Cookout Columbia SC: Menu Prices, Hours & Locations

Cookout Columbia SC: Menu Prices, Hours & Locations

If you go to school at USC, work downtown, or just ended up in the capital city with a rumbling stomach, searching “Cookout Columbia” was the right call. This guide covers every Cookout Columbia location in the metro area, the late-night hours that make it a legend among students, the full menu with real prices, and how to order like someone who’s been going since freshman year.

Quick note first: this site is an unofficial fan guide and isn’t affiliated with Cook Out. Now, why does Columbia get its own guide? Because Columbia might be the most Cook Out-coded city in South Carolina. It’s a college town built around the University of South Carolina, and Cook Out’s whole deal — huge portions, tiny prices, open absurdly late — was basically designed for student life. The chain started in Greensboro, North Carolina in 1989 under founder Morris Reaves and has grown past 350 locations across ten states, with South Carolina as one of its strongest territories. In Columbia, Cook Out isn’t a novelty. It’s infrastructure.

Below you’ll find the metro locations mapped, honest hours, the complete tray menu with prices that match the menu board, all 40-plus milkshake flavors, and the game-day ordering playbook. Let’s get into it.

Cook Out Locations in Columbia SC

Cook Out runs multiple locations across the Columbia metro area, and if you’ve spent any time around the University of South Carolina campus, you’ve definitely passed one. Cookout Columbia spots sit along the main student and commuter corridors — the stretches near campus, the big shopping districts, and the routes everyone drives after a night out. You’re rarely more than a short drive from a tray.

Iced drinks and milkshakes lined up on a counter

What sets Columbia apart from other Cook Out cities is how deeply the brand is woven into student life. This isn’t a place people discover on road trips — it’s where freshmen learn the menu during their first week on campus. The drive-thru lines after 11 PM tell the story: cars full of students, nurses coming off shift at the hospitals, and downtown workers grabbing dinner on the way home. Most Cookout Columbia locations run drive-thru service, which is the fastest way to order when the line of cars is ten deep and nobody cares because the food is worth the wait.

Locations and hours do shift over time, so check the map below for the current spots and confirm hours before you make the trip — especially for a late-night run.

Hours: Open Late, Every Night

Cookout Columbia hours are the stuff of student legend. Most locations stay open until 2 AM Sunday through Thursday, then stretch to 3 or even 4 AM on Friday and Saturday. When Five Points winds down and the rest of Columbia goes dark, Cook Out is still going.

The usual caveats apply: hours vary by location, so the 3-4 AM weekend close is typical rather than guaranteed. Holiday schedules can differ, and the drive-thru sometimes runs later than the dining room. If you’re planning a post-game or post-night-out run, pick your spot on the map and give the hours a quick check. Few things sting like a dark drive-thru at 2:30 AM when you can already taste the hushpuppies.

Map: Find a Cook Out Near You in Columbia

Use the map above to find the Cookout Columbia location closest to you — whether that’s near campus, downtown, or out by the suburbs. Tap a pin for directions and double-check the hours before heading out.

The Cookout Tray: Prices at Cookout Columbia

The tray is the reason Cook Out has a fanbase instead of just customers. At Cookout Columbia, the regular Cookout Tray costs about $7.69 and includes one full-size entree, two sides, and a large drink. For a college budget, that’s not just a meal — it’s a financial strategy. Our Cookout Tray guide covers every option in detail; here’s the entree lineup:

  • Big Double Burger (330 Cal)
  • Regular 1/4 lb Burger (330 Cal)
  • Regular Chicken Breast (380 Cal)
  • Cajun Chicken Breast (380 Cal)
  • Spicy Chicken (450 Cal)
  • BBQ Char-Grilled Chicken (380 Cal)
  • 3 Chicken Strips or Chicken Sandwich (660 Cal)
  • Barbecue Pulled Pork (370 Cal)
  • 2 Hot Dogs (520 Cal)
  • 2 Quesadillas (440-520 Cal)

Pick any two sides — hushpuppies, fries, onion rings, coleslaw, chili, nuggets, cheese bites, bacon wrap — and a large drink, and you’re set. Want a shake instead of soda? Upgrading to any Regular Milkshake costs +$1.00, Fancy +$1.00 to $1.60. A tray plus a shake for under ten dollars is the kind of math that makes Cookout Columbia a weekly habit rather than a splurge.

