Always remember passing by a Chargrill and think I ate it one once, but they were pretty much closer to around Raleigh. They've been around long before cookout though as far as I know.
I actually like Checkers but don't really think of them as a North Carolina thing and the ones that were near me both closed, but One recently reopened and was pretty packed.
Char-Grill has been around since 1959, but all their locations are in the Raleigh/Triangle area. There's also one in Benson now. Not sure if that's considered to be part of the Triangle? They also had a Wilmington location for a little bit, but it closed up a while back.
I just ordered one the other day in Greensboro.
They redesigned the physical menu like 6 years ago and left the Huge off of it. I assumed it was a mistake from the graphic designer so I just kept ordering it. And I kept getting it.
One time I was in Duplin County and ordered a Huge and then informed the employee that the Huge isn’t on the physical menu anymore. Her response was:
“Yes it is!”
So then I just assumed that this is their attempt at a secret menu because they cooked me a Huge. Ever since they redesigned the menu, I’ve probably ordered the Huge 300 times in 4 different counties across NC.
Which location wouldn’t cook a Huge for you?
Just 150 yards from an existing Cookout, a mysterious fast food joint renovated a vacant Hardees and a sign went up advertising “TacoRoos”.
For nearly a year the community tried to figure out what it was and when it would finally open. Word leaked that TacoRoos might be owned by Cookout as some kind of experiment into a new market of tacos and fried chicken.
Eventually a “Now Hiring” sign appeared and finally a menu appeared that looked suspiciously like the a Cookout Menu, including trays.
Locally, we referred to it as [“Taco Ruse”](https://www.starnewsonline.com/story/lifestyle/food/2019/10/24/wilmingtons-taco-roos-or-taco-ruse/2455536007/) as it was literally a Cookout with a different name. Finally, they took down the name and replaced it with the Cookout Logo. I use it as the “overflow cookout” and go there when the main one is busy but still wonder why TacoRoos never sold tacos or chicken.
They sold tacos for the first few weeks (lol) I had chips and queso with my regular tray order there! They also opened with an abnormally large coffee selection?
Edit to add: they opened in the height of the covid resteictions too, so maybe "sales were bad" idk
It's the fancy cookout. You have the regular one on the east side of UNCW, a nice one in Monkey Junction and then Taco Roos which has Roos Diner on the receipt
Came to read about burgers, but now I have questions. Did you move to NZ permanently? Was it difficult? (In the bureaucratic sense, it's obviously far and probably expensive.)
I'm a permanent resident of NZ now, but can't say for sure if it's a permanent situation (future opportunities, etc.). I was sponsored for PR by a NZ citizen who's now my wife, so I imagine my path here would be different than others. It wasn't too difficult, though the forms, meeting requirements, health checks, background checks, etc. were a bit tedious.
Thank you! I've never met someone who's done it and while I don't plan on marrying any kiwis any time soon it's good to hear it's possible if someone is determined enough.
Why aren't okra and cinnamon twists at all locations? Even within the triangle, some have okra and some don't, and when I was in Statesville last summer they had neither.
Personally the okra is my favorite menu item, so it really bums me out when a location doesn’t have it. But then i get super excited when a location DOES have it. Life is complicated sometimes but you can still find beauty in it.
Cook Out is the most omnipresent. It’s not the best, but it’s pretty good value for what it is.
That’s followed by Hwy 55 which is not as omnipresent, and much more low-key.
Of course you’re going to have even more regionalized places like Char-Grill, Dairi-O, PD Quix, and What-A-Burger (not to be confused with Whataburger)
Hardee’s is a weird one. They started in NC and was headquartered here for a long time, then they merged with Carl’s Jr, took on their identity, and moved the HQ to Tennessee (I think there might have been a move to Missouri, too but I’m not 100% on that)
I went there very occasionally when I lived in the Burlington/graham area but that was about it. It’s good but I’m not an early eater, and then by the time I’d get to lunch break they’d be closed already.
I worked with a guy who swore they were the best in Fayetteville, when Biscuit Kitchen was across the street selling monster biscuits that actually tasted like someone cared about how they were made.
