Costco killed a hugely popular food-court menu item, and now furious customers are threatening to go to Sam's Club instead. Here's how the food courts compare. (2024)

Table of Contents
First, a recap of Costco's highlights. Costco has a fairly large amount on its menu considering it's a tiny kitchen hidden within a bulk retailer. The pizza is fine, but nothing astounding. There's a strange "chicken bake" that resembles a thin stromboli or calzone. The hot dog is a sleeper hit. Customers have the option to add ketchup, mustard, relish, onions, and sauerkraut (upon request) to the supersized dog. When we visited, the rotating menu item was an Italian sausage sandwich. Then, I stumbled upon the hidden gem of the Costco menu: the BBQ brisket sandwich. It's enormous. It's cheap. It's one of the best sandwiches ever. The meat is melt-in-your-mouth good. It's velvety, fatty, and rich — I'm not a barbecue expert by any means, so take this with a grain of salt, but I think it's purely divine. Overall, Costco's food is weirdly impressive — the absence of the Polish hot dog withstanding. So how does Sam's Club stack up? Sam's Club has less food, but a similar price point. First, the pizza. And the grease — good lord, the grease.Pools and pools of grease. The hot dog isn't that bad at all, and just like Costco's, it's an amazing deal. But this all-beef dog doesn't have as much flavor as Costco's; it's a rather bland dog, even with condiments added. The special this time was, by sheer coincidence, sausage, onion, and pepper sandwiches — the exact same thing Costco offered. There aren't enough peppers or onions, and the pork sausage is salty and dense. Then, something I didn't see at Costco: a cheeseburger. It's weird, but fairly good. The first bite is ... shockingly good. The second bite is just as good. Lastly, the warm churro, nearly as long as my forearm. So, what's the verdict? And yet ... Sam's Club's quality and selection just can't hold a candle to Costco's. FAQs

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Hollis Johnson

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Costco killed a hugely popular food-court menu item, and now furious customers are threatening to go to Sam's Club instead. Here's how the food courts compare. (1)

  • Costco and Sam's Club are extremely popular in the United States, and while memberships are needed to buy items, the food courts are open to all.
  • After Costco's recent decision to remove the much-loved Polish hot dog from its food-court menu, many loyal customers are vowing on Facebook to take their business to Sam's Club.
  • During a recent visit to both warehouse stores' food courts, we found that both had nearly identical set-ups and price points, but Costco's larger selection and shockingly good quality won out in the end.

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Costco and Sam's Club are shining basilicas of American bulk shopping.

Within their hallowed — and exclusive — corrugated-metal-and-concrete walls, shoppers grab pounds of pasta and peanut butter amid miles of aisles of marked-down goods.There is virtually nothing that isn't offered by these warehouse giants — coffins, cars, even vacation packages can be purchased through their services.

And no matter which warehouse store you're shopping in, you're bound to get hungry. Luckily, both Costco and Sam's Club have mini food courts to satiate hungry shoppers. While they may look rather bare-bones, make no mistake: under the right circumstances, the food can be shockingly good.

So good, in fact, that customers can become fanatics. Costco's recent removal of the beloved Polish hot dog from the food-court menu has infuriated many shoppers who are now taking to Costco's Facebook page to threaten to go to Sam's Club instead. There's even a Change.orgpetition to save the hallowed wiener — with over 500 signatures, and counting.

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We visited a Costco food court and were floored by the quality and downright deliciousness of some of the options — it was suspiciously good. But is it good enough to stem the flow of disgruntled diners making the switch to Sam's Club?

Here's what we saw on a recent trip:

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First, a recap of Costco's highlights.

Costco killed a hugely popular food-court menu item, and now furious customers are threatening to go to Sam's Club instead. Here's how the food courts compare. (2)

Hollis Johnson

Costco has a fairly large amount on its menu considering it's a tiny kitchen hidden within a bulk retailer.

Costco killed a hugely popular food-court menu item, and now furious customers are threatening to go to Sam's Club instead. Here's how the food courts compare. (3)

Hollis Johnson

This entire spread — cheese pizza, hot dog, three different sandwiches, a quasi-stromboli, a soda, and a churro — cost just over $25. That's pretty impressive.

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The pizza is fine, but nothing astounding.

