Costco Food Court Menu Chart

The $1.50 Hot Dog

The Costco hot dog and soda combo has cost $1.50 since 1985. That's roughly 40 years without a price increase, during which the dollar has lost approximately 70% of its purchasing power. Adjusted for inflation, $1.50 in 1985 would be about $4.50 today. The hot dog is now an iconic loss leader: Costco loses money on each one, but the combo brings customers in and reinforces the brand promise of unbeatable value.

Founder Jim Sinegal told current CEO Craig Jelinek that any change to the $1.50 price “would be the last time you'd see me.” Jelinek confirmed in a 2018 interview that he had no plans to raise the price. To make the math work, Costco vertically integrated and now operates its own Kirkland Signature hot dog factory.

Why the Slice Stays at $1.99

The slice has been $1.99 since the late 1990s. The whole 18″ pizza is $9.99, which makes the slice price feel almost exact (6 slices per pie = $1.67 per slice). Costco bakes pizza in custom robotic ovens that turn the pizza automatically, ensuring even cooking. The dough, sauce, cheese, and toppings are all made in-house or under Kirkland-supervised contract.

Chicken Bake Cult Following

The chicken bake first appeared in the mid-1990s and has grown a serious fan following. It's a rolled pizza dough wrap containing diced chicken breast, bacon bits, Caesar dressing, and mozzarella, baked until golden. At $4.99 and ~770 calories, it's the highest-calorie single item on the menu, but also one of the most filling. Devotees consider it the platonic ideal of fast-casual food court engineering.

The Churro vs Cookie Debate

In 2022, Costco raised the churro price from $1.00 to $1.49 (its first price change in years). In 2024, some locations replaced the churro entirely with a giant chocolate chip cookie ($2.49). The change was controversial. As of 2026, some regions still have the original churro, some have only the cookie, and some have both. The official Costco position is that the cookie test is ongoing and rollouts will depend on regional demand.

Membership and Food Court Access

Most US Costco food courts are located inside the warehouse, past the membership desk, and require a valid membership to access. However:

• Some warehouses (especially older ones) have an exterior food court window, accessible without entering
• Some newer locations have a vestibule food court between the entrance and the membership desk, accessible without a card
• You can usually pay with cash or a Costco-issued cash card without a member present
• In Canada, food courts generally require membership
• Costco gas stations don't require membership for cash purchases, but the food court rules are inconsistent across regions

If unsure, call your local warehouse. Hours and policies vary by location.

How Costco Keeps Prices Low

• Vertical integration: hot dogs, pizza dough, and many ingredients are produced by Costco or Kirkland Signature suppliers
• Limited menu means high-volume turnover per item (less waste, faster prep)
• Membership model subsidizes razor-thin food court margins (food court treats customer experience as a loss leader)
• In-house equipment design (the pizza robots cost ~$50k each but eliminate labor and ensure consistency)
• No alcohol, no premium ingredients, no menu pricing experiments