Driving to campus on my morning commute, I noticed the Cook Out near Randall Drive had a new sign on the side of the building. Bright yellow and green letters stood out against the brick reading “Taco Roos.”

What are Taco Roos? Did Cook Out close down? Talk started circulating around campus and I knew it was my time to investigate and taste this addition for myself. 

Taco Roos is a spin-off restaurant from the N.C.based chain Cook Out, located at 429 College Road. Taco Roos has two locations, one in Thomasville, N.C. and the other here in Wilmington. With little to no advertising or publicity of Taco Roos, it leaves customers wondering about this new addition. However, the specific placement of this new chain being near a college campus is free advertisement as is. The location has easy access from UNCW campus and dine-in options. This specific Cook Out is home to the new Taco Roos.  

Did Cook Out change its entire menu? Is Taco Roos its own separate restaurant inside of Cook Out? 

Short answer, no.

The original Cook Out menu is still intact inside and in the drive-thru with the addition of the Taco Roos menu. Cook Out is famously known for having cheap, fast and somewhat decent quality burgers, hotdogs and milkshakes. Why not add tacos to the wide range menu?

Having Taco Roos placed in a predominantly student location allows for mediocre fast food at a decently priced rate. The Taco Roos menu offers limited items compared to the vast Cook Out menu; however, the menu prices are what caught my attention. For a grand total of $12.69, I purchased four items: Roos Walkin’ Taco, Roos Chicken Street Taco, a beef quesadilla and a regular sized drink. 

Roos Walkin’ Taco

The Walkin’ Taco is for sure a portable, fast and delicious way to have a taco on the go. The taco comes in a single serve Doritos nacho cheese flavored bag filled with beef, lettuce, sour cream and cheese, with the addition of making it hot with fresh jalapeños. 

The quality of the ingredients were fresh, especially the jalapeño. The spice level was perfect for those who want a quick bite of heat but not intolerable to consume. With the cheese and sour cream to tame the spice, I highly recommend adding the jalapeño for something fresh but subtle. As you eat your way through the bag, all of the flavorful ground beef is found at the bottom mixed with the Doritos. The salty-smoky spices pair well with the ground beef and light ingredients on top and the crunch of a Doritos chip. The Walkin’ Taco is a step up from a basic to-go taco, especially for the price of $3.69. This fun take on a taco sticks out on the Taco Roos menu. 

The concept of a taco in a Doritos bag is brilliant; however, the execution of the presentation is not so neat. Upon opening the paper bag that it had been served in, I almost opened the entire Walkin’ Taco into the bottom of the paper bag. There was no secure “sealing” measure, which could lead to eating your taco out of a paper bag instead of a Doritos chip bag.

Roos Chicken Street Taco

Roos Chicken Street Taco is a soft shelf flour tortilla stuffed with cheese, chicken, the special Roos sauce and lettuce that was toasted to perfection. The taco was served in a to-go box with a side of salsa and sour cream. 

The single taco sat in the box neatly and was stuffed adequately. The first bite was filled with cheesy goodness and mixed with tender, juicy chicken. Another bite was filled with more chicken and a special sauce that was creamy and had a smoky chipotle flavor. The special sauce did not overpower the taco but allowed for it to enhance the overall flavor in my mouth. The freshness of the lettuce paired well with the savory taco, but became overwhelming in some bites with its abundance.  

This taco is what you expect a taco to be—messy, but the good kind. However, as I kept digging in, something felt missing—–the salsa. I dipped the taco into the side of the salsa and was taken back by the crispness of the salsa paired with the taco and the sour cream. The two combinations elevated the overall flavor of the taco, making it almost feel as if I wasn’t sitting in a Cook Out anymore. 

While this taco has basic ingredients, it was packed full of flavor that I was not expecting. I appreciated salsa and sour cream being on the side, especially for those who do not prefer those two toppings. This item was $3.69 which I find to be a bit pricey for a singular taco, especially from Cook Out. However, Taco Roos menu does offer a variety of smaller menu items such as quesadillas, chips and salsa and guacamole to pair with the taco to make the meal more filling. 

Beef Quesadilla 

Wrapped in foil, the quesadilla contained cheese and beef. The quesadilla fell a little flat compared to the other two menu items. The first bite was dry and bland. I took another bite to give the quesadilla another change but was only to be let down again with dryness. One side of the quesadilla was overcooked leaving a burnt taste in my mouth. I dipped the quesadilla in the leftover salsa to help with the overall dryness, which drastically improved its quality. The quesadilla was only $1.99, but, for the quality of this menu item, it was not worth it. 

Taco Roos is a contender for fast, cheap and quite delicious tacos compared to other chains in Wilmington. While the menu is limited and the promotion of the taco joint is obsolete, Taco Roos is a perfect stop for a cheap taco. With Cook Out being the hot spot for UNCW students to have late night feasts at, Taco Roos is now in the picture and looks like it is going to stay awhile.