What to Order – Menu & Pricing

Cook Out’s menu is built around value and customization two qualities that resonate strongly in a coastal college city like Wilmington. The Cook Out Tray is the anchor of the experience: a complete meal combining your choice of protein, two sides, and a large drink or milkshake for around $7.99. In a city where restaurant prices along the waterfront and beachside corridors have climbed significantly, the Tray format offers UNCW students, military families, and working residents a consistently affordable full meal that doesn’t require compromising on quantity or variety. It’s the primary reason Cook Out has built a loyal following across all three Wilmington locations since opening in the city.

The burgers are fresh and char grilled over an open flame, giving them a smoky, distinctly non-frozen flavor that Wilmington customers regularly call out in reviews as the biggest differentiator from other fast food options in the area. One TripAdvisor reviewer described the Cook Out burger as “the closest you can get to being out west and getting an In N Out Burger” high praise in a coastal North Carolina city. Full customization is available including chili, slaw, cheese, mustard, mayo, pickles, onions, and tomato. Beyond burgers, the menu covers fried chicken sandwiches, pulled pork BBQ sandwiches, hot dogs, corn dogs, and quesadillas a broader range than most quick-service restaurants along the College Road corridor.

Sides & Additional Items

Cook Out’s sides menu offers more variety than most quick service options along the Wilmington College Road and Carolina Beach Road corridors. Hushpuppies are one of the most consistently praised items lightly fried golden cornmeal rounds that pair especially well with a BBQ sandwich or a loaded chili burger. They feel particularly at home in coastal North Carolina, where hushpuppies are a deeply embedded part of the food culture at seafood restaurants and fish camps throughout the region. Cajun fries are another popular choice, adding seasoned heat to the standard fry experience. The move regulars recommend for maximum value is choosing a corn dog or a second sandwich as one of your two tray sides.

The complete sides list at Wilmington Cook Out locations includes regular fries, cajun fries, hushpuppies, coleslaw, corn dog, onion rings, and quesadillas. Walking tacos a Cook Out specialty mentioned specifically in Wilmington-area news coverage are also available at some locations, made with Fritos chips topped with chili, cheese, and sour cream. Quesadillas are more filling than many first time customers expect and work well as a standalone snack or tray side. All sides can be ordered individually. For beach visitors and travelers coming through Wilmington on US-17, the combination of fast service, generous portions, and low prices makes Cook Out one of the most practical stops along the Cape Fear Coast.

Cook Out Milkshakes – Wilmington’s Late Night Treat

Cook Out milkshakes are one of the most talked about features across all three Wilmington locations, and the Cheerwine float is the standout local favorite. Made with Cheerwine the iconic cherry flavored Carolina soft drink and Cook Out’s vanilla soft serve, the Cheerwine float is a distinctly regional offering that has been called out by Wilmington customers in multiple reviews as something you simply can’t get anywhere else in the area. Beyond the float, the rotating selection of over 40 standard milkshake flavors includes banana pudding, Oreo mint, strawberry cheesecake, blueberry cheesecake, caramel fudge, watermelon, peach, pineapple, chocolate malt, and cookie dough with seasonal rotations keeping the menu fresh year-round.

The milkshakes are thick and hand spun, making them hold up particularly well in Wilmington’s warm coastal climate from April through October. One of the best known features of the Cook Out Tray is that a milkshake can replace the large drink option at no additional charge a detail that genuinely surprises most first time visitors and makes the $7.99 Tray feel like even better value. Standalone milkshakes are around $3.99. Because the flavor menu rotates regularly, always ask the drive thru staff at whichever Wilmington location you visit what’s currently available the Cheerwine float and seasonal fruit flavors tend to be in high demand during summer months along the coast.

Hours & Availability

Cook Out’s late hours give it a practical advantage in Wilmington that few other restaurants can match. The 715 S College Rd location opens at 11:00 AM and closes at 3:00 AM Monday through Thursday and Sunday, and at 4:00 AM on Fridays and Saturdays. The 429 S College Rd location follows a similar schedule, opening at 10:30 AM. The Carolina Beach Rd location opens at 10:30 AM and closes at 3:00 AM. In a coastal college city where summer tourism, UNCW student life, and the downtown Riverwalk entertainment district all generate late-night demand, Cook Out’s extended hours make it one of the most consistently useful food options in the city after 11 PM.

Wilmington’s healthcare sector adds another dimension to the late night demand. Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center one of the largest hospitals in southeastern North Carolina employs thousands of workers across overnight shifts. For nurses, physicians in training, and hospital support staff finishing at 2 or 3 AM, Cook Out on South College Road is among the most accessible full-meal options available. The College Road locations also serve travelers arriving in Wilmington late on US-17 or US-421, as well as visitors returning from Wrightsville Beach, Carolina Beach, and Kure Beach after summer evenings that run well past midnight.

