We all love a quick $1.50 hot dog combo, but one cannot live on frankfurters and soda alone. That’s why Costco’s food court sells a handful of other delicious things, from Chicken Bakes to sundaes.
Like most restaurants, though, Costco’s cafe menu has changed over the years. Items have come and gone, leaving devoted fans pining for nostalgic food court faves. Some took to Reddit to share their long-gone meals — and see if anyone else has similar fond memories. Here are some of the discontinued Costco cafe items longtime members want back the most.
Combo Pizza
Costco members used to be able to choose from more than just pepperoni or plain cheese pizza, and members long for those days. The “combo” pizza was Costco’s version of supreme, and it had pepperoni, sausage, and a mix of veggies including onions, peppers, and mushrooms.
It exited cafe menus in 2020, and no one really knows why. “Covid sucked big time, but the longest lasting casualty is the combo pizza,” said one Redditor.
“Every time my wife and I go to Costco we mourn the loss of combo pizza,” said another.
“Not even kidding, one of my favorite slices of pizza EVER. I really hope they bring it back one day.”
Polish Dog
Hot dogs weren’t the only sausages on the menu at most Costco food courts for a long time. There was also the Polish Dog, a kielbasa-like sausage that was thicker and flavored differently from the hot dog. It was discontinued in 2018 in order to simplify the menu and make room for healthier options, but members weren’t happy.
“Polish sausage, sauerkraut, onions from the metal dispenser and deli mustard,” reminisced one Redditor. “Heaven on earth.”
“I didn’t re-up at Costco when they [got rid of the Polish Dog],” said another. “I’ll rejoin if they get Polish Dogs back…. The Polish had so much more flavor.”
Churro
Churros have come and gone a couple times from Costco’s cafe menu. They disappeared during the pandemic, then came back in 2021, but only for a little while — and at a slightly higher price. Still, people loved them as a sweet treat after shopping or devouring a hot dog combo.
“When I was pregnant, I inhaled a churro before we even made it to the car from the food court,” said one Redditor in a very relatable story if you’ve ever been pregnant.
“I named our DOG after that churro,” lamented another Costco member. “I try to campaign for their return by longingly sighing and mentioning how much I miss the churros whenever I need to pick up pet prescriptions for said dog at the Costco pharmacy.”
Hand-Dipped Ice Cream Bar
Perhaps one of the most sought-after discontinued treats is the ice cream bar. The huge vanilla bars-on-a-stick were hand dipped in chocolate when you ordered one, and then rolled in chopped toasted almonds. They were axed back in 2013, likely because the price of almonds kept increasing and they took a lot of employee manpower in the cafe.
“Oh man, it was a great day when I was little and my mom would buy one of these after a long Costco expedition,” remembered a Redditor. “I’d ask for no nuts, my brother and I would share it, and all was well. It was such a bummer when they stopped selling them, my entire family was bummed!”
Soft Pretzels
Before the churro, there was the soft pretzel. It was coated in cinnamon sugar, too, and it was discontinued not long before the churro. Presumably Costco didn’t see the point of having two cinnamon sugar-coated pastries on its menu, but people were generally not happy with the switch.
“The cinnamon pretzel was so much better than a churro,” said one Redditor.
“I completely forgot about the cinnamon sugar pretzel!” said another. “Bringing back memories of going to Costco with my mom and sharing a pretzel with her.”
Trending on Cheapism
Acai Bowl
Acai bowls were a bit of a controversial food court option. They only lasted about two years, from 2018 to 2020, and had a bright pink soft serve base topped with granola, fruit, and banana chips. It was supposed to be a relatively healthy option, but some people pointed out that there was a huge amount of sugar in the thing. Still, many members wish it had stuck around.
“I finally tried the acai bowl in January or February of 2020. It was so much better than I would have ever dreamed. It was gonna be a new regular purchase for me,” recounted one Redditor. “And then COVID eradicated my acai bowl. RIP acai bowl.”
Barbecue Beef Brisket Sandwich
Not sure about you, but our mouths are watering just thinking about a barbecue brisket sandwich from Costo. It had shredded brisket on a soft bun with thick barbecue sauce and even a layer of creamy coleslaw. The whole thing was contained in a paper ring because it got so messy.
“I was willing to drive to the further Costco that wasn’t quite as nice to get that amazing sandwich…,” said a Redditor. “I’m kind of bummed I will never get that $4.99 tummy pleasure again.”
“Brisket sandwich for $5 was a steal looking back now,” commented someone else, and we definitely agree.
Chili
While Costco sells big containers of chili in the deli section, at one point the store also sold cups of hot chili in the food court. The beef and bean chili was perfect on a cold day, and people especially loved combining it with other items on the menu.
“$4 bowl of chili,” said one Redditor when asked what discontinued item they’d want back. “Would put a ton of diced onions in it to make the family really hate me during our car ride home.”
“Miss the chili as well. Made my own chili dog,” revealed a Redditor, and now we really wish it never went away too.
Sign up for our newsletter
Italian Sausage
It wasn’t just Polish sausages that Costco sold, but Italian sausages, complete with roasted peppers and onions on top. In fact, both sausages were regional, and weren’t offered in every Costco cafe.
“They don’t have them everywhere?,” asked one Redditor in disbelief. “Those sausages are half the reason I go to Costco!”
“Never understood why they got rid of it during COVID but the food court had never been the same,” lamented another about the disappearance of the Italian sausage.
Gelato
Gelato is like the holy grail of Costco food court items. Not many locations had it to begin with, so not a lot of people remember it. But it sounds absolutely amazing. According to photos of the menu board, you’d get three scoops of gelato in a freshly made waffle cone, all for only $1.50. It came in three flavors, including chocolate, pistachio, and stracciatella, and you could even buy a quart for $5.
“It was so good!!!,” said one Redditor. “I got it every single time I went. Sometimes one scoop of each, sometimes 3 of one flavor. Sometimes a container to go.”
“We were visiting the area we now live looking for housing and stopped at the Costco for gas. I saw a man in the next lane over with this glorious waffle cone of gelato and asked him where he got it,” explained another Redditor. “Yep, got gas and then ran right inside to get some! Enjoyed it for the next couple of years they had it til it was gone.”
More Costco Stories on Cheapism
- Costco Essentials That Shoppers Say Help Stretch Their Budgets — From cleaning supplies and paper goods to toiletries and pet care basics, these are the everyday items that seasoned shoppers swear help stretch their budgets the furthest.
- 22 Things Older Shoppers Should Buy at Costco — There are plenty of products and services that are designed for seniors or have particular appeal for older shoppers.
- 25 Costco Household Items That Shoppers Say to Buy When You See Them — We poked around to find some of the chain’s most popular, highest-rated products in categories other than food.
