Costco's food court has quietly reformulated its churro, and the $1.50 pastry that once drew a cult following now tastes noticeably different to many shoppers.
The warehouse giant swapped the old recipe for a twisted, cinnamon-sugar version that some members say is lighter and crispier, while longtime fans argue it lost the dense, doughy chew they loved.
The churro has long been one of the cheapest treats in the food court, sitting alongside the famous $1.50 hot dog and soda combo that Costco has refused to raise for decades.
That low price is part of the appeal: you can walk in, grab a snack for pocket change, and walk out without a membership card even being scanned at the register.
The new churro reportedly runs slightly larger and comes dusted more heavily in cinnamon sugar, with a texture that leans toward flaky rather than soft.
Costco has not made a loud public announcement about the change, which is typical for the company.
Food court tweaks usually surface through shopper photos and taste tests on social media before any official word arrives.
Reaction online has been predictably loud.
Some members call the new version an upgrade, praising the crunch and the stronger cinnamon flavor.
Others say it tastes mass-produced and misses the point of a churro, which they argue should be pillowy inside.
A few have joked that at $1.50, complaining feels a little ridiculous, then complained anyway.
For budget-conscious shoppers, the bigger story is that food court prices remain one of the last genuine bargains in American retail.
While grocery bills and fast-food menus have climbed, Costco has held the line on its most iconic items.
Even a reformulated churro at under two dollars beats most dessert options at drive-thrus, where a single pastry can cost three or four times as much.
If you want to judge for yourself, timing matters.
Food courts get slammed around lunch and again after work, and a churro that sits under a heat lamp loses its edge fast.
Ask for one from a fresh batch if you can, and eat it within a few minutes of walking out the door.
There is also a practical angle for members who visit mainly for the samples and the cheap eats.
The food court does not require a membership in most locations, so you can stop in for a churro or a hot dog without paying the annual fee.
That makes it a legitimate option when you are out running errands and want to avoid a full fast-food stop.
Whether the reformulation sticks likely depends on sales, and Costco has reversed food court decisions before when members pushed back hard enough.
If the new churro keeps moving, expect it to stay.
If enough shoppers skip it, the old recipe could quietly return.
Our take: a $1.50 churro is still one of the better deals in American retail, even if it is not the one you remember.
Final Thoughts
Give it a fair shot on a fresh batch before writing it off, and save your outrage for prices that actually hurt your wallet.