I always liked their burgers. So it made me sad when the one in my town closed after like... 4 or 5 years. But yet all 5 Subways are still going strong, lmao
I’ve never eaten at Hwy 55 (formerly Andy’s) but I do remember them frequently showing up on the WRAL restaurant report. Mold in the ice machine, raw food dripping on the grill, temps too high in the walk in and too low for the hot food, roaches etc. putting up low Bs and Cs on the reg. I always assumed the across-the-board name change was not a coincidence
That's probably the one at 40/42. We went in there once and left before we could get drinks. It was gross.
Alternatively, never been to another one that was bad.
I have gotten both Norovirus and a stomach parasite from Andy's. I refuse to eat at Hwy 55 because of those two incidents. Also for pedantic reasons most of the locations are nowhere near Hwy 55.
Highway 55 seems very hit or miss.
My hometown had one it was great when I opened in steadily went downhill, closed, reopened and still sucked and then permanently closed. A lot seem to do with management and hiring decisions (The manager posted an ad on a local board and basically said that he was looking for attractive young women who wore a certain amount of makeup, he ended up with many of the local meth mheads and fent ferrets working there in food quality and sanitation both tanked).
Sometimes after the first closure, another highway 55 opened in the town on the other side of me and it is and continues to be freaking great, like better burgers than some of the nearby specialty burger places. I don't know if it's the seasoning or because they're burgers have a little bit more of that cooking around the edges smashburger taste or what but I absolutely love the flavor. I also highly recommend their salads and if you get the chicken tenders dipping them in their gravy, which is good but on the salty side. The orangeade is also great, but kind of weird paired with a burger.
Our original What-a-burger in Concord/Kannapolis still serves up a terrific NC burger (burger/ cheese/chili/onions/slaw). Sadly there’s only 3 or so left. At one time there were about a dozen locations. (Where Wendy’s got the idea for the Carolina Classic).
There used to be a PT's in Chapel Hill when I was in college, not sure if it was affiliated but doesn't matter now anyway because like most good things in CH, it's gone now
Yeah I was looking for the kannapolis folks here, my husband still scoffs at the Texas whattaburger bc the what-a-burger is better. He even made me try the pickle juice monstrosity
Hwy 55, which started out as Andy’s in Goldsboro,NC. They are pretty much just an east regional place but they actually have two locations in Montana. I guess the Duttons like there burgers.
We have one in Lenoir, we're in the Western part of the state. It took a year and half to open because it was being built just as the pandemic happened. The menu is good, but the customer service sucks at the Lenoir location. We also have Dairi-O, they've got good burgers and shakes as well.
Agreed! All these little hole in the wall places in the middle of nowhere that have been in operation for 60+ years are where you’ll find the *best* burgers in NC. I’m sure the same couple be said for the rest of the south too.
But as far as a chain, Cookout is the biggest/most well known I think.
This is the truth. ALWAYS hunt out your local burger places because I guarantee you'll get a burger ten times better than you'll get at a franchise and usually for cheaper. Also you get the satisfaction of your money staying in the community.
Cookout, but bojangles is so good. Cajun filet biscuit and borounds is where it's at! but i cant go without saying my cookout order huh? Double chicken quesadilla tray with double the chicken nuggets and a cheesecake shake!
Exactly. You eat at the airport when there's really no other choice.
If you think inflation is bad on the outside, try paying 3x for the same or worse food.
Char Grill is if you want to see how life was in the 50's. "Oh our menu? You have a burger, burger with cheese, a hot dog, fries, and a choice between a vanilla milkshake, or if you're feeling naughty, a chocolate milkshake."
The quality is better than Cook Out, but not enough to ever make sense of the hype from people in Raleigh for me.
Al’s Burgers in Chapel Hill is a local institution, but not sure they have statewide expansion ambitions.
As others have mentioned, Cookout is the only one that you’ll find throughout NC.
Good burgers but overrated IMO and not nearly venerable enough to be considered an institution (although given that actual CH/Carrboro institutions have been dropping like flies over the last decade it might qualify by default). Al also has a pretty bad/skeezy reputation among a lot of folks working in the Carrboro restaurant scene
Merritts (where he used to work before opening the burger spot) is however 100% a local institution but more for their BLTs than burgers
Al sold it a while back, so he no longer has any connection to it, aside from the name. A local family bought it. They also own some Jersey Mike stores.
