How to Order at Cook Out: Trays, Styles and Drive-Thru Tips

Cook Out is fast, but it can be confusing the first time. The menu board is huge, the tray lingo is unique, and many locations have no dining room. This guide walks you through ordering step by step, explains every choice you will be asked to make, and shares tips that make the drive-thru go smoothly. If you want ideas about what to get, rather than how to order it, our what to order at Cook Out guide covers favorites.

How Cook Out restaurants work

Most Cook Out locations are drive-thru restaurants. Many also have a walk-up window where you order on foot, and some have a double drive-thru with two lanes. The chain opened its first location with a dining room in High Point in 1996, and our Cook Out history post covers how it grew from there. Many locations stay open late, which makes Cook Out a popular late-night stop; check our Cook Out hours page for times near you.

Because most orders go through a speaker, knowing what you want before you pull up helps everyone in line. Open our full Cook Out menu or the menu with prices guide on your phone while you wait.

Step 1: Decide between a tray and single items

The first choice is whether you want a tray or individual items.

A Cook Out Tray is the chain's signature meal. The News & Observer describes it simply: choose a main entree, pick two sides, and add a drink. You can double up on one side, for example two orders of fries, and you can usually upgrade the drink to one of Cook Out's milkshakes for an extra charge. Back in 2016, food site Bit & Grain counted more than 54,000 possible tray combinations, which gives you an idea of how flexible it is.

Single items make sense if you only want a milkshake, a burger, or a side. You can also order a sandwich and a shake without the tray format.

Our tray combos page lists the main choices, and the tray builder lets you plan one before you go.

Step 2: Choose your main

Our tray combos page lists the usual tray mains: a Big Double burger, a char-grilled chicken breast sandwich, two hot dogs, or chicken strips, with more choices at many locations. Before you order strips, check our Cook Out sauce pairings. Trays come in a regular and a junior size, and our Cook Out sizes guide explains how they compare.

If you order a burger, you will be asked for a style, which is Cook Out's shorthand for a set of toppings. Our burger styles explained guide decodes each one, so you can say "Cook Out Style" or "Cheddar Style" with confidence. For chicken, our chicken sandwich ranking compares the options.

Step 3: Pick two sides

You choose two sides with a tray. Common tray sides include French fries (regular or Cajun), onion rings, hushpuppies, chicken nuggets, a corn dog, and chicken or beef quesadillas, though the list varies a little by location. Tray sides are smaller portions than full orders. Doubling up is allowed: two orders of fries or two hush puppies count as your two sides.

The side list is long and varies a little by restaurant, so check the board at your location. Our best tray combinations post lists pairings that work well together.

Step 4: Choose a drink, or upgrade to a shake

Every tray includes a drink. Fountain choices typically include colas, sweet tea and Cheerwine, a cherry soft drink from North Carolina; our new guide to what Cheerwine is explains it. You can usually swap the drink for a milkshake for an extra charge.

Cook Out is famous for milkshakes. The News & Observer counts more than 40 flavors, including seasonal ones such as watermelon in July and August and eggnog in December. Ask for a regular or large, and see our milkshake menu and milkshake ranking to pick one before you reach the speaker.

Step 5: Say it in the right order

At the speaker, a clear order sounds like this:

"Can I get a regular tray with a Cook Out Style burger, fries and hush puppies, and a large sweet tea?"

Or for single items:

"One Big Double, Cheddar Style, and a regular chocolate cherry milkshake, please."

Tips that help:

• Give the size first if there is one, then the item, then the style or flavor.
• Order one tray at a time for a group, and let the staff read each tray back.
• Say "that's it" when you are done so they know to total the order.
• Mention allergies clearly. Our Cook Out allergen menu and gluten-free guide list what to ask.

Not sure what to say? Ask for help

If the board feels overwhelming, it is fine to pull up and say "It's my first time, what comes on a tray?" Staff answer that question constantly. You can also order the simplest version, such as "a regular tray with a Big Double, fries and hushpuppies, and a sweet tea", and try new styles and sides on your next visit. If you need a minute, let the next car go first at a double drive-thru, or park and use the walk-up window.

Step 6: Pay at the window

Pull forward and pay at the window. Payment options vary by location, so check before you go. Our Cook Out payment methods page, along with does Cook Out take Apple Pay and does Cook Out take tap to pay, covers cards, cash and mobile wallets.

Step 7: Check your bag before you drive off

Cook Out orders move fast, and with so many combinations it is easy for a side or style to be swapped. Before leaving:

• Count the trays and drinks.
• Check burgers for the right style.
• Make sure milkshakes have spoons and straws.
• Ask for napkins and sauces at the window.

Ordering at a walk-up window or in a dining room

At a walk-up window, order the same way, then step aside to wait for your name or number. In locations with a dining room, you order at the counter and take your food to a table. The menu and tray rules are the same everywhere.

Ordering for a group at Cook Out

Big orders are where the drive-thru can slow down. A few habits keep it moving:

• Collect orders before you arrive. Write each person's tray down in order: main, style, two sides, drink.
• Use the tray builder. Our tray builder lets each person plan their tray, so you can read the list straight to the speaker.
• Group the same items. "Three regular trays, all Big Double Cook Out Style with fries and hushpuppies" is quicker than three separate orders.
• Consider going inside or to the walk-up window for very large orders, so the drive-thru line keeps moving.
• Tip for late nights: lines can be long after events and on weekend nights, so allow extra time.

Can you order Cook Out online or for delivery?

Online ordering and delivery availability vary by location. Some restaurants work with delivery apps, and others are drive-thru only. If you are feeding a crowd, our Cook Out catering guide explains options for large orders.

Cook Out ordering lingo cheat sheet

First-time Cook Out order ideas

If you just want to try Cook Out without overthinking it, here are three easy first orders:

1. The classic: regular tray, Cook Out Style burger, fries and hush puppies, sweet tea.
2. The chicken tray: chicken strips with onion rings and a corn dog, plus a milkshake upgrade.
3. Shake run: a large milkshake on its own; our milkshake mixer helps you choose a flavor.

Checklist: ordering at Cook Out

• [ ] Look at the menu before you reach the speaker.
• [ ] Decide on a tray or single items.
• [ ] Pick a main and, for burgers, a style.
• [ ] Choose two sides; doubling up is fine.
• [ ] Pick a drink or upgrade to a milkshake.
• [ ] Check payment options, then check your bag before driving off.