Charlotte, North Carolina • 2026 Local Guide
Cook Out Charlotte NC: All 13 Locations, Hours, Addresses and What to Order (2026)
Charlotte has more Cook Out restaurants than any other city in the United States. Not the most in North Carolina. The most in the country.
According to ScrapeHero’s June 29, 2026 location dataset, Charlotte has 13 confirmed Cook Out locations spread across Mecklenburg County. No other city in the entire 377-restaurant chain comes close. Greensboro, the city where Cook Out was born in 1989, has 7. Charlotte has 13. That number reflects how completely Cook Out has become part of this city’s fabric, from the NoDa arts district near North Tryon Street to the south Charlotte suburbs off Sardis Road North, from the University City corridor near UNCC to west Charlotte on Freedom Drive.
This page covers every Charlotte Cook Out location with verified addresses, hours from Yelp listings, neighborhood context, and everything you need before you pull into one of those double drive-thru lanes tonight.
Last verified: July 2026 | Source: ScrapeHero location data (June 29, 2026), Yelp business listings, Charlotte guide.
How Many Cook Out Locations Are in Charlotte NC?
13 locations as of June 2026, per ScrapeHero’s national dataset. Charlotte leads every city in the United States by a wide margin. The Charlotte Observer confirmed Cook Out’s expansion in the city when the chain purchased the Mallard Creek Road property near I-85 in June 2023 for $1.3 million. The Frank Bailey Drive location followed. The chain keeps building in Charlotte because Charlotte keeps showing up.
All Cook Out Charlotte NC Locations: Addresses, Hours and Neighborhoods
1. South Tryon Street — 4374 S Tryon St, Charlotte, NC 28217
Hours (Yelp verified): Monday through Thursday and Sunday 10:30 AM to 3:00 AM. Friday and Saturday 10:30 AM to 4:00 AM.
South Tryon runs through the southwest Charlotte corridor connecting Uptown to Pineville and the I-485 outer loop. The 4374 South Tryon location sits in a commercial strip between the Westover Hills neighborhood and the Arrowood Road interchange. Easy in from Carowinds Boulevard to the south and South Boulevard to the north. The Pineville community and the Westerly Hills residents who travel up South Tryon daily know this location well.
A Tripadvisor reviewer specifically called out this location, recommending it to Charlotte visitors and noting a team member named Alexis for top service. That kind of specific, named review is the mark of a location where the staff makes the experience.
2. Freedom Drive — 2540 Freedom Dr, Charlotte, NC 28208
Hours: Confirm with location. Standard Charlotte hours apply.
Freedom Drive runs from Uptown Charlotte west toward the airport corridor and the I-85 interchange. The 2540 Freedom Drive location sits in the heart of west Charlotte, drawing from the Enderly Park neighborhood, the Seversville community, the Clanton Park area and the apartment complexes and workforce housing that stretch west along Freedom Drive toward Charlotte Douglas International Airport on Josh Birmingham Parkway.
This is the location for people catching a flight at 6 AM who need something at 3 AM the night before. Charlotte Douglas is one of the busiest airports in the country. The crews, the early travelers, the rideshare drivers waiting for morning pickups — they all know the Freedom Drive Cook Out. It draws heavy drive-thru traffic from the Airport area, Westerly Hills and the neighborhoods running west of Uptown along Freedom Park Drive.
3. Mallard Creek Road — 10525 Mallard Creek Rd, Charlotte, NC 28262
Hours: Confirm with location. Standard Charlotte hours apply.
The Mallard Creek Road location sits in University City, the commercial and residential corridor that runs along North Tryon Street and Mallard Creek Church Road toward the UNCC campus on University City Boulevard. Cook Out purchased this property in the former Jack in the Box spot near I-85, according to the Charlotte Observer. It sits next to a CVS near the I-85 interchange.
University of North Carolina Charlotte enrolled more than 34,000 students in 2025. The UNCC campus sits less than two miles south on University City Boulevard. Students cutting through from the main campus near Cone Center, heading toward the J.W. Clay Boulevard LYNX station or driving north on North Tryon toward Cabarrus County, pass the Mallard Creek Cook Out on the way.
4. North Tryon Street — 9705 N Tryon St, Charlotte, NC 28262
Hours: Confirm with location. Standard Charlotte hours apply.
The second University City location, just north of the J.W. Clay Boulevard intersection on North Tryon. This one catches the UNCC students heading north toward Harrisburg and Concord, the Research Park commuters turning off from the IBM Drive corridor, and the apartment residents along North Tryon Street between the university and Concord Mills.
