What to Order – Menu & Pricing

Cook Out’s menu is built on customization and everyday value. The Cook Out Tray is the centerpiece a complete meal combining your choice of protein, two sides, and a large drink or milkshake for around $7.99. In Concord, one of the fastest growing cities in the greater Charlotte metro area, the Tray format has earned a loyal following among new residents, commuters heading to and from Charlotte on I-85, and the steady flow of motorsports visitors and Concord Mills shoppers who make Cabarrus County one of the most visited retail and entertainment destinations in the Carolinas. For NASCAR fans in town for a race weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Cook Out offers something increasingly hard to find near major event venues a full, satisfying meal at a price that doesn’t require budgeting around the cost of attending the race itself.

The burgers are fresh and char-grilled over an open flame, producing the smoky flavor that has made Cook Out a regional institution across the Southeast since the chain’s founding in nearby Greensboro in 1989. Full customization is available chili, slaw, cheese, mustard, mayo, pickles, onions, and tomato or order Cook Out Style with the signature chili, slaw, onions, and mustard combination. The Cheddar Style Burger topped with cheddar cheese, mustard, mayo, and pickles is a popular variation at both Concord locations. Beyond burgers, the menu includes fried chicken sandwiches, pulled pork BBQ sandwiches, hot dogs, corn dogs, and quesadillas, with the full Cook Out menu available at both locations.

Sides & Additional Items

Cook Out’s sides menu offers significantly more variety than the typical fast food chain along the Concord Pkwy and Gateway Lane corridors. Hushpuppies are one of the most popular choices lightly fried golden cornmeal rounds that pair especially well with the BBQ sandwich or a chili loaded burger. They reflect the Southern roots of a chain born in nearby Greensboro and are a side that genuinely stands out at this price point. Cajun fries add a seasoned heat to the standard fry experience and are frequently requested by regulars at the Concord Pkwy location specifically. The Gateway Ln NW location features outdoor seating an uncommon feature among Cook Out restaurants making it a more relaxed option for families and groups who want to eat outside rather than in their cars.

The complete sides list at Concord Cook Out locations includes regular fries, cajun fries, hushpuppies, coleslaw, corn dog, onion rings, and quesadillas. Choosing a corn dog or a second sandwich as one of your two tray sides is the classic move for maximum volume at $7.99. All sides can be ordered individually. For NASCAR fans arriving at the Concord area for race weekends, the combination of Cook Out’s generous portions, low prices, and fast drive thru service makes it one of the most practical food stops in the entire Charlotte Motor Speedway corridor particularly late on race nights when most sit down restaurants in the area have already closed.

Cook Out Milkshakes – Concord’s Post Race Tradition

Cook Out milkshakes have developed a devoted following at both Concord locations, and race weekend visits have helped establish them as something of a post race tradition for Charlotte Motor Speedway regulars who know the area. The rotating selection of over 40 flavors goes well beyond the standard fast food shake options Concord customers return regularly for flavors like banana pudding, Oreo mint, strawberry cheesecake, blueberry cheesecake, caramel fudge, peach cobbler, peanut butter fudge, pineapple, chocolate malt, and cookie dough throughout the year. The peanut butter fudge milkshake has been called out specifically by Concord area customers as a standout flavor worth seeking out when available on the rotating menu.

The milkshakes are thick and hand spun a genuine quality difference from the machine-dispensed versions at most fast food chains. The best known feature of the Cook Out Tray is that a milkshake can replace the large drink option at no additional charge, making the $7.99 meal feel like even better value. Standalone milkshakes are around $3.99. During NASCAR race weekends at Charlotte Motor Speedway  particularly the Coca Cola 600 in May and the Bank of America ROVAL 400 in October Cook Out’s milkshakes are a popular stop for fans making the loop from the speedway through the Concord corridor before heading back to Charlotte or their accommodations. Always ask the drive thru staff what’s currently available, as popular flavors can sell out on busy event nights.

Hours & Availability

The Gateway Ln NW location opens at 10:30 AM and closes at 3:00 AM Monday through Thursday and Sunday, and at 4:00 AM on Fridays and Saturdays. The Concord Pkwy S location follows a similar schedule, closing at 3:30 AM on Fridays and Saturdays according to current listings. In a city that hosts major NASCAR events drawing 100,000+ fans to Charlotte Motor Speedway events that run well past 10 PM and generate massive post-race traffic throughout the Concord and Kannapolis corridors Cook Out’s extended hours fill a genuine and important gap in the local food landscape.

Beyond race weekends, Concord’s late-night food demand is driven by several consistent factors. Atrium Health Cabarrus one of the largest hospitals in the greater Charlotte metro area and Cabarrus County’s largest employer operates around the clock and generates steady demand from healthcare workers finishing late shifts who need a hot meal before heading home. Concord Mills the largest mall in North Carolina and one of the most visited tourist attractions in the state draws evening shoppers and diners until 9 PM on weekdays and later on weekends, and Cook Out captures the tail end of that traffic. The significant commuter population traveling I-85 between Concord and Charlotte also contributes to consistent late night drive thru traffic at both locations throughout the week.