Costco killed a hugely popular food-court menu item, and now furious customers are threatening to go to Sam's Club instead. Here's how the food courts compare. (4)

Hollis Johnson

It's a large, doughy, slice that's similar in taste to Pizza Hut — salty, with a slightly sweet sauce. It's nothing special, but for $1.99, I wasn't complaining.

There's a strange "chicken bake" that resembles a thin stromboli or calzone.

Costco killed a hugely popular food-court menu item, and now furious customers are threatening to go to Sam's Club instead. Here's how the food courts compare. (5)

Hollis Johnson

It's confusing yet delicious. It's full of melty cheese, chicken, and bacon — what more could you want?

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The hot dog is a sleeper hit.

Costco killed a hugely popular food-court menu item, and now furious customers are threatening to go to Sam's Club instead. Here's how the food courts compare. (6)

Hollis Johnson

For $1.50 — it comes with a soda, even — it's perhaps the best deal on the menu. And oddest of all, it's delicious. I've never had a hot dog this satisfying anywhere, so to find this in a Costco in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, is all the more astounding.

Though this standard hot dog will remain on Costco’s food-court menu, a variation of it, the Polish hot dog, is being phased out.

Customers have the option to add ketchup, mustard, relish, onions, and sauerkraut (upon request) to the supersized dog.

Costco killed a hugely popular food-court menu item, and now furious customers are threatening to go to Sam's Club instead. Here's how the food courts compare. (7)

Hollis Johnson

The bun is fluffy and sweet, but it holds up to even the juiciest assaults of relish, mustard, and ketchup without succumbing to sogginess.

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When we visited, the rotating menu item was an Italian sausage sandwich.

Costco killed a hugely popular food-court menu item, and now furious customers are threatening to go to Sam's Club instead. Here's how the food courts compare. (8)

Hollis Johnson

It wasn't spectacular, but it wasn't awful either. The bun, which was perfect with the hot dog, couldn't hold up to the super juicy onions and peppers, leaving a soggy mess. The sausage itself was cooked well, charred on the outside like a properly grilled sausage, but it lacked some spicy oomph.

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Then, I stumbled upon the hidden gem of the Costco menu: the BBQ brisket sandwich.

Costco killed a hugely popular food-court menu item, and now furious customers are threatening to go to Sam's Club instead. Here's how the food courts compare. (9)

Hollis Johnson

Let me preface this. One walks into Costco not even expecting food; the fact that they serve food is a surprise unto itself. One doesn't expect the food to be all that great, considering everything is under $5 and it looks like a roadside hot dog shack dragged inside a warehouse. And that's a fair assumption, frankly. But the food surprises you! It's generally good.

In comes the BBQ brisket sandwich.

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It's enormous. It's cheap. It's one of the best sandwiches ever.

Costco killed a hugely popular food-court menu item, and now furious customers are threatening to go to Sam's Club instead. Here's how the food courts compare. (10)

Hollis Johnson

Its unassuming brioche-style bun is piled high with tender brisket and coleslaw. The meat literally tumbles out of the sandwich — it's served with a cardboard belt around it to keep it in.

The meat is melt-in-your-mouth good. It's velvety, fatty, and rich — I'm not a barbecue expert by any means, so take this with a grain of salt, but I think it's purely divine.

Costco killed a hugely popular food-court menu item, and now furious customers are threatening to go to Sam's Club instead. Here's how the food courts compare. (11)

Hollis Johnson

The coleslaw adds a nice, crisp crunch and vinegary bite to help balance the savory notes.

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Overall, Costco's food is weirdly impressive — the absence of the Polish hot dog withstanding.

Hollis Johnson

There are a few odd moments — the pizza is lackluster, the Italian sausage was so-so — but overall, it's better than anyone initially expects. Not only that, most of the food is beyond acceptable, it's good. And the brisket sandwich — well, that is great.

So how does Sam's Club stack up?

Costco killed a hugely popular food-court menu item, and now furious customers are threatening to go to Sam's Club instead. Here's how the food courts compare. (13)

Hollis Johnson/Business Insider

The set-up is virtually the same — there's not much room for innovation when it comes to warehouse-store food joints.

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Sam's Club has less food, but a similar price point.

