Firstly, this place is OK. Secondly, there are probably 30+ places including Burger King where you could get a better burger. This place is cheap, fast, and sloppy. They are open until 4am on weekdays and 5am on weekends. Late night is the only time I'd consider eating here. read more

If this was my first time at a Cook Out, I would be very impressed. Not so the case. The Spartanburg Cook Out and others I've visited were far superior. Rookies? Don't get me started because the one on Forest Drive was built after this one and they got it right. read more

A good late night choice for a quick eat. Has a good special for $4.69, for which you can get a main entree, two sides and a drink. I love the shakes (orange popscicle & peach). The parking is horrible with a weird shaped parking lot. Met my expectations for a fast food. read more

Just bit into my THIRD ranch wrap where they forgot the RANCH! Honestly this is so ridiculous and frustrating I do not understand how they forget the main ingredient Every. Single. Time. Won't be coming back to this location again. read more

No to much I can add to the reviews already posted... because they are mostly accurate. I went with 3 stars, not because it was awful, but I do know that I've had better, and I wasn't SOOO impressed that I'll be back weekly. Then again, I probably would eat there again at some point honestly. So, I actually picked this place because someone from work had seen on their menu they had BBQ sandwiches, and I was craving BBQ. HOWEVER... once again, it's vinegar based. Which I truly find disgusting (sorry Carolina Natives that love it). So instead I opted for one of their burgers. It was a decent burger, generous amount of meat with the "huge", bacon was proportionate, and veggies were limited. My problem was they used bread that was extra cheap, because the entire thing was falling apart. And not from juices or something... just literally falling apart. Taste was alright, it wasn't the worst burger I've had. And personally, when compared to McDonalds, BK, etc... this place is the better burger. I think Five Guys can take em though. Fries were decent, and the price is pretty low on all the options, so fair amount of food for a low dollar. Heard their milkshakes are the best, so I'll likely return soon to put that to the test. As far as picking this as a lunch spot, I'd return, but would likely choose Five Guys first. Could go either way, so I'd recommend it, if nothing else to say you tried it and make up your own mind. :-P read more

The food was great. Fast in the drive thru & very good customer service. I'll be visiting this place every time I'm in SC.

I'm from NYC and am always excited to visit SC for yummy and inexpensive food and Cookout was exactly what i was looking for! The combo plate is awesome! For $4.69 you can get a sandwich or chicken fingers with your choice of two sides and for an extra dollar you can upgrade your drink to a fancy shake! I got the banana pudding shake and not sure how I was living without it until now! I do want to temper your expectations that this is not gourmet food by any means. It's your down and dirty fast food, but for the price and the variety of choices, it is pretty awesome. I'm just sad I didn't get to go back and try something else. read more

Service is terrible when it's busy, twice I have been here and they skipped or lost my order. This time I waited 20 mins and watched 15 numbers after mine go out. Finally she just gave me someone else's order. Cheap food cheap service read more

Cook Out - a group of people in a restaurant - American Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

Mercy was fantastic!! I spoke Spanish and she was very accommodating and respectful and honestly the best employee. If you come, please ask for her. She deserves a raise!!! read more

This is the best place to go for a poor college student late at night, and often the reason I end up here is because everything else is closed. With that said, the price and hours are the only reasons it gets stars at all. They constantly get orders wrong and today was just absurdly bad order wise. What I ordered what a peach cobbler milkshake. What I received was a heathbar milkshake with a chunk of peach in the bottom. I'm just absolutely baffled at this. That's not even on the menu. read more

