California Costco shoppers are now seeing a new hot food option at several warehouse food courts: a plate of five chicken tenders that has quietly appeared at select locations this month.
The change matters for Californians who visit Costco for quick, inexpensive meals. The new offering — sold for $6.99 and listed at between 1,130 and 1,640 calories on menu signs — is substantially larger and pricier than the chain’s signature hot dog and is already drawing longer lines at some stores.
Where and when
According to reports and local checks, the tenders showed up unexpectedly at multiple California warehouses on July 11. Locations confirmed in reporting include Alhambra and Los Feliz in the Los Angeles area and the Rosedale Highway store in Bakersfield. Staff at other Bay Area locations also signaled earlier availability.
What customers are getting
The menu item is a substantial plate: five thick chicken tenders served with a light orange, creamy dipping sauce that diners have compared to the sauce used by national quick-service chains. The tenders appear to be fried rather than baked; Costco has offered a baked version in some other countries and in U.S. locations earlier this year.
- Portion: five chicken tenders.
- Price: $6.99.
- Calories: menu signs list a range from 1,130 to 1,640.
- Replaced item: the calzone has been removed from the menu at locations now offering tenders.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Portion | Five tenders |
| Price | $6.99 |
| Calories (menu) | 1,130–1,640 |
| Noted locations | Alhambra; Los Feliz; Rosedale Highway (Bakersfield) |
Local reaction and operational impacts
Shoppers and social media users quickly noticed the new menu item, and some California locations reported longer waits as food court staff worked to meet demand. The tenders replaced the calzone on menus at stores where they appeared, marking one of the biggest food-court changes at Costco in years.
Costco has not issued a statewide announcement about the change. The company tends to make food-court updates without broad public statements, and the rollout appears to have been staggered, with some regions seeing the item earlier in the year and California joining more recently.
What this means for shoppers
For members planning a Costco run, the new plate represents a heftier, more expensive hot-food choice in the warehouse food court lineup. Customers watching calories or price may prefer the chain’s long-standing hot dog combo or pizza slices, which remain lower in cost and, typically, calories.
Expect lines in the weeks immediately after the rollout at locations where the tenders are newly available. If you’re visiting a busy warehouse, consider checking local store signage or social media pages for food-court updates before making a trip specifically for the tenders.
Local staff and shoppers will reveal how permanent the change becomes. For now, the tenders are the most talked-about addition to California Costco food courts in recent memory.
— Reporting from Los Angeles
