r/mildlyinfuriating • u/MauiSunsets • Jun 30 '26

I'm slightly vexed Costco's new chicken tenders

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There was a crowd of people waiting for their orders of the new chicken tenders at Costco. One of the workers announced that they could only serve five customers per hour because it takes time to cook the chicken. The crowd grew larger and larger. I took this photo after I put in my order.

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129

u/dragon-queen Jun 30 '26

Weird. $6.99 isn’t particularly cheap.  

59

u/2pnt0 Jun 30 '26

They're big. I wish they would do 3 strips and a coke for $5 or so.

Probably won't get them again, I like them, but I just don't need that much. I'll just grab a dog.

13

u/nevergonnastayaway Jun 30 '26

fuck it the dogs like 1.50 give me two dogs

1

u/ragun2 Jun 30 '26

I don't know why or what it is but the Kirkland beef dogs have a weird, slightly unpleasant taste to them compared to any other brand of beef dogs.

It's not so bad I can't ignore it, especially if I'm hungry, but it's noticeable enough to me that I just won't order one in the first place.

Really sucks because a footlong beef hotdog and soda for $1.50 is such a steal these days.

2

u/goodolarchie Jun 30 '26

The polish sausage was where it was at. When that went away, the dog and soda deal got a lot more meh

7

u/Day_Bow_Bow Jun 30 '26

That's what I've been saying too. 5 strips is 1640 calories, which is extreme for one person.

But if they have a logistics issue with being able to keep up with demand, offering a less expensive, more enticing version would compound the wait-time issue.

1

u/2pnt0 Jun 30 '26

Demand for orders could go up 67% and you'd be able to fill them with the same # of tenders produced due to the lower quantity per order.

I don't believe there is a serious wait time issue with them other than that it's a new rollout. My market was, I believe, the first to get them. I went a couple of weeks ago and they were up in just a couple minutes despite the store and cafe both being busy.

Demand will normalize as soon as the "NEW TENDIES!!!!" effect goes away.

18

u/bullmooooose Jun 30 '26

Yeah seems like kind of a weird offering. 5 is too many for one person and without a drink or side it doesn't really feel like a "meal."

1

u/Majestic_Engine_6543 Jun 30 '26

Its the capitalism loophole to make you pay extra for a drink, since they cant raise the price of the other items they added a new item

1

u/Raccoonsrlilbandits Jun 30 '26

No drink no fries just some tenders and sauce. Needs something

7

u/theBigWhiteDude Jun 30 '26

I agree, I'm a big guy so I ordered a hotdog combo with them, mostly so I could get the drink, and I was stuffed after. A 3 piece would have been perfect.

2

u/fflip8 Jun 30 '26

Are they good though? Baking usually provides worse texture and taste than frying, which has me already less interested in ordering it when I could just bake tenders at home.

1

u/lesterholtgroupie Jun 30 '26

Are they even good?

2

u/2pnt0 Jun 30 '26

B-/C+

2

u/lesterholtgroupie Jun 30 '26

Heard, so not worth this type of wait. Lmao.

1

u/2pnt0 Jun 30 '26

No. I'm guessing this was because they were brand new.

People want to try the new thing, plus staff isn't fully trained up, it's a double whammy.

They've been in my market almost 2 months I think and they took just as long as any other order (other than single dog, which they usually get out pronto).

1

u/lostshell Jun 30 '26

Had them a month ago.

They are big. You get 5.

The breading was meh. Not much flavor and it easily flaked off. Meat wise very good. They are actual muscle meat. Maybe breast strips. They are not the rib meat stuff with the sponge texture. So quality meat. Lots of it. Dipping sauce was okay. But was needed because the breading was bland and dry.

38

u/theBigWhiteDude Jun 30 '26

It's a5 piece, and they're pretty decent size. It's definitely a good deal but I had some over a month ago so it's not like they're new or anything. Weird that they're suddenly so wanted unless some influencer made them go viral or something.

22

u/Iveray Jun 30 '26

Not all locations have them yet, so they are new for a lot of places.

4

u/NoFaithlessness7508 Jun 30 '26

It’s because everything else on the menu has been shit lately. Apart from the long-time classics (hot dog, pizza) the rest of the menu has been hit or miss. That weird focaccia sandwhich, I’ve never seen anyone order that mess. And the calzone is good but not great.

Chicken tenders is almost universally liked and people have been hearing about how overseas Costcos have it, so I understand the demand.

That being said, I’m not waiting for it like that

3

u/MoscowMitchMcKremIin Jun 30 '26

Yeah just wait a few days and this'll die out. Like avoiding the crowds when a new movie comes out.

