’ve seen tater tots in a restaurant. I think the closest thing is [Taco Johns Potato Oles](http://www.tacojohns.com/menu/snacks-sides/potato-oles/) ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2014, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-tater-tots-popular-outside-the-midwest/707445/56 "2014-12-19T02:12:50Z")
Quite interesting at lunch today with several coworkers. A restaurant in the Chicago Loop, popular lunch place with $12-$15 entrees, mainly sandwiches. 4 of the 9 people ordered tater tots with their meal. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-tater-tots-popular-outside-the-midwest/707445.md?page=2)