Cook Out Wilmington NC — 5 Locations, Addresses & Hours (2026)

How Many Cook Out Locations Are in Wilmington, NC?

There are four Cook Out restaurants with Wilmington addresses and a fifth just across the river in Leland, for five in the Wilmington area. The Wilmington stores are at 4195 Market St, 715 S. College Rd, 429 S. College Rd and 5615 Carolina Beach Rd; the Leland store is at 1147 New Pointe Blvd.

Two of the Wilmington stores are on South College Road (NC-132) on either side of the University of North Carolina Wilmington, which makes UNCW one of the best-served campuses in the Cook Out system. The Market Street store covers the US-17 Business corridor in the middle of the city, and the Carolina Beach Road store sits at Monkey Junction, where College Road meets US-421 on the way to Carolina Beach and Kure Beach.

If you are heading into Brunswick County, the Leland store is the first one over the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge, and there is another Cook Out about 20 miles south of downtown near Southport. A seventh store, in Shallotte, is roughly 30 miles away. Every address on this page was checked against Cook Out’s store locator in October 2026.

Where Are the Cook Out Restaurants in Wilmington?

Wilmington’s Cook Outs line the city’s two busiest commercial spines — Market Street and College Road — with one more at Monkey Junction and one across the river in Leland. Each card below shows the street address and a Directions button that opens Google Maps. Addresses are from the Cook Out store locator, October 2026.

Which Wilmington Cook Out Is Closest to Me?

Use College Road stores for UNCW and midtown, Market Street for downtown and the north side, Monkey Junction for the beaches to the south, and Leland for anything across the river. The table below matches common Wilmington neighborhoods and destinations with the nearest store.

Traffic matters more than miles in Wilmington. College Road and Market Street both back up at rush hour and on summer weekends, so a store that is a mile farther but on your side of the road can be faster. The Cape Fear Memorial Bridge also slows down at peak times; if you are already in Leland, do not cross into Wilmington for a burger.

How Did Cook Out Grow in the Wilmington Area?

Cook Out’s Wilmington footprint grew from the College Road and Carolina Beach Road stores to five area restaurants, with most of the recent growth on Market Street and in Brunswick County. The milestones below are drawn from local news coverage; we only list dates that were reported.

The pattern makes sense: Wilmington is the largest city on the North Carolina coast, home to roughly 115,000 people at the 2020 census, and neighboring Brunswick County has been one of the fastest-growing counties in North Carolina. Cook Out has followed that growth down College Road, toward the beaches and across the river.

Which Wilmington Cook Out Is Easiest to Reach From I-40 and US-17?

Coming in on I-40, stay straight as the interstate ends and becomes North College Road; the two South College Road stores are a few miles ahead on the same road. Here is how each major route lines up with a Cook Out.

Is There a Cook Out Near UNCW?

Yes — two of them. The 429 S. College Rd store sits at College Acres Drive right off campus, and 715 S. College Rd is on the other side of the university along the same road. UNCW’s own address is 601 S. College Rd.

What Time Does Cook Out Close in Wilmington?

Most Cook Out restaurants open at 10:30 AM and stay open until about 3 AM Sunday through Thursday and about 4 AM on Friday and Saturday. Individual Wilmington stores can differ, and hours change around holidays and storms, so check the store before a very late run.

Most Wilmington Cook Outs are built around the drive-thru, with walk-up windows at many locations and little or no indoor seating. Expect the longest lines after bars close downtown and on Front Street, after UNCW events, and on summer Saturday nights when beach traffic heads home along Carolina Beach Road and College Road. Our Cook Out hours guide covers holiday hours in detail.

What Should I Order at Cook Out in Wilmington?

Start with a Cookout Tray — one entrée, two sides and a drink for about $7.39–$7.99 — and add a milkshake. The menu is the same chain-wide, so the Wilmington stores serve the same burgers, barbecue, hot dogs and 40+ shake flavors you will find anywhere else in North Carolina.

Prices are approximate and can vary by a few cents between stores. Cook Out accepts cash and cards. Popular shake flavors include banana pudding, cheesecake, peanut butter fudge and Oreo; see our milkshake menu, tray guide and full Cook Out menu for the complete lists.

For a beach cooler or a crowd, order several trays rather than a la carte; the tray is almost always the better value. If you are feeding a group on the way back from Carolina Beach, the Monkey Junction drive-thru is usually faster than fighting College Road traffic.

How Does Cook Out Compare to Wilmington’s Local Burger Spots?

Cook Out wins on price and late-night hours; Wilmington’s local grills win on atmosphere and made-to-order specialties. Most locals use both.

Cook Out’s real competition after midnight is other drive-thrus, and few of them combine a full burger, barbecue and hot dog menu with milkshakes at a similar price. That is why the College Road stores stay busy long after most of Wilmington has closed.

Where Are Other Cook Out Guides Near Wilmington?

The closest Cook Out guides to Wilmington cover Jacksonville, Myrtle Beach, Lumberton and the rest of North Carolina. Use them when you are driving out of the Cape Fear region.

Cook Out Wilmington FAQs

Answers to the questions people ask most.