Does Sam’s Club have the edge in the membership club hot dog war? The Walmart-owned warehouse club and its biggest competitor, Costco, have been locked in a fierce battle in every category imaginable since both chains were founded in the 1980s.
The stores are on par with each other in everything from member pricing and return policies to private labels and product variety, with some notable differences. But if you had to name one point of comparison that truly embodies the rivalry between Costco and Sam’s Club, it would be the popular hot dog combos in the retailers’ respective food courts.
Sam’s Club has been selling hot dogs since it opened in 1983, the company says – although the business was then operated out of a food truck rather than an in-store cafe. Costco, on the other hand, didn’t launch its own American classic with a bun until a year later, in 1984.
For most of this 40-year battle, the two clubs were at a stalemate. Both served similar versions of a $1.50 quarter-pound all-beef hot dog with minor flavor and bread differences and, of course, a soft drink on the side. All was calm and amicable. That is, until Sam’s Club decided to undermine its opponent in 2022 by lowering the price of the hot dog combo meal to $1.38. The 12-cent change sent shockwaves through the club community.
Now, in 2024, Sam’s has taken another monumental step. In July, the store’s cafe began serving a completely different kind of frankfurter: the Member’s Mark Cheddar Cheese Pork Frank (the same variety that retails at the store). To be clear, the newcomer didn’t replace Sam’s standard beef hot dog, but instead offered an additional option. That means double the number of hot dogs and double the deals. Since Costco currently has only one hot dog on its menu, one wonders if Sam’s Club now officially has the upper hand in this ongoing hot dog duel.
But before I get too far into it, I need to answer the crucial question: What does this new frankfurter taste like? Does it taste as good or better than the all-beef frankfurters? Does it resemble the Frank n’ Stuff cheese-topped frankfurters of the ’80s? Is it a new product that Costco should be concerned about?
I sneaked into the food court at Sam’s Club to take a closer look at the new offering. This is what it tasted like.
Member’s Mark Cheddar Cheese Pork Frank
Nutrition:
Member’s Mark Pork Cheddar Cheese Frank (per 1 link)
Calories: 350
Fat: 34 g (saturated fatty acids: 12 g)
sodium: 1,100mg
Carbohydrates: 4 g (fiber: 0 g, sugar: 0 g)
protein: 15g
The new hot dog differs from Sam’s Club’s flagship hot dog in two key ways, and both are made clear by its name. First, this alternative is not 100% beef, but pure pork. Second, the meat contains cheddar cheese in some form. Of course, it also comes in a bun and served with a 30-ounce soda.
When I got there, I was worried because I didn’t see any advertising for the new addition on the menu, but the cashier assured me that it was indeed available and for the exact same price of $1.38 as the standard hot dog menu. I spent money on both items, the old and the new, so I could compare them side by side.
The appearance: The first thing I noticed about the pork sausage compared to the beef dogs was their shape. They are shorter and wider and have a different sized bun to accommodate their dimensions. Their much lighter pinkish-brown color is reminiscent of a pork sausage and if you look closely you can see flecks of pale orange cheese peeking out from under the surface.
The taste: I was eager to get started and went for the pork sausages first. They are big and juicy and a real bite. They also have that crisp texture and taste of a boiled hot dog with a warm yeast bun. As for the taste itself, I couldn’t shake the thought that they were almost identical to ham. Since it’s a pure pork product, that certainly makes sense. But my taste buds were tuned in to a more complex pork sausage experience.
The biggest disappointment, however, was the cheese, which was far less pronounced than expected. It was found in little pockets in the pork and didn’t so much ooze out as just smear it – no dramatic cheese traces like you’d get on a well-made fried mozzarella stick. These cheese traces are hard to find, but when you taste them, it’s more like American cheese than cheddar. I would have preferred shredded Coney-style cheese instead of these small, barely noticeable flavor traces.
In my eyes, the beef hot dog is still number one. When I upgraded to the original hot dog, I quickly came to the conclusion that it’s still the frontrunner. Richer, heartier, and somehow even juicier, it’s hard to beat. The promise of a cheese-stuffed hot dog is still a big draw, though, and it’s a great second option for customers who prefer pork or are just looking for something new from the club’s cafe. But ultimately, I don’t think Costco should worry too much or struggle to create its own version of a cheese-stuffed pork hot dog. The hot dog wars aren’t over yet.
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