Cook Out Is Opening 3 Locations in Tampa Bay: 2026 Update
Cook Out is bringing three restaurants to the Tampa Bay area. The popular Southern fast-food chain is preparing locations in Temple Terrace, Carrollwood, and St. Petersburg. Work is moving forward, but there is one important detail. Cook Out has not announced an exact opening date for any of the three restaurants. The Temple Terrace restaurant appears to be the closest to opening. Construction has been seen at the property. Renovation plans are also moving ahead in Carrollwood, while the St. Petersburg project remains active.
Here is the latest information about each Cook Out Tampa Bay location.
Where Is Cook Out Opening in Tampa Bay?
Cook Out is opening at these three addresses:
| Area | Address | Latest status |
|---|---|---|
| Temple Terrace | 5501 E. Fowler Avenue | Construction is underway |
| Carrollwood | 16215 N. Dale Mabry Highway | Renovation and plan review are moving forward |
| St. Petersburg | 9595 4th Street North | Permitted and awaiting further construction progress |
All three restaurants will replace former Boston Market locations.
No official grand-opening dates have been announced. Older estimates found online may no longer be accurate.
1. Cook Out in Temple Terrace
The Temple Terrace Cook Out will be located at:
5501 E. Fowler Avenue, Temple Terrace, Florida
The property sits near the corner of East Fowler Avenue and North 56th Street. It previously operated as a Boston Market.
This location has shown the clearest signs of physical progress. Recent local photos show construction taking place at the site. Earlier reports also said the restaurant should open soon, although no completion date was provided.
Because work is already visible, Temple Terrace may become the first Cook Out to open in Tampa Bay. However, the company has not officially confirmed which location will open first.
The restaurant will be close to the University of South Florida area. Its Fowler Avenue location should also make it easy to reach from Temple Terrace and nearby Tampa neighborhoods.
Temple Terrace status at a glance
Drivers should wait for an official opening announcement before visiting. Construction progress can change quickly, and an unfinished restaurant may still need inspections, staff training, and final approvals.
2. Cook Out in Carrollwood
The Carrollwood restaurant is planned for:
16215 N. Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa, Florida
This property is across from Gaither High School and was also previously occupied by Boston Market.
Renovation activity has been reported at the site. In June 2026, new plan-review documents provided another sign that the Carrollwood project is moving forward.
The restaurant will join a busy section of North Dale Mabry Highway with several stores and dining options. Its location should make it convenient for customers in Carrollwood, Northdale, Lake Magdalene, and nearby communities.
Some online reports have shown the address as 16125 North Dale Mabry Highway. Property information and several local reports identify the planned Cook Out address as 16215 North Dale Mabry Highway.
Carrollwood status at a glance
An active permit or plan review does not always mean a restaurant will open within a few weeks. The building may still need interior work, signs, equipment, inspections, and employee training.
3. Cook Out in St. Petersburg
Cook Out’s first St. Petersburg restaurant is planned for:
9595 4th Street North, St. Petersburg, Florida
The building is in north St. Petersburg and previously housed a Boston Market. Cook Out purchased the property and filed plans to renovate it. The proposed project includes a large investment in the existing building, and a contractor has been connected to the work.
Progress at this site has been slower than at Temple Terrace. Earlier in 2026, the building still appeared boarded up. More recent local reporting says the project remains permitted and active. That means the St. Petersburg Cook Out has not been canceled. It is still planned, but customers should not rely on old predictions that suggested an earlier opening.
The St. Petersburg location may open after the two Hillsborough County restaurants, but Cook Out has not published an official order or schedule.
When Will the Tampa Bay Cook Out Locations Open?
Cook Out has not announced exact opening dates for Temple Terrace, Carrollwood, or St. Petersburg.
As of June 12, 2026, the safest update is:
Commercial projects often face delays caused by permits, inspections, equipment delivery, contractor schedules, or design changes. An opening date should not be treated as final until Cook Out publishes it or signs appear at the restaurant.
