Fans of Costco’s popular $1.50 hot dog and soda deal breathed a sigh of relief in late May when the company’s CFO said in a quarterly earnings call that the price of the combo would remain unchanged — unchanged since it appeared on food court menus in the mid-’80s. Price hikes for virtually all goods and services have become the norm in recent years, but that shockingly low price has survived a pandemic, inflation and supply chain shortages. And while the $1.50 price is consistent across all of the big-box club’s stores across the country, one thing about the meal is not: the bread surrounding those beef sausages.
Unless you’ve taken a nationwide tour of Costco’s cafeteria, you probably didn’t notice that the buns served there vary by region. The company hasn’t released any information about why there isn’t a uniform bun, but speculation on social media suggests that Costco sources its goods locally, resulting in different products. In a discussion on the r/Costco subreddit, for example, a California native accustomed to the brand’s sesame seed-studded bread was dismayed that the hot dog he ordered in Cleveland came in a “low-quality seedless bun.” Other customers and employees across the U.S. jumped on the thread to compare the texture of the buns. One Bay Area resident reported that Costco hot dogs there were always served on Francisco Gourmet Seeded Hot Dog Rolls, while a Tennessee user said plain potato buns came out of the kitchen.
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Big Bun Energy and other food court options
Other social media posts hint at the recent introduction of shorter buns, with photos and descriptions of bread that barely encloses the beef, leaving the ends bare on either side. Again, there’s no official statement from Costco on the move to shorter buns, but commenters from all regions tended to agree that larger and grained is ideal. Let’s just hope that for those who have access to it, the sesame bun doesn’t go the way of the Polish Dog, Costco’s popular but ultimately discontinued food court item. The company cited stronger sales for its all-beef sausage and a desire to add healthier offerings as reasons for the kielbasa’s demise. The latter, of course, runs counter to most Costco customers’ motivation for stocking up at the big-box retailer anyway: Spending a cheerful afternoon snacking on high-calorie but delicious free samples and then tucking into a fast-food court meal is some members’ way of life.
Whatever you devour on your next big shop, avoid the cheese pizza. It may be a fan favorite—the large slices are just $1.99—but these pizzas tend to be the least inspired (and greasiest) quick meal at Costco. Instead, opt for the Chicken Bake: an evenly baked dough envelope filled with fried chicken, cheese, bacon bits, and creamy Caesar dressing. But only order it if you don’t fancy one of the cheapest glizzies around.
Read the original article on Tasting Table.