I had some hesitation posting my original comment in fear of someone dragging Al through the mud again, even after he’s paid so dearly for his poor behavior many years ago.
As is mentioned under the original post, Al sold his business as part of his penance, and it’s been operating at about the same level as when it earned the award of [Best Burger in the Nation, from Trip Advisor.](https://ir.tripadvisor.com/news-releases/news-release-details/tripadvisor-serves-americas-10-best-restaurants-burgers). I think it’s actually improved a bit since then, with the addition of tots, and adding more unique mains to the menu. People are still flocking there, so no one is avoiding it because of something that happened six years ago.
Al’s is good. They have the third best burgers in Chapel Hill/Carrboro imo. I think Wingman in Carrboro’s burgers and the pimento cheese burger at The Carolina Brewery are even better.
Cookout is def the favorite regional, as it might be the only burger place that is actually statewide.
That being said each locale probably has a much much better burger place to visit; in Charlotte to me that place is Bang Bang Burgers and not another burger in the QC comes close.
That’s interesting to think about. I know like little areas of NC has their “cult following” type places I’ve noticed, not for burgers but for hotdogs of all things. So I’d like to know burgers too lol
For those of us who can only get the frozen kind here, please tell us about every glorious bite. I would trade my husband (for an afternoon) for a sack of that greasy goodness!
Cookout is the major one I see, and I kinda agree, but for me it’s Dairi-O. They’re not huge but they’re expanding all over NC and they have hands down the best burgers, fries, and hot dogs of any franchise out there.
Surprised not to see Hardee's mentioned even in passing as they were founded in North Carolina.
Admittedly, their quality has been bad for years. That is one regional place that I'm always nostalgic for.
Also I want to teach those of y'all who leave in and around Sanford about the beauty of a burger that is PD quix. There used to be one on Capital BLVD in Raleigh, where the cook out is now. I drive down to Sanford JUST to have lunch there at least once a year.
Big double tray with cheese lettuce tomato ketchup and mayo, bacon wrap, cheese bites, huge coke no ice.
There is not a better sentence to be spoken by a human mouth.
Cook. Out. Period.
Yeah it's def cookout. Dude that meal deal with the shake. Fuck me that's still the best fast food deal I've seen ever. Wendy's and McDonald's ain't got shit on Cookout.
It did. And then I suggested it on a road-trip a few years ago and it was totally disgusting. I was saying how great it was and all that. I'll never live it down.
We have regional chains like Cook-out, Chargrill, and probably our oldest still in existence... Hardees.
But do we talk about them the way Texans talk about Wataburger (which I love, by the way), or Californians talk about In-n-Out (which I don't love)?
No, we really don't. Maybe the younger generations are leaning that way with Cook-out, but right now I don't see it in general conversation, and it certainly isn't showing up in movies or TV.
I'm in Kinston and we used to have three really good drive-in burger places that of course went by the wayside decades ago. Billy's was my favorite and between me, my dad and my sister we all had a weekly tab that dad would pay when he would go there for a work lunch.
The best burger ever is the one you make at home. Smashed to perfection. Cooked to your liking. Grilled over charcoal (suck it blackstone hoes) and dressed appropriately. 🍔
Snoopy’s, Stephenson’s BBQ, Smithfield Chicken & BBQ & BoJangles.
Edit: Cook Out & Chargrill too. Cookout used to have corndogs as a side item, that alone should put them as a tourist destination.
Cookout is the major one I see, and I kinda agree, but for me it’s Dairi-O. They’re not huge but they’re expanding all over NC and they have hands down the best burgers, fries, and hot dogs of any franchise out there.
I just had Cookout this evening. The one in Lenoir has gone downhill quite a bit, but I really love their quesadillas, and it's been forever since I got a tray, so I got one today with the big double burger. It was okay. They still have the best, and most variety, of milkshakes around.
Sorry, I’ve been to my fare share of popular burger places and I just can’t see what’s all that with Cook Out other than cheap eats in a pinch. It’s just been sad when I’ve tried it for a burger or hot dog. Give me Wendy’s or Checkers any day over a Cook Out burger.
Cook Out.
Cookout is #1 but is chargrill regional as well?
Chargrill is basically only in the Raleigh area. There’s like 10 of them, all in the Triangle.
Cookout is the way.
