Totchos would be right at home on Nacheaux’s menu of Mexican-Southern mashups, but the former food cart took a slightly different direction with its fried potato nuggets. Smothered tots are available in two forms: fried chicken mac tots, using garlic Cajun tots as a base for the chicken and mac and cheese, and the sloppy joe tots, featuring saucy ground beef and Flamin’ Hot Cheetos. Both get drizzled with Nacheaux sauce and cotija for good measure.

After a temporary closure, Northwest’s Boxer Ramen — now just known as Boxer (“It’s cleaner”) — is back in business in with an expanded menu that now includes sushi and sashimi. Thankfully, the okonomiyaki tots survived and true to their name, borrow from the Japanese pancake. The golden nuggets come topped with bonito flakes, slivered nori, and a squirt of mayonnaise. The optional add-on of crispy pork belly ups the ante deliciously. Boxer Ramen is open for dining in, takeout, and delivery. 

It’s easy to eschew regional chains, but for a pile of late-night totchos accessible via a drive-thru, look no further than Muchas Gracias, with locations throughout the state and Vancouver. The fast-food Mexican spot is about more than just combo meals; it also turns out a respectable rendition of carne asada tots, a cross-cultural delight piled with seared beef strips, a blend of cheddar and jack cheeses, sour cream, and chunky pico de gallo.

This East Burnside stalwart might be better known for its Greek fries, a spin on another regional snack, the jojo, but the deli-turned-bar also offers a Hellenic take on loaded tots, Pondo Tots, sprinkled with crumbled feta, seasoned with oregano, and dressed with lemon juice and olive oil. Mad Greek Deli is open for takeout, delivery, and has indoor and outdoor seating.

There’s no shortage of vegan junk food in the city. Black Water does totchos made with ground seitan and cashew cheeze, while vegan-friendly dive bar, Hungry Tiger, makes theirs with black beans, pico de gallo, and pickled jalapeños, topped with sour cream and nacho cheese (either vegan or dairy). For a heartier version, proteins can be added, including Beyond Beef. Hungry Tiger has an outdoor patio and is offering takeout and delivery.

Burgers are the big draw at Cartopia’s Bottle Rocket. The sides are where it gets interesting, though, with the cauliflower and jalapeño tempura, fried brussels sprouts, and of course, the spicy fish sauce tots, reminiscent of the famed Pok Pok wings, garnished here with chopped mint and crushed pistachios. The pod offers ample outdoor seating, including covered and heated seats.

This Division Street food cart is a must-visit for anyone who needs more potato products in their life. At The Doghouse PDX, hot dogs and burgers share menu space with multiple tot bowls. Naughty in Nogales is the closest in construction to totchos, using pepper jack, onions, and jalapeños, but the grilled pineapple, bacon, and spicy aioli takes humble tots to the next level. Other versions include the Truffle Treasure, an umami blast of garlic truffle aioli and truffle oil, seasoned with chanterelle salt, and the Seoulmates, which incorporates homemade gochujang, avocado, sesame oil, and chili salt. Food can be eaten on the patio or taken to-go.

With ornate wallpaper, Moroccan hanging lamps, and a tight menu filled with wildly named dishes like Important Helmet for Outer Space, Division Street’s Malka is hard to pin down. That’s why it’s not incongruous to find spicy rice salads filled with fruit, corn, and avocado alongside small plates like the Jolene, tater tots seasoned with guajillo-lime salt and topped with red mole, crema, and cotija. Don’t forget the grilled jalapeños, scallions, and caramelized Oaxaca cheese, hiding beneath the tots. The restaurant is open for delivery and takeout only.

This Sellwood brewpub doesn’t claim to be the inventor of totchos but there’s evidence to prove it popularized the portmanteau. This is a purist version that features everything a classic nacho would: cheddar and jack cheese, tomatoes, jalapeños, olives, red onions, scallions, sour cream, and salsa. Optional add-ons like chicken, pulled pork, or avocado (no guac) are also available. Oaks Bottom is open for dining indoors or on the heated patio, as well as takeout and delivery.