One of my friends works right by this location and had mentioned right after this location opened a couple of years ago, she went and was impressed with CookOut. I have been meaning to go for some time now, and actually was planning to go somewhere else for lunch today, but with it being Labor Day, where I originally was planning on going was closed and came here instead. Needless to say, CookOut is so-so. Nothing over the top and nothing that would make me want to make weekly visits there. I vaguely remember when this place first opened that the exhaust system (from the outside) made it smell like there was honestly a cookout happening nearby. Not today --- not sure if it was because at the time the place was new, or what, but smell of a cookout happening today. Like one of the other yelpers said, there is a combo option (depending on what type of sandwich you plan on getting) that includes two sides and a large drink for just $4.69 (before tax). Pretty much you get a reasonable amount of food for the amount you pay for (and the hamburger I had was made to order). Seating wise, you have a couple of options. You can go inside and order and eat inside. There also have an order window outside (along with a few tables), so if you want to eat outside, you can order from the outside window and eat outside. Parking can be tricky as well. If you are coming from Gervais Street, if you take the entrance right before the restaurant, there are signs directing you to parking below the restaurant. If you are coming from the Food Lion Shopping Plaza, the parking below the restaurant is in fact for the CookOut - there is not much parking behind the store near the drive-throughs. Probably not in the best location (and maybe today being a holiday does not help matters much as well either), but saw a couple lurkers outside the restaurant. Maybe during the week while people are at work things would be better when more people are around. If it was not for the fact a location is opening up in Lexington, it probably would be a while until I came back to this location (as it is about 20 minutes from my house). read more

Confession: I went back. In my defense, it was late and my options were limited. The overall experience has significantly improved. They got my order right, and it was really fast; I stuck to the basics. If you order cheese on a burger (not "cheddar style"), you get American, which is a step up from the "cheddar" sludge. I'd say if you avoid lunch and dinner rush times and order menu items you'd only find at an actual cook out, it's not so bad after all. Still, stick to burgers and corn dogs, which, if I recall correctly, are the two base levels of the food pyramid. read more

Avoid this place during lunch you will spend your entire lunch hour just waiting for your food

Yeah so I had "Britney" as the cashier and she was super rude, gave other customers an attitude while I waited for my food in the drive thru window. She was unprofessional to someone in the window trying to order because she couldn't hear. Just eat at home or she'll ruin your night. read more

This place is what it is! It's a fast food joint for a college town in the hub of a college drinking area. Don't expect amazing food, because the prices are dirt cheap. I will admit, however, that I have a soft spot for their cheese fries with some Cajun seasoning. Completely unhealthy and probably doesn't have any real "cheese" anywhere on it, but it is my late night guilty pleasure. Those and the Cheerwine floats! The ice cream is so soft and Cheerwine...duh! I will give this establishment 4 stars for their milkshakes though! They have great milkshakes if you don't mind eating them with a spoon. They have around 30-40 flavors that you can mix and match at no extra charge. And they actually put pieces of whatever the flavor is (actual peach cobbler in the peach cobbler flavor) in your milkshake. Tis quite the treat at a more than reasonable price! Service....it's fast food...in what is probably the drunkest part of Columbia. Don't have high expectations. And they are really not that bad. They've only messed up my order once and were quick to fix it with no complaints. Summary: Good for what they are! Better Milkshakes! read more

Worst cookout ever. We waited hours for our food. They weren't helpful when we asked.

The food is good and usually a great value, however some of the employees are dishonest. I ordered the combo tray that is supposed to be around $5. The employee named Antonio said my total was 10.87. I questioned him and asked him why it was so high and he claimed that it was because I ordered my hotdogs cookout style which is extra. I said that it still didn't add up, but just paid him. When I looked at the receipt in the bag it said 7.58, but he charged me $10.87. This boy is stealing from customers and from the company and should be fired! read more

Came for the Sunday bike and car night and they refused to give me the discount. They told me it was "fake advertisement" talked to the manager told me I was an idiot. Never coming here again. Suggest the same. Also never gave me a receipt so we were flying blind when they called our number. read more

The worst service ever!!! I have waited for my order for more than 25 mins!! They missed something in my order.. NOT EVEN Sorry!! First and last time.. I even list my appetite read more

Very good food, especially for the price. I got the cook out tray. Reasonably priced. I opted for the burger, Carolina style. It tasted like it was cooked on the grill in the back yard. Very good. I will be back. read more

Cook Out - American Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

Such poor service. Went through the drive though and the lady taking our order rolled her eyes multiple times and gave such an attitude after we were kindly to ask if she heard the rest of our order. We tried to order at the window and waited for 20 minutes then had to pull up to the service window before someone served us. when we ordered at the window they forgot multiple items and we had to ask many times. the woman who served us was incredibly rude and disrespectful, do not go here. read more

