The Discontinued Costco Hot Dogs We Probably Won't Get Back

No small percentage of Costco patrons would point to the food court as one of the main draws. Customers have a smorgasbord of mouthwatering options to choose from, from sandwiches to salads to pizza – though price-wise you may want to avoid ordering just a slice. With such a dedicated following, it's no surprise that when the warehouse retailer discontinues one of its menu items, customers get riled up, which is exactly what happened when it removed its Polish hot dogs as an option. 

When this happened in 2018, Costco claimed its removal was to make room on the menu for simpler, healthier eating options, and good to its word, the retailer replaced them with açai bowls and an al pastor salad. When news first broke, the membership merchandiser endured a flurry of disappointed customer reactions, though representatives indicated that based on relatively poor sales, this is what the majority of customers wanted. And for anyone who got confused by the change, Costco assured fans it would still be offering its hot dog and soda combo for $1.50 — a price that hasn't changed since 1985. From this point, the company signaled that frank options would go back to being all-beef. 

The typical franks we know and love today come from German and Austrian origins, whereas Polish dogs obviously have Polish roots. Commonly referred to as a kielbasa in their country of origin, these sausages generally contain a generous amount of seasoning and smokey flavor compared to their subdued counterparts, though you can enhance a traditional dog by adding seasoning when you cook it. Inside the casing of a Polish dog, you'll find coarsely ground beef, pork, or turkey, whereas a hot dog boasts a smoother texture of finely ground meat consisting of beef or pork and a blend of various ingredients used to enhance the mouthfeel.

The robust flavor and texture of the Polish version isn't the only significant differentiation from a traditional frankfurter. They tend to be longer and thinner than their stout American equivalents, which was likely the first thing longtime fans noticed when the kielbasas were discontinued. Social media eventually determined Costco's all-beef hot dogs were a delight, but anytime a company stops selling one of its items that has a cult following, there are bound to be some hangry fans who miss their staple food choices and take to the internet to voice their frustrations. The retailer is no stranger to this occurrence, as this isn't the first time it has parted ways with beloved fan-favorites in the food court.

When one menu item becomes discontinued it's often replaced with something new, which is precisely what happened when Costco did away with its Roast Beef sandwich and substituted it for a Turkey Swiss. The roast beef version carried a hefty price tag of $9.99 and had trouble gaining traction among shoppers, so the switch didn't offend many. However, when the retail giant discontinued the churro it had been selling for $1.49 and swapped it for a chocolate chip cookie for $2.49, many customers saw red. 

Occasionally — like with the Beef Chili with Beans option discontinued some years back — an item gets pulled from the menu without a substitute in place. Some customers commented online that they adored the simple cup of chili for its ability to turn the hot dogs into chili dogs. Another change that rubbed folks the wrong way when it disappeared was the Chicken Caesar Salad, a longtime staple who liked the light lunch option among a menu of (mostly) ballpark food. Though it came back later, the price inflated from $3.99 to $6.99, offering only half a consolation to customers hungry for a fresh option. If we're destined to see the Polish dog again, hopefully it won't get the same treatment.