# Costco adds hot fan favorite to food court menu as shoppers debate taste and value

> **Newsylist Open Intelligence Dossier** · First detected: 2026-07-18 14:29 UTC · Category: Business · Sources: 8 · Current Velocity: 6.36

## Executive Summary
Costco has launched $6.99 chicken strips nationwide, sparking viral online debates over taste and value.

## Intelligence Brief
Costco has introduced chicken strips to its food court menu following a test run. The new item is now available nationwide, including at locations on California's Central Coast.


Coverage from Fox Business, Yahoo, and USA Today emphasizes a viral reaction from shoppers, with some users drawing comparisons between the meal and Chick-fil-A. SFGATE notes that this is the first new food court item the company has introduced in years.


Future developments include monitoring the continued rollout as some coverage indicates that not everyone is currently able to access the item.

## Verified Facts & Key Claims
### How much do the new Costco chicken strips cost?
The chicken strips are priced at $6.99.

### Where are these chicken strips available?
According to coverage from Cleveland.com and MSN, the item has been launched nationwide.

### How have shoppers reacted to the new menu item?
The item has gone viral, with some shoppers debating the taste and value and others comparing the meal to Chick-fil-A.

## Key People, Organizations & Locations
Costco, Chick-fil-a, Central Coast, California Costcos, Costco Just Introduced, New Food Court Item Shoppers Have Been Waiting

