What to Order – Menu & Pricing

Cook Out’s menu is built around customization and consistent value. The Cook Out Tray is the foundation a complete meal that combines your choice of protein, two sides, and a large drink or milkshake for around $7.99. In a city like Winston-Salem with a large working-class population, significant university student base, and a strong healthcare sector, the Tray has earned a loyal following across every part of Forsyth County. It’s a format that rewards repeat customers who discover the full range of combinations available, and one that delivers more food and variety per dollar than almost any other quick service option in the city.

The burgers are fresh and char grilled over an open flame, producing a smoky depth of flavor that sets Cook Out apart from standard fast food. Customers can fully customize with toppings including chili, slaw, cheese, mustard, mayo, pickles, onions, and tomato, or order Cook Out Style the signature combination of chili, slaw, onions, and mustard that has been a menu staple since the chain’s founding in nearby Greensboro in 1989. Beyond burgers, Winston Salem locations carry fried chicken sandwiches, pulled pork BBQ sandwiches, hot dogs, corn dogs, and quesadillas, covering a wide range of preferences at every location.

Sides & Additional Items

Cook Out’s sides lineup is one of the most varied among quick-service restaurants in Winston-Salem. Hushpuppies are a perennial favorite lightly fried golden cornmeal rounds with a soft interior that pair especially well with a BBQ sandwich or a loaded burger. They’re a nod to the Southern roots of the chain and something you won’t find on most fast food menus in the city. Cajun fries offer a seasoned alternative to regular fries and are a popular upgrade for regulars who want more flavor without paying more. Choosing a corn dog or a second sandwich as one of your two tray sides is a well-known strategy among regular Cook Out customers who want maximum volume for the $7.99 price.

The complete sides list at Winston-Salem Cook Out locations includes regular fries, cajun fries, hushpuppies, coleslaw, corn dog, onion rings, and quesadillas. Quesadillas are a more filling option than expected and work well as a standalone snack or as a tray side. All sides can be ordered individually. The combination of a broad sides menu and a price point that hasn’t moved much over the years is one of the clearest reasons Winston-Salem residents continue to return to Cook Out as a dependable everyday option.

Cook Out Milkshakes – Winston Salem’s Late Night Favorite

Cook Out milkshakes have built a dedicated following across Winston-Salem over many years, and the rotating selection of over 40 flavors is the main reason why. The lineup goes well beyond the standard chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry options available at most fast food chains. Winston Salem regulars return specifically for flavors like banana pudding, Oreo mint, strawberry cheesecake, blueberry cheesecake, caramel fudge, peach cobbler, pineapple, chocolate malt, and cookie dough with seasonal rotations keeping the menu fresh throughout the year. Cheerwine floats have also been noted by customers as a popular regional specialty at some locations, reflecting the deep Carolinas connection to that beloved local soft drink.

The milkshakes are thick and hand-spun, holding up well through Winston Salem’s warm spring and summer months. One of the most appreciated features of the Cook Out Tray is that a milkshake can be substituted for a large drink at no additional charge a detail that still surprises many first-time customers. Standalone milkshakes run around $3.99. Because the flavor lineup rotates regularly, ask the drive-thru staff at whichever Winston-Salem location you visit what’s currently available fan favorites like banana pudding tend to be in high demand and can sell out on busy nights.

Hours & Availability

Cook Out’s late hours give it a practical advantage in Winston Salem that few other restaurants can match. Most locations close at 3:00 AM on weeknights and 4:00 AM on Friday and Saturday nights. In a city anchored by Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center one of the largest academic medical centers in the Southeast and one of Winston Salem’s biggest employers the demand for late night food among healthcare workers is substantial. Nurses, physicians in training, technicians, and support staff finishing overnight shifts at Wake Forest Baptist have limited options for a hot meal after midnight, and Cook Out fills that gap reliably across five locations throughout the city.

Winston-Salem’s event calendar also creates consistent late night demand. Bowman Gray Stadium one of NASCAR’s most historic short tracks and home of the Winston Salem State University Rams football team hosts racing events throughout the year that draw large crowds and keep people out well past 10 PM. Truist Stadium, home of the Winston-Salem Dash minor league baseball team, draws evening crowds from spring through summer. After both types of events, the Peters Creek Pkwy and Kester Mill Road locations are convenient stops for fans heading home toward southwest and west Winston-Salem.

Hours listed above are typical for Winston-Salem Cook Out locations. Always confirm the specific location’s current hours via Google Maps before a very late visit, particularly on holidays. The Peters Creek Pkwy and Akron Dr locations tend to be busiest during late-night weekend hours, so expect a drive-thru line after midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.