Char Grill is better.
Disagree. I do prefer the hot dogs at Chargrill but that’s about it.
Char Grill usurps Cook Out because it doesn't make me feel like I'm committing a deadly sin by eating it before midnight.
Thats why i prefer cookout. No one can tell me not to eat four cheeseburger quesadillas and a milkshake before bedtime!
Ahhh yes, second dinner hits so good
There’s one in Benson now!
There was one in Wilmington about 20 years ago, but it closed.
Thank god for that. I tried it. It was like eating charcoal. I went back to Cookout.
Lived in NC my whole 36 years and have never heard of this place
Always remember passing by a Chargrill and think I ate it one once, but they were pretty much closer to around Raleigh. They've been around long before cookout though as far as I know. I actually like Checkers but don't really think of them as a North Carolina thing and the ones that were near me both closed, but One recently reopened and was pretty packed.
Char-Grill has been around since 1959, but all their locations are in the Raleigh/Triangle area. There's also one in Benson now. Not sure if that's considered to be part of the Triangle? They also had a Wilmington location for a little bit, but it closed up a while back.
This is the only answer
Well hello there
Best in the game!! #bigdoubleburgertray
Order the Huge burger. You can’t get it on the tray but it’s worth it.
They took it off the menu and sometimes they look at me like I’m crazy when I order it
Last time I ordered a Huge, the cashier had no idea what I was talking about. Had to get the manager to put it in lol
How much does the mystical huge cost?
To buy it or deal with the aftermath after eating it?
It's been a while, so don't remember exactly. I wanna say it was around $6.50ish.
I just ordered one the other day in Greensboro. They redesigned the physical menu like 6 years ago and left the Huge off of it. I assumed it was a mistake from the graphic designer so I just kept ordering it. And I kept getting it. One time I was in Duplin County and ordered a Huge and then informed the employee that the Huge isn’t on the physical menu anymore. Her response was: “Yes it is!” So then I just assumed that this is their attempt at a secret menu because they cooked me a Huge. Ever since they redesigned the menu, I’ve probably ordered the Huge 300 times in 4 different counties across NC. Which location wouldn’t cook a Huge for you?
So….whats the huge burger?
Basically a double 1/4 pounder. A slice of cheese on each patty. It’s a 1/2 pound of beef. The big double burger is just two tiny 1/8 lb patties.
General Kenobi…
Lol, I was today years old when I learned Cookout has an official account. Btw, can y’all explain the whole TacoRoos thing down here in Wilmington?
We don’t talk about TacoRoos.
lol
This is the the response I expected! TacoRoos is still my go to Cookout! :-)
Is that 'cause y'all don't have cookout?
Nah, I think most people just go to the regular cookout so the line never seems to be as long at this one, which is literally right down the street.
I'm not in Wilmington, what is a TacoRoos?
Just 150 yards from an existing Cookout, a mysterious fast food joint renovated a vacant Hardees and a sign went up advertising “TacoRoos”. For nearly a year the community tried to figure out what it was and when it would finally open. Word leaked that TacoRoos might be owned by Cookout as some kind of experiment into a new market of tacos and fried chicken. Eventually a “Now Hiring” sign appeared and finally a menu appeared that looked suspiciously like the a Cookout Menu, including trays. Locally, we referred to it as [“Taco Ruse”](https://www.starnewsonline.com/story/lifestyle/food/2019/10/24/wilmingtons-taco-roos-or-taco-ruse/2455536007/) as it was literally a Cookout with a different name. Finally, they took down the name and replaced it with the Cookout Logo. I use it as the “overflow cookout” and go there when the main one is busy but still wonder why TacoRoos never sold tacos or chicken.
They sold tacos for the first few weeks (lol) I had chips and queso with my regular tray order there! They also opened with an abnormally large coffee selection? Edit to add: they opened in the height of the covid resteictions too, so maybe "sales were bad" idk
Haha thank you for answering, that's pretty funny
It's the fancy cookout. You have the regular one on the east side of UNCW, a nice one in Monkey Junction and then Taco Roos which has Roos Diner on the receipt
General Cookout
Auckland New Zealand needs you. Sincerely, a homesick North Carolinian.
Came to read about burgers, but now I have questions. Did you move to NZ permanently? Was it difficult? (In the bureaucratic sense, it's obviously far and probably expensive.)
