Review: Sweet Potato Tots from Sonic

Posted March 23rd, 2012 | 3:49pm by Dustin

Upon hearing Sonic now features Sweet Potato Tots, I could only gape in awe. My brain malfunctioned and I was left standing there with a slack expression on my face. Reminiscent of one of the doofy guys in most of their commercials. I mean, seriously? Tater tots made from sweet potatoes. You have got to be kidding me! This was either going to be a win for the history books or the fail boat was about to set sail.

Despite the enormous potential for success or failure reflected in the above comments, I ventured to Sonic with no expectations whatsoever. I was ‘objective’ personified. I ordered and patiently waited, wondering to myself if I was really interested in such a thing. When presented with the tots my face immediately contorted into a frown. As was the case with the Jumbo Popcorn Chicken, the portions were not impressive. To me, the color was somewhat unappetizing and I found myself wondering how they could charge $2.99 for such a small amount of anything, regardless of the contents. Maybe I just need to work on not stuffing my face to bursting, but I am often underwhelmed when it comes to fast food portions. My fears, however were for naught. The moment these tiny capsules of deliciousness hit my tongue I could not stop myself.

This may sound strange, but I was strongly reminded of something very special. The way these little beauties were fried made them taste just like a funnel cake at the local fair. One taste and I was hooked. Sweet enough to qualify as a dessert, each tot was expertly fried with a crispy layer of batter on the outside. The inside of the tots were another surprise as well. Anyone who has eaten tater tots knows that distinctive texture of diced potato bits cobbled together inside the salty, crunchy breading. I expected the texture to be similar, expecting tiny individual bits I could pry apart. The inside was much smoother than I would have thought. More even and consistent than a regular tater tot. The explosion of flavor in my mouth was only enhanced by the unforeseen texture.

I would highly recommend this new creation to anyone with a sweet tooth and even to those who do not typically enjoy the more sugary treats. Tasty all by themselves the tots were not overly rich and required no sauce. The texture was unexpected, but added to the overall experience. At first, the serving size seemed lacking, but as with most potato products, they were more filling than they appeared. There was no extra grease on the outside (or inside for that matter) of the tots making them perfect for eating in the car or wherever you would like to have something tasty. I cannot say enough about the flavor of Sonic’s Sweet Potato Tots. Not only are they delicious, they are also one of the lowest calorie items on their menu. Go, my children. Go forth and try these heaven-sent marvels while they last. You will not regret it.