Costco killed a hugely popular food-court menu item, and now furious customers are threatening to go to Sam's Club instead. Here's how the food courts compare. (14)

Hollis Johnson/Business Insider

These five items cost just under $11 in total — not bad, considering just one item is a meal unto itself.

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First, the pizza.

Costco killed a hugely popular food-court menu item, and now furious customers are threatening to go to Sam's Club instead. Here's how the food courts compare. (15)

Hollis Johnson/Business Insider

I went for pepperoni this time. It's another enormous slice with enough real estate for 12 slices of pepperoni on it. That's a veritable pizza estate.

The slice is floppy, and each bite feels kind of rubbery. The dough is chewy with no crispiness whatsoever.

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And the grease — good lord, the grease.Pools and pools of grease.

Costco killed a hugely popular food-court menu item, and now furious customers are threatening to go to Sam's Club instead. Here's how the food courts compare. (16)

Hollis Johnson/Business Insider

It's practically the sixth Great Lake. While the pepperoni is plentiful and decent, it's not enough to save this pizza slice from sub-par mediocrity. Costco's isn't great, but it's better than this.

The hot dog isn't that bad at all, and just like Costco's, it's an amazing deal.

Costco killed a hugely popular food-court menu item, and now furious customers are threatening to go to Sam's Club instead. Here's how the food courts compare. (17)

Hollis Johnson/Business Insider

For $1.50 — same as Costco — you get a hot dog and a soda. And while hot dogs on their own don't amount to much, this is a pretty large dog. Not as large as Costco's, but close.

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But this all-beef dog doesn't have as much flavor as Costco's; it's a rather bland dog, even with condiments added.

Costco killed a hugely popular food-court menu item, and now furious customers are threatening to go to Sam's Club instead. Here's how the food courts compare. (18)

Hollis Johnson/Business Insider

The bun is your run-of-the-mill hot dog bun; no more, no less.

The special this time was, by sheer coincidence, sausage, onion, and pepper sandwiches — the exact same thing Costco offered.

Costco killed a hugely popular food-court menu item, and now furious customers are threatening to go to Sam's Club instead. Here's how the food courts compare. (19)

Hollis Johnson/Business Insider

Plus, the comparison was easy. Costco's version was messy but good; this version is easy but boring. The bun is extremely chewy bread, and it overwhelms everything within it.

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There aren't enough peppers or onions, and the pork sausage is salty and dense.

Costco killed a hugely popular food-court menu item, and now furious customers are threatening to go to Sam's Club instead. Here's how the food courts compare. (20)

Hollis Johnson/Business Insider

The whole thing is on the dry side — I needed a drink to help wash it down.

Then, something I didn't see at Costco: a cheeseburger.

Costco killed a hugely popular food-court menu item, and now furious customers are threatening to go to Sam's Club instead. Here's how the food courts compare. (21)

Hollis Johnson/Business Insider

And not just any cheeseburger: a bacon cheeseburger, for $2.99. My interest was immediately piqued.

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It's weird, but fairly good.

Costco killed a hugely popular food-court menu item, and now furious customers are threatening to go to Sam's Club instead. Here's how the food courts compare. (22)

Hollis Johnson/Business Insider

The weird bit that throws me is the circular piece of bacon. It seems too thin to be classified as Canadian bacon, so ... what is it? Does bacon come in circular slices? Have I led such a sheltered life that I was unaware of its existence? What else didn't I know?

While grappling with these questions, I put some ketchup and mustard on it.

The first bite is ... shockingly good. The second bite is just as good.

Costco killed a hugely popular food-court menu item, and now furious customers are threatening to go to Sam's Club instead. Here's how the food courts compare. (23)

By the third bite, I realized I had come across a pretty decent cheeseburger. The patty is thick and lightly charred, as though it was truly, honestly grilled. The cheese is classic American, and the bun is similarly simple. The condiment addition is necessary to add some acidic bite, but overall, it's a very tasty burger.

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Lastly, the warm churro, nearly as long as my forearm.

Costco killed a hugely popular food-court menu item, and now furious customers are threatening to go to Sam's Club instead. Here's how the food courts compare. (24)

Hollis Johnson/Business Insider

What can one say? A churro is a churro is a churro. They'll always be delicious. The hard, crunchy twisted exterior, dusted in sugar and cinnamon, gives way to a soft, fluffy, eggy inside. It's hard to mess up churros.