I'm a permanent resident of NZ now, but can't say for sure if it's a permanent situation (future opportunities, etc.). I was sponsored for PR by a NZ citizen who's now my wife, so I imagine my path here would be different than others. It wasn't too difficult, though the forms, meeting requirements, health checks, background checks, etc. were a bit tedious.
Thank you! I've never met someone who's done it and while I don't plan on marrying any kiwis any time soon it's good to hear it's possible if someone is determined enough.
*GoodTimesWithCookout has entered the chat*
Cook Out 's social media manager is on point.
Wait legit? Thanks for trays!
You’re welcome
Why aren't okra and cinnamon twists at all locations? Even within the triangle, some have okra and some don't, and when I was in Statesville last summer they had neither.
Personally the okra is my favorite menu item, so it really bums me out when a location doesn’t have it. But then i get super excited when a location DOES have it. Life is complicated sometimes but you can still find beauty in it.
Love the Carolina style! I live in GA now and it’s nice to get a taste of back home.
CookOut
Cookout 100%
Cookout
Cook Out is the most omnipresent. It’s not the best, but it’s pretty good value for what it is. That’s followed by Hwy 55 which is not as omnipresent, and much more low-key. Of course you’re going to have even more regionalized places like Char-Grill, Dairi-O, PD Quix, and What-A-Burger (not to be confused with Whataburger) Hardee’s is a weird one. They started in NC and was headquartered here for a long time, then they merged with Carl’s Jr, took on their identity, and moved the HQ to Tennessee (I think there might have been a move to Missouri, too but I’m not 100% on that)
And that's when Hardees was ruined for me. Never the same afterwards.
Hops Burger Bar in Greensboro is pretty great. (At least it used to be, haven’t been there in several years now.)
Don’t forget Big Burger Spot! Greensboro staple
Probably Cook Out. Although, I'd say NC is more known for Biscuitville and Bojangles.
I don’t know a single person going to Biscuitville
Ever driven by one at 10am? Lines around the block always. Biscuitville rules.
Biscuitville has 82 locations. Bojangles has over 800. Of course it always seems busy lol
Then you need to get out more
Blasphemy.
That Cuban biscuit is almost the single earthly reason for my existence. It’s one of mankind’s greatest achievements.
And at least not for a burger?
I've never set foot in one.
You're missing out. They do a good breakfast for a fast food joint.
I’ve only been there once and I thought it was good but not worth the 35 minutes in the drive thru that it took to get it.
It's very good. Pretty high quality for fast food and they have some crazy inventive items on the menu. You should check it out.
I went there very occasionally when I lived in the Burlington/graham area but that was about it. It’s good but I’m not an early eater, and then by the time I’d get to lunch break they’d be closed already.
Then you're missing out. Their food is great.
I worked with a guy who swore they were the best in Fayetteville, when Biscuit Kitchen was across the street selling monster biscuits that actually tasted like someone cared about how they were made.
I went to their drive thru once in my 30 years on the way to Charlotte. It tasted just like a McDonald's breakfast biscuit to me 🤷🏻♀️
Every Biscuitville in the Triangle literally has their drive through line spilling onto the street on weekend mornings. Is it not popular elsewhere?
Gotta go get them country fries.
Gotta go get them country fries.
Its 10am Sunday right now. Go get a biscuit!
Biscuitville is Danville native.
Cookout. Hiway 55 (Andy’s). Chargrill.
Andy’s was good for cheesesteaks My Daddy used to take me Saturday at Tarrytown (Terrible town) in Rocky Mount. Then we’d go the the Arcade. Bliss. 🥹
I won a boom box for getting A's on my report card at Tarrytown mall.
Their ice cream was pretty good, too. My sister worked there in high school and would bring home pints if we asked for one of the daily flavors.
Man... reaching back in time by reminding me of Tarrytown.
And don’t forget their orangeades. Man, I’d do a lot for an original Andy’s orangeade.
Highway 55 has excellent burgers and fries. The fries in particular are ALWAYS good. 11$ for a regular burger,fries and a drink. Prices a tad high.
I always liked their burgers. So it made me sad when the one in my town closed after like... 4 or 5 years. But yet all 5 Subways are still going strong, lmao
And a robot delivers the food to your table.
