Cook Out Beats McDonald’s as North Carolina’s Favorite Fast-Food Spot

Cook Out now stands as North Carolina's top fast-food pick, pushing past McDonald's in a fresh CouponBirds survey from Sept. 1. The study, which asked 3,263 Americans about their food choices, shows the chain winning hearts not just in its home state, but also leading in South Carolina and Tennessee.

The findings point to something striking: 12% of those asked said the local chain factored into their decision to stay put in North Carolina. "This loyalty goes beyond just liking a restaurant," CouponBirds stated in its report, per The Charlotte Observer. "These chains become part of people's identities and daily routines. They represent home in a way that national chains simply can't replicate."

While McDonald's keeps its crown as the nation's biggest burger seller with 13,400 spots, Cook Out has built its own strong following. Starting with one spot in Greensboro back in '89, Morris Reaves started something big.

Now the chain runs 300-plus stores. North Carolina claims 130 of these spots. They made their first sit-down place in High Point seven years after starting up.

The menu packs a punch with hot-off-the-grill burgers and chicken. You'll find Southern BBQ, wrapped-up quesadillas, and crispy corn dogs too. But the real magic happens at the shake counter: they mix up more than 40 kinds. Think creamy banana pudding, rich cappuccino, double chocolate hits, and cool mint chip blends.

USA Today 10Best gave Cook Out second place for Best Regional Fast Food two years running. Night owls flock here when other kitchens have gone dark.

The new survey paints a picture of America's food map. McDonald's wins in six states, from busy New York to wide-open Idaho. Culver's owns the Midwest crowd, while Sonic draws the biggest crowds across five middle states. Out west, In-N-Out Burger rules California and Nevada streets.

Next up for Cook Out: they're launching Taco Roos. New spots are coming to Charlotte and Raleigh, bringing beef, chicken, and fish tacos, plus loaded quesadillas and nachos to hungry folks.

This August's deep dive looked at what makes people reach for comfort food and how favorite spots shape where they live. CouponBirds, which helps shoppers find deals online, ran the whole study.