No one working the drive through was wearing a mask. Three people in my line of sight weren't wearing a mask or had it under their nose. Real considerate of others. Can't imagine what else happens in there. Bet I'm letting DHEC know too. read more

I just waited in the Drive-Thru at a cookout for probably 10 minutes with one car in front of me and no one ever came on the speaker to take my order. I called out probably 10 or 12 times and no one answered. I had to back out of the drive-thru to get out of the cookout. I have never had such poor service at a cookout before. This was the cookout on Harden Street in Columbia South Carolina. read more

On the last 2 occasions I chose to eat at Cook-Out, they left something out of my order. I used the drive through as I only have 30 minutes for my lunch break, so I could not go back and get the missing items. Tried calling back for hours on both occasions and no one would answer the phone. BOO!!!!!!! read more

Order your food and have some people shout at you when you try to pick it up. Odds are you won't get what you paid for even if the order is correct (or c. Might be worth it if you're a drunk college student but otherwise you'd be better off with a gas station or a cafeteria.) avoid this place like the plague, a waste of time and resources read more

First, what landscape architect decided it was a good idea to design the exit lane to pass between the 2 drive thru lanes? Is this a joke? Next, I ordered chicken fingers & 3 burgers. I'm glad I checked my bag because they only gave me 2. Instead of comping my 3rd burger I had to pay $3. Really? As a new restaurant you didn't think to apologize with a free burger? I got home and the toppings on one burger weren't even to order. The patty is small, flat and salty. The bun was thrown on so fast it didn't even line up so the toppings were messy. Go to 5 Guys instead. read more

As a student, I am SO glad to have a decent late-night place to eat in 5 Points! That being said, I would only go late-night. The comments before do describe the architecture well--I'm not sure why it was designed with all the weird lanes that it was designed with. Our food was good and we got exactly what we ordered. I got a milkshake and it was VERY good. read more

If you're looking for a cheap place to get lots of food late at night, this is it. It's definitely not good for you, but that's to be expected. So many varieties of milkshakes, it's ridiculous. read more

Awesome food and experience if you're a college student suffering from the hunger that hits after a long night of drinking or studying. Fast service, cheap food and crowded atmosphere make Cook Out a pleasant experience that brings me back time and time again. The best value by far is the Cook Out tray and there are enough combinations there to keep you satisfied for a long time. This is definitely a great place to grab a quick and filling meal, especially for those on a budget. read more

I love this particular one because the servers are very fast, and friendly. I enjoy the scriptures, and music. They can be very busy!! Because the food is the best. Thank you Mahlia for being very humble, and sweet. I would highly recommend this cookout. I especially enjoy being in an clean safe restaurant. My fav the "Peanut Butter Shake". read more

First time coming here. Ordered a hamburger, fries and a drink. Young Lady at drive thru was friendly and helpful. Seeing as I was at lunch and trying to get back to the office ASAP I should have checked my bag. Always check your bag, ALWAYS. No matter how many people are stacked up behind you, check your bag to assure accuracy of your order. What was to be a burger and fries turned out to be Chicken strips, Cajun wrap and beef quesadilla. Tried to call back but number rings to a FAX. Oh well, next time I want a burger will try something else. read more

The food is fine, nothing spectacular. If you want a milkshake that doesn't taste like anything, you're in luck, because they have 40 varieties of them. read more

Ok so I'm new to columbia and I Must admit this place is amazing. Great food great price AWSOME SHAKES. I kept hearing about this place over and over and finally the chance I actually got to go I fell in love. The strawberry cheesecake shake was amazing and also the blueberry cheesecake shake was AWSOME too. read more

Went there twice. First time I was in and out. Second time on Sunday early morning I didn't get anything cause they were slow. Both order lanes were packed and there was one car there in the front at the window for damn near 10 minutes. I had to be back at work so I left... read more

