Cook Out: What’s Vegetarian Editorial Review

Cook Out wasn’t built with vegetarians in mind. The honest read is you’ll eat well on sides and milkshakes, not off the main board, since the chain’s whole identity is char-grilled burgers and North Carolina barbecue.

What to order at Cook Out

The Cheese Quesadilla is the closest thing to a real entree, a grilled flour tortilla folded over melted cheese with the chain’s signature sauce, and you can order it on its own or as the main of a Cook Out Tray. Build a tray with sides like French fries, Cajun fries, fried okra, hush puppies, or onion rings, and dress everything with free toppings like lettuce, tomato, pickles, grilled onions, and mustard. Then close with one of the more than 40 milkshake flavors, all spun from real ice cream.

What to watch out for

Almost everything fried shares oil with chicken and corn dogs, so treat fries, hush puppies, onion rings, fried okra, and white cheddar cheese bites as a question for your server rather than an automatic yes. The Cheese Quesadilla cooks on the same flat-top as the burgers and chicken, and Cook Out doesn’t publish its sauce ingredients, so ask if shared-surface contact matters to you. Baked beans may contain pork, and the cole slaw has egg in the mayo. None of the milkshakes are vegan since they’re all made with dairy.