Costco maintains prices despite inflation

With rising prices, people are always looking for cheaper fast food alternatives. With most meals ranging from $10 to $20, prices are beginning to grow out of people’s daily budget. 

However, at the Costco Food Court, you can get a substantial meal for under five dollars. Their main menu of hotdogs, pizza, and chicken bake does not offer a wide variety of options. 

The Costco Food Court was started in 1984 when a hotdog vendor was hired to sell outside one of its warehouses. They expanded to an indoor food court soon after and started the hotdog and soda combo for $1.50. To this day the price remains unchanged, and earlier this year they released a statement saying the price will most likely never increase, despite inflation.

One thing to keep in mind if you are outside the US is that Costco stores in different regions offer different items. For example, the Costco Food Court in Mexico offers something different than what you might typically find in the US with $3.86 mango smoothies. In Canada, they offer poutine which is a dish of piping hot fries, gravy, and cheese curds. In France, they sell melty ham and cheese croissants with mustard, as well as chicken tenders and fries called Croque monsieur. 

Different states in the US also offer a wider variety of foods. People can order French fries at certain Pennsylvania and East Coast Costco food courts and in Hawaii, Costco customers can cool down with gelato and enjoy acaí bowls. In Alaska, customers can have a BBQ beef brisket sandwich or a hot turkey and provolone sandwich.

Costco is a warehouse-style business that mainly sells items in bulk quantities. This is attractive to people since buying things in large amounts reduces costs significantly.

Once you enter the store you are met with an employee who checks your membership. You then are free to roam through the seemingly endless aisles. There are often samples offered throughout the store to promote items.

Once done shopping, move to the checkout to be helped by an efficient team of two people. During this process, you can add items to your list from the food court, or wait until after to order.

I started with a $1.99 slice of pepperoni pizza. It tasted good but the abundance of grease didn’t help the taste. In addition, it was very doughy, but that made it enjoyable and different from other pizzas I have tried.

Next, I tried the $3.99 chicken bake. The crust was well seasoned and cooked as was the chicken. My only complaints were the sogginess on the inside and the minimal cheese.

I also tried the hotdog combo meal for $1.50. The hotdog was pretty good considering the cost but it can’t compare to a hotdog you would get at a ballgame. It also came with a 20oz fountain drink which was a nice addition.

For dessert, I had the churro which was $1.49. It was soft and flavorful with just the right amount of cinnamon and sugar. It was one of the best churros I have ever eaten.

One of my favorite parts about the whole experience was the quickness with which you get your order. They have things ready so you get them almost as soon as you order with no wait. They also have a small seating area so you can sit and enjoy your food.

Something to keep in mind is that some locations require memberships to enter the store. However, no membership is required to get into the food court if you’re just stopping to eat.

Overall, it was a great experience. The samples in the store were delicious and well-presented. The food was cheap and ready quickly so you don’t waste your time waiting. The environment was excellent with friendly workers and staff who care about your experience. I highly recommend this spot to grab a quick lunch with your friends.

To read more from The Feather read Photojournalist shares life-changing experiences in Belize.