Two Cook Out locations within two miles of each other in University City reflects how dense the late-night demand is in this area. UNCC runs a 24-hour library during finals. The residence halls along Cameron Boulevard and Holshouser Drive put thousands of students within short driving distance of both North Tryon locations.
5. West Sugar Creek Road — 1301 W Sugar Creek Rd, Charlotte, NC 28262
Hours: Confirm with location. Standard Charlotte hours apply.
Northeast Charlotte near Derita. West Sugar Creek Road runs from North Tryon toward the Northlake Mall area and the I-85 interchange at Sugar Creek Road. This location serves the Derita and Newell communities, the apartment corridors off West Sugar Creek Road, and Cabarrus County commuters coming south from I-85 into Charlotte.
6. North Sharon Amity Road — 5715 N Sharon Amity Rd, Charlotte, NC 28215
Hours: Confirm with location. Standard Charlotte hours apply.
East Charlotte near Eastland. Sharon Amity Road runs from East Independence Boulevard south toward Albemarle Road. This location serves the Idlewild community, the Eastland neighborhood, and the Medford Lakes and Sheffield Park residential areas on the east side of Charlotte. The Eastland area has seen significant redevelopment investment since the old Eastland Mall came down, and this Cook Out location predates that wave of new residents moving into the corridor.
7. Albemarle Road — 6438 Albemarle Rd, Charlotte, NC 28212
Hours: Confirm with location. Standard Charlotte hours apply.
East Charlotte near Mint Hill. Albemarle Road runs from East Independence Boulevard toward Mint Hill and Cabarrus County. The I-485 interchange at Albemarle Road sits just east of this location, making it a natural stop for people coming off the outer loop from the Mint Hill and Matthews communities heading into Charlotte proper.
8. Sardis Road North — 1815 Sardis Rd N, Charlotte, NC 28270
Hours: Confirm with location. Standard Charlotte hours apply.
Southeast Charlotte near Stonecrest. Sardis Road North runs from East Independence Boulevard toward Providence Road and the Stonecrest Marketplace. This location serves the Providence Plantation community, the Sardis Forest neighborhood, and the residential areas between Sharon Road and Lawyers Road in southeast Charlotte.
9. Sunset Road — 4321 Sunset Rd, Charlotte, NC 28216
Hours: Confirm with location. Standard Charlotte hours apply.
Northwest Charlotte near Northlake. Sunset Road runs toward the Northlake Mall area and the I-77 interchange at Brookshire. This location serves the Northlake and Huntersville commuter traffic, the Mountain Island Lake communities, and the residential neighborhoods between I-77 and I-485 in northwest Mecklenburg County.
10. Frank Bailey Drive — 1025 Frank Bailey Dr, Charlotte, NC 28208
Hours: Confirm with location. Standard Charlotte hours apply.
This location opened as part of Cook Out’s 2024 Charlotte expansion confirmed by the Charlotte Observer. Frank Bailey Drive runs off East Independence Boulevard near the Eastland area. The property was purchased in June 2023 for $1.3 million according to Mecklenburg County property records cited by the Observer.
11. Central Avenue — Plaza Midwood — 4620 Central Ave, Charlotte NC 28205
11. Central Avenue — 4620 Central Ave, Charlotte NC 28205
⏰ Hours: Opens 10:30 AM • Sun–Thu 3:00 AM • Fri–Sat 4:00 AM
Central Avenue runs east from Uptown Charlotte through the Plaza Midwood and Commonwealth neighborhoods. The 4620 Central Avenue Cook Out sits in the heart of the Plaza Midwood commercial corridor, one of Charlotte’s most walkable and densely populated neighborhoods. It draws from the apartment corridor along Central Avenue, the NoDa arts district to the north, and Chantilly and Oakhurst to the east. This is Charlotte’s east-side Cook Out, filling a gap between the Albemarle Road location further east and the Charlottetowne Avenue location near Dilworth.
12. Charlottetowne Avenue — 715 Charlottetowne Ave, Charlotte NC 28204
⏰ Hours: Opens 10:30 AM • Sun–Thu 3:00 AM • Fri–Sat 4:00 AM
Charlottetowne Avenue runs through the Dilworth and Midtown neighborhoods, just south of South End on the Charlotte light rail corridor. The 715 Charlottetowne Avenue location serves the historic Dilworth residential community, the South End apartment corridor, and the Midtown shopping district around The Metropolitan. It also draws from the Sedgefield and Madison Park neighborhoods further south, and from the Myers Park and Eastover communities to the east.
