Cookout Charlotte NC: Menu Prices, Hours & Locations

Cookout Charlotte NC: Menu Prices, Hours & Locations

Cookout Charlotte is basically the answer to the most important late-night question in the Queen City: where can I get a real, filling meal for under eight bucks at 1 AM? If you’ve never been to one, here’s the short version. Cook Out is a North Carolina-born drive-thru chain, founded back in 1989 in Greensboro, and the Charlotte metro has several locations spread across the area. The whole draw is the tray deal: a full-size entree, two sides, and a large drink for about $7.69. That price feels like it teleported in from 2005, but it’s real, and it hasn’t gone anywhere.

This Cookout Charlotte guide covers everything you’d actually want to know before you go: the menu and current prices, typical hours, how to find the location nearest you, and what to order so you don’t fumble the most important decision of your evening. One quick note before we start: cookoutmenu.today is an unofficial fan guide. We’re not affiliated with Cook Out in any way, so prices and hours can shift a little from location to location. The numbers below are current as of late 2026, but when in doubt, the menu board at your local Cook Out wins.

What’s in This Guide

Why Charlotte Can’t Get Enough of Cook Out

Charlotte is a banking city that likes to stay out late. You’ve got Panthers Sundays, Hornets nights, Charlotte FC matches, and the whole Uptown crowd spilling out of bars and venues looking for food that isn’t a sad gas-station hot dog. Then there’s UNC Charlotte with tens of thousands of students, and a metro that keeps sprawling in every direction. All of those people share one problem at midnight: everything good is closed, and everything open is overpriced.

That’s exactly the gap a Cookout Charlotte restaurant fills. The menu is built for people who want a lot of food for very little money, and the late-night hours are the whole business model. While most fast food spots lock their doors at 10 or 11, Cook Out keeps the drive-thru humming until 2 AM on weeknights and even later on weekends. In a city where a single burger and fries at a sit-down place can run you $18, walking out of Cook Out with a tray, a shake, and change from a $10 bill feels like you’ve hacked the system.

My honest opinion? The tray is the single best value in North Carolina fast food, and it’s not particularly close. Five Guys charges you $7.69 for fries alone. At Cook Out, that gets you the entire meal. Charlotte folks figured this out years ago, which is why the drive-thru lines at 12:30 AM look longer than some lunch rushes.

Cookout Charlotte Locations

There are several Cookout Charlotte locations spread across the metro, serving everything from the university area near UNC Charlotte to neighborhoods closer to Uptown and the suburbs. The exact count shifts over time as new spots open, so instead of listing street addresses that could go stale, here’s the practical advice: the map below shows Cook Out locations across Charlotte, and it’s the fastest way to find the one closest to you.

One thing worth knowing: Cook Out is a drive-thru-first operation. Most locations are built around the drive-thru lane, with limited or no dine-in seating. That’s not a bug, it’s the design. It keeps the overhead low, which is exactly why the prices can stay this low. So plan your Cookout Charlotte run as a drive-thru stop, not a sit-down dinner, and you’ll have the right expectations.

If you’re in the Raleigh-Durham area instead, our Cookout Raleigh guide covers those locations, and Cookout Durham has the Bull City side of the Triangle.

Cookout Charlotte Hours

Here’s the part that matters most for the night owls. Most Cook Out locations stay open until 2 AM Sunday through Thursday, and until 3 or 4 AM on Friday and Saturday. That’s the general pattern across the chain, and it holds for the Charlotte area too.

A few honest caveats, though. Hours do vary by location, so the specific Cookout Charlotte spot nearest you might close a little earlier or later. Holiday hours can be different. And the Friday and Saturday late-night rush is real: after games and concerts let out, the drive-thru line can stretch around the building. That’s actually a good sign. It means the food is fresh and the locals trust it. Just don’t roll up at 2:45 AM on a Saturday expecting an empty lane.

If you’re planning a late run, it’s worth a quick check of your local spot’s hours before you drive. The general rule holds: if it’s before 2 AM on a weeknight, you’re almost certainly fine.

Inside a busy fast food restaurant at night

The Cookout Tray: Charlotte’s Best Deal

Let’s talk about the main event. The Cookout Tray costs about $7.69 and comes with one full-size entree, two sides, and a large drink. Read that again. A whole meal, with drink, for less than what most places charge for a burger alone. This is the order that built the Cook Out legend, and it’s the first thing any Cookout Charlotte first-timer should try.

Your entree choices on the regular tray are: the Big Double Burger (330 Cal), the Regular 1/4 lb Burger (330 Cal), the Regular Chicken Breast (380 Cal), the Cajun Chicken Breast (380 Cal), the Spicy Chicken (450 Cal), the BBQ Char-Grilled Chicken (380 Cal), 3 Chicken Strips or a chicken sandwich (660 Cal), Barbecue Pulled Pork (370 Cal), 2 Hot Dogs (520 Cal), or 2 Quesadillas (440-520 Cal). That’s ten entrees, and the two sides come from a list that includes fries, hushpuppies, onion rings, coleslaw, chili, nuggets, cheese bites, and a bacon wrap.

