What Is a KOT? Kitchen Order Tickets Explained for Restaurants
Short answer: A KOT (kitchen order ticket) is the slip the kitchen cooks from. It lists the table or order number, each item and quantity, and notes like "less spicy". A good POS sends a KOT the moment an order is confirmed and, when the table adds more, sends a new KOT with only the new items, so nothing is cooked twice.
What a KOT is for
The bill tells the guest what they owe. The KOT tells the kitchen what to cook. They are different documents: a KOT has no prices and no taxes, only what the cook needs to fire the order quickly and correctly.
What every KOT should show
- Order reference: table number for dine-in, or a name or token for takeaway and delivery.
- Order type: dine-in, takeaway or delivery, so the kitchen knows whether to plate or pack.
- Items and quantities, grouped clearly, with veg / non-veg marking if your kitchen uses it.
- Item notes: "less spicy", "no onion", "extra cheese", allergies.
- Time sent, so the pass can see what has been waiting longest.
- KOT number, so a second ticket for the same table is obviously an add-on, not a repeat.
The duplicate-ticket problem
The most common KOT failure is the add-on. A table orders mains, then asks for two more rotis. If the POS reprints the whole order, the kitchen either cooks the mains twice or has to guess which lines are new. Both cost money and time.
The fix is simple and should be automatic: the POS tracks which items have already been sent to the kitchen and puts only unsent items on the next KOT. Staff should never have to remember what has already gone.
Cancelled and changed items
If an item is cancelled after the KOT has gone, the kitchen needs to know. Your process should make cancellations visible (a cancellation ticket or a note on the next KOT) and record who cancelled and why, so the day-end report explains any gap between KOTs and bills.
Printed KOT or kitchen screen?
Printed KOTs are cheap, familiar and survive a dead tablet. A kitchen display screen is easier to keep tidy and can show waiting times. Many Indian kitchens start with a printer and move to a screen later. Either way, the POS rules are the same: send once, send only new items, carry the notes.
KOTs in DeskoPOS
In DeskoPOS, staff tap "Send KOT" and only the new items go to the kitchen, with any item notes attached. Add-ons never duplicate a ticket, and the table on the floor plan changes colour to show it is in the kitchen. Try it in the live demo, or read how to choose restaurant POS software.
Frequently asked questions
What is the full form of KOT?
KOT stands for Kitchen Order Ticket (sometimes Kitchen Order Token). It is the ticket the kitchen prepares food from.
Is a KOT the same as a bill?
No. A KOT lists items and notes for the kitchen and has no prices or taxes. The bill is the priced, taxed document given to the guest.
How do I stop duplicate KOTs?
Use a POS that tracks which items were already sent and puts only new items on each additional KOT for the same table.