(Nexstar) – Along with bulk items, affordable gas, and special member perks, Costco is well-known for its food court.
Last year, Costco introduced a new item to its food court menu: chocolate chip cookies. They’ve also recently begun swapping out Pepsi products nationwide. The menu traditionally features favorites like cheese and pepperoni pizza, available by the slice or as whole pies, alongside the beloved $1.50 hot dog meal, sandwiches, Chicken Bakes, rotisserie chicken, and Caesar salad, plus smoothies and ice cream.
However, the menu isn’t the same everywhere. For instance, while you can find hot dogs and chocolate chip cookies in both Spain and Australia, they often come alongside local offerings.
Here’s a rundown of ten items you might find in international Costco food courts that aren’t typically available in the U.S.
Australian Steak Pie
This dish, which seems to originate from an Australian location, features a flaky pie filled with rich beef stew. It’s a favorite at Costco in Australia.
Chicken Bids
Some countries offer chicken bids with fries. While popular, you won’t come across them in U.S. locations, even though they gained some buzz during Taylor Swift’s “Eras Tour.”
Fried Chicken
In addition to chicken bids, several international Costcos serve fried chicken. For example, in Taiwan, you can find a bucket of it on the menu.
Sushi
Believe it or not, sushi is another offering not found in U.S. Costco food courts. In Seville, Spain, there’s a California roll for 9.99 euros, and Canada lists California crab rolls on its menu.
Cheeseburger
Surprisingly, you won’t spot cheeseburgers in U.S. locations. However, in Reykjavik, Iceland, they are available. Although Costco did experiment with organic cheeseburgers in a few northwest locations a few years ago, they were removed from the menu by 2020.
French Friesp>
As previously mentioned, outside the U.S., Costco offers fries. For example, in Canada, you can enjoy fries paired with poutine, served alongside a Montreal smoked meat sandwich.
Jacket Potato
In the UK, shoppers can order “jacket potatoes,” essentially baked potatoes. This option isn’t available in U.S. warehouses.
Coffee
Some international locations, like those in England, boast coffee offerings such as cappuccinos, lattes, and Americanos. In contrast, U.S. food courts mainly feature cold-brewed mocha freezes.
Soup
The soup selection varies by location. For instance, in Taiwan, they serve corn chowder, whereas South Korea offers mushroom soup.
Seafood Bake
In countries like Taiwan and South Korea, instead of the conventional chicken bake, you can find a seafood bake paired with bulgogi, which is marinated and thinly sliced meat.
These international variations show that while many items are familiar, local tastes influence the menus at Costco worldwide. Interestingly, this phenomenon isn’t unique to Costco; McDonald’s also varies its menu across different countries, featuring unique items like spicy paneer wraps in India or chili cheese bites in the UK.
If you find yourself in an international Costco food court, consider yourself fortunate: your membership card works in any warehouse globally.