Worst cookout in Columbia. Workers are rude , place wasn't clean ... the back looks terrible & idk how they serve food in those conditions. Something needs to be done. Too many people come here for it to be looking the way it does. Flies , bugs everywhere. Eww. read more

I like Cook Out. I really do. It's cheap and pretty good. But I am sick of them screwing up my order. They always forget my grilled cheese. Sometimes it's not an issue because I'm in the restaurant. Sometimes I'm going through the drive through and it's a minor annoyance. Today, I looked in my bag and saw a wrapped sandwich. Cool. They didn't forget it for once. I drive home, get ready to eat, and it's a chicken sandwich. I'm a vegetarian. So, thanks for the wasted food, Cook Out. I think we should see other people until you get yourself together. read more

I had not been to this cookout in about 6-8 months. I usually go to Forrest Drive since it opened after this one. I usually enjoy a decent quality of food and reasonably prompt service. Well, today was a major disappointment. I stopped at the drive thru thinking I would get a quick lunch so that I could get back to work. There were 3 cars in each lane and I thought no problem I'll be out in less than 10 mins. This was the wost service I have ever received in a drive thru! It took 8 mins to take my order(a bbq sandwich) and I waited at the window after paying for my order for 10minutes! several other customers who had chosen the other lane had received their orders and were long gone! I kept trying to get their attention(2 workers in there) to ask for my for money back but, they kept ignoring me. I was so frustrated that I had decided to just let them keep the $3 so that I could get back to work. As I was about to drive off, the guy opened the window to give me my order. I asked what was the problem and he only said thank you for your patience. Well, that will certainly be the last time I go there! Don't go at 2'oclock in the afternoon unless you have 20 minutes to spare waiting on "fast food"! read more

Could someone that happens to swing by tell them the menu says 'quesadilla', and not 'jar of sauce in a tortilla'? read more

Cook Out - Pretty sure theres supposed to be more chicken/cheese than sauce. - American Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

Horrible horrible I'd give zero stars if possible! Customer service at counter was probably the sorest I have ever experienced in my 5o+ years. Girl at counter didn't great us she kind just stared at us, I good at this so I stared back, you might say that's rude but it's not my job to greet the counter person. Honestly after a good minute of a the starting war she broke and said "what do you need?" Seriously??? I was nice and said we've never been here before, what do you suggest. All I got was another deer in the head lights. So asked for a double with fries and hush puppies my son got the sam but with chicken nuggets. I asked for tea and she motioned towards the drink counter. There were two dirty pitchers with hand written sweet tea and the other said unsweet tea. It was so gross I opted out of a drink. We found a table that we had to clean ourselves and after sitting a bit noticed that the clean standards were way below ..... hmm any place. I could tell no one had swept in awhile. While we we were waiting an employee took two over filled trash containers from kitchen to dump in the bin out back but while he was doing this someone called him from the kitchen and he left the containers right by our table. Our meal came out real quick like way to quick. I opened the package and found the smallest burger I have ever seen. Along side the burger were three of the smallest hush puppies in the world and half a handful of fries. I ate 1/2 the burger and threw the rest out it was not hot and tasted like it had been sitting under a heat lamp for hours. Never never again. Do yourself a favor skip this place and go anywhere else. read more

I've been eating Cookout for years, absolutely love the food and great prices. Every cookout I've been to has had great customer service. The employees have always been awesome. Except this one. Britney was the cashier. She caught an attitude at the order sign because we couldn't understand what she was saying because the speaker was messed up (which isn't our fault). We get to the window, she still has a nasty attitude. She was also catching an attitude with someone else that was ordering after us (we could hear because the speakers are loud and the drive thru window was open) there was another girl working with her, and she was laughing and egging Britney on because she was giving another customer an attitude. Anytime we would say thank you, she wouldn't say "you're welcome", she just wouldn't say anything. She handed us one drink, we had to put that one down, and she held the other drink out the window and just said "Here!" With an attitude. Asked for a handful of ketchup because we got a lot of fries, she only gave us 4 packets of it. My burger was also wrong, even after repeating 3 times what to put on it. I am so disappointed with this customer service. And I honestly think management should reconsider her employment with them. read more