## Multi-Source Evidence Table
| Source Outlet | Headline | Published (UTC) | Verification URL |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSN | Costco launches $6.99 chicken strips nationwide after test run | 2026-07-17 22:28 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiqAJBVV95cUxPaS1qMDBWNUxiZkN2cldUX2w0MEZ6ekUwZWtOQUpwWFN4REVkU0pUVDJTTlAzMDNBeUh6RGZ4X1RSSmhBdzMwTVZINmdCY2k1TXBCWTM2MVlZMzdsTU1GS3FfbHJFOFVxVzdBUEx3OHl2c0hkZzcyWEZVNEdmbzNrcmlRelhMNktwMVBJbW80S3RkVW5qcUVnWHFqT0Z4bERpdmIxNDEzdjhodzFpZXc4Y2tVV2tFMHVuTEl5WHIxYzFnenZ4ZFgzeDRDQmlRZFh2T3EzUFZFdFpRZ3JvWTJ3SG04MFQtSmpWckJxck5sbGw5eHY0ZFdKUHlTNkJ3MTgxQ2Jlbkx6a3dSZFhQNTV3amxRYVBkakY5UDdFOHdRRFhycHlHbUdzVA?oc=5) |
| Yahoo | Costco's chicken tenders are going viral. But not everyone can get them | 2026-07-17 22:28 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMilgFBVV95cUxQZnZQQWQtanBLY09pSjlieTFfZTBEdThRVmRhd1BubHpta1NucFJ5THc0YnhEd3VXSzZNSmpuZ1BMcUcwalh3UnlkTS1fSmZXWG1TYnVlT2xvMGdFRm5vZWZHZ3VabzJucnJkNFB6M05XNnhWaXR5aXJwaTR2U3d6V1g5bV9mMjdyM1FDa3BwUUJzXzFmamc?oc=5) |
| USA Today | Costco's new food court meal draws Chick-fil-A comparisons online | 2026-07-17 22:28 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi0wFBVV95cUxPSXZBZVd5NlF0ai02NkxFOFNYZkJ5UExqLVdtNjRxODl5R3VXWGp2TmxFLWZTUFU3dHZsVmV0WHVKM09MNGlXbHc4cURTSEExZUg2TDJrQlVsaTM3S0poRHNYYnlsVTFfVjJ2YnJmUERiS3VXSWZEU1U5cDdaTXVFNjF0a1VEeXZEaElJUUhuZ2FJWjN2SEhCTGlwSE5VcERSQVFrLUV5ZTZnWDJGREN6bDM2NjZYbENIUThLVDV1VHFmeEFIQm42WXd6dUxTX0laQWZR?oc=5) |
| marthastewart.com | Costco Just Introduced a New Food Court Item Shoppers Have Been Waiting For | 2026-07-17 22:28 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiiAFBVV95cUxOcFFsY3FsejJpWThhZ0ZUQVVBVy1ocUhqX1pJR3ZGSHNJRURack5fNmFEYW9GcUNpb0ZLbmN4b2dhYm9uTGtjTDJ6VDg5WVp4ZDAzaldFTUhxQjFvVGp6V19lNUxmeEEzblB2blFNRmVJVVFlRndKdWF6WWVqY21fSGtMZ3NsejYx?oc=5) |
| KSBW | Costco chicken tenders land at Central Coast locations | 2026-07-17 22:28 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMijAFBVV95cUxPcHFQRXFlcmFmQmlRWFBqaExJQ0hjNEhqc2JQU1BVX0hCUnJZLW0xQWJIcTlOSXZLb1hGRE9yUkVtXzRjVGxZUlM4U2kwVFAtU2x2MURwYmxpUmVEM0dDcWZyTG00OTV6ajZ1ZTNwV3pkTFNHMkJtY2FaZ0Z4TzBBNXRPR2NXa3RDeWlLMQ?oc=5) |
| Cleveland.com | Costco’s most-anticipated food court option has arrived nationwide | 2026-07-17 22:28 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMirgFBVV95cUxQeHc2MzNpVnphaDlBY0dZYW5BLWdhYVc1cUxkaWgxUGNuYTUxS2FOVl9iU1U4SE1uemJyOUswY3NkOFNJX05DSHpYZFYzSHdWb25hd3RfbFJORHB6MkV5N0NiMktyVmVUQXVwLU0zVi1ENFQ4eHVocGo0TVdpRl9KaEtSMEFHamtmVzh4MWxIYVJNdkN4a1lZRmNpeWxGRlA5U203Smp6R25aTzhDaGfSAcIBQVVfeXFMTlB1WXlxNkxteTZicExENFQ5cld2a0pZT1B3MmNqRjZYOWN6X3QwQ05PTWl5VTVqRGVFblFNalMyR3VqNnd2ODl6WDZ5U19pVmlPRU5faW1SRnRlRjMtV2hjZDJsa0p1RDNOMVZFUC12S1RoOEExOHktS2FRdFlNNnRnS1llbDdPWlpFZWhiODFFNWhIZHVhbldiaVhDSnJSMEdhanF) |
| SFGATE | California Costcos roll out first new food court item in years | 2026-07-17 22:28 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMickFVX3lxTE5GLXZDdjYyWlJNSWNQOGVTcVRkLVh3QVB6bDJZOHpta2EtM3o2SjR1WVVJSHJKU0VDX3Z3NW1lREpuNUZaSDFnajloQWhVYmhCaERjWkZaaWQ4ZUNDa3JyMnphMkdmVG5waWVYQUNLa0d2dw?oc=5) |
| Yahoo | Costco's new food court meal is drawing Chick-fil-A comparisons | 2026-07-17 22:28 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMikAFBVV95cUxPcG1uck9HZnlHR0F2U0hyMjJBQUJVV2libTc5b0xwbzVZNXFhUnNockpuRWg1QTJBUEozbjFTTkpreTAyVEZfdWhLa3RvNExXZXRiYV95VU1manZLRG04cmhrd0ZUYklkLU9IZ2tPZXN6WGVRZEQ5SGM0UnI1UktXbEtzLUZFSjdfUjRxbVc3ejA?oc=5) |
| Fox Business | Costco adds hot fan favorite to food court menu as shoppers debate taste and value | 2026-07-17 22:28 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMirwFBVV95cUxOTkduWVlqYVlsUDlwclh6TTlYRlFPUnVVMkM4Q3BOTEFwNTJvMHhaS0dBTTBfS0tfRi1rdm5XZE82ckF6eVhqVEd2WmxLeklmYk5CaDJqZXV6eGtVNXg4Rlc4YW9SeGo0dG1tZ0xuMS1rRXVNZ3hMZk12VnNESndvZnlTMVlDSVJBSnlBY09WaVNsa0VJcXVOUHJrQ2d6bFpsOFRRSmlxcHNQbFJWdHYw0gG0AUFVX3lxTE5ZQXFFbi1odmFyWUhOS0d2NVM3bUVjVkt5bzJzWUJrdUlSbmlfUkc5UzZBbWFVSG8tWTdtRXdEajlpWUwweEU4aTFWOWM4ZlBJZW5rY1BWcUZjSlU5UnNQejJkNEc1RkVRQm1TbEZqeHZXcFl4S3hHTVAtSHdBUWpNZGJoQ2E0Y1IxMS1TVXJwMWRmOGxKUl8ycjhGcjhqczdCWWw) |

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*Canonical Source: https://www.newsylist.com/trend/2026-07-18/costco-adds-hot-fan-favorite-to-food-court-menu-as-shoppers-debate-taste-and*
*Synthesized by Newsylist Open Intelligence Engine under E-E-A-T journalistic standards.*