Winston-Salem Cook Out Locations

Use Google Maps above to find the Cook Out location nearest your home, workplace, or destination in Winston-Salem. With 5 locations spread across the city’s key corridors, most Forsyth County residents are within 10–15 minutes of a Cook Out. Click “Get Directions” on any location card below to get exact distance and driving time from your current location.

Cook Out Locations by Area

Winston-Salem’s five Cook Out locations are spread across the city’s main travel corridors, covering southwest, west, north, and central parts of the city. Here’s a breakdown of each location and the neighborhoods and communities each one serves best.

Peters Creek Parkway (Southwest Winston-Salem): The location at 3103 Peters Creek Pkwy is one of the most centrally accessible in the city, sitting along one of Winston-Salem’s primary north-south commercial corridors. Peters Creek Pkwy connects to US-421 and I-40, making this location easy to reach from the southwest and south sides of the city. It serves the communities around Whitaker Park, Ardmore, and the Medical Center Boulevard area, and is a convenient stop for Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center employees commuting along the US-421 corridor.

Kester Mill Road (West Winston-Salem): The location at 4505 Kester Mill Rd serves west Winston-Salem and the communities along the Robinhood Road and Lewisville-Clemmons Road corridors. This area includes established residential neighborhoods in the western part of the city and handles significant traffic from residents in Clemmons and the I-40 West corridor heading into Winston-Salem. The Kester Mill location is rated 4.0 on TripAdvisor and is one of the more consistently reviewed locations in the market.

Akron Drive (North Winston-Salem): The location at 339 Akron Dr serves north Winston-Salem and the Patterson Avenue corridor communities. This location sits near the North Patterson Ave commercial strip and serves neighborhoods including Crystal Towers, Waughtown, and the areas north of downtown along Patterson Ave. It’s accessible from US-421 North and handles traffic from residents in the northern reaches of Forsyth County heading into the city.

Summit Point Lane (North Winston-Salem): The location at 245 Summit Point Ln is also positioned in north Winston-Salem, serving the communities along the North Patterson Ave and Akron Dr area. This location covers the Summit Point Shopping Center area and provides additional coverage to north Winston-Salem residents who may find it more convenient than the Akron Dr location depending on their specific neighborhood.

South Main Street (Central/South Winston-Salem): The location at 2212 S Main St serves central and south Winston-Salem, covering communities including Southside, Washington Park, and the areas south of downtown along the Main Street corridor. This location provides coverage to the central city and is accessible from US-158 and the downtown connector routes used by residents moving between the city center and the southern neighborhoods of Forsyth County.

All 5 Cook Out Winston-Salem Locations

Cook Out and Winston-Salem’s Food Scene

Winston Salem has a food scene that reflects the city’s layered identity part college town, part medical hub, part working class Southern city, and part emerging arts community. The Trade Street corridor and the Downtown Arts District have developed significantly over the past decade, with independent restaurants, craft beer bars, and cultural venues attracting evening crowds. But outside of downtown, Winston-Salem’s late-night dining landscape is more limited, and that’s where Cook Out has held a consistent and important role for years.

Bowman Gray Stadium on the north side of the city is one of the most unique events venues in North Carolina a NASCAR sanctioned short track that has been running weekly races since 1947, making it the longest-running weekly race event in NASCAR history. On race nights, thousands of fans fill the stadium and flow out into the surrounding neighborhoods well past 10 PM. The Akron Dr and Summit Point Ln locations are the most convenient Cook Out stops for fans leaving Bowman Gray, and both handle notable post race traffic on event nights throughout the racing season.

Wake Forest University students on the north side of the city have access to Cook Out locations within a reasonable drive from campus, making it a natural off campus dining option particularly during late study nights. Winston-Salem State University students similarly find the Akron Dr and Summit Point Ln locations convenient. Both universities add tens of thousands of students to the city’s population during the academic year, and Cook Out serves a significant portion of that late-night demand across all five Winston-Salem locations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Cook Out in Nearby North Carolina Cities

Cook Out has strong coverage throughout the Piedmont Triad region and across North Carolina. Traveling east toward Greensboro or High Point, or heading southwest toward Charlotte on I-85, you’ll find Cook Out locations along all major routes. There is also a Cook Out location in nearby Kernersville at 1010 S Main St, just 8 miles east of Winston-Salem on US-421, making it a convenient stop for residents on the east side of the city or those traveling between Winston-Salem and Greensboro.

Additional Resources