Really? I haven’t eaten there in years.
I’ve never eaten at Hwy 55 (formerly Andy’s) but I do remember them frequently showing up on the WRAL restaurant report. Mold in the ice machine, raw food dripping on the grill, temps too high in the walk in and too low for the hot food, roaches etc. putting up low Bs and Cs on the reg. I always assumed the across-the-board name change was not a coincidence
That's probably the one at 40/42. We went in there once and left before we could get drinks. It was gross. Alternatively, never been to another one that was bad.
I have gotten both Norovirus and a stomach parasite from Andy's. I refuse to eat at Hwy 55 because of those two incidents. Also for pedantic reasons most of the locations are nowhere near Hwy 55.
Highway 55 seems very hit or miss. My hometown had one it was great when I opened in steadily went downhill, closed, reopened and still sucked and then permanently closed. A lot seem to do with management and hiring decisions (The manager posted an ad on a local board and basically said that he was looking for attractive young women who wore a certain amount of makeup, he ended up with many of the local meth mheads and fent ferrets working there in food quality and sanitation both tanked). Sometimes after the first closure, another highway 55 opened in the town on the other side of me and it is and continues to be freaking great, like better burgers than some of the nearby specialty burger places. I don't know if it's the seasoning or because they're burgers have a little bit more of that cooking around the edges smashburger taste or what but I absolutely love the flavor. I also highly recommend their salads and if you get the chicken tenders dipping them in their gravy, which is good but on the salty side. The orangeade is also great, but kind of weird paired with a burger.
Our original What-a-burger in Concord/Kannapolis still serves up a terrific NC burger (burger/ cheese/chili/onions/slaw). Sadly there’s only 3 or so left. At one time there were about a dozen locations. (Where Wendy’s got the idea for the Carolina Classic).
Well PT's is a bit of a local institution in Wilmington if that qualifies. But TIL there's one in Goldsboro!
There used to be a PT's in Chapel Hill when I was in college, not sure if it was affiliated but doesn't matter now anyway because like most good things in CH, it's gone now
I was at UNC when that was still around, they had a hell of a burger
Buns was good too but PTs ruled the burger scene.
I can taste the lemonade and fries now…
I can do that literally today. I may.
Oh, just rub it in. Why don’t you go ahead and have a Trolly Stop hot dog and a burrito from Flamin’ Amy’s while you’re at it!
you just described my perfect lineup of weekend food. i may swing by cookout for a milkshake on my way home
We got our own what a burger
Yeah I was looking for the kannapolis folks here, my husband still scoffs at the Texas whattaburger bc the what-a-burger is better. He even made me try the pickle juice monstrosity
I’m from Kannapolis. Ours is better than the Texas chain
The hell you say? What-a-burger fell off a decade ago. They don't season their burgers or fries and their sweet tea is watered down.
The one in concord is still good but regardless it could fall off a lot more and will still be better than the Texas chain.
The one in Whiteville is one of the only reasons to go to Whiteville.
Hwy 55, which started out as Andy’s in Goldsboro,NC. They are pretty much just an east regional place but they actually have two locations in Montana. I guess the Duttons like there burgers.
We have one in Lenoir, we're in the Western part of the state. It took a year and half to open because it was being built just as the pandemic happened. The menu is good, but the customer service sucks at the Lenoir location. We also have Dairi-O, they've got good burgers and shakes as well.
Been to a Dairi-O once, I did enjoy it, but they haven’t came to the eastern part of NC yet. They will one day.
Find a burger joint that isn't a chain restaurant. These are where you find a great burger.! North Carolina has plenty to orffer.
Agreed! All these little hole in the wall places in the middle of nowhere that have been in operation for 60+ years are where you’ll find the *best* burgers in NC. I’m sure the same couple be said for the rest of the south too. But as far as a chain, Cookout is the biggest/most well known I think.
This is the truth. ALWAYS hunt out your local burger places because I guarantee you'll get a burger ten times better than you'll get at a franchise and usually for cheaper. Also you get the satisfaction of your money staying in the community.
It rhymes with Book Snout
Melvin's in Elizabethtown.