Hours vary slightly between the three Wilmington locations. The 715 S College Rd location opens at 11:00 AM while the 429 S College Rd and Carolina Beach Rd locations open at 10:30 AM. The 715 S College Rd location closes at 4:00 AM on Fridays and Saturdays. Always confirm the specific location’s current hours via Google Maps before a very late visit, particularly during hurricane season when Wilmington can experience temporary closures or adjusted hours.

Wilmington Cook Out Locations

Use Google Maps above to find the Cook Out location nearest your home, hotel, campus, or travel route through Wilmington. With 3 locations positioned along the city’s primary commercial corridors, most Wilmington residents and visitors 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

Wilmington’s three Cook Out locations are positioned along the city’s two busiest commercial corridors South College Road and Carolina Beach Road covering the mid city, university, and south Wilmington areas effectively. Here’s a breakdown of each location and the communities each one serves.

715 South College Road (Mid-City / UNCW Area): The location at 715 S College Rd is the most visited Cook Out in Wilmington and is the closest to the UNC Wilmington campus. South College Road is one of Wilmington’s primary commercial corridors, running from downtown south through the university area and toward the Village at Myrtle Grove. This location is open until 4:00 AM on Fridays and Saturdays, making it one of the latest closing food options near campus. It’s the go to late night stop for UNCW students, with heavy traffic particularly during the academic year on weekends. Phone: (910) 399-2656.

429 South College Road (Central College Road): The location at 429 S College Rd is a second Cook Out on the South College Road corridor, positioned slightly north of the 715 S College Rd location. This location serves the central College Road commercial district and the surrounding residential areas including College Park and Monkey Junction communities to the south. With a TripAdvisor rating of 5.0 from reviewer mentions, it receives consistent positive feedback from Wilmington customers. It opens at 10:30 AM and closes at 4:00 AM on Fridays and Saturdays. Phone: (866) 547-0011.

5615 Carolina Beach Road (Village at Myrtle Grove / South Wilmington): The location at 5615 Carolina Beach Rd is positioned in south Wilmington near the Village at Myrtle Grove shopping center. Carolina Beach Road is the primary route connecting Wilmington with Carolina Beach and Kure Beach, making this location a natural stop for beach-goers heading home after evenings on the coast. This is the most convenient location for residents in the Monkey Junction, Myrtle Grove, and Masonboro areas of south Wilmington, and also serves visitors coming back from Carolina Beach and Kure Beach along US-421. It closes at 3:00 AM nightly.

All 3 Cook Out Wilmington Locations

Cook Out and Wilmington’s Food Scene

Wilmington has one of North Carolina’s most distinctive food cultures shaped by its coastal location, university population, tourism industry, and a creative community that has grown significantly over the past decade. The downtown Historic District and Riverfront area are packed with independent restaurants, seafood spots, and bars that draw crowds from across the Cape Fear region. Castle Street and the Soda Pop District have become food destination neighborhoods. But Wilmington’s dining scene, like most coastal cities, tilts toward higher price points in tourist-facing areas and that’s where Cook Out fills a consistent and important gap.

For UNCW Seahawks, Cook Out has been an essential part of the off campus dining landscape since the College Road locations opened. With two locations within a short drive of campus, Cook Out is one of the most accessible and affordable off campus food options for students who need a full meal without a long drive or a large bill. Late nights during finals periods, post Seahawks basketball game runs, and weekend evenings when the Brewer Lane and Wrightsville Beach crowd is winding down all generate consistent traffic at the College Road locations well past midnight.

Beach visitors returning from Wrightsville Beach, Carolina Beach, and Kure Beach are another major customer segment at Wilmington’s Cook Out locations, particularly during summer. After a full beach day and an evening at the Oceanic restaurant or the Carolina Beach Boardwalk, many visitors find themselves hungry on the drive back through Wilmington after 10 PM when most restaurants have closed. The Carolina Beach Road location is positioned perfectly for exactly that customer pattern, sitting directly on the primary return route from the southern beaches into Wilmington proper. The College Road locations capture similar traffic from Wrightsville Beach visitors heading back toward US-17 and I-40.

Frequently Asked Questions

Cook Out in Nearby North Carolina Cities

Cook Out’s presence in the greater Wilmington region extends beyond the city limits. There are additional locations in Leland (Brunswick County) and near Southport in River Run Shopping Center between Southport and Oak Island making Cook Out accessible along the entire Cape Fear coast. Traveling north toward Raleigh on US-117 or I-40, you’ll find Cook Out locations in Goldsboro and other Piedmont cities along the route.

Additional Resources