13. Park Road — 10645 Park Rd, Charlotte NC 28210
⏰ Hours: Opens 10:30 AM • Sun–Thu 3:00 AM • Fri–Sat 4:00 AM
Park Road runs south from Woodlawn Road through the Park Road Shopping Center corridor toward Pineville. The 10645 Park Road Cook Out sits near the Park Road Shopping Center — one of Charlotte’s oldest open-air shopping centers, dating to 1956 — and serves the Montclaire, Quail Hollow, and Beverly Woods neighborhoods of south Charlotte. It draws commuter traffic from South Boulevard and the LYNX light rail, and serves the residential communities stretching south toward Pineville and Ballantyne.
What Neighborhoods Does Charlotte’s Cook Out Network Cover?
University City and UNCC corridor (North Charlotte): Mallard Creek Road, North Tryon Street, West Sugar Creek Road. Three locations within a few miles of each other covering the 34,000-student UNCC market.
Uptown-adjacent west Charlotte: Freedom Drive, Charlottetowne Avenue near Dilworth. The west Charlotte corridor running from the airport toward Uptown.
South Charlotte: South Tryon Street, Sardis Road North. The southwest and southeast residential quadrants reaching toward Pineville and Mint Hill.
East Charlotte: Albemarle Road, North Sharon Amity Road, Central Avenue near Plaza Midwood. The east side of the city from Independence Boulevard outward.
Northwest Charlotte: Sunset Road serving the Northlake area.
Charlotte is a city of corridors and neighborhoods that do not always blend naturally. Cook Out’s 13 locations make it unusual among fast food chains in that it genuinely covers the full spread.
Almost every Charlotte neighborhood — from the university corridor in the north to the Ballantyne suburbs in the south, from Plaza Midwood in the east to west Charlotte off Freedom Drive — has a Cook Out within a short drive, as noted in ‘s 2026 Charlotte analysis.
What Time Does Cook Out Close in Charlotte NC?
Most Charlotte Cook Out locations close at 3:00 AM on Sunday through Thursday. Friday and Saturday nights they close at 4:00 AM. This is confirmed for the South Tryon Street location via Yelp listing (updated June 2026).
Hours can vary by individual location. Always check Google Maps or the specific location’s Yelp listing before a late-night run. The standard Cook Out opening time of 10:30 AM applies at all Charlotte locations.
| Day | Opens | Closes | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 10:30 AM | 3:00 AM | Standard weeknight |
| Tuesday | 10:30 AM | 3:00 AM | Standard weeknight |
| Wednesday | 10:30 AM | 3:00 AM | Standard weeknight |
| Thursday | 10:30 AM | 3:00 AM | Standard weeknight |
| Friday | 10:30 AM | 4:00 AM | Late-night extended |
| Saturday | 10:30 AM | 4:00 AM | Late-night extended |
| Sunday | 10:30 AM | 3:00 AM | Standard |
Why Charlotte Has More Cook Out Locations Than Any Other City
Charlotte is the largest city in North Carolina with a population of approximately 900,000. Cook Out’s growth follows its home state density. But the concentration in Charlotte also reflects the specific conditions that make Cook Out work: a large young adult population, a university with 34,000 students, dense apartment corridors, a nightlife culture that runs late in South End and NoDa, and a sprawling suburban footprint that generates drive-thru demand far from downtown.
The chain’s commissary in Greensboro is less than a two-hour drive up I-85 and I-40. Fresh beef arrives daily. Charlotte is served from the same Greensboro hub that supplies every NC location, which means the quality and pricing at a Charlotte Cook Out on Freedom Drive is identical to the quality and pricing at the original Greensboro locations on Randleman Road and Battleground Avenue.
Charlotte Douglas International Airport is one of the top five busiest airports in the United States. People from all over the Southeast and mid-Atlantic who pass through Charlotte know Cook Out from their home states. The airport corridor’s west Charlotte locations on Freedom Drive and nearby streets catch those travelers every time.
What to Order at Cook Out Charlotte NC
The menu is the same at every Charlotte Cook Out. Same tray prices, same milkshake flavors, same char-grilled burgers, same hushpuppies. The Cook Out tray runs $7.39 to $7.99 at July 2026 prices confirmed across Southeast locations.
First visit build: Big Double Burger Cookout Style, Cajun fries, hushpuppies, Peanut Butter Fudge milkshake upgrade for $1.00 extra. Around $9 total.
