What to Order – Menu & Pricing

Cook Out’s menu is built around customization and everyday value qualities that resonate strongly in Hickory’s diverse economy of furniture manufacturing, healthcare, higher education, and a growing service industry. 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. Hickory’s Nextdoor community has awarded the N Center St location 32 neighborhood faves with particular emphasis on the burgers described collectively as “the best burgers” by multiple neighbors and the staff, singled out as “the best staff” in the Cook Out Yelp summary for this city. That combination of food quality and service consistency is the foundation of the loyal local following both Hickory locations have built.

The Out West Style Double Burger and the Cheddar Style Double Burger are the two most praised specific items in Hickory Yelp reviews. One visitor in town for a basketball tournament tried both and called them “delicious charbroiled and just like we like them,” returning the following day to order the grilled chicken breast club style, which they also described as delicious. The hushpuppies earned a specific shoutout in the same review: “Hush puppies excellent!” Cheese bites a Cook Out specialty item available at Hickory locations are also highlighted by the same reviewer alongside the cheesecake milkshake. The Yellow Pages reviewer who works just 2 blocks from the N Center St location described the experience as “clean and greasy burgers til 3am with milkshakes not to be topped,” specifically calling out the banana pudding milkshake with strawberries blended in as a personal signature item.

Sides & Additional Items

Cook Out’s sides menu offers genuine variety beyond most quick service chains along the Hickory corridors. Hushpuppies are the most specifically praised side item in Hickory reviews the Yelp tournament visitor described them as “excellent,” a word they used selectively across the entire review. Hushpuppies are a distinctly Southern side you simply won’t find at most fast food chains in the Catawba Valley, and they pair especially well with the char grilled burger or BBQ sandwich. Cheese bites fried battered cheese pieces that serve as both a side and a snack are highlighted specifically in Hickory reviews and add a distinctly indulgent option to the standard fast food sides lineup. Cajun fries bring a seasoned kick to the regular fry option and are a consistent favorite among Hickory regulars.

The complete sides list at both Hickory Cook Out locations includes regular fries, cajun fries, hushpuppies, coleslaw, corn dog, onion rings, quesadillas, and cheese bites. The US-70 location the newer of the two features indoor seating for approximately 40 people and a double drive thru, making it one of the more complete Cook Out setups in the greater Hickory area. The double drive thru is particularly useful during peak hours and late night weekend periods when a single lane would create longer waits. Choosing a corn dog or a second sandwich as one of the two tray sides remains the most popular strategy for maximum volume at $7.99. All sides can be ordered individually.

Cook Out Milkshakes – Hickory’s Banana Pudding Tradition

Cook Out milkshakes have earned some of the most enthusiastic local praise in Hickory of any city in North Carolina. The Yellow Pages reviewer who works 2 blocks from the N Center St location described the banana pudding milkshake with strawberries blended in as “milkshakes not to be topped” language that reflects a genuine personal attachment to this specific combination. The cheesecake milkshake is also praised by name in the Yelp basketball tournament review, making Hickory one of the few markets where two separate reviewers independently call out specific milkshake flavors as standout items. The full rotating selection of over 40 flavors includes banana pudding, cheesecake, Oreo mint, strawberry, blueberry cheesecake, caramel fudge, peach cobbler, pineapple, chocolate malt, cookie dough, and many more throughout the year.

The milkshakes are thick and hand spun the N Center St reviewer’s description of them as “not to be topped” speaks to the quality difference between Cook Out’s milkshakes and the thin, machine processed versions at competing fast food chains along the Center Street and US-70 corridors. Custom blends mixing flavors such as banana pudding and strawberry together are a popular move at both Hickory locations and represent one of the most distinctive personalizations available in the Cook Out experience. The Cook Out Tray’s best known feature is that a milkshake can replace the large drink at no additional charge. Standalone milkshakes are around $3.99. Always ask the drive thru staff for the current flavor list banana pudding and cheesecake are among the most popular and can sell out on busy nights.

Hours & Availability

The N Center St 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 hours confirmed by Zmenu and Yelp as of November 2025. The US-70 location follows the same schedule. In a mid sized Catawba Valley city like Hickory, where late night dining options are more limited than in Charlotte or Raleigh, Cook Out’s extended hours fill a genuine gap particularly for healthcare workers, LRU students, and the significant shift work population in Hickory’s manufacturing sector. The Yellow Pages reviewer who works 2 blocks from N Center St mentioned arriving at 3:14 AM on a Saturday and finding it already closed underscoring how much the late hours matter to regulars, and how the 4:00 AM Friday Saturday window is the key difference for weekend late night customers.

