Cook Out vs Steak 'n Shake: Menu Prices Compared (2026)

Updated August 15, 2026 5 items matched

The short answer

Cook Out is the cheaper of the two. Of the 5 directly comparable items we could match across both menus, Cook Out is cheaper on 5 of them, by an average of $0.96 per item.

Typical menu price: Cook Out $4.79 · Steak 'n Shake $5.79

Matched Items, Side by Side

The same item on both menus, priced against each other. Where names differ, we matched the closest equivalent — Cook Out's wording first.

Item	Cook Out	Steak 'n Shake	Difference
Grilled Chicken Sandwich	$5.29	$7.29	$2.00 cheaper at Cook Out
Onion Rings	$2.79	$4.29	$1.50 cheaper at Cook Out
Fountain Drink (large)	$2.79	$3.29	$0.50 cheaper at Cook Out
Fountain Drink (regular)	$2.29	$2.79	$0.50 cheaper at Cook Out
Bottled Water	$1.99	$2.29	$0.30 cheaper at Cook Out

Make Cook Out and Steak 'n Shake at Home

Whichever of the two wins on price, cooking the favorites at home beats both. These are the sauces, mixes and kitchen tools that get closest to the real thing.

Milkshake Maker Diner-style shakes at home in about a minute. Check price on Amazon Burger Press Uniform smash-style patties in seconds. Check price on Amazon Cast Iron Griddle The crust fast-food flat-tops are known for. Check price on Amazon Copycat Restaurant Recipes Cookbooks that recreate chain-restaurant favorites. Check price on Amazon

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Cook Out vs Steak 'n Shake at a Glance

	Cook Out	Steak 'n Shake
Typical menu price	$4.79	$5.79
Average menu price	$5.16	$5.84
Cheapest item	Coleslaw — $1.99	Coffee — $2.29
Most expensive item	Double Burger Plate — $9.99	Chicken Fingers Combo — $11.29
Items priced	43	44
Menu sections	6	6
Price range	$	$
Founded	1989	1934
Headquarters	Thomasville, North Carolina	Indianapolis, Indiana
Locations	About 300 restaurants across the Southeast	About 400 restaurants, largely in the Midwest and South

Which One Should You Order From?

Cook Out has the lower typical menu price of the two — $4.79 against $5.79 — but a typical price only tells you where the middle of the menu sits. At the value end, Cook Out gets you in cheaper at $1.99.

Cook Out is strongest on Cook Out Tray, Big Double Burger, Cajun Chicken Sandwich; Steak 'n Shake on Original Double 'n Cheese Steakburger, Hand-Dipped Milkshake, Garlic Steakburger. Neither chain's app prices match the counter, and both discount heavily through their loyalty programmes, so the deals below usually matter more than the few cents between the two menus.

Deals Worth Knowing at Both

Cook Out

The Cook Out Tray at $7.49 to $8.79 includes an entree, two sides and a drink — the cheapest complete combo of any national or regional chain.
Upgrading the tray drink to a milkshake for $2.99 costs less than buying the shake separately at $4.29.
Cook Out stays open until 3:00 or 4:00 AM, which makes it one of the only late-night sit-down-quality options in much of the Southeast.

Steak 'n Shake

Most locations run half-price milkshakes in the afternoon — typically after 2:00 PM — which takes a $5.29 shake down to about $2.65.
Ordering at the in-store kiosk rather than through delivery avoids the platform markup, which at Steak 'n Shake is steep.
A double Steakburger combo at $10.59 includes two patties, fries and a drink — competitive with single-patty combos elsewhere.

About these prices: menu prices are set by individual franchise owners and change without notice. The figures on this page are researched estimates for 2026 and are provided for reference only. Confirm the current price with the restaurant before ordering. Menu Price Book is not affiliated with this chain.

Cook Out vs Steak 'n Shake — FAQ

Is Cook Out cheaper than Steak 'n Shake in 2026?

Cook Out is cheaper on most matched items — 5 of 5. Across the whole menu Cook Out is the lower-priced of the two, at $4.79 for a typical item against $5.79 at Steak 'n Shake.

What is the price difference between Cook Out and Steak 'n Shake?

On matched items the average difference is $0.96, or about 12% overall. Cook Out averages $5.16 across 40 priced items; Steak 'n Shake averages $5.84 across 44.

Which has the cheaper entry price, Cook Out or Steak 'n Shake?

Cook Out starts at $1.99 (Coleslaw) and Steak 'n Shake at $2.29 (Coffee).

Are these prices the same at every location?

No. Both chains let franchise owners set prices, so figures move by a dollar or more between markets and run highest at airport, stadium and highway locations. Treat these as the typical U.S. price, not a quote.