So, what's the verdict?

Costco killed a hugely popular food-court menu item, and now furious customers are threatening to go to Sam's Club instead. Here's how the food courts compare. (25)

Hollis Johnson/Business Insider

Sam's Club's food offerings are, on first glance, nearly identical to Costco's. And there are a lot of parallels, certainly: both are unsung, rough-around-the-edges food stands serving, more or less, basic American fare. Very basic.

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And yet ... Sam's Club's quality and selection just can't hold a candle to Costco's.

Costco killed a hugely popular food-court menu item, and now furious customers are threatening to go to Sam's Club instead. Here's how the food courts compare. (26)

Hollis Johnson/Business Insider

Costco's menu is larger, and a bit more ... well, fun. Brisket and chicken bakes and hot provolone sandwiches, galore! And its quality was shocking. Sam's Club's just seems on par for the course.

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Costco killed a hugely popular food-court menu item, and now furious customers are threatening to go to Sam's Club instead. Here's how the food courts compare. (27)

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Costco killed a hugely popular food-court menu item, and now furious customers are threatening to go to Sam's Club instead. Here's how the food courts compare. (29)

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Costco killed a hugely popular food-court menu item, and now furious customers are threatening to go to Sam's Club instead. Here's how the food courts compare. (2024)

FAQs

Is Costco food court unhealthy? ›

Most of the hot food at Costco's food court is high in calories, sodium, cholesterol, and saturated fat. Since the portion sizes are so large, you can cut the calories in half by splitting your order with another person or taking half to go and eating it another time.

What soda does Costco Food Court have? ›

The soda fountains at the Costco food courts were stocked with Coca-Cola products until 2013, when Costco switched to Pepsi products as a cost savings measure for the combo. As of 2018, Costco sold a yearly average of 135 million hot dogs, more than every Major League Baseball stadium combined.

Does Costco lose money from food court? ›

I can actually answer this for you! I work in the foodcourt and can definitely say that we do NOT make money off of our food. The $1.50 hot dog deal is called a 'Loss Leader' which means that it is used to draw in buyers for other higher priced items like the chicken bake, brisket sandwich, and our new item chilli.

What is the lawsuit against Costco food poisoning? ›

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of J. Huntington, who purchased the contaminated charcuterie at her local Costco retail outlet in December of 2023. She consumed the product over the holiday and became sick with salmonella poisoning shortly thereafter.

Why are Costco food court prices so cheap? ›

But Costco has a unique business model that allows it to keep prices low: It makes almost all of its money on memberships, selling items on its warehouse floor very nearly at cost – and sometimes less.

What is Costco cracking down on? ›

The retailer is cracking down on sharing membership cards with a new policy in which all cards will be scanned at store entrances. Costco said in a recent statement on its website: “Over the coming months, membership scanning devices will be used at the entrance door of your local warehouse.”

What brand of hot dog does Costco use? ›

Luckily, Costco answers this question with a 100% beef dog. Rest assured, you won't find any other meats in the chain's Kirkland Signature food court dogs. Costco used to use Hebrew National's wieners for its food court hot dogs. But eventually, the brand switched to the in-house Kirkland wiener.

Are Costco food court hot dogs healthy? ›

Nobody would claim that hot dogs are a healthy food option, given the amount of saturated fat and sodium they contain. Each wiener sold at the Costco food court will deliver you approximately 30% of your daily recommended value of saturated fat and 24% of your recommended sodium intake.

Is Costco food safe? ›

Costco Care includes ensuring that food is purchased, received, stored, prepared and kept Costco Clean and Safe by adhering to Costco food safety policies and procedures.

Is Costco pizza really 700 calories? ›

one slice of Costco pizza has 44 grams of protein in it? 44! On top of that, it has 650 calories, 75 grams of carbs, and 24 grams of fat.

What is the Costco Chicken scandal? ›

Costco breeds and slaughters approximately 100 million chickens per year. The shareholders alleged that Costco—which has near-total control over the genetics, lives, and deaths of the birds it sends to these contract growers—had abdicated its legal obligation to protect the animals.

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