The Fast Food Favorite We Wait All Year for Is Finally Back on Menus

Since moving to the South, I’ve had many first-time food experiences, including, but not limited to, Southern barbecue, proper beignets, and some very yummy mac and cheese. I’ve also discovered something surprising about fast food restaurants—a number of them are unique to the region. Think Zaxby’s, Bojangles, and Jack’s (which, I learned the hard way, is not the same as Jack in the Box). 

Of these newly discovered Southern staples, I’ve found one to be the holy grail: Cook Out. And, its summer fan-favorite item showcases exactly why this statement is true.

Cook Out’s Watermelon Milkshake Is Back for Summer

The first thing that boggled my mind when I tried Cook Out was how economical all the items were. From burgers to barbecue, the chain isn’t afraid to load you up with a lot of food for just a fraction of what other restaurants charge. I was pleasantly surprised when my order of chili cheese fries came overflowing with toppings.

In addition to the delicious meals, Cook Out also offers some mouth-watering desserts, like its famous milkshakes. With nearly 40 flavors, these creamy treats offer endless flavor possibilities. But, there’s one limited-time frozen drink fans—and our Allrecipes staff—go crazy for over all the rest.

The seasonal watermelon milkshake, available from July to August, features a vanilla base with watermelon bits blended in. People wait all year for its return, as evident from comments on the fast food restaurant’s post announcing its return: “Been waiting 10 months for this!”

Last year, one fan even called this treat “air conditioning in your mouth,” to which many agreed: “[This is the] perfect way to describe this specific milkshake. So refreshing,” and “AC in your mouth is the most accurate description of this milkshake ever.”

The milkshake’s reputation has also been upheld by our very own Allrecipes team. Take it from Editorial Operations Director, Victoria Heydt, “I adore this milkshake combo! You wouldn’t expect it, but the refreshing flavor of the watermelon combined with the clean and slightly sweet flavor of milk just slaps,” she explains. “Plus, there are small pieces of watermelon in the milkshake, which provide a great mouthfeel. All in all, it’s one of my favorite things about living in the South during summer.”

Editor Catherine Jessee holds a special place in her heart for the menu item as well, recounting, “There was absolutely nothing better than an ice-cold watermelon milkshake from Cook Out after a summer shift working in a kitchen. It was always a ‘no-no’ to talk about how hot you were cooking on the line, so to get around complaining we’d wax poetic about how good the limited edition treat would taste—the icy sweet granules of watermelon, always somehow bright red and ripe, and the famously creamy vanilla that Cook Out is known for. I don’t work in a kitchen anymore, but whenever I’m super hot in the summer and feel a little dreary or down, I imagine the same thing. Or better, I get myself to a Cook Out drive-thru stat!”

So, if your July and August travels take you to the fast food land of the South, be sure to stop by a Cook Out and pick up the coolest treat of the season.