Costco’s newest food court menu item is generating buzz nationwide, with shoppers comparing the retailer’s new chicken tenders to those served at the well-known fast food chain, Chick-fil-A. The warehouse giant has begun rolling out a five-piece chicken tender meal to food courts across the U.S. after testing the item in select markets earlier this year. Priced at $6.99, the meal includes five breaded chicken breast tenders served with a signature dipping sauce.
The new offering has quickly sparked debate online. While many customers praised its generous portion size and value, others say the chicken falls short of expectations. One of the biggest talking points isn’t the tenders themselves, but the accompanying orange-colored dipping sauce.
Several food influencers have compared it to Chick-fil-A’s signature sauces, fueling speculation over whether Costco has found a worthy rival.
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Shoppers chime in
Costco food content creator Costco Guide shared an Instagram video showing the oversized tenders, joking that one was nearly as large as her head. She said the dipping sauce reminded her of Chick-fil-A’s Honey Roasted BBQ Sauce.
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“Costco just dropped chicken tenders!!! Go check on Chick-fil-A; if Costco had a drive-thru, Chick-fil-A would be done,” Costco food blogger Lucas Gomes, who posts under @therealkirklandking, said in an Instagram video. “This sauce doesn’t taste like Chick-fil-A’s sauce. I don’t know what this mystery sauce is, but it’s really good.”
Not everyone agrees. Online reviews have been mixed, with some shoppers calling the tenders “amazing” and praising the large serving size for the price. Others have criticized the chicken for being overly salty, dry, or coated with too much breading.
One customer wrote, “Unfortunately, this one was disappointing. Too dry, too salty… Costco rarely misses, but this one did.” Another shopper said the first tender tasted good, but the remaining pieces became increasingly dry, adding that the new menu item “can’t compete with the hot dog.”
Concerns over high calorie count
The meal also stands out for another reason: Its calorie count. According to Costco, the five-piece meal contains approximately 1,640 calories, making it one of the most calorie-dense items currently offered at the food court.
The chicken tenders are among several recent changes to Costco’s famously simple food court menu. In recent years, the retailer has replaced its longtime churro with a large chocolate chip cookie and introduced new sandwiches and seasonal offerings as it continues to refresh its lineup while retaining staples such as its iconic $1.50 hot dog-and-soda combo.
Whether the new chicken tenders become a permanent fan favorite remains to be seen. For now, however, the nationwide rollout has succeeded in getting shoppers talking, and, for many, drawing inevitable comparisons to one of America’s most popular chicken chains.
Editorial note: This article is based on reporting by Fox News and USA Today.