Hours above are verified for the Gateway Ln NW location (Yelp confirmed). The Concord Pkwy S location closes at 3:30 AM on Fridays and Saturdays per current listings. Always confirm the specific location’s hours via Google Maps before a very late visit. During NASCAR race weekends at Charlotte Motor Speedway, both locations experience significantly elevated traffic and drive-thru wait times can increase during the post race window plan accordingly if you’re stopping after a night race.

Concord Cook Out Locations

Use Google Maps above to find the Cook Out location nearest your home, hotel, or destination in Concord. With 2 locations covering the Concord Pkwy and Gateway Lane corridors, most Cabarrus County residents and visitors are within 10–15 minutes of a Cook Out. Click “Get Directions” on any location card below for exact driving time from your current location.

Cook Out Locations by Area

Concord’s two Cook Out locations are positioned along the city’s primary commercial corridors, covering the central and northwest parts of the city. Here is a detailed breakdown of each location and the communities and destinations each one serves.

Concord Pkwy South (Central Concord / Concord Mills Area): The location at 290 Concord Pkwy S is positioned along one of Concord’s busiest commercial corridors, just south of the Concord Mills mall interchange. Concord Pkwy S also known as NC-3 is the primary route connecting downtown Concord to the Concord Mills and Charlotte Motor Speedway area along I-85. This location is the most convenient for visitors at Concord Mills, the most-visited tourist attraction in North Carolina with over 15 million visitors annually, and for race fans traveling between Charlotte Motor Speedway and I-85. Phone: (704) 784-5519. The drive-thru here is described as lightning fast with minimal indoor space ideal for getting in and out quickly during busy event weekends.

Gateway Lane NW (Northwest Concord / Christenbury Area): The location at 7771 Gateway Ln NW serves northwest Concord and the rapidly growing Christenbury, Afton Village, and Weddington communities in the northwestern part of the city. Gateway Lane runs through one of Concord’s newest and fastest-developing residential zones, connecting to the Derita Road and Poplar Tent Road corridors that link northwest Concord to I-85 and the Charlotte metro. This location features outdoor seating uncommon among Cook Out restaurants and carries a 4.0-star rating from over 1,246 Google reviews. Phone: (866) 547-0011. It opens at 10:30 AM and closes at 3:00 AM on weeknights and 4:00 AM on Fridays and Saturdays.

Both Cook Out Concord Locations

Cook Out and Concord’s Food Scene

Concord’s food scene has grown significantly alongside the city’s overall population boom Cabarrus County has been one of the fastest-growing counties in North Carolina for most of the past two decades, driven by its position as an affordable bedroom community for the Charlotte metro. The Concord Mills corridor in particular has developed into one of the densest restaurant concentrations in the greater Charlotte area, with national chains, regional favorites, and independent spots lining Concord Pkwy and the surrounding roads. But the nature of that density mostly chain restaurants with standard hours means Cook Out’s late-night availability is a practical differentiator that matters to residents and visitors alike.

Charlotte Motor Speedway is the defining event venue that shapes Concord’s food landscape in a way few other North Carolina cities experience. Located just off Bruton Smith Blvd in northwest Concord, the speedway hosts the Coca Cola 600 NASCAR’s longest race and one of its crown jewel events every Memorial Day weekend, drawing crowds of 100,000 or more. The Bank of America ROVAL 400 in October, the NASCAR All-Star Race, and various other events throughout the racing season bring additional waves of fans to the Concord area from across the country. On race nights, the post event food landscape in Concord becomes intensely competitive most sit down restaurants are overwhelmed or closed by the time races end. Cook Out’s drive thru format and late hours make it one of the most efficient food options available in the post race window.

Concord Mills itself the 1.4-million-square-foot outlet and entertainment mall anchored by Bass Pro Shops, a movie theater, an indoor go-kart track, and a NASCAR Hall of Fame experience draws over 15 million visitors annually, making it the most visited single site tourist attraction in North Carolina. Evening shoppers and entertainment visitors leaving Concord Mills after 8 or 9 PM represent a consistent and substantial customer base for the nearby Concord Pkwy Cook Out location, which sits conveniently along the primary exit route from the mall toward I-85 South heading back to Charlotte.

Frequently Asked Questions

Cook Out in Nearby North Carolina Cities

Concord sits just 20 miles northeast of Charlotte on I-85, putting it within easy reach of Charlotte’s 13+ Cook Out locations. Kannapolis just 10 miles north on US-29 also has Cook Out locations. For NASCAR fans traveling the I-85 corridor between Charlotte and Greensboro, Cook Out locations are accessible along the entire route through the Piedmont region.

Additional Resources