Quick reference:
- Cookout Tray: $7.39 to $7.99
- All milkshakes: $3.99
- Milkshake upgrade with tray: +$1.00 regular, +$1.60 fancy
- Peanut Butter Fudge milkshake: 765 cal (official nutrition PDF)
- Big Double Burger base: 311 cal (official nutrition PDF)
| Item | Price | Calories | Total Fat (g) | Sodium (mg) | Carbs (g) | Protein (g) | Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regular Tray | $7.39–$7.99 | — | — | — | — | — | Tray |
| Junior Tray | from $5.29 | — | — | — | — | — | Tray |
| Big Double Burger (base) | $3.99 | 311 | 16 | 490 | 27 | 20 | Burgers |
| Huge Burger (base) | $3.49 | 516 | 31 | 730 | 28 | 34 | Burgers |
| Regular Burger (base) | $3.49 | 328 | 17 | 510 | 27 | 21 | Burgers |
| Cajun Chicken Breast | $4.85 | 380 | 14 | 890 | 31 | 34 | Chicken |
| Spicy Chicken Sandwich | $4.99 | 480 | 20 | 1020 | 45 | 30 | Chicken |
| BBQ Sandwich (NC pork) | $3.99 | 370 | 11 | 860 | 44 | 24 | BBQ |
| Cookout Style Hot Dog | $2.99 | 383 | 24 | 820 | 27 | 14 | Hot Dogs |
| Cajun Fries (large) | $2.89 | 350 | 16 | 740 | 48 | 4 | Sides |
| Hushpuppies (side) | $1.99 | 300 | 13 | 480 | 40 | 5 | Sides |
| White Cheddar Cheese Bites (side) | $2.39 | 150 | 9 | 310 | 12 | 6 | Sides |
| Slaw | $1.99 | 405 | 38 | 570 | 17 | 2 | Sides |
| PB Fudge Milkshake | $3.99 | 765 | 33 | 490 | 107 | 18 | Milkshakes |
| Cherry Cheesecake Shake | $3.99 | 925 | 36 | 520 | 138 | 16 | Milkshakes |
| Fresh Banana Shake | $3.99 | 538 | 18 | 310 | 85 | 12 | Milkshakes |
| Caramel Fudge Shake | $3.99 | 900 | 34 | 500 | 133 | 16 | Milkshakes |
| Cheerwine Float | $2.39 | 401 | 11 | 120 | 70 | 5 | Drinks |
| Coke Float | $2.39 | 399 | 11 | 100 | 69 | 5 | Drinks |
| Sweet Tea (16 oz) | $2.19 | 236 | 0 | 15 | 59 | 0 | Drinks |
Calories from Cook Out’s official nutrition PDF at cookout.com. Prices verified Charlotte-area July 2026.
Is Cook Out Open in Charlotte on Holidays?
Most Charlotte Cook Out locations are open on July 4th, Labor Day, Memorial Day, Thanksgiving Eve and New Year’s Eve at regular hours. Many close on Christmas Day, Thanksgiving Day and Easter Sunday, though practices vary by location. Always confirm with your specific Charlotte location before visiting on a major holiday.
Cook Out Charlotte NC FAQs
How many Cook Out locations are in Charlotte NC?
13 locations as of June 2026, making Charlotte the city with the most Cook Out restaurants in the United States.
What is the closest Cook Out to Uptown Charlotte?
The Charlottetowne Avenue location near Dilworth and the Freedom Drive location are the closest to Uptown proper. Use the Cook Out locator at cookout.com with your Uptown zip code (28202, 28204, 28205) to find the exact nearest spot.
What is the closest Cook Out to UNCC?
The Mallard Creek Road location at 10525 Mallard Creek Rd and the North Tryon Street location at 9705 N Tryon St are both near the UNCC campus in University City.
What time does Cook Out close in Charlotte?
Most Charlotte locations close at 3:00 AM Sunday through Thursday and 4:00 AM Friday and Saturday. The South Tryon Street location’s hours are confirmed on Yelp at these times.
Does Cook Out in Charlotte have a drive-thru?
Yes. All Charlotte Cook Out locations have drive-thru service. Most have two drive-thru lanes. Some locations also have walk-up windows.
Is the menu the same at all Charlotte Cook Out locations?
Yes. The full Cook Out menu including all tray options, milkshake flavors, burgers, sides, BBQ and hot dogs is the same at every Charlotte location. Prices may vary slightly. Full menu details at cookout.com.
Location count sourced from ScrapeHero’s US Cook Out dataset as of June 29, 2026. Specific addresses sourced from Charlotte guide, Yelp business listings, and Charlotte page. Hours verified via Yelp (June 2026). Charlotte expansion history sourced from the Charlotte Observer. University enrollment data from UNCC official records 2025. Always confirm current hours with your specific location at cookout.com or Google Maps before visiting.
Confirm the Nearest Charlotte Location
Use the official Cook Out locator with your Charlotte ZIP code to confirm the current address and operating hours.