Catawba Valley Medical Center one of Hickory’s largest employers and the primary acute care facility serving the greater Catawba Valley region runs overnight shifts across multiple departments. For healthcare workers finishing at 2 or 3 AM in Hickory, Cook Out on N Center St or US-70 is one of the most reliable full meal options available. Lenoir Rhyne University students particularly those living off campus along the Center Street corridor also represent a consistent late night customer base during the academic year. Hickory also serves as the commercial hub for a wide area of Catawba, Alexander, and Burke counties, drawing residents from Conover, Newton, Claremont, and Granite Falls into the city for shopping and services, many of whom make Cook Out a regular addition to their Hickory trips.

Hours above are confirmed from Zmenu and Yelp for the 1710 N Center St location (as of November 2025). The US-70 location opened September 2025 and follows the same schedule. Always confirm specific location hours via Google Maps before a very late visit. Both locations are noted for consistent operations through their closing times the N Center St location in particular maintains strong service quality even during late night hours according to multiple reviewer comments.

Hickory Cook Out Locations

Use Google Maps above to find the Cook Out location nearest your home, hotel, or travel route through Hickory. With 2 locations on the N Center St and US-70 corridors, most Hickory and Catawba County residents are within 10–15 minutes of a Cook Out. Click “Get Directions” on any location card below for exact driving time from your current position.

Cook Out Locations by Area

Hickory’s two Cook Out locations cover the city’s primary north south and east west commercial corridors, giving most residents convenient access from any neighborhood. Here is a detailed breakdown of each location.

North Center Street (Central Hickory / LRU Area): The location at 1710 N Center St is the original Hickory Cook Out and sits along one of the city’s primary north south commercial corridors. N Center Street runs through central Hickory parallel to US-321 and is accessible from I-40 via multiple interchange routes. This location sits close to Lenoir Rhyne University’s campus and serves the university neighborhood, downtown Hickory residents, and workers along the Center Street corridor. It has 32 Nextdoor faves and a Yellow Pages reviewer who works 2 blocks away reflecting the deep neighborhood loyalty this location has built.

US Highway 70 (East Hickory / I-40 Corridor): The newer location on US-70 opened in September 2025, giving Hickory its second Cook Out restaurant. US-70 is a primary east-west arterial connecting Hickory to Conover, Newton, and I-40, making this location highly accessible for both local residents and I-40 travelers coming into Hickory from the east. The US-70 location features indoor seating for approximately 40 people and a double drive thru making it one of the most feature-complete Cook Out restaurants in the Catawba Valley. It sits near the planned Whataburger location also coming to the same corridor, in a section of US-70 that is developing rapidly as a major fast-food destination for Hickory’s east side.

Both Cook Out Hickory Locations

Cook Out and Hickory’s Food Scene

Hickory is the largest city in the Catawba Valley and one of Western North Carolina’s most important economic hubs. The city’s identity has historically been shaped by its furniture and fiber optics manufacturing industries Hickory is sometimes called the “Furniture Capital of the World” alongside High Point but it has also developed a diverse food scene driven by its university community, healthcare sector, and growing residential population. The US-70 corridor and Catawba Valley Mall area on US-70 SE represent Hickory’s most active commercial food zones, while the downtown Hickory area has seen significant restaurant growth driven by the Gateway district redevelopment.

Hickory draws consistent sports tournament traffic throughout the year. The Hickory Metro Convention Center and the Catawba Valley area host regional and national youth and amateur sports tournaments that bring hundreds of teams and thousands of families to the city on weekends throughout the year. The Yelp review from the basketball tournament visitor who raved about the Out West and Cheddar Style Double burgers, hushpuppies, grilled chicken club, cheese bites, and cheesecake milkshake across two separate visits in one weekend is representative of the tournament traveler experience that both Hickory Cook Out locations regularly serve. For sports families who discover Cook Out during a tournament weekend, it frequently becomes a repeat destination on future visits to the area.

Lenoir Rhyne University a private liberal arts university located along the N Center St corridor in central Hickory brings approximately 2,500 students to the area. The N Center St Cook Out is well positioned for the LRU community and serves as a natural late night stop for students during the academic year. The I-40 corridor through Hickory also generates significant traveler traffic Hickory sits on I-40 between Statesville (25 miles east) and Morganton (20 miles west), in the segment connecting the Charlotte metro to Asheville and beyond. For east west I-40 travelers, Hickory’s Cook Out locations are natural stops in a stretch of the interstate where full service late night food options are limited.

Frequently Asked Questions

Cook Out in Nearby North Carolina Cities

Cook Out has additional locations in the greater Catawba Valley area including Conover and Sherrills Ford, plus coverage in Statesville to the east and Morganton and Asheville to the west along I-40. For Hickory residents traveling south toward Charlotte or east toward the Piedmont Triad, Cook Out locations are accessible along I-40 and US-321 throughout the region.

Additional Resources