What Is a KOT? A Restaurant Kitchen Order Ticket Guide

What KOT means

KOT stands for Kitchen Order Ticket. It communicates the items a kitchen should prepare for an order. In a restaurant POS workflow, the ticket is created from an order entered by the cashier or service staff.

What a useful ticket should make clear

A ticket should let the kitchen identify the order and read each item and quantity. The restaurant should test how its system displays notes, changes and separate preparation stations; those details vary by product and setup.

A KOT is an operational handoff, not a replacement for an agreed process to ask questions or handle corrections.

How to test KOT printing

Create sample checks using common dishes, different quantities and a changed item. Print them at the actual kitchen printer, confirm legibility and location, and ask kitchen staff to interpret the ticket without help.

Repeat the test after changing printer, menu or receipt settings. Agree how staff will signal a correction so the kitchen does not prepare an outdated order.

KOT in Petu POS

Petu POS can send and print KOTs from an order in the operational POS. Printer compatibility depends on the outlet's hardware, so verify it during setup. See the Petu POS KOT workflow and restaurant POS overview.