Lighter appetite? The Jr. Tray runs about $6.49: Small 1/8 lb Burger (240 Cal), 2 Chicken Strips (440 Cal), 2 Corn Dogs (440 Cal), BLT Sandwich (400 Cal), 1 Hot Dog (260 Cal), or 1 Quesadilla (220-260 Cal). Full details in our Jr. Tray guide. As always, prices vary slightly by location.

Tall milkshake topped with whipped cream in a glass

Burgers, Chicken, Hot Dogs & BBQ

The a la carte menu at Cookout Columbia keeps the same friendly prices. Burgers: Small 1/8 lb at $1.99-$2.99 (240 Cal), Regular 1/4 lb at $2.99-$3.99 (330 Cal), Huge 1/2 lb at $3.99 (520 Cal), and the Big Double at $2.99-$3.99 (330 Cal). If you want the most burger for the money, the Big Double Burger is the obvious pick.

The style upgrades are where regulars have strong opinions. Dress any burger Cookout Style (homemade chili, coleslaw, mustard, diced onion, +$0.95-$0.99), Cheddar Style (sharp cheddar, crispy bacon, grilled onion, mayo, +$0.99), Out West Style (BBQ sauce, crispy bacon, mayo, pickles, onion, +$0.75-$0.99), Steak Style (A1 sauce, grilled onions, lettuce, tomato, mayo, +$0.59-$0.69), House Style (quesadilla sauce, shredded lettuce, tomato, onion, +$0.49-$0.59), or Nacho Chili Style (nacho cheese sauce, homemade chili, +$0.99). The Quarter Pound Burger guide has the full breakdown.

Chicken runs $3.69-$4.85 across Original, BBQ, Cajun, Club, Cheddar, and Homemade styles, with 3 Chicken Strips around $4.99 (660 Cal) and a grilled or crispy Chicken Sandwich around $4.49. Hot dogs are a steal — plain ~$1.99, chili or slaw ~$2.49, chili cheese ~$2.99, corn dog ~$1.49 (see the Hot Dog guide). The Carolina BBQ roots show too: pulled pork ~$3.99 (370 Cal), BBQ char-grilled chicken ~$3.99, and a pulled pork BBQ sandwich on a toasted buttered bun ~$4.49.

40+ Milkshake Flavors

The shake menu is half the reason people become regulars. Cookout Columbia pours the full 40-plus Cook Out Creamery lineup: Regular shakes $2.99-$3.99, Fancy shakes $4.49-$4.99, calories 510-900 depending on your choices. See our Classic Milkshakes and Fancy Milkshakes guides for all 40+ flavors. The ones you’ll hear about most:

  • Peanut Butter Banana (864 Cal) — the people’s champion
  • Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup (894 Cal)
  • Oreo Mint (853 Cal)
  • Strawberry Cheesecake (800-900 Cal)
  • Banana Pudding (781 Cal)
  • Peach (547 Cal) and Fresh Banana (538 Cal) — the “lighter” end of the spectrum
  • Butterfinger, Snickers Bar, M&M — full candy-bar mode

Summer brings the seasonal Fresh Watermelon shake (645 Cal), available July and August only. Around campus it has genuine devotees — you’ll hear people talk about it like a limited sneaker drop. And remember the tray math: a +$1.00 shake upgrade with your Cookout Columbia tray beats any dessert deal in town.

Scoops of ice cream in a glass dessert cup

Sides Worth Your Tray Slot

Every tray comes with two sides, and at Cookout Columbia the options are: French Fries (~$1.99, 350 Cal), Onion Rings (~$1.99, 130 Cal), Hushpuppies (~$1.99, 300 Cal), Homemade Coleslaw (~$1.49, 100 Cal), Homemade Chili (~$1.49, 170 Cal), Chicken Nuggets (~$1.99, 150 Cal), White Cheddar Cheese Bites (~$1.99, 190 Cal), and the Bacon Wrap (~$1.99, 420 Cal).

The student consensus: hushpuppies are mandatory at least once, fries are the reliable second, and coleslaw is the underrated pick that makes a chili-topped burger sing. The cheese bites have ended many late-night debates about “just one more thing.” And if you’re splitting trays with a roommate, ordering different sides and trading is basically a Columbia tradition.

Best Value Orders in Columbia

Let’s be blunt about money, because in a college town it matters. A regular tray ($7.69) plus a shake upgrade ($1.00) is a complete, filling meal for under nine dollars. In Columbia, that gets you maybe a sandwich — no sides, no drink, no shake — at most other spots. The Jr. Tray ($6.49) covers lighter appetites and younger kids.

