Cookout Restaurant History: Menu, Locations & Food Guide

Cookout, officially styled as Cook Out, is a Southern fast-food chain built around char-grilled burgers, customizable trays, crispy sides, hot dogs, barbecue, chicken items, and thick milkshakes. The brand began in Greensboro, North Carolina, in 1989, and its official history highlights a fresh-food promise built around meat that is ground, pattied, delivered, and cooked fresh daily.

What Is Cookout Known For?

Cookout is best known for fast drive-thru service, affordable combo meals, late-night popularity, and a menu that feels bigger than a typical burger chain. The biggest reason people search for Cookout is the Cook Out Tray, where customers can pair an entree with sides and a drink or shake depending on location and menu setup. The official menu includes burgers, chicken, hot dogs, barbecue, quesadillas, wraps, fries, onion rings, hushpuppies, cheese curds, floats, and shakes. Cook Out menu

Cookout History: From Greensboro to a Southern Favorite

Cookout started with one location on Randleman Road in Greensboro, NC. The company expanded slowly at first, opened its first sit-in restaurant in High Point in 1996, reached its 10th location in 1998, and later moved beyond North Carolina with its first South Carolina store in Spartanburg. Cook Out’s official timeline also notes major growth milestones, including its 100th, 200th, 250th, and 300th restaurants. Cook Out history

Why Cookout Is Famous in the South

Cook Out is more than a fast-food restaurant; it has become a recognizable part of Southern food culture. Its popularity comes not only from burgers and value-priced trays, but also from its late-night drive-thru convenience, thick milkshakes, strong college-town demand, and loyal regional customer base. The brand’s cultural relevance was highlighted when President Joe Biden ordered a Cook Out milkshake during a visit to Raleigh, North Carolina, an event covered by local media.

Cook Out also has a strong connection to motorsports through its partnership with NASCAR and sponsorship of the Cook Out Southern 500 at the historic Darlington Raceway.

Across North Carolina and the Southeast, the chain has developed a near cult-like following for its affordable trays, extensive milkshake menu, and quick drive-thru service. As a result, Cook Out represents more than menu prices or calorie counts—it is part of Southern identity, late-night dining habits, sports culture, and fast-food nostalgia.

Best Cookout Orders for First-Time Visitors

For a first visit, the safest choice is usually a tray because it gives you variety in one order. A strong beginner combo is a char-grilled burger with Cajun fries and hushpuppies. If you prefer chicken, try a chicken sandwich or chicken strips with fries and cheese curds. For a snack-style order, cheese curds, onion rings, corn dog, or a wrap can work well. For dessert, Cookout shakes are one of the chain’s most searched menu items.

Cookout Calories and Nutrition

Cookout calories depend on size, toppings, sides, and shake flavor. The official nutrition PDF lists a small hamburger at 245 calories, a regular hamburger at 328 calories, a huge hamburger at 516 calories, and a Big Double at 311 calories before extra styles or add-ons. It also lists regular fries at 347 calories, hushpuppies side at 300 calories, and cheese curds full order at 299 calories. Cook Out nutrition PDF

Are Cookout Cheese Curds Good?

Cookout cheese curds are a good pick if you want a crispy, cheesy side instead of regular fries. The full order is listed at 299 calories, while the side portion is listed at 150 calories in Cook Out’s official nutrition document. They fit best as a tray side or add-on when you want something richer than fries but not as heavy as a full sandwich.

Cookout Milkshakes

Cookout milkshakes are a major part of the brand’s identity. The official shakes page confirms shakes as a dedicated menu area, and the nutrition document shows flavors such as vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, fresh banana, banana pudding, blueberry, and other dessert-style options. Calories vary widely by flavor, so a shake should be treated more like a dessert than a simple drink. Cook Out shakes

Cookout Locations

Cookout is strongest in the Southeast and nearby Mid-Atlantic markets. The official location page lists states including Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, along with a “Cook Out Coming Soon” category. Cook Out locations Since availability changes by city, the best way to find the nearest Cookout is to use the official restaurant locator before planning a visit.

Who Owns Cookout?

Cookout is widely reported as a privately held company connected to the Reaves family, with Morris Reaves associated with its founding and Jeremy Reaves linked to leadership. Because Cookout is not a public company, it shares less corporate detail than many national restaurant chains. A recent ownership overview also reports that Cook Out does not sell franchise rights and keeps operations privately controlled. LegalClarity ownership overview

Does Cookout Franchise?

Cookout is not generally available as a public franchise opportunity. That matters for searchers asking “How much is a Cookout franchise?” because there is no standard franchise fee, investment range, or FDD like you would see with many franchise chains. If your goal is to work with the brand, employment is the realistic route rather than ownership.

Cookout Jobs and Application

Cook Out’s official employment page says the company is looking for team members, managers, and maintenance professionals. It also notes that General Managers handle employment matters at individual restaurant locations, so applicants should use the restaurant locator or job search tools to find nearby openings. Cook Out employment.

Cookout Ordering Tips

The best value move is to compare tray options before ordering separate items. If you want a lighter meal, choose a smaller entree and two sides instead of adding multiple standalone items. If calories matter, check the nutrition PDF before choosing a shake, because some shakes can be more calorie-dense than a burger. For the best experience, verify local prices, hours, payment options, and item availability because Cookout menus can vary by location.

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