Costco’s food court just swapped one unpopular item for another potential disaster. The warehouse giant quietly replaced its maligned combo calzone with baked chicken strips—five massive tenders clocking in at 1,640 calories that have members questioning everything from sodium levels to corporate sanity.
The $6.99 chicken strips started appearing at Chicago-area locations this month, with a nationwide rollout reportedly expected soon. But early reactions suggest Costco may have traded one problem for a bigger one.
The Latest Menu Shuffle
The transition follows Costco’s established pattern of international testing—similar chicken strips have operated successfully in Canadian and Australian locations for years. But the U.S. version employs baking rather than frying, creating texture issues that members immediately noticed.
Each order delivers five large baked tenders with honey mustard sauce, maintaining the same $6.99 price point as the departed calzone. The rollout began at select locations, including Schaumburg, Illinois, with members documenting their experiences across social platforms.
- 1,640 calories per five-piece serving—nearly a full day’s recommended intake
- Baked preparation creates a different texture than international fried versions
- No complementary sides, unlike Canadian locations offering fries
- Same $6.99 pricing as previous calzone offering
- TikTok videos showcasing oversized portions are going viral
Members Voice Mixed Reactions
Food critic Dennis Lee of The Takeout couldn’t finish more than one strip. “I was only able to eat one strip before my instincts told me eating any more was a bad idea for my health,” he reported, citing excessive saltiness as the primary issue.
The 1,640-calorie figure triggered particular outrage among health-conscious members. “1640 calories?? That’s the amount of calories a person should consume in a whole day,” one user posted, echoing concerns shared across Reddit and TikTok.
Not all feedback is skewed negatively. “I got them today. They’re huge. Really good,” reported one early adopter. Others expressed relief about the calzone’s departure: “The calzone was not good, I’m glad they are switching it out.”
International comparisons drew sharper criticism. “Costco food courts overseas get adult food like sushi and rice bowls, and we just get more ultra-processed kids’ food,” one frustrated user observed.
The loudest voices still demand restoration of the original combo pizza that preceded both replacements: “BRING BACK THE COMBO PIZZA.”
This latest menu shuffle reinforces a troubling pattern—Costco continues replacing member favorites with alternatives that generate equal or greater backlash, suggesting the company may need to reconsider its food court strategy entirely.