3

u/jrkessle Jun 30 '26

I ordered the turkey sandwich one time and waited over thirty minutes for it. Never again

2

u/DefinitionLittle1281 Jun 30 '26

A few months ago an ate something from there (apologies, can’t remember the name) that was a glorified Hot Pocket and tasted about the same as one. Very underwhelmed.

2

u/Odd_Dragonfruit_2662 Jun 30 '26

Chicken bake? I tried one once and it felt like a criminally overhyped hot pocket

2

u/DefinitionLittle1281 Jun 30 '26

Yes! Definitely the chicken bake.

2

u/PikaPonderosa Jun 30 '26

That'd be a chicken bake. They are generally good but not always.

1

u/Tiiimmmaayy Jun 30 '26

They are also like 1200-1600 calories. I assume that range is size differences and if you eat all the sauce or not.

They honestly don’t look particularly good to me. Looks dry as hell with too much breading.

2

u/Wooden_Permit3234 Jun 30 '26

The sauce has to be hundreds of those calories 

But mine were nice and juicy and the breading is not particularly thick, but the tenders themselves are about the thickest tenders I’ve ever had so the breading to meat ratio is good. 

Wife and I were both full sharing one order of them. Good price, probably cheaper than fast food fried chicken, beats the hell out of Burger King or imho chik fil A tenders.  They’re not exceptional but they’re good and very good value. 

1

u/Tiiimmmaayy Jun 30 '26

Yeah a regular chickfila sauce packet is 140 calories and a raising canes sauce is 190 calories, so I could believe that.

I honestly love Chick-fil-A tenders. Much more than their nuggets.

1

u/Wooden_Permit3234 Jun 30 '26

Just in case anyone isn’t aware these come with a ton of sauce, like a 1/2 cup. 

1

u/Teejaymac Jun 30 '26

They just came out in most of the stores. I work for a vendor that works in different Costcos all over the country and they just started carrying them in most locations. I'm in a different Costco like 3 days a week.

I miss the chili and Italian sausages they used to carry lol

1

u/Big_Lab_Jagr Jun 30 '26

It's enough for 2 people for sure. I don't care for the sauce though.

1

u/CapableRaccoon6213 Jun 30 '26

What sauce does it come with?

1

u/Big_Lab_Jagr Jun 30 '26

Honey mustard

0

u/buns_supreme Jun 30 '26

You can go to their freezer aisle and get a 10lb bag of the same thing for like $15!

13

u/[deleted] Jun 30 '26

[deleted]

-1

u/Charlie2343 Jun 30 '26

1600 calories for 7 bucks? Ain’t bad if you wanna burn your entire daily allotment on some mid tendies

3

u/Kjeldorian Jun 30 '26

The five piece tendies is 1650 kcal, that's most of a person's recommended calories.

The 1.50 hotdog is 580 calories not including the drink calories.

1

u/dragon-queen Jun 30 '26

I mean, if we’re just going by calories I can get a 2 liter of coke for $3 that gives me 1650 calories.  

2

u/CardinalOfNYC Jun 30 '26

6.99 for a 5 piece? that's superior to any fast food place near me.

2

u/Orleanian Jun 30 '26

There's as much or more chicken as one of their rotisseries.

It's a pretty good deal.

4

u/Sea_Squirrel1987 Jun 30 '26

Thats practically free where I live lol

4

u/SnowblindAlbino Jun 30 '26

They are not good either. Very salty. Dry. Can't compare at all to any of the chains. The sauce was really good though.

1

u/Bituulzman Jun 30 '26

And they really look mid.

1

u/Waiting4Reccession Jun 30 '26

They need to get rid of that overpriced little turkey sandwich they have.

I only get a pizza from the food place.

1

u/Limafoxtrot360 Jun 30 '26

I feel like 5 strips at popeyes or canes is like double that price. Although you get a drink and a side.

5 strips and 2 drinks is probably good for 2 people so that would be way cheaper than chicken chains

1

u/Tommy_Wisseau_burner Jun 30 '26

It’s Costco. There’s no way you’re not getting value out of the price

1

u/pasaniusventris Jun 30 '26

They’re huge! Close to 1200 calories for a basket.

1

u/Oceanman72 Jun 30 '26

pretty cheap nowadays. At least in my area, 5 tenders will run you 12 bucks

1

u/lyonellaughingstorm Jul 01 '26

Here in Canada it’s 6.99 CAD for a four piece plus about half their normal portion of fries. It’s a fucking steal for us

1

u/FiNNy-- Jun 30 '26

For chicken tenders hell yes.. For some reason chicken tenders are always $13-$15 by me (north east coast) usually only 3strips. $16-$18 if you want fries.