Underrated fast food chain has 'best value meal' in US
Ella Scott
Featured Image Credit: Instagram/@cookout
An underrated American institution is being hailed as selling the ‘best food deal out there’ right now - with thousands of foodies jumping online to debate what the best order combination really is.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revealed earlier this year that, on average, adults acquire almost 12 percent of their daily calories from fast food.
And with mega food chains like Wendy’s, Chick-fil-A, and McDonald’s to eat from, it’s no wonder the US fast food industry is worth a staggering $417.5 billion, as reported by The Currency.
Other big dogs include Raising Cane's, Shake Shack, and Popeyes - but some TikTokers are making a serious case for another name: Cook Out.
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Cook Out, founded in 1989, is primarily a Southern-based fast-food chain, priding itself on its succulent North Carolina barbecue, grab-and-go burgers, quesadillas, and crispy chicken.
There are also 45 individual milkshake flavours to choose from, hushpuppies to chow down on, and everything from wraps, sandwiches, and hot dogs to munch.
If it’s your first time dining at the underrated restaurant, then the viral Cook Out Tray may be your best bet.
One TikToker called the Cook Out Tray - typically consisting of a main item, such as barbecue, sandwich, or chicken tenders, paired with two sides and a beverage - America’s ‘best value meal’, while someone else said that it ‘blows their mind’ that more people don’t know about it.
The user, @jacked_sun, whose Cook Out Tray order was a Double Burger with bacon, Cajun Fries, a Roos Taco, and a Large Coke Zero, revealed that the whole meal cost them $10.85 (£8.21).
In the caption, he wrote: “Best fast food deal out there!”
And it seems the TikTok hype does not stop there.
“Cook Out is the greatest fast food place of all time,” said another creator, who goes by the moniker @shontrizzy.
In his clip, the social media user explained that you ‘don’t go to Cook Out to ration’ your portions, you head there to snag ‘too much food for cheap’.
According to a dedicated Cook Out Tray website, one of the more popular combinations include: a Spicy Dog, accompanied by onion rings and sweet potato, washed down with a lemonade.
Another crowd-pleaser is the ‘light and fresh’ Grilled Chicken Sandwich, fruit cup, slaw, and bottled water cocktail.
Tray
— Wyer (@wyermush) October 26, 2025
Burger
Beef quesadilla
Cheese bites
Bacon cheddar dog
Cheerwine
First Cookout trip, how’d I do? pic.twitter.com/1e9WJLQOto
Redditors have been debating for years what they think the GOAT Cook Out food tray is, with one writing: “I can change your life: Cajun chicken tray, Cajun fries, corn dog, peanut butter fudge [milkshake]. You’re welcome.”
“Cheddar style burger. chicken quesadilla, fries. Cheerwine vanilla shake of course. Das it,” commented someone else.
A third reported that their pick is always a ‘Big double burger with two corndogs and a fudge shake’.
According to a report from Raleigh News & Observer, there are actually more than 54,000 possible combos at Cook Out - making it one of the most customisable fast food menus in America.
There are just shy of 360 Cook Out locations across 10 United States, including Virginia, Maryland, and Florida, among others, as per ScrapeHero.
A whopping 137 of those are located in North Carolina. So if you’ve been persuaded to try the endless Cook Out Tray combinations, you know where your next trip needs to be.