The pro move? Upgrade the large drink to a milkshake. A Regular Milkshake adds about $1.00 to the tray, and a Fancy Milkshake adds $1.00 to $1.60. A full meal plus one of the 40+ shakes for under nine bucks is genuinely hard to beat anywhere in Charlotte.

Want the full breakdown? Our Cookout Tray guide goes deep on every entree and side combination.

The Jr. Tray for Lighter Appetites

Not everyone needs the full mountain of food. The Jr. Tray runs about $6.49 and is built for smaller appetites or anyone who wants the tray experience without the food coma. The entree portions are smaller but the format is the same: pick your entree, grab your sides, get your drink.

Jr. Tray entrees include the Small Burger at 1/8 lb (240 Cal), 2 Chicken Strips (440 Cal), 2 Corn Dogs (440 Cal), a BLT Sandwich (400 Cal), 1 Hot Dog (260 Cal), or 1 Quesadilla (220-260 Cal). Honestly, for a lot of people this is the smarter order. The regular tray is a LOT of food. If you’re not sure, start here. Details on our Cookout Jr. Tray page.

Cheeseburger with fries on a tray

Burgers and Styles

Cook Out grinds its burgers fresh and cooks them char-grilled, which already puts it ahead of most drive-thru chains. The sizes are simple: the Small Burger at 1/8 lb runs $1.99 to $2.99 (240 Cal), the Regular Burger at 1/4 lb is $2.99 to $3.99 (330 Cal), the Huge Burger at 1/2 lb is $3.99 (520 Cal), and the famous Big Double is $2.99 to $3.99 (330 Cal). Yes, the Big Double is two patties for the price of a regular burger. No, I don’t know how they do it either.

Then there are the styles, and this is where Cook Out separates itself from every other burger joint in Charlotte. Cookout Style piles on homemade chili, coleslaw, mustard, and diced onion for an extra $0.95 to $0.99 (130 Cal). Cheddar Style brings sharp cheddar, crispy bacon, grilled onion, and mayo for $0.99 more (240 Cal). Out West Style is BBQ sauce, crispy bacon, mayo, pickles, and onion for $0.75 to $0.99 (210 Cal). Steak Style adds A1 steak sauce, grilled onions, lettuce, tomato, and mayo for $0.59 to $0.69 (100 Cal). House Style is quesadilla sauce with shredded lettuce, tomato, and onion for $0.49 to $0.59 (65 Cal). And Nacho Chili Style is nacho cheese sauce with homemade chili for $0.99 (100 Cal).

If it’s your first visit to a Cookout Charlotte location, order the Big Double Cookout Style on a tray. It’s the signature for a reason. More burger detail lives on our Big Double Burger and Quarter Pound Burger pages.

Chicken, Hot Dogs and BBQ

The burger gets the headlines, but the rest of the Cookout Charlotte menu deserves your attention. The chicken sandwiches come in six styles, all priced between $3.69 and $4.85: Original Style (390 Cal) with honey mustard, lettuce, tomato, and mayo on a toasted bun, BBQ Style (380 Cal), Cajun Style (380 Cal), Club Style (500 Cal), Cheddar Style (560 Cal), and Homemade Style (490 Cal). The 3-piece chicken strips run about $4.99 (660 Cal), and a grilled or crispy chicken sandwich is around $4.49 (about 450 Cal). Full rundown on our chicken sandwich page.

Hot dogs are almost criminally cheap. A plain hot dog is about $1.99 (260 Cal), a chili dog is around $2.49 (330 Cal), the chili cheese dog is about $2.99 (400 Cal), the slaw dog is around $2.49 (310 Cal), and a corn dog is just $1.49 (220 Cal). Two hot dogs also work as a tray entree, which is one of the sneakiest value plays on the menu. See our hot dog guide for the full lineup.

And since this is North Carolina, let’s talk barbecue. The regular pulled pork BBQ is about $3.99 (370 Cal), the BBQ char-grilled chicken is about $3.99 (380 Cal), and the BBQ sandwich with pulled pork on a toasted buttered bun is around $4.49 (about 450 Cal). Cook Out was born in Greensboro, so the BBQ has genuine NC roots. Our BBQ page has the details.

40+ Milkshake Flavors

Okay, deep breath. The shake menu at any Cookout Charlotte location is genuinely overwhelming in the best way. There are more than 40 Cook Out Creamery flavors. Regular shakes run $2.99 to $3.99, fancy shakes run $4.49 to $4.99, and you’re looking at 510 to 900 calories depending on the flavor. Nobody is ordering these for their health. You’re ordering them because they’re excellent.

The crowd favorites are Peanut Butter Banana (864 Cal), Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup (894 Cal), Oreo Mint (853 Cal), Strawberry Cheesecake (800-900 Cal), and Banana Pudding (781 Cal). But the deep cuts are where it gets fun: Banana Fudge (772 Cal), Blueberry Cheesecake (700-900 Cal), Butterfinger (700-800 Cal), Cappuccino (555 Cal), Caramel Fudge (677 Cal), Cherry Cheesecake (925 Cal), Chocolate Chip Mint (834 Cal), Heath Toffee (701 Cal), M&M (755 Cal), Mocha (620 Cal), Orange Push-Up (638 Cal), Oreo Cookie (802 Cal), Peach Cobbler (790 Cal), Peanut Butter Fudge (765 Cal), Snickers Bar (720 Cal), and Walnut (853 Cal). There’s even a seasonal Fresh Watermelon shake (645 Cal) that only shows up in July and August.

