Why Locals Love Cook Out
Located at 1700 Cotton Grove Rd in Lexington, NC, Cook Out is a standout fast food restaurant that masterfully blends American, barbecue, hamburger, and hot dog cuisines into one flavorful experience. This spot is a true haven for those craving classic Southern comfort food, served with a fresh, char-grilled twist.
What sets Cook Out apart is its extensive, diverse menu that invites you to savor authentic, smoky barbecue delights alongside juicy, perfectly grilled burgers. Among their popular offerings, the Char-Grilled Chicken Breast comes in several irresistible styles—from the bold Cajun Spice, to the smoky Barbecue, and the indulgent Cheddar Style—each priced around $4.85 to $4.99, making it an affordable yet satisfying choice. The Cookout Barbecue selections are equally tempting, especially the tender BBQ Sandwich for $4.99 and a hearty BBQ Plate at $5.99, perfect for a filling meal that hits all the savory notes.
But what truly elevates the Cook Out experience is their famous Fancy Milkshakes. Offering a wide range of inventive flavors such as Butterfinger®, Peanut Butter Banana, Heath Toffee, and the nostalgic Peach Cobbler, each shake is a luscious, creamy indulgence that customers rave about. One fan, Stephanie Smith, even cherishes the Walnut Milkshake with extra walnuts for its perfect nostalgic taste, highlighting the care this location puts into getting each order just right.
The dining atmosphere at Cook Out is welcoming and well-maintained. Guests like Barbara S appreciate the fresh, new setting, complete with a charming water fountain that adds a calming backdrop to your drive-through experience. The staff are consistently friendly and attentive, turning quick visits into pleasant moments—Patrick’s review reflects this too, praising the clean dining area and great service that accompany their tasty, budget-friendly meals.
Whether you’re stopping by for a fast, flavorful lunch or craving a midnight snack delivered with Southern hospitality, Cook Out promises a satisfying escape into hearty, reasonably priced American classics. It’s the kind of place where you can explore a menu bursting with variety, enjoy down-home flavors, and walk away with the memory of a perfectly crafted milkshake or a juicy burger that leaves you planning your next visit.
See the Space & Food
What Makes This Place Friendly
- Drive-through
- Takeout
- Dine-in
- Delivery
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Solo dining
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
- Wheelchair accessible parking lot
- Wheelchair accessible restroom
- Late-night food
- Quick bite
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Dessert
- Table service
- Restroom
- Casual
- Family-friendly
- Groups
- Credit cards
- Debit cards
- NFC mobile payments
- Credit cards
- Good for kids
- Kids' menu
- Free parking lot
- Free street parking
- Parking
Real Reviews from the Community
- Mar 18, 2026
First time at a Cookout. The menu was pretty extensive, so I just aaked the girl at the counter what she liked. I ended up getting a burger and a quesadilla. Both were great, and it cost me less than $10. I probably would have ordered a bunch more if I had known it was so inexpensive. Service was great and the diningarea was clean.
- Mar 7, 2026
This was only my second time going to cookout. I had previously visited one in Salisbury, MD and honestly wish there were more in MD. Great burgers none the less and the trays are a pretty good value. While I was there I figured I would also try the watermelon shake. It wasn't bad but it felt like half the contents of the shake were watermelon chunks you had to eat with a spoon. A good idea just not carried out great in my opinion. So unless you want that stick to the other shake flavours.
- Feb 22, 2026
This is a newer location of a cookout restaurant so the property itself is very new and well taken care of. There is a very pretty water fountain area as you pull into the drive-through. It’s fun watching it while you’re waiting to place your order. The food is normally good. I have had a few times that they got the order wrong but they always fixed it with not a lot of issues. For a quick late night snack it’s great!
- Feb 13, 2026
This is the only location that Always gets my milkshake right and as silly as it sounds I appreciate it so much!! They are my guilty pleasure that I don’t get often so I really want it as good as possible. The walnut milkshake with xtra xtra walnuts!! I love it!! It remind of when I was a kid and I’d eat all of the wet walnuts for sundays..lol. Not to mention the staff is always extremely friendly and the service is fast and efficient..Thank you all for all that you do!
- Jan 29, 2026
Went here to get 4 milkshakes and they were terrific. Price was great too.
- Jan 24, 2026
Food is usually good. Sometimes they nuke their food but usually they are pretty consistent in their quality. Milkshakes are good, prices are more reasonable than most fast food. Usually you can order and get your food within 15 mins. My biggest complaint is their containers. The food is often so hot that it melts holes through those Styrofoam containers. I guarantee that we are consuming chemicals from the melted styrofoam.
- Jan 15, 2026
A great example of franchise standards, I have used this outlet regularly and found it consistent. They even use custom printed take out boxes and mix their own cookout sauce where other cookouts use sauce packets. The dining room is open so you can eat in or take out with reasonable wait times for either option.
- Nov 28, 2025
Cookout milkshakes are some of the best! The first one I got when I ordered here was kind of soupy but they were very polite and made a new one right away. The next one was more like the usual consistency and they even added some extra caramel on top. They did a great job taking care of customers even though they were very busy! And the lady made sure each table was cleaned as soon as someone left. Seems to be a well run place. We'll definitely be back at some point during our trips to NC.
