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    Cook Out

    3.6 (85 reviews)
    InexpensiveBurgers, Hot Dogs, Fast Food
    Open 10:30 am - 3:00 AM (Next day)

    Cook Out Photos

    COOK OUT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids
    Outdoor seating
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Cook Out

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    Reviews With Photos

    Regular 1/4 lb burger tray with slaw and hushpuppies
    Leah S.

    We couldn't finish our North Carolina trip without stopping at Cook Out. The chargrill style gives their menu offerings a family backyard bbq style feel. Ordering a chargrilled burger is definitely the way to go. We were also impressed by their chargrilled chicken sandwiches. The coleslaw was bland but the hush puppies were good for fast food. The shakes were a bit disappointing; the chocolate malt tasted like syrup and the peach lacked flavor. Nonetheless, we loved our entrees. The food was piping hot and we were pleasantly surprised by how quick it was served. There is no indoor dining at this location so we had to enjoy with a car style picnic.

    Reg BBQ Cookout tray with hushpups, nugs and a huge sweet tea I also got an out west style burger. Bbq sauce and cookout sauce for dippping.
    Nick L.

    I went to Cookout mid week around 1pm for lunch. It wasn't very busy and the service was quick but friendly. I got the reg bbq cookout tray with hushpups, nugs and a huge sweet tea I also got an out west style burger. Bbq sauce and cookout sauce for dippping. This was so good and fresh! All this was about $14, man I love Cookout!

    Menu as of August 2022
    Laurelle H.

    Food is always fresh and delicious. Great staff. Definitely quicker than McDonald's down the road. We often order corn dogs, hush puppies, and milkshakes from here. My favorite milkshake is the WATERMELON milkshake. It's so good! I wish there was a non dairy version. I took one star off because they no longer go the extra step to provide an aluminum liner in the to-go box so when they put hot food in the box, it melts the box a bit- which isn't safe.

    Menu
    Albert W.

    So many options to choose from, so be sure to know what you want! Loved the cheese bites the first time I had it, but switched it up to try something different. I love how you can upgrade to a milkshake for just $1.50 more. The bbq pork platter is also something not to sleep on.

    The meat patty @CookOut got smaller ands became oblong, not even close to round. The wilted lettuce looks sad.
    Michael B.

    I went to the @CookOut Capital Blvd location in Raleigh, NC, and it was not a great experience. The first problem was the chicken nuggets. The nuggets were visually different, but most dissatisfying was the taste and quality of the nuggets. The were visually wider, but very thin. The nuggets were practically too salty to eat, and they had a really watery texture. If these will be the normal nuggets going forward in the future, I will not be ordering them. The burger was inedible. The first thing I noticed was how soggy the buns were, and if I had sandwich bread in the house, I would have replaced them. The lettuce was wilted, like it was soaked in water before being put on the burger, and a tiny piece as well. The meat patty was oblong, and not even close to being round. It was no where close to filling up the bun. It was only about 65-70% covering the bun. This was by far the worse experience I have ever had visiting the best burger chain in town. I always loved CookOut over all of the other places that serve burgers, but they need to step their quality back up. I think to keep the prices low, they are using cheaper cuts of meat, and inferior ingredients. Please go back to higher quality. But Cookout is the best place I can think of to get a milk shake. Not Sonic, CharGrill, McDs, or Steak n Shake come close in my opinion. #430

    BBQ sandwich and more for, uhm, $4.73   Yeah, you can afford Cookout
    Ron W.

    So what can you get for $5 nowadays? Well at Cook Out on Cap Blvd you can drive off with a delicious barbeque sandwich with slaw and Texas Pete. A corndog and hushpuppies. AND a Cheerwine float with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Are you KIDDING me? Why would anyone eat at McBurger Hut? Yeah, Cook Out is local and does fast food right. Service is always friendly, fast and polite. And yes, there's no seating outside of the seat in your car. But totally worth it. Love ya Cook Out, thanks for being some of the best cheap eats in the Triangle...

    BBQ chicken sandwich with pups and slaw. Can't beat the price!
    Heather B.

    Can't beat the taste and the price! $5 for a Cook Out tray. Double drive thru lines, amazingly fast service considering they are always busy there. Milkshakes are great, lots of flavors to choose from. BBQ sandwich terrific, burgers good, and hush puppies are done right. A regular at the Cook Out!

    a person holding a sandwich in their hand

    If I could leave a zero star review I would this will be my last time coming to cook out left a party and I was a little hungry came but this evening at 12:30 AM and this is what my burger look like if I get sick I won't be able to go to work tomorrow good job cookout

    Tray! 1/4 hamburger with onion rings and fries

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    5 years ago

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    8 years ago

    There was a fly in my sweet tea and I almost drank it. Traumatized. Also the wait for my cookout tray took over 10 minutes.

