Like most shoppers, I desperately miss the discontinued Costco churros.
This Is the Best Dupe for Costco’s Food Court Churros
Published on Jan. 22, 2025
It’s hard not to love the Costco food court. It’s budget-friendly and exactly what I need after an hour of walking around the warehouse. Famously, the store’s hot dog and soda deal has been only $1.50 since 1984!
Like the Costco hot dog, other food court menu items have a cult following. Customers used to love Costco churros, but for some reason, the original treat is no longer available. Members were shocked when Costco discontinued the churros, but then again, we aren’t immune to controversial food court decisions. I decided to find a replacement to satisfy our cravings.
Why did Costco get rid of churros?
For years, cinnamon sugar-coated churros were a staple at the Costco food court. The traditional straight churros sold for $1. For unknown reasons, they were removed from the menu during the pandemic, much to the chagrin of loyal customers. Costco eventually brought back churros, but this time with a twist—literally. The “twisted” churros arrived on the menu in 2021 but didn’t last long. In early 2024, churros disappeared from the menu completely. Their sweet slot was filled with a giant chocolate chip cookie for $2.49.
Where do I find copycat Costco churros?
Since the churros disappeared from the Costco menu, members have been searching for an alternative. Some say that the brand Costco used on its menu was from a company called Tio Pepes, and could be purchased in bulk from Walmart or Amazon. However, since they come in a case of 100, you would need a lot of freezer space for this option. I scoured the freezer sections at Costco, Trader Joe’s and Aldi, looking for a more convenient solution. All three stores said they had frozen churros at one point or another but didn’t currently have any in stock.
Luckily, one non-chain grocery store near me carries the Goya brand of frozen churros. I bought a box, put them in a 400°F oven for five minutes and tossed the hot churros with the included cinnamon sugar packet. If you have a local grocery store that carries Goya churros, it’s a good option when a Costco churro craving hits.
On our quest to find a replacement for the Costco churros, one unlikely source came into the picture. Subway recently introduced a new Footlong menu for snacking under $5. It includes a 12-inch cookie, a pretzel and…a churro! Ultimately, this was the best replacement for our beloved Costco churros. Being on the Footlong menu, the churros are oversized, exactly like what we were used to at Costco. The only caveat is that Subway churros cost $2, twice as much as the beloved Costco original.