My take: if you can only try one, make it the Peanut Butter Banana. It’s the shake people drive across town for. Browse the whole list on our classic milkshakes and fancy milkshakes pages.

Chocolate milkshake with whipped cream

Sides Worth Ordering

Sides are where tray orders are won and lost, so choose wisely. French fries run about $1.99 (350 Cal), onion rings are about $1.99 (130 Cal), hushpuppies are about $1.99 (300 Cal), homemade coleslaw is about $1.49 (100 Cal), homemade chili is about $1.49 (170 Cal), chicken nuggets are about $1.99 (150 Cal), white cheddar cheese bites are about $1.99 (190 Cal), and the bacon wrap is about $1.99 (420 Cal).

Here’s my honest ranking for a Cookout Charlotte tray: hushpuppies first, always. They’re a Southern staple and Cook Out does them right. Second side is a toss-up between the fries and the onion rings, depending on your mood. The coleslaw is underrated if you want something lighter next to a heavy burger. More on each: hushpuppies, french fries, onion rings, and coleslaw.

What to Order at Cookout Charlotte

Decision paralysis is real when the menu has this many options, so here are three orders for three types of people.

The first-timer: Big Double Burger tray, Cookout Style, with hushpuppies and fries as your sides, and upgrade the drink to a Peanut Butter Banana shake. This is the canonical Cook Out experience. If you only go once, go like this.

The value hunter: Jr. Tray with the small burger, corn dogs as one side, and a large Cheerwine. Cheerwine is the iconic North Carolina cherry soft drink (about $1.99 for a huge, 380 Cal), and drinking it at a NC-born chain just feels right. You’ll walk out having spent around eight dollars total.

The late-night regular: 2 quesadillas as your tray entree (440-520 Cal), onion rings and chili as sides, and whatever shake flavor you haven’t tried yet. The quesadillas are the sleeper pick that regulars swear by.

Late-Night Tips for Charlotte

A few things I wish someone had told me before my first midnight Cookout Charlotte run. First, the drive-thru is the whole operation, so eat in your car or take it home. The food travels well. Second, Friday and Saturday after midnight is peak chaos, especially when there’s a game or concert in town. The line moves faster than it looks, so don’t let a wrapped-around-the-building queue scare you off.

Third, have your order ready when you reach the speaker. The menu is huge and the person behind you has been waiting. Know your entree, your two sides, your drink, and your style before you order. Fourth, bring patience and a sense of humor. Late-night Cook Out is a Charlotte institution, part restaurant and part social experiment, and that’s exactly why people love it.

Cookout Charlotte FAQs

How many Cook Out locations are in Charlotte, NC?

There are several Cook Out locations across the Charlotte metro, including spots serving the university area and the suburbs. The exact number changes as locations open, so the map above is the most reliable way to find the Cookout Charlotte restaurant nearest you. This is an unofficial guide, so we don’t publish street addresses that could go stale.

What time does Cookout Charlotte close?

Most locations stay open until 2 AM Sunday through Thursday and until 3 or 4 AM on Friday and Saturday. Hours vary by location, so it’s smart to check your specific Cookout Charlotte spot before heading out late, especially on holidays.

How much is the Cookout Tray in Charlotte?

The regular Cookout Tray is about $7.69 and includes one full-size entree, two sides, and a large drink. The Jr. Tray is about $6.49 with smaller entree portions. Upgrading the drink to a regular milkshake adds about $1.00, or $1.00 to $1.60 for a fancy shake. Prices can vary slightly by location.

Does Cookout Charlotte deliver?

Delivery is available through DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub at select locations. Cook Out doesn’t have its own official app for online ordering, so third-party delivery is the way to go if you can’t make the drive-thru run yourself. Availability depends on your specific location.

What are the best milkshakes at Cookout Charlotte?

The most popular flavors are Peanut Butter Banana, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup, Oreo Mint, Strawberry Cheesecake, and Banana Pudding. With 40+ flavors on the menu, though, the real answer is whichever one you haven’t tried yet. Regular shakes run $2.99 to $3.99 and fancy shakes run $4.49 to $4.99.

Is there a Cook Out near UNC Charlotte?

Yes, Cook Out serves the university area as part of its Charlotte metro coverage. Use the map above to find the closest location to campus. College students were practically the founding customer base of the late-night tray deal, so you’ll be in good company.

That’s the full rundown on Cookout Charlotte: the prices, the hours, the locations, and what to order. If you’re traveling around North Carolina, check out our Cookout Raleigh guide, the Durham locations, or head back to the homepage for the complete menu. And if you’re road-tripping further, we’ve got guides for Greensboro, Atlanta, and Nashville too.