13 Costco Food Court Menu Items We (Deeply) Miss

One of the best Costco shopping hacks is bribing yourself with a substantial, quick meal or snack at a great price right after you complete your shopping. You don't even have to leave the store to find something you love, as the food court is on your way out.

But the food court has both blessed and cursed us over the years. Many of our greatest downfalls of the last decade include the discontinuation of tasty, quick, fresh food items at Costco.

We've rounded up 13 Costco food court items we deeply, desperately wish were still around.

Editor's note: For the most updated information, click here. 

The perfect, spiced crunch with airy dough on the inside — the Costco churro — was a cheap, $1 godsend at the end of a long shopping trip. In 2020, they were taken off the menu, much to the dismay of dedicated fans everywhere. In 2021, the store ran a limited release of frozen twisted churros. Fans rejected those, and the food court no longer serves them.

Costco is known to have some incredible slices of cheese or pepperoni pizza available in their food court. But there was a time when you could score something a bit more extravagant as well: the combo slice. This fan-fave, topped with vegetables, pepperoni, and sausage, was inexplicably discontinued in 2020. Redditor Substantial-Fig6804 mourned, "combo pizza my beloved :(."

Costco's food court used to have phenomenal — and big — fresh-baked soft pretzels. The fan favorite? The cinnamon sugar pretzel: a pillowy, beautiful ring of dough with the perfect amount of butter, spices, and powdered sugar sprinkled on top. Discontinued over a decade ago, the $1 treat was a little bit of heaven on Earth, and every replacement has been incomparable.

We're not sure why Costco has discontinued so many staple dessert items in their food court, but losing this one in 2013 really hurt. The fresh, hand-dipped ice cream was an elevated experience, and you could add almonds to it for a tasty crunch. It only cost consumers $1.50, and many fans remember them as "amazing."

Lots of folks grew up enjoying the juicy pop of flavor in the Polish hot dog at the Costco food court. In 2018, the franchise discontinued the item in all U.S. locations to focus on a healthier, all-beef hot dog and simplify their menu options. Fans lost it. Redditor nevillelevel admitted: "No Polish dog and no chili is legit upsetting."

While a few stores claimed to have had this item on their menu as recently as 2023, it seems most Costco locations took the BBQ brisket sandwich off the menu between 2018 and 2020.

Redditor Maleficent-Onion-779 fondly remembers: "They were yummy and served with a slaw. I don't even like cole slaw, but in this sandwich? It all worked."

Several fan favorites disappeared from the menu in 2018 to make way for healthier options. One of those replacements — the acai bowl — was less than $5 but had a high sugar content and didn't last very long. It disappeared from the menu during Covid, never to be seen again.

"It was my favorite item, and I miss it dearly," mourns Redditor babymonsters2.

Another pandemic-era loss, this fan favorite disappeared from the food court menu for nearly three years. The chicken Caesar salad had been an easy way to get a sizable, nutritious meal for $5 or less. Then, it cropped back up on the menu about two years ago with rotisserie chicken instead of chicken strips.

But this time? People are less impressed. "It is definitely not the same salad as they had before [the] pandemic," explains Redditor chaosrandomness.

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This fudgy, layered, dense chocolate cake was decadent — and weighed a whopping seven pounds. Fans compared the frosting to brownie batter and said it was perfect for any occasion. Costco crushed our dreams and discontinued the cake in 2020.

There is a Change.org petition to bring it back with almost 9,000 signatures.

If you wanted a good deli sandwich pre-pandemic, you could grab a stacked sandwich on a toasted torta roll at Costco for just $3.99. The flavor of this one was next-level. Redditor wiseuncuh explains, "It was the only food item on the menu I thought tasted good and was moderately healthy."

If you have an affinity for the decadent Italian dessert, then you may have enjoyed the affordability and availability at the Costco food court. You could get three scoops in a fresh waffle cone for just $1.50.

Redditor adrianpoops remembers: "I would plan my errands so that I would pass by Costco, stop, grab a cone, and live my happy life."

In 2017, Costco introduced the cheeseburger in a limited number of food courts. While it didn't maintain great reviews while it was available, it was incredibly inexpensive, even though it was made with an organic beef patty.

Discontinued in 2020, Redditor Iamasnortlaments, "Burger was so good!! And only like $5."

The food court at Costco used to sell a variety of massive, freshly-made calzones at a steep bargain — you could get two for just $6.99. They met their untimely end in 2015, a comfort food staple that people still rave about.

"I miss Costco deli's calzones!" exclaims Redditor afterthegig andelsie78 says they're "bummed that they don't have it anymore."

An easy way to stretch your fast food budget is by swinging through the Costco food court, but you won't be enjoying these fan favorites any time soon. Instead, try top contenders, including the $1.50 hot dog and soda combo, a $1.99 slice of fresh pizza, or a $3.99 chicken bake.