Costco's food court has always been a strange kind of American institution — $1.50 hot dogs, giant pizza slices, and a churro that cost a buck and came in a paper sleeve.
That churro went through a major change, and a lot of shoppers are still trying to figure out how they feel about it.
The old churro was long, thin, and covered in cinnamon sugar.
The new one is noticeably thicker and comes filled with a gooey center.
The price went up too, now about $2.49 in most warehouses.
For a snack under three bucks, that's still cheap by any modern standard, but the sticker shock hit people who remembered the dollar version.
Let's talk about whether the value holds up.
A plain churro at a theme park or mall kiosk can run $5 to $7.
A filled, freshly fried pastry for two and a half dollars is a solid deal, even with inflation baked into everything from eggs to rent.
The catch is that the filling is very sweet, and Costco's version leans heavily on sugar.
If you split it with someone, that's about $1.25 each for a dessert bigger than your hand.
The bigger story here is how fast food courts are reworking their menus.
Chains have been trimming items and nudging prices up for two years, and Costco is no exception.
They've tested new items, dropped old favorites, and swapped recipes to keep costs in line with what members will actually pay.
When a retailer moves a beloved item off the board, the reaction online tends to be loud — and this one was no different.
If you're watching your household budget, the food court math still works in your favor.
A family of four can eat lunch at Costco for under $10, which is nearly impossible at a regular fast-casual spot these days.
Just don't treat the churro as a health food.
One practical tip: if you're sensitive to sugar or watching your blood sugar, ask for a cup of water with it and split the pastry.
The filling is dense, and a full one is a lot for a single person.
Another tip is to check your local warehouse, because prices and availability can vary slightly by region.
Probably, as long as people keep buying it.
Costco tends to listen when members complain loudly enough, but the company also knows that a two-dollar dessert with a cult following is hard to beat.
Nostalgia is powerful, but so is a cheap snack on a long shopping trip.
The honest takeaway: the old churro is gone, and pining for it won't bring it back.
The new one is bigger, sweeter, and costs a little more.
Final Thoughts
For the price, it's still one of the better deals in the building — just go in expecting a dessert, not a light snack.