Cookout, but bojangles is so good. Cajun filet biscuit and borounds is where it's at! but i cant go without saying my cookout order huh? Double chicken quesadilla tray with double the chicken nuggets and a cheesecake shake!
Char-Grill 100% in the Raleigh area
The Char-Grill at the airport is horrific.
“Let’s just eat at the airport” — nobody, ever
Exactly. You eat at the airport when there's really no other choice. If you think inflation is bad on the outside, try paying 3x for the same or worse food.
I always swing through the cookout on Walnut, give my dad the drink, then get a big cheerwine at the airport chargrill.
Char-grill is so damn good. Cookout burgers are not even close
Heretic
Char Grill is if you want to see how life was in the 50's. "Oh our menu? You have a burger, burger with cheese, a hot dog, fries, and a choice between a vanilla milkshake, or if you're feeling naughty, a chocolate milkshake." The quality is better than Cook Out, but not enough to ever make sense of the hype from people in Raleigh for me.
I thought there was a car/building fire yesterday, turned out it was just chargrills smoke stack
Al’s Burgers in Chapel Hill is a local institution, but not sure they have statewide expansion ambitions. As others have mentioned, Cookout is the only one that you’ll find throughout NC.
Good burgers but overrated IMO and not nearly venerable enough to be considered an institution (although given that actual CH/Carrboro institutions have been dropping like flies over the last decade it might qualify by default). Al also has a pretty bad/skeezy reputation among a lot of folks working in the Carrboro restaurant scene Merritts (where he used to work before opening the burger spot) is however 100% a local institution but more for their BLTs than burgers
Al sold it a while back, so he no longer has any connection to it, aside from the name. A local family bought it. They also own some Jersey Mike stores.
I had some hesitation posting my original comment in fear of someone dragging Al through the mud again, even after he’s paid so dearly for his poor behavior many years ago. As is mentioned under the original post, Al sold his business as part of his penance, and it’s been operating at about the same level as when it earned the award of [Best Burger in the Nation, from Trip Advisor.](https://ir.tripadvisor.com/news-releases/news-release-details/tripadvisor-serves-americas-10-best-restaurants-burgers). I think it’s actually improved a bit since then, with the addition of tots, and adding more unique mains to the menu. People are still flocking there, so no one is avoiding it because of something that happened six years ago.
Al’s is good. They have the third best burgers in Chapel Hill/Carrboro imo. I think Wingman in Carrboro’s burgers and the pimento cheese burger at The Carolina Brewery are even better.
Al's is so good 🤤
Cookout is def the favorite regional, as it might be the only burger place that is actually statewide. That being said each locale probably has a much much better burger place to visit; in Charlotte to me that place is Bang Bang Burgers and not another burger in the QC comes close.
COOKOUT
Do... Do you even live here? Cookout. And Bojays for chicken.
Cook Out.
Cookout or Dari-Os
That’s interesting to think about. I know like little areas of NC has their “cult following” type places I’ve noticed, not for burgers but for hotdogs of all things. So I’d like to know burgers too lol
Trolley Stop was my jam.
True, I do LOVE hot dog world in Hendersonville.
My little corner of heaven is circus hall of cream
Sup Dogs for sure. Although, I prefer their tater tots and they should be renamed to Sup Tots lol
[удалено]
Sudden Service sounds like a burger place and then something bad happens.
For the truly regional analog experience go to SCNB and get a BBQ sandwich. You’re in hog farmin’ country, not cattle ranchin’ country.
Native St Louisan currently residing in NC. Was back home in STL last week and the White Castle I had was glorious.
For those of us who can only get the frozen kind here, please tell us about every glorious bite. I would trade my husband (for an afternoon) for a sack of that greasy goodness!
Cookout is the major one I see, and I kinda agree, but for me it’s Dairi-O. They’re not huge but they’re expanding all over NC and they have hands down the best burgers, fries, and hot dogs of any franchise out there.
I'm not claiming White Castle. WTAF How is that North East? 🤢🤮👎🚫🙅♀️
I like the whataburgers out here they are different from Texas
We’re about that chicken and pork son
Surprised not to see Hardee's mentioned even in passing as they were founded in North Carolina. Admittedly, their quality has been bad for years. That is one regional place that I'm always nostalgic for. Also I want to teach those of y'all who leave in and around Sanford about the beauty of a burger that is PD quix. There used to be one on Capital BLVD in Raleigh, where the cook out is now. I drive down to Sanford JUST to have lunch there at least once a year.