Watch for these signs that an opening is getting close:
Permanent Cook Out signs are installed.
Menu boards appear in the drive-thru.
Landscaping and parking work are completed.
Hiring advertisements mention a specific location.
The address appears on Cook Out’s official location finder.
The company announces an opening through its official social pages.
What Is Cook Out?
Cook Out is a Southern fast-food chain that started in Greensboro, North Carolina, in 1989.
The restaurant is known for offering a large number of meal combinations. Its menu includes char-grilled burgers, barbecue, hot dogs, chicken, quesadillas, fries, hushpuppies, onion rings, and milkshakes.
Cook Out has expanded across the Southeast and entered Florida before the Tampa Bay restaurants were completed. This is worth noting because some older articles describe the Tampa locations as Florida’s first Cook Out restaurants.
Those reports were accurate when the projects were first announced. However, Cook Out opened in Pensacola in July 2025. The Tampa Bay restaurants will be part of the chain’s wider Florida expansion.
What Is a Cook Out Tray?
The Cook Out Tray is one of the chain’s best-known menu choices.
Customers normally choose one main item, two sides, and a drink. Available choices can vary, but the large selection makes it easy to build different combinations.
Main choices may include:
Side options may include fries, hushpuppies, onion rings, corn dogs, chicken nuggets, or a quesadilla.
Customers can often upgrade the regular drink to a milkshake. Prices and available items should be checked at the Tampa Bay restaurants after they open.
What Milkshake Flavors Does Cook Out Have?
Cook Out is known for offering more than 40 milkshake flavors.
The official selection includes classic and dessert-style options. Depending on the restaurant, customers may find flavors such as:
Customers can also ask whether flavors can be mixed. Availability may vary by restaurant.
What Should First-Time Customers Order?
A Cook Out Tray is a simple choice for a first visit because it lets you try several items in one meal.
A first-time order could include:
Barbecue fans may prefer a barbecue sandwich or plate. Customers looking for something different can try a chicken sandwich, quesadilla, corn dog, or cheese fries.
The menu can feel large at first. It helps to look at the menu before reaching the ordering point, especially when the drive-thru is busy.
Tips for Visiting During Opening Week
New restaurants often attract large crowds during their first few days. Cook Out already has a strong following, so Tampa Bay customers should expect possible lines.
Use these simple tips:
Check the official hours
Do not assume the Tampa Bay restaurants will follow the same late-night hours as other Cook Out locations. Local hours have not been announced.
Study the menu first
Choosing your main item, two sides, drink, and shake flavor before ordering can save time.
Check the drive-thru entrance
Former restaurant buildings may receive new traffic patterns during renovation. Follow posted signs instead of using an old entrance.
Confirm the location is open
A completed exterior does not always mean the restaurant has started serving customers. Check Cook Out’s official location finder before making a special trip.
Visit outside the busiest hours
Lunch and dinner periods may have the longest waits. A mid-afternoon visit could be easier.
Why Tampa Bay Customers Are Excited
Cook Out offers a style of fast food that is still new to many Tampa Bay customers.
Its appeal comes from variety. One person can order a burger, another can choose barbecue, and someone else can get chicken or a quesadilla. The large milkshake menu also gives customers more choices than most fast-food restaurants.
The three locations cover both sides of Tampa Bay. Temple Terrace and Carrollwood will serve Hillsborough County, while the 4th Street restaurant will give Pinellas County customers a closer option.
The expansion also brings new life to three former Boston Market buildings that had been sitting unused.
FAQ’s
Final Words
Cook Out is still moving forward with three Tampa Bay restaurants.
Temple Terrace has visible construction, Carrollwood has recent renovation and plan-review activity, and St. Petersburg remains an active permitted project.
The biggest unanswered question is the opening date. Cook Out has not provided a firm schedule, so any exact dates shared online should be treated carefully.
For now, Temple Terrace appears to be leading the race. Tampa Bay customers may not have to wait much longer for their first local Cook Out Tray and milkshake.
