Ranking Every Item On The Costco Food Court Menu

There are plenty of reasons to shop at Costco, but if you don’t cap off your adventure through the aisles with a stop at the food court, you’re doing something wrong.

The first Costco warehouse didn’t feature a food court when it opened in Seattle in 1983, but the chain realized it might be onto something after the hot dog cart that started operating there a couple of years later turned out to be a resounding success.

The food court has since become an oasis for Costco shoppers looking to refuel and decompress after completing their journey, and the menu contains a number of beloved staples as well as a few items that are relative newcomers due to the chain’s decision to switch things up every now and then.

As a Costco food court veteran, I’m very familiar with the current lineup, so I decided to rank every single item that’s on the menu.

10. Rotisserie Chicken Caesar Salad

The rotisserie chicken at Costco is one of its more popular (and tasty) items, but the same can’t be said about the food court salad that incorporates it.

If you’re in the mood for a salad, you won’t necessarily be disappointed by what you’re getting here. I do have to give credit where credit is due for the portion size, but it’s still a largely unremarkable dish.

9. Turkey Swiss Sandwich

Costco has experimented with sandwiches featuring various cold cuts, and as things currently stand, the Turkey Swiss Sandwich is the lone option on the menu in that particular category.

As you can likely surmise from the name, you’re getting a heaping portion of turkey with some Swiss cheese along with lettuce and a sun-dried tomato spread.

As is the case with the salad, this is a solid option if you’re trying to be somewhat healthy, but it doesn’t really deliver in the flavor department compared to some more indulgent options.

8. Ice Cream Cup

There’s nothing particularly noteworthy about the standalone ice cream cup at Costco, which features a healthy serving of fairly generic soft serve.

If you’re going the ice cream route, there’s no reason not to upgrade with another item we’ll get to in a minute; there’s nothing wrong with the barebones approach, but it’s basically what you’d expect.

7. Cold Mocha Brew Freeze

Costco doesn’t offer regular coffee at the food court, so this is your only option if you need some caffeine to perk up after an arduous shopping trip (assuming you didn’t leave with a case of energy drinks).

This is really a glorified milkshake, as the coffee takes a bit of a backseat to the chocolate responsible for the “Mocha” in the name.

I’d probably take this over a Frappucino if given the options, but it doesn’t really stand out as far as coffee-based drinks are concerned.

6. Fruit Smoothie

According to the online testimony of a Costco employee, the fruit smoothie is a blend of pineapple juice and apple, pear, and peach puree mixed up with blended blackberries, blueberries, and strawberries.

This one flies under the radar a bit; I don’t really consider myself a Smoothie Person, but this checks all the boxes I’m looking for in one—especially for the price.

5. Ice Cream Sundae

As I said before, there’s no reason to go with a plain ice cream cup when there’s a premium offering on the menu in the form of the sundae you can get if you fork over an extra 50 cents.

I’m personally partial to adding strawberry to vanilla, but if you prefer hot fudge, you’re not going to be let down

I don’t think it’s the best option in the dessert category, but I’ve never been disappointed.

4. Pizza

Costco’s pizza is basically fourth on this list by default; there’s nothing necessarily bad about it, but it’s not going to wow anyone who’s had a pie from a pizzeria that knows what it’s doing.

There’s something to be said for the heartiness of a slice that features a doughy crust and ample amounts of cheese. The sauce isn’t particularly notable, and I’m not trying to be derogatory by describing it as “perfectly fine.”

At the end of the day, this will certainly scratch your pizza itch, but it still leaves a little bit to be desired.

3. Double Chocolate Chunk Cookie

I initially held a grudge against the Double Chocolate Chunk Cookie for replacing the churro on the Costco food court menu, and while I hesitate to call in an upgrade, it can certainly hold its own.

The relatively new offering has gotten plenty of publicity from the social media stars known as A.J. and Big Justice (who incorrectly refer to it as the “Double Chunk Chocolate Cookie”), and it’s pretty easy to understand why it got a 5 on The Boom Meter.

My only real knock is that Costco somehow manages to pack 750 calories into a single cookie—a reality that’s certainly reflected in the delectable taste.

2. Chicken Bake

The Chicken Bake has plenty of diehard fans who would place the item at the top of this list, and while I’m giving it the silver medal, I can’t necessarily knock anyone who’d opt to award it with the gold.

There’s a lot going on here, as you’ve got dough encasing chicken and bacon mixed with three different types of cheese (provolone, mozzarella, and parmesan) along with some green onions and the Caesar dressing that really helps take it to the next level.

The end result is a delicious, calzone-adjacent concoction that you can’t really find anywhere else, and there’s a reason it’s been on the menu for so long.

1. Hot Dog And A Soda

You had to know this was coming.

The hot dog and a soda combo is the signature item at the Costco food court, and it will still only set you back $1.50 thanks in no small part to the founder who once told a former CEO he’d kill him if he upped the price.

Is it the best hot dog you’ll ever have? Probably not.

With that said, the 1/4-pound frankfurter is exactly what you want from one, and there’s no better way to cap off a visit than treating yourself to a classic with your preferred fixings (including the onions that were formerly dispensed from the magical machine that chopped them on the spot but have sadly failed to make a widespread comeback since the pandemic).