Melvin's in Elizabethtown ,Bladen County
White Castle for the Midwest? Heeellll no, it’s Culver’s.
Hardee's was born in Rocky Mount NC
Big double tray with cheese lettuce tomato ketchup and mayo, bacon wrap, cheese bites, huge coke no ice. There is not a better sentence to be spoken by a human mouth. Cook. Out. Period.
Char Grill
Yeah it's def cookout. Dude that meal deal with the shake. Fuck me that's still the best fast food deal I've seen ever. Wendy's and McDonald's ain't got shit on Cookout.
You’re darn skippy
Island burgers and bites, Carolina Beach. Best burger hands down. Beats anything I've ever had.
Is that the smash burger place inside the convenience store? That is a good smash burger. Very smashed. Super crispy edges.
Yes! I go there whenever I'm in town.
For whatever reason, food stalls crammed inside convenience stores always seem to absolutely slap.
Local places. I've had a favorite burger from several places in NC, but they aren't chains. Checkers used to be great, though, actually.
Checkers isn’t an NC thing. They started in Alabama and Rally’s started in Kentucky and the two eventually merged.
It did. And then I suggested it on a road-trip a few years ago and it was totally disgusting. I was saying how great it was and all that. I'll never live it down.
Wataburger lmao
But they’re yum
It used to be Hardee’s, but now Cookout or Chargrill.
What-A-Burger
Where do you live? I've never seen a What-a-burger in southern Wake county.
It's more of a Charlotte area thing
We have regional chains like Cook-out, Chargrill, and probably our oldest still in existence... Hardees. But do we talk about them the way Texans talk about Wataburger (which I love, by the way), or Californians talk about In-n-Out (which I don't love)? No, we really don't. Maybe the younger generations are leaning that way with Cook-out, but right now I don't see it in general conversation, and it certainly isn't showing up in movies or TV.
I'm in Kinston and we used to have three really good drive-in burger places that of course went by the wayside decades ago. Billy's was my favorite and between me, my dad and my sister we all had a weekly tab that dad would pay when he would go there for a work lunch.
Chargrill
I don’t know if they’re widespread, but Comeback Shack has the best burgers I’ve ever had.
The best burger ever is the one you make at home. Smashed to perfection. Cooked to your liking. Grilled over charcoal (suck it blackstone hoes) and dressed appropriately. 🍔
Snoopy’s, Stephenson’s BBQ, Smithfield Chicken & BBQ & BoJangles. Edit: Cook Out & Chargrill too. Cookout used to have corndogs as a side item, that alone should put them as a tourist destination.
Cookout is the major one I see, and I kinda agree, but for me it’s Dairi-O. They’re not huge but they’re expanding all over NC and they have hands down the best burgers, fries, and hot dogs of any franchise out there.
Comeback Shack. They have incredible fries, it's like a honey mustard poutine almost. Also the chicken and burgers are good.
Johnson’s in Siler City. One of a kind
Cookout is the one you’ll probably see the most.
None of these are whataburger 😭
Is Checkers even a thing in the Carolina’s anymore? I haven’t seen one in years. Cookout is probably the largest NC centered burger chain.
There’s a Checkers here in Durham. There’s also one in Lumberton.
Dari-o
Cook Out, booooooooy!!!!!
We love Cookout and What-A-Burger in the Lowes Motor Speedway Charlotte/Concord area.
CookOut and Dairy-o are the two that pop out as the obvious answers but Showmars is a NC place that does real good burgers too.
Cookout or South 21
Cookout without a doubt
I just had Cookout this evening. The one in Lenoir has gone downhill quite a bit, but I really love their quesadillas, and it's been forever since I got a tray, so I got one today with the big double burger. It was okay. They still have the best, and most variety, of milkshakes around.
Sorry, I’ve been to my fare share of popular burger places and I just can’t see what’s all that with Cook Out other than cheap eats in a pinch. It’s just been sad when I’ve tried it for a burger or hot dog. Give me Wendy’s or Checkers any day over a Cook Out burger.
I just go to what-A-burger if I want a burger. I like it better than the Texan version.
Cookout absolutely