Florida is finally, officially invited to join a 10-state cookout. Cook Out, probably the only fast food restaurant where you can order a quesadilla as a side to your cheeseburger, is expanding to the Sunshine State after 36 years of service and more than 350 locations throughout the southeast.
Cook Out is wildly popular, boasting a cult following that has earned it the title of USA TODAY’s readers’ choice runner-up for best regional fast food chain in the U.S. for two consecutive years.
Earlier this month, Florida welcomed its first Cook Out location in Pensacola. At least three other Cook Out locations in Florida are set to open in the near future, with one in Jacksonville.
Here’s a little bit about Cook Out, its menu and a list of the Florida cities where Cook Out locations are anticipated to open soon.
What kind of food does Cook Out serve?
Cook Out’s menu is known for being all-encompassing. One of the attractions of the restaurant, other than its affordable price point, is its wide variety of menu options.
The menu features almost any fast food staple you can dream up: Hamburgers, hot dogs, corn dogs, chili dogs, chicken breast, chicken strips, chicken nuggets, quesadillas, fries, onion rings, barbecue sandwiches, BLT sandwiches, cheese bites, wraps and even hushpuppies.
What is Cook Out famous for?
Cook Out is a North Carolina-based fast food chain that opened in 1989. In the 36 years since Cook Out first opened its doors in Greensboro, North Carolina, hundreds of locations have opened throughout the Carolinas, Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.
Cook Out’s popularity is not only due to its sprawling menu, but also the way most people order meals there. The restaurant is known for its build-your-own meal deals, called “trays”. Customers can choose a main entree, two sides, and a drink or milkshake (milkshakes are an additional charge), for just under $10.
The big attraction here for most people is the “sides,” of which many are just entrees.
Here are the “side” options at Cook Out:
How many Cook Out locations are there?
While many Floridians love the restaurant, getting a Cook Out fix has historically meant a drive to Georgia or Alabama, or waiting for your next road trip to a state that has the fast food chain.
According to ScrapeHero, there were 359 total Cook Out locations throughout 10 southeastern states in 2024. That number is expected to grow in 2025, as the company expands to include Florida for the first time in its 36-year history.
Is there a Cook Out in Florida?
There is already one open Cook Out in Florida. Pensacola’s new Cook Out location opened earlier this month.
Cook Out’s “locations” tab on its website doesn’t yet feature any Florida restaurants on the map, but local news outlets have confirmed through property records that there are at least two Cook Out locations planned for the Tampa area, one for St. Pete and one in Jacksonville.
Here’s the list of upcoming Cook Out locations in Florida:
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Is there a Cook Out in Florida? Here’s where the fast food chain is adding new locations
Reporting by Lianna Norman, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / Florida Times-Union
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
