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Where else but Costco can you spend hundreds of dollars on toilet paper, a kayak, and spaghetti sauce at one register, order lunch for less than $2 at another, and leave feeling like you’ve gotten the better end of the deal? That’s the magic of Costco’s food court.
Costco’s food courts have a surprisingly devoted following for a cafeteria whose menu includes hot dogs and pizza. Members are forever innovating ways to get the most from the pick-up window, like hacking the chicken bake or make-your-own soda float. Even though not nearly enough people are talking about it, the very best item to buy at the food court is already listed right there on the menu — it’s the strawberry ice cream sundae.
What’s So Great About the Costco Food Court’s Strawberry Ice Cream Sundae?
The best way to finish a Costco run is with a stop by the food court. The chocolate and vanilla swirled frozen yogurt was my go-to order, but when the company discontinued the chocolate fro-yo, I had to find another treat. I’m not one to settle for plain vanilla anything, so I ordered the soft-serve ice cream with a swirl of strawberry syrup on a whim. After just one taste, I knew I’d found my new favorite food-court order.
The strawberry ice cream sundaes are made by swirling spoonfuls of sweetened and syrupy strawberries with Costco’s ultra-rich and creamy vanilla soft-serve ice cream. The sundae is topped with another heaping spoonful of the strawberries. Every bite of the sundae is different, thanks to the swirled effect. Some bites are all vanilla soft-serve, while others are all plump strawberries and cream.
At just $2.49, you might expect the strawberry sundae to be served in a small, kid-sized cup, but that’s just not how Costco does things. This fruity soft-serve is swirled into a 12-ounce cup, which makes it the perfect size for sharing with your shopping companions.
If you can’t resist personalizing your food-court orders, some Redditors recommend asking for both chocolate sauce and strawberries on their sundae for a version of a chocolate-covered strawberry. Not all Costco food courts will honor that request, but, hey, it can’t hurt to ask.
Find it in stores: Strawberry Ice Cream Sundae, $2.49
What’s your favorite food-court find? Share your pick in the comments.