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The Cookout walking taco is a bag of chips with taco toppings, and it costs $2.39 at the menu board, the same price as a regular fries. The menu board lists it at 370 calories. Reviewers love it, shrug at it and ask whether it still exists, sometimes all in the same week.
What is the Cookout walking taco?
A single-serve bag of Doritos with a filling poured on top, eaten with a fork straight from the bag. What goes in the filling depends on who is describing it and where they ordered. Diners report chili, taco meat, jalapeños, cheese and lettuce, and no two stores read the same.
| Reviewer and location | What they report |
|---|---|
| Tripadvisor, Tuscaloosa, AL (March 2025) | Doritos with house chili and toppings; the chili is great and a fantastic partner for a burger |
| Tripadvisor, Sylva, NC | Jalapeños, meat, cheese and chips; tasty, though it could use a few more toppings |
| Tripadvisor, Fayetteville, NC | A taped-shut Doritos bag with taco filling dumped on the chips; either genius or laziness |
| Tripadvisor, Mount Airy, NC | Arrives with lettuce even when you ask for none, though staff fix it |
| Yahoo Local review, Mt. Sterling, KY | Got the walking taco but no fork |
The common thread is the chip bag. Cook Out's own price and calorie figures come from the menu board, and the item is not in the official nutrition PDF.
Is the Cookout walking taco still on the menu?
At many stores, yes, and at some, no. TikTok has pages titled "Does Cookout still serve walking tacos" and "Cookout walking tacos discontinued," and the posts under them show diners hunting for it. Recent creators still order it, including at locations in North Carolina and South Carolina.
The sister brand complicates the picture. Taco Roos, Cook Out's taco spin-off, tests a Doritos-bag taco inside select Cook Out locations in Wilmington, Thomasville and Charlotte, according to a TikTok review. A Yelp reviewer at the Wilmington Taco Roos describes the walking taco as a 1 oz bag of nacho cheese Doritos topped with taco-seasoned beef, shredded lettuce, sour cream and jalapeños for $3.04 with tax. Ask at the window before you plan a meal around it.
What do reviewers rate it?
| Source | Rating or verdict |
|---|---|
| TikTok reviewer | 10 out of 10; Absolute fire |
| TikTok reviewer | 8 out of 10, would get it again |
| TikTok reviewer | Pretty good |
| TikTok commenter | Pull it from the menu; objects to the Doritos |
| YouTube reviewer (older review) | Delicious |
| Tripadvisor, Tuscaloosa, AL | Recommended; the chili stands out |
| Tripadvisor, Fayetteville, NC | Unimpressed by the dump-and-tape presentation |
The ratings reward the chili and the price. The complaints are about presentation and consistency.
How do you eat a walking taco?
- Ask for a fork when you order. The bag is built to be eaten from, and a Mt. Sterling diner who left without one said so in a review.
- Say what you want off it at the window. Lettuce appears by default at some stores, and requesting none works only if the staff catch it.
- Crush the chips in the bag first so every bite carries filling.
- Eat it first. The chips go soft as the filling sits.
How does the walking taco compare with other sides?
It is a 370-calorie side at the price of fries. Regular Fries are $2.39 and 347 calories, and the Walking Taco is $2.39 and 370.
| Side | Price | Calories |
|---|---|---|
| Walking Taco | $2.39 | 370 (menu board) |
| Regular Fries | $2.39 | 347 |
| Cajun Fries | $2.39 | 350 |
| Onion Rings | $2.69 | 256 |
| Cheese Curds | $2.39 | 150 |
| Side of Chili | $3.98 | 164 |
Our sides menu and price guide list the rest. Chip brand and filling change the allergen picture, so ask the staff what is in your bag.
Can you make the walking taco at home?
People do, and the home versions follow one formula. The TikTok copycats call for mini bags of Doritos or Fritos, about 1.5 pounds of ground beef or turkey, a taco seasoning packet, a can of chili, a can of nacho cheese sauce and shredded cheddar. Those are home recipes, not Cook Out's, and the chili in the Tuscaloosa review suggests Cook Out leans on its own house chili.
Is the Cookout walking taco worth $2.39?
Yes, as a cheap, loud-flavored side that holds its own against fries, if your store still makes it. Ask for the chili, ask for a fork and expect the topping mix to vary.