How Columbia regulars stretch it further: the Big Double as your tray entree gives you the most food per dollar. Two trays with different entrees and swapped sides feed two hungry students for about fifteen bucks total. A Regular shake at $2.99-$3.99 is the cheapest real dessert in the Five Points area by a mile. And on nights when the group chat is debating where to eat, Cookout Columbia wins the vote because nobody has to check their bank account first.

The deeper point: value here doesn’t mean settling. Burgers are char-grilled to order, the portions are honest, and the menu hasn’t been nickel-and-dimed the way fast food prices have everywhere else. Thirty-five-plus years in, the model still works — and in Columbia, it works overtime.

Game Days, Five Points & the Student Playbook

Here’s where Cookout Columbia earns its local-legend status. On USC home game days, Williams-Brice Stadium packs in 80,000 fans, and a huge chunk of them need food before or after. Cook Out becomes part of the ritual: trays before kickoff, shakes after the win. The locations near the main routes handle game-day volume like they’ve done it a thousand times — because they have.

Five Points is Columbia’s nightlife hub, and Cook Out is its unofficial after-party. When the bars wind down, the drive-thru line builds with everyone from students to young professionals, all ordering the same glorious late-night trays. There’s an unwritten rule: you don’t skip Cook Out on a big night out. The 3-4 AM Friday and Saturday hours exist precisely for this crowd.

The student playbook, refined over years: learn the shake menu early (Peanut Butter Banana first, then branch out), always get the tray over single items, keep hushpuppies in the rotation, and never underestimate how good a $7.69 meal tastes at 1 AM after a long day of classes. Cookout Columbia isn’t just convenient for students — it’s practically part of the curriculum.

Drive-Thru, Delivery & Ordering Tips

Drive-thru is available at most locations and it’s the fastest, cheapest way to order — the whole system is built for moving cars. For delivery, Cook Out is on DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub at select locations. Fair warning: delivery prices and fees push the total well above menu-board prices, so the famous value fades once fees stack on. If you can, drive.

There’s no official Cook Out app for online ordering, so skip any app claiming to be one. Order at the speaker, at the counter, or through the delivery apps. First-timers: get the tray. It’s the orientation, the best value, and the fastest way to understand what the fuss is about.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Cook Out locations are in Columbia SC?

Cook Out has multiple locations across the Columbia metro area in South Carolina, including spots convenient to the USC campus and downtown. The exact count changes as locations open, so check the map above for the current ones near you.

What time does Cook Out in Columbia close?

Most Cookout Columbia locations stay open until 2 AM Sunday through Thursday and until 3-4 AM on Friday and Saturday. Hours vary by location — confirm with your local Cook Out before a late-night trip.

How much is the Cookout Tray in Columbia?

The regular Cookout Tray in Columbia is about $7.69 (one entree, two sides, large drink) and the Jr. Tray about $6.49. Prices vary slightly by location. A Regular milkshake upgrade adds about $1.00.

Does Cookout Columbia have all 40+ milkshake flavors?

Yes — Columbia locations serve the full 40-plus flavor lineup. Regular shakes are $2.99-$3.99, Fancy shakes $4.49-$4.99. Campus favorites include Peanut Butter Banana, Oreo Mint, Reese’s Cup, and the summer-only Fresh Watermelon.

Is Cook Out in Columbia good for USC students?

It’s practically built for them — huge portions under $8, open until 2-4 AM, and locations near campus. The tray is the best dollar-per-bite deal in the university area, which is why it’s a student staple.

Can I get Cook Out delivered in Columbia?

Cook Out is on DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub at select Columbia locations. Expect higher prices and fees than the drive-thru — for the real value, order in person.

Keep Exploring Cook Out Country

Cookout Columbia is the kind of place that turns first-time visitors into regulars by the second tray. Whether you’re fueling up before a Gamecocks kickoff, winding down after Five Points, or just a student who appreciates honest food at honest prices, it’s waiting — usually until 2 AM or later. Start with the tray, upgrade the shake, and welcome to the club.

Traveling through Cook Out territory? See our Cook Out menu homepage and city guides for Cookout Richmond, Cookout Charlotte, Cookout Greensboro, Cookout Atlanta, and Cookout Nashville. For menu deep-dives, check the Cookout Tray, Jr. Tray, and Fancy Milkshakes guides.

cookoutmenu.today is an unofficial fan guide and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to Cook Out. Menu prices and hours change — when in doubt, check with your local restaurant.