BY JACKIE FENDER for the WEEKLY VOLCANO | 8/28/2026
Overflo Potato is dishing out loaded baked potatoes that are anything but humble.
What do hobbits and Oprah Winfrey have in common? There isn’t a punchline here, but there is a fun fact. They both have an affinity for potatoes. Samwise the Brave schooled Gollum about taters with his famous line, “Po-ta-toes! Boil ’em, mash ’em, stick ’em in a stew!” which I say out loud or to myself on the regular, more times than I’d like to admit. Oprah has been quoted as saying, “My idea of heaven is a great big baked potato and someone to share it with.” I have to say, both are things I can get behind, which is why, when Overflo Potato popped up in my algorithm, I grabbed my car keys and jetted over.
On the corner of East 72nd Street and McKinley Avenue, it’s almost a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it gem, which is a shame because it is not to be missed. The Eastside is home to many hidden gems, from strip mall treasures to parking lots and concrete corners boasting food truck hubs and hot spots. Count Overflo Potato among the best of the best.
Its Instagram is fresh, with only a few posts, but the foodie-type influencers have already pounced on the opportunity to hype it up. The bio says, “Warning: PNW’s Top Baked Potato Spot. May cause extreme happiness and potato addiction.” And with an already healthy potato addiction (Samwise might be a long-lost ancestor), I needed to put the statement to the test.
Parking is limited and can be tricky, but don’t let that deter you. Locally owned and operated by Destiny and Carwin Hawkins, Overflo Potato features signature loaded baked potatoes (naturally) inspired by Carwin’s New Orleans childhood and the flavors of the PNW. The menu is well curated and includes only seven potatoes, with prices reaching $23, but manages to have a little something for everyone. If you have a sweet tooth, there’s a Sweet Potato Cinnamon Swirl Slice, or you can score a whole sweet potato pie to share (pies must be preordered). Then wash it all down with one of the tart flavored lemonades.
A baked russet potato lies at the foundation of each dish, and to say the potatoes are massive isn’t a stretch of the truth. They are then loaded up with a generous offering of shredded cheese and toppings, including steak, shrimp, chicken, and bacon. The Shrimpflo had an eye-catching serving of blackened jumbo shrimp that would put most fine-dining joints to shame. And the C.B.R. was crowned with so much chicken, bacon, ranch drizzle, and cheese that you only have to trust the potato is in there somewhere. While my husband managed to demolish his whole meal, the rest of us could not conquer the offerings in one sitting and revisited them later in the day. The Shrimpflo is a perfect accompaniment to a cocktail or two in the evening. Fear not. I tested this theory for you.
Word on the street is that they were ramping up to open a brick-and-mortar location in the Pizza Time Pub space on Sixth Avenue. Since those plans have fallen through, the Hawkinses are getting innovative! Instead, they’ll be beautifying the storage container that currently serves as a backdrop to their tent. Service will continue as is while the project is underway. The project will include a nice coating of paint and a diner-like feel, with seating added to the mix, along with other food and beverage offerings.
If you have a special event, I recommend checking them out online, since they can be booked for catering as well. If Oprah’s idea of heaven is a baked potato shared with a loved one, your event guests are going to be twitterpated and ridiculously satisfied because these flavors are dreamy. This article and my visit may have inspired me to get one of those cursive-adorned signs all the moms like in their kitchens. Instead of “Live. Laugh. Love,” mine will be “Potatoes Are My Love Language.” The heart wants what it wants, y’all.
Overflo Potato, 701 E. 72nd St., Tacoma WA.
Follow on Instagram @overflo_potato.