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    16 years ago

    Quick good grilled food. Fantastic think Shakes of all Flavors.

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    7 years ago

    Love cook out way better then McDonald's! food is always on point an the milk shakes are amazing

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    14 years ago

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    14 years ago

    F__e G__'s has NOTHING on Cook Out.. Nuff said! If you have a taste for a quality burger off the grill, come here.. B__K__g who?!!?!?!!?

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    11 years ago

    Burger and corn-dogs like it is your neighbor's back yard... very economical too.

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    13 years ago

    Best burger and shakes in north east Raleigh. Combo with shake about $6. Beats any fast food joint.

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    Page 2 of 3

    Ask the Community - Cook Out

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    The Roast Grill Hot Weiners

    The Roast Grill Hot Weiners

    4.2
    (186 reviews)
    4.4 mi
    $

    We love The Roast Grill!! We used to go all the time years ago before kids, now that they are…read moregrown up we're back for more! We love the owners, the food, drinks, the ambiance, just everything about it!! We will be back again very soon...to be sure.

    I visited the Roast Grill in January after years of looking down on the building from my former…read moreGannett Fleming office at One Glenwood and wondering what was inside this little Raleigh institution. The Roast Grill feels less like a restaurant and more like a preserved piece of mid-20th-century Americana hidden in plain sight along West Street. The narrow counter, wood-paneled walls, neon beer signs, Coca-Cola memorabilia, handwritten notices, old photographs, Hurricanes tributes, and decades of accumulated objects create an atmosphere that simply cannot be manufactured today. The place reminded me a little of Chicago's famous Billy Goat Tavern--especially the feeling of discovering something authentic tucked beneath an increasingly overbuilt urban streetscape. I ordered two hot dogs all the way with mustard, onions, chili, and slaw--absolutely NO ketchup, of course--along with a Coke in a glass bottle. The chili is legendary and reportedly takes up to three days to prepare. Whether that is folklore or fact, it certainly gives the hot dogs a flavor unlike almost anywhere else in Raleigh. One of my favorite details was the mounted goat wearing a red hat beneath the neon beer signs. It somehow fits perfectly within the visual layering and quirky personality of the interior. Even the traditions remain intact. At the end of the meal, every customer receives a Tootsie Roll. Places like the Roast Grill are becoming increasingly rare. It is not just a hot dog stand--it is a living piece of Raleigh history. If interested, you can view my post in "The Architecture of..." Facebook Group here: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18Tu51FPtB/

    Photos
    The back wall and door to the kitchen are equally interesting. It is no-holds-barred visual layering.
    The back wall and door to the kitchen are equally interesting. It is no-holds-barred visual layering.
    2 mustard, chili, & onions
    2 mustard, chili, & onions
    Coke in the bottle, cool

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    Coke in the bottle, cool
    Cloos' Coney Island

    Cloos' Coney Island

    4.1
    (233 reviews)
    5.8 mi
    $$

    A friend suggested that I try Cloos', and what great advice that turned out to be. Cloos' brings…read morethe feel of Northern short-order stands, grills, and diners to the NC State area. I had lunch there on Thursday--and liked it so much that I went back again on Friday. Two days in a row. One word of caution: this is a true short-order grill. Everything is freshly made to order, and they are often very busy. You will not get your food as quickly as you would at a fast-food place like McDonald's or Wendy's. If you are in a big hurry, head west on Western Boulevard to McDonald's, Bojangles, Wendy's, or Cook Out--all places I patronize--but they are not the same type of venue. Cloos' Coney Island is a hot dog and classic American comfort food restaurant that has been operating in Raleigh since 1988, with strong ties to the NC State student community and local residents. According to their own signage and social pages, they proudly market themselves as "An Original Detroit Hot Dog Stand, Est. 1988." The restaurant is decorated like a classic diner or luncheonette. White tile gives a clean, bright feel, paired with black checkerboard accents. The décor is reminiscent of original White Castle, White Diamond, and Waffle House locations. There's even a Sopranos-themed pinball machine. Seating includes a lunch counter with round revolving stools and 1950s-style dinette tables and chairs. On Thursday, I ordered a Coney Dog and French fries. With the exception of the Chicago Dog, their hot dogs are 90 percent beef, with the remainder pork products. The Coney Dog is their specialty, served on a steamed bun with chili, mustard, and onions--try it; you'll love it. The fries are excellent--thin, string-style fries like McDonald's used to make years ago. My friend had the Chicago Dog, a Vienna all-beef frank customized with Carolina flair, adding slaw atop their Coney Dog toppings. They have a soda fountain with Coke products, fresh-squeezed lemonade, and both sweet and unsweet tea. As a fun detail, there's a Coca-Cola CLASSIC sign near the fountain--perfectly fitting for a place established in the late '80s. Because they offer both tea and lemonade, they list Arnold Palmers (sweet or unsweet) on the menu. They also offer bottled water and a selection of domestic and premium bottled beers. On Friday, I went alone, sat at the counter, and ordered the Philly Cheesesteak--listed on their menu as one of their signature items, and now I know why. I chose steak with green peppers and onions and added mushrooms for a small extra charge. I don't care for mustard (a Midwest thing) or mayonnaise (a Southern thing) on my cheesesteaks. When I worked in Philadelphia and ate at Pat's and the street carts, I always had ketchup on the bun. At Cloos', I dipped both my cheesesteak and fries into genuine Heinz ketchup from glass bottles--outstanding. I liked the fries so much the day before that I ordered another small order. Growing up in New Jersey, a root beer with a cheesesteak just felt right--even though I rarely drink soda. Some pairings are simply meant to be. The staff are great--nice, patient, and constantly engaging with customers. There's an ongoing conversation about everything, and you can tell they genuinely enjoy their work, their coworkers, and their customers. If you're expecting service with a deep Southern accent, this might not be the place--but the warmth and authenticity more than make up for it. Needless to say, I plan to go back. Two five-star experiences, back-to-back.

