This Is Why Costco's Hot Dogs Are Amazing, According To Social Media
Costco hot dogs are both a business success story and a culinary phenomenon, and a trip to the food court for one is an integral part of the Costco experience. That's the prevailing sentiment we found after scouring foodie communities across the internet. Costco's hot dogs are just some of the best fast food hot dogs around. Renowned French chef Julia Child even considered them equal to a fine dining dish. Rarely does something so simple inspire such passion among so many different types of foodies.
So what makes these dogs so good? It's not a secret sauce, mystery ingredient, or a celebrity chef promoting the product. We looked at the reviews of this favorite food court item that fans have posted on social media to get to the bottom of things and find out just why Costco's hot dogs are so amazing.
They are an outstanding value for money product
Costco prices its hot dog combo at just $1.50. For that price, you get a 1/4-pound hot dog and a refillable 20-ounce soda. To call the price competitive is an understatement. "...spending only $1.50 on a meal. That's something that's completely unheard of in 2024," online creator Sir Yacht told People.
The company has famously kept the hot dog price at $1.50 since 1984. Costco CEO Craig Jelinek said this was important for the company's image. "It's the mindset that when you think of Costco, you think of the $1.50 hot dog (and soda)," he said in a speech, according to 425 Business.
Customers have also crunched the numbers. One fan pointed out on Reddit that the Costco hot dog combo "might be the only fast food that is cheaper per calorie than groceries." With food prices growing while "shrinkflation" is reducing the serving size of foods from much-loved brands, the fact that Costco has stuck to the same low price for its hot dog is amazing.
They are classic hot dogs
As any New Yorker can testify, hot dogs are supposed to be simple. Some sauerkraut and brown mustard is all it takes. Yet the Costco hot dog now has to survive — and still manages to thrive — in a landscape of gourmet stadium dogs, niche food truck specials, and exotic versions of regional classics. In addition to Chicago hot dogs — which have always been piled with many toppings — you'll now find hot dogs in banh mi buns, sriracha instead of ketchup, as well as other decadent combinations.
Not at Costco, though. Its hot dog is no-frills. You get an classic wiener, simple bun, and your choice of standard condiments. It's unpretentious, accessible, and consistent. This is understood on Reddit, with one user posting: "I mean they are just perfect. From the soft delicious bun. To the juicy 100% beef dog itself. I don't think I have ever had a better hotdog."
The hot dogs are 100% beef
Premium cuts of meat aren't typically found in budget wieners, and many people are suspicious of just what exactly they are made of. Luckily, Costco puts minds to rest and proudly advertises that its hot dogs are made with 100% beef.
Hebrew National supplied the food court hot dogs at one time, but eventually the brand switched to the in-house Kirkland wieners instead. Both styles are 100% beef, but social media appears to have picked a wiener winner. According to multiple comments on a Reddit thread, the Kirkland Signature dogs have more snap, less salt, and a more assertive garlic flavor than the Hebrew National ones. One commenter said, "I think the regular ones are the best hot dogs, way better than Hebrew National," while another said, "Much prefer the Kirkland dogs."
You can customize the hot dogs as you wish
Costco's food court hot dog is served plain, which gives you the option to either enjoy it in its classic state, or customize it with your favorite toppings and condiments. You'll find a convenient condiment station with ketchup, mustard, and relish where you can mix up the perfect sauce for your dog.
You might, however, notice something missing from the condiment station: onions. This item was withdrawn from the roster during the pandemic. The good news, though, is that some content creators are posting that onions are starting to make a comeback at select Costco stores. In some locations, you can now get a single-serving container of diced onions with your order; they'll either be on the counter or you might have to ask for them.
You can further personalize the hot dogs with menu hacks
Ambitious fans of the Costco hot dog have taken customization even further than adding onions. One popular trend on TikTok is to build something called the Costco "Forbidden Glizzy." "Glizzy" refers to the hot dog, and the "forbidden" aspect simply refers to the fact that this item is not available on the menu. You have to build it yourself.
This hack is worth the sacrifice of setting your steamed hot dog bun aside. To create the Forbidden Glizzy, you'll need a hot dog and a Costco chicken bake. Cut away the tip of the bake, remove or compress the filling, and place your hot dog inside the bake.
This flavor combo shouldn't work but it does. You get to enjoy a salty, savory overload with a satisfying crunch from the bake. A smaller sausage wouldn't be up to the task, so we have to thank the visionary who saw the potential of combining the extra-long hot dog with the untapped possibility of Costco's Chicken Bake.
You'll find variations at Costco locations worldwide
With around 275 Costco warehouses outside of the United States, the reputation of the Costco hot dog extends far beyond North America. You could pick up a 1/4-pound hot dog as far away as New Zealand, or grab the iconic American snack in France.
Better still, you can enjoy a different version of the classic Costco hot dog in various countries. The French version offers Dijon mustard and mayonnaise as condiment options, and the hot dogs in Costco's food courts in Japan, New Zealand, and Australia, they are 100% pork rather than beef. At some locations in South Korea, you might even be able to top your hot dog with kimchi.
They have an impressive bun-to-dog ratio
Reddit has spoken. According to one user, the Costco product has "the perfect hotdog to bun ratio." This ratio is particularly perfect if you like there to be some extra dog sticking out of both ends of the bun. It's bold and ambitious and sends a clear message: This wiener won't be tamed. A hot dog that fails to reach the end of the bun, by contrast, can lead to a bun that becomes soggy and limp from the condiments.
There's always been something of a mismatch between dogs and buns. At Costco, some hot dogs come in packs of 12, and some buns in packs of 24, after all, so there's an invitation to have leftover buns if you're making them at home. At the food court, Costco nails it with a bun that doesn't overshadow the hot dog itself.
Methodology
We knew that Costco was onto something with its $1.50 hot dog, but we wanted evidence from fans that there is more to love than the price. The trail led us to threads on Reddit and hashtags on TikTok, the sole purpose of which was to celebrate the amazing Costco hot dog. Our research focused on the most commonly mentioned reasons why customers couldn't leave Costco without a hot dog in their spare hand.