Kitchen order ticket (KOT): what it is and what goes on one
Updated October 20, 2026
A kitchen order ticket (KOT) is the slip that tells the kitchen what to cook for one order: the table or order type, each dish with its quantity, any changes or notes, and the time. It carries no prices. The bill, printed separately, is the customer's copy with the money on it. In many US kitchens the same slip is simply called a ticket or a chit.
In short
- KOT = kitchen order ticket. One per order, or one per round of a table order.
- No prices. The cook needs what, how many, how and for where. The bill carries the prices.
- Printed or on a screen. Paper tickets come from a kitchen printer; a kitchen display system (KDS) shows the same thing on a screen.
- On Menuthere every order (online, QR table, WhatsApp or counter) can print its KOT automatically when you accept it, on every plan.
What does KOT mean in a restaurant?
KOT stands for kitchen order ticket. The term is most common in India, the UK and the Gulf, and on restaurant software. Its job is to move an order from whoever took it (a server, the counter, a website) to whoever cooks it, without anything being lost or misread.
A bar often gets its own version, a BOT (bar order ticket), so drinks go to the bar and food to the kitchen.
What goes on a kitchen order ticket?
| On the ticket | Why the kitchen needs it |
|---|---|
| Table number or order type (dine-in, takeout, delivery) | So the food goes to the right place |
| Order number, date and time | To cook in order and match the ticket to the bill |
| Each dish and its quantity | The core of the ticket |
| Changes under each dish (extra crispy, no onions, a size) | So the dish is made the way it was ordered; see menu modifiers |
| The customer's note | Allergies, "less spicy for the kids" |
| A pickup or delivery time on a scheduled order | So it isn't cooked too early; see pre-order |
| No prices | They add clutter and the cook doesn't need them |
An example ticket, and what happens on a second round
Table 4 orders at 1:05 p.m. from the QR code on the table. The kitchen printer gives:
KITCHEN ORDER TICKET Table 4 · Order 27 · 1:05 PM · Pay via: Cash Order notes: Less spicy for the kids 2× Masala dosa — extra crispy 1× Filter coffee
At 1:09 p.m. the same guests order another coffee from their phone. The ticket reprints with a banner, "\\* Customer added items \\*", and the new line reads "1× Filter coffee (ADDED)". The cook makes only the added line, and the table still has one order and one bill.
That example is taken from how Menuthere prints a table order; the restaurant and dishes are illustrative.
KOT vs bill vs KDS
| Kitchen order ticket (KOT) | Bill (receipt) | Kitchen display system (KDS) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who reads it | The kitchen | The customer | The kitchen |
| Prices | No | Yes, with tax and charges | Usually no |
| Form | Paper slip | Paper or digital | A screen, with bump buttons |
| When it appears | When the order is accepted or sent to the kitchen | When the order is paid or completed | When the order is sent to the kitchen |
| What it costs | A thermal printer and paper rolls | The same printer | A screen and KDS software |
A KDS replaces paper with a screen and can time each ticket. Paper KOTs need no extra software and keep working if the screen or the Wi-Fi goes down, which is why many small kitchens keep them.
Why a KOT matters more with online orders
When every order is taken by a server, the server writes the ticket. With online, QR and phone orders there is no server in the middle, so the order has to reach the kitchen by itself. If someone reads orders off a tablet and writes tickets by hand, two things go wrong: orders wait while nobody is looking at the tablet, and notes get copied wrong. An ordering system that prints the KOT the moment an order is accepted removes both.
How Menuthere handles KOTs
- Every order prints the same way. Website, QR table, WhatsApp and counter (POS add-on) orders all produce a KOT and a bill as two separate print jobs, so the KOT can go to the kitchen printer and the bill to the counter.
- Print by hand or automatically. Press Print KOT, Print Bill or Print KOT + Bill on an order, or switch on auto-print and choose the status that prints each one: Accepted, Food ready, Dispatched or Completed. Printing never changes an order's status.
- What the ticket shows. Table or order type, order number, date, time, how it's paid, the customer's note, each dish with its quantity and dish note, (FREE) on a free item, and the booked time in bold on a pre-order. No prices.
- Second rounds. On a table order, a reprint marks new lines (ADDED) under a "Customer added items" banner.
- Printers. Any printer your computer can print to works from the browser. The Menuthere Windows app on a counter PC prints straight to the printer without a dialog.
- Included on every plan, Free too. See kitchen tickets and bills and the help article on kitchen tickets (KOT).
What it doesn't do: Menuthere has no kitchen display screen (KDS). The KOT has one built-in design; the Windows app has its own tools if you need a custom ticket layout.
Take orders online and by QR code, and let each one print its own kitchen ticket. 0% commission.
Related terms
- 86: marking a dish as sold out so nobody can order it.
- Menu modifiers: the sizes, add-ons and choices printed under each dish.
- Pre-order: an order placed now for a later time.
- POS integration: sending online orders into your till instead of printing them.
FAQs
What is the full form of KOT in a restaurant?
KOT stands for kitchen order ticket. It is the slip that tells the kitchen what to cook for an order: the table or order type, the dishes and quantities, and any notes, without prices.
What is the difference between a KOT and a bill?
The KOT is for the kitchen and lists what to cook, with no prices. The bill is for the customer and lists the prices, tax, charges and total. They are printed separately, often on different printers.
Does a KOT show prices?
No. The kitchen doesn't need prices, and leaving them off keeps the ticket short and easy to read. The prices are on the bill.
What is the difference between a KOT and a BOT?
A KOT goes to the kitchen and a BOT (bar order ticket) goes to the bar. A restaurant with a bar splits one order so food and drinks each go to the people who make them.
Can online orders print a KOT automatically?
Yes, if your ordering system supports it. On Menuthere you choose the order status that prints the KOT, such as Accepted, and keep the dashboard open on the device connected to the printer. This works on every plan, including Free.
Sources (2)
- Menuthere help: Kitchen tickets (KOT), updated 6 Oct 2026 (what prints on a ticket, no prices, (ADDED) and the "Customer added items" banner, (FREE), Prebooked time): https://menuthere.com/docs/printing/kitchen-tickets-kot (accessed 20 Oct 2026)
- Menuthere help: How printing works and Print KOT and bills automatically (two print jobs; by hand, automatic or Windows app; statuses Accepted, Food ready, Dispatched, Completed; printing included on every plan): https://menuthere.com/docs/printing/how-printing-works (accessed 20 Oct 2026)