    This spot has been open since 1988, and I've been coming, off and on, since the early 90's. This…read morearea, close to part of the NC State campus is home to several venerable hot dog "stands" - Roast Grill (opened in 1940), Char-Grill (opened in 1959), and Snoopy's (opened in 1978). Went to all 4 on this trip! Like the other 3, this spot is showing its age and the service tends to be a bit out of the "fast food" range, but they still put out some solid burgers, hot dogs, and FFs. My favorites are the Chicago Dog, the Carolina Cheeseburger, the Kraut Dog, and their Fries! I also like that you can get a beer.

    Photos
    Inside - Behind the counter
    Inside - Behind the counter
    Cheese fries
    Cheese fries
    Great staff!

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    Great staff!
    Jim's Ole Time

    Jim's Ole Time

    4.5
    (25 reviews)
    9.9 mi
    $

    Great taste, but too messy. Loved the flavors, but the toppings kept falling off. Still, one of the…read morebetter hot dogs I've had!

    if one is as into seeking great hot dogs as I am, one goes where ever the trail leads - even to the…read morefront of a Lowe's Home Improvements store in Cary, and this trip was definitely worthwhile.. There Jim Rivers has been setting up his steel hot dog stand for nearly 14 years now, and is there almost everyday beginning at 11:30 - he misses some days because he also sets up at the North Carolina State Fair each year. He steams his weiners - Red Hots (neon red Southern weiner)for $1,50, Nathans All Beef for $2.00, Jalapeno (with the pepper already in the weiner) for $2.50, and a Sausage dog, also for $2.50. His toppings(whatever you want at no additional charge) include mustard, ketchup (ugh!), chili, onions, slaw, mayo (double ugh!), cheese, sauerraut, red onion (foo foo), and relish (we get visitors from the far north). The Red Hot is your basic Southern Chili dog with a weiner of questionable parentage, chile, onions and/or slaw, on a nice, soft bun. This is a very good hot dog. The chili is not home made since the All Knowing, All Seeing Wake County government has decided that only brick and mortar restaurants can prepare such items in their duly and regularly inspected kitchens - this apparently is true even if the rating is not particularly good. Jim uses Patterson's Grand Slam All Beef Chili, which is available in 5 pound tubs or #10 cans. This is very good commercially prepared chili, right up there with Matinee brand used by Allen & Son in Chapel Hill. The Nathan's All Beef hot dog with chili, mustard, and Jim's slaw is an outstanding slaw dog - one of the best I've tried, and I've tried more than a few. The quality of the weiner reals comes thru, and is very well showcased by the soft bun, tasty chili, and not too sweet mayo based slaw. On my next visit, I'll try the Jalapeno dog and the Sausage dog instead of the All Beef - well, probably in addition too it. Jim is friendly and personable, the service is quick, the pricing reasonable - there is no seating available, but sitting in an airconditioned auto munching several dogs ain't at all bad.

    Photos
    Jim's Truck and Trailer in the lot. Nice advertising.
    Jim's Truck and Trailer in the lot. Nice advertising.
    Red dog with mustard , chili and onion.
    Red dog with mustard , chili and onion.
    Jim's Ole Time

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    Cook Out - burgers - Updated July 2026

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