6 of the best, crispiest tater tots in Dayton

Tater tots — each of the roughly 1,860,000 it sells annually — are a big deal at Kings Table in Beavercreek.

So much so that they are sold by the side, basket, small bucket and large five-pound bucket. 

"We sell a lot," said Kings Table cook Mitch Szakal.

Last year, the restaurant at 2348 Grange Hall Road sold about 30,000 pounds of tater tots.

The restaurant's Facebook page proclaims, "come for the beer, stay for the TOTS!"

Credit: Photo by Amelia Robinson

Credit: Photo by Amelia Robinson


Kings Table Manager Chandra Miller said customers don't believe her when she says nothing particularly special are done to the tots.

"They fry them right. We do not add anything to them," she said. "They are comfort food that reminds them of their childhood." 

Kings Table has been selling tater tots -- the same brand, to be exact -- for more than a decade.

Other have jumped in to the tater tot game relatively recently.

Below are just a few of the best tater tots in Dayton and where to find them.

DISCO TOTS AT LILY’S BISTRO 

Credit: Photo: Lily's Bistro.

Credit: Photo: Lily's Bistro.

WHERE:  329 E. Fifth St. in Dayton's Oregon District

HOURS: Breakfast & lunch served 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday-Friday; dinner served 5-10 p.m. Tuesday-Friday; brunch served 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday

INFO: lilysbistro.com | facebook.com/lilysbistro | 937-723-7637

WHY: They give your taste buds a reason to put on a leisure suit and stacks. Found on the weekend brunch menu, an order of Disco Tots Deluxe is glammed up with chicken gravy, cheese sauce and a fried egg for $9. A vegetarian variation is available with mushroom gravy.

>> MORE: Lily's now offers weekday brunch and you've got to try it

Lily’s sells Touchdown Tots on its brunch-like weekday lunch menu. They come covered in beer chili, cheddar, pickled jalapenos, a fried egg and an in-house made salsa for $10.

>> MORE: 5 things you should really try at Lily’s Bistro

Tater tots with cheese sauce and pulled pork are sold as a snack on the dinner menu for $9. Sides of tots come with many sandwiches.

>> MORE: 9 must-eat sandwiches in Dayton 

A WHOLE LOT OF TOTS AT KINGS TABLE 

Credit: Photo by Amelia Robinson

Credit: Photo by Amelia Robinson

WHERE: 2348 Grange Hall Road, Beavercreek

HOURS: 11:00 a.m.-2:20 a.m. daily

INFO: kingstable.cofacebook.com/Kings-Table-93443382375/ | 937-431-1700

WHY: They come out hot and crispy -- and you can, but shouldn't, eat them by the bucketful all by your lonesome.

The largest bucket has about five pounds of tots fried in two fryer baskets. Be sure to bring some friends.

A side of tot is $2.50, a basket of tots is $5, a small bucket of tots for about four people is $9, and a large bucket of tots for about eight people is $17.

>> MORE: Best fries in Dayton

Credit: Photo by Amelia Robinson

Credit: Photo by Amelia Robinson

BIG OL’ HOUSE MADE TOTS AT THE WANDERING GRIFFIN 

Credit: Photo: Amelia Robinson

Credit: Photo: Amelia Robinson

WHERE: 3725 Presidential Drive, Beavercreek (near Wright State University)

HOURS: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 11 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday.

INFO: wanderinggriffin.com | Facebook | 937-956-5216

WHY: The Wandering Griffin's Scratch-Made Tater Tots are inspired by the tots at Burntwood Tavern near Cleveland.

Eight of the large tot rounds are served with a chipotle ketchup and garlic aioli.

The savory tots came out crispy and hot, just the way you want a tater tot. An order is $8.

>> MORE: Giant tater tots, super-cheesy pork belly mac & cheese on menu at new Beavercreek restaurant 

Credit: Photo: by Amelia Robinson

Credit: Photo: by Amelia Robinson

LATE NIGHT TOTS AT MJ’S ON JEFFERSON 

WHERE: 20 N. Jefferson St., Dayton

HOURS: Kitchen is open from 5:30 p.m.-2 a.m. Friday and Saturday

INFO: mjsonjefferson.com | Facebook | 937-223-3259

WHY: Is there a better snack to eat while watching drag queens and drinking cocktails? With crispy tater tots served hot and by the pound ($7.50) or the half-pound ($5), we didn't think so, either.

>> RELATED: 8 reasons to take PRIDE in Dayton's LGBT community

Toppings like shredded cheese, General Tso’s sauce and jalapeno cheese sauce can be added.

>>MORE: Who won Best of Dayton for 2016?

UNDEAD TOTS AT ZOMBIE DOGS

Credit: Photo by Amelia Robinson

Credit: Photo by Amelia Robinson

WHERE: 1200 Brown St., Dayton (near University of Dayton)

HOURS: 10:30 a.m.-10 p.m. daily

INFO: zombiedogzdayton.comfacebook.com/zombiedogzdayton/ | 937-951-2942

WHY: If any food reminds people more of their childhood, that food must be a hot dog.

Tater tots are the perfect accomplice to Zombie Dogz’s otherworldly, dressed-up gourmet dogs, and the tots are just $3 a basket.

Add chili, sausage gravy, cheese sauce, bacon, onions, ranch or pretty much any other topping  on the menu that floats your boat for a little more.

>> MORE: Here's why Zombie Dogz is making people lose their BRAINS

POUTINE TOTS AT SPENT GRAIN GRILL

WHERE: 26 Wyandot St., Dayton (inside of Warped Wing Brewery)

HOURS: 5-9 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday ; 3-11 p.m. Friday; 1-11 p.m. Saturday; 1-7 p.m. Sunday.

INFO: spentgraingrill.comfacebook.com/spentgraingrill/ | 937-238-7389

WHY: Spent Grain Grill's take on poutine, a classic Canadian dish, are tots with Warped Wing's own Flyin' Rye IPA-battered cheese curds and a rich brown gravy. The poutine is $8.95 and sometimes offered with an egg on top.

>> MORE: Where to find poutine in Dayton

A side of tots is $2, and a basket of tots is $4.

About the Author