Crispy golden tater tots.
Tater tots were invented in 1953 by Ore-Ida founders F. Nephi and Golden Grigg as a way to use up potato scraps from french fry production. They patented the product and launched it nationally, quickly becoming a staple of American school cafeterias and diners. The name is a registered trademark of Ore-Ida, though the form factor — extruded grated potato cylinders, fried crispy — has become a generic category across foodservice. On Mexican-American casual menus, they often appear as a side option alongside tacos, tortas, and combo plates.