Every week I taste-test 8–12 of Costco’s newest food finds and give you my honest review — no hype, no fluff. Expect real feedback on taste, texture, best pairings, and the simple hacks that turn the good stuff into the great stuff. Here’s what I’ve been eating my way through this week (May 26 – June 1, 2026).
Costco Just Dropped Fishwife Tinned Tuna at Half the DTC Price — Is It Actually Worth It?
Price: $14.99 / 3-pack of Fishwife Albacore in Spanish Olive Oil with Lemon (Prices vary by warehouse; this is roughly half what the same 3-pack costs on Fishwife.com.)
Taste Test: The hype on this cult tinned-fish brand is real. The albacore is silky, mild, and slightly buttery from the Spanish olive oil — nothing like the mealy, fishy water-packed stuff most of us grew up on. The lemon is restrained, more aroma than acid, which lets the fish actually taste like itself.
Texture Summary: Big, intact flakes that hold their shape when you fork them out. The oil is rich but doesn’t feel greasy. This is the texture you want for a quick salad or a girl-dinner cracker plate.
Make It Better: The pro-move is to drain off about a third of the oil, then fold the rest of the tuna into a soft-boiled egg with capers and crusty bread. Or pile it on a Triscuit with a few drops of Mike’s Hot Honey and you’ve got a 30-second appetizer.
Perfect Pairings: A chilled glass of Albariño or a dry Provence rosé is the natural call. For a snack pairing, lay it next to Castelvetrano olives, pickled red onion, and a wedge of aged Manchego.
Final Verdict: BUY — A genuine 9.5/10. Costco saves you about $15 over buying it direct from Fishwife — same product, same quality. Alton Brown publicly called this brand one of his favorite things, and after this week I get it.
Lindt Lindor Ice Cream Truffles Finally Hit the Costco Freezer — Are They Worth the Trip?
Price: $16.99 / 21.2 oz bag of Lindt Lindor Ice Cream Truffles (Assorted flavors — usually a mix of milk chocolate, dark, and a fudge swirl.)
Taste Test: These are exactly what they sound like — the classic Lindor melt-in-your-mouth chocolate shell, but with a creamy ice-cream center instead of the soft ganache. The milk-chocolate one tastes most like the original; the fudge swirl is the standout, with ribbons of softer chocolate running through.
Texture Summary: The shell stays cleanly cracky straight from the freezer. The ice cream inside is dense and slow-melting — closer to gelato than soft-serve. No icy crystals, no chalky aftertaste.
Make It Better: Let them sit on the counter for exactly 90 seconds before eating — that’s the sweet spot where the shell is still snappy but the inside is starting to soften. For entertaining, toss a handful into a chilled coupe glass and pour an espresso shot over them. Instant affogato.
Perfect Pairings: A small glass of Tawny Port, Pedro Ximénez sherry, or even a Stout beer if you want to go that direction. For coffee, a French press or a slow pour-over.
Final Verdict: BUY — A solid 9/10. The first U.S. ice-cream drop from Lindor, and Costco got it exclusively. If you have grandkids visiting or guests this weekend, grab two bags.
Kinder Bueno Hazelnut Cones Are Finally Here — And They Taste Exactly Like the Candy Bar
Price: $9.99 / 10-pack (30.4 fl oz total) of Kinder Bueno Hazelnut Cones
Taste Test: If you’ve eaten a Kinder Bueno bar, you already know what to expect — that signature roasted-hazelnut and milk-chocolate combo, wrapped around a vanilla soft-serve. The hazelnut filling in the middle of the cone is genuinely creamy, not sandy or grainy like some imitators.
Texture Summary: The wafer cone stays crisp from end to end, which is the hardest part to nail in a frozen treat. The chocolate coating on top has just enough thickness to crack with a spoon but not so much it dominates the bite.
Make It Better: Hit the top with a sprinkle of flaky sea salt before serving. It cuts the sweetness and makes the hazelnut taste more roasted. For a dessert plate, pair with a tiny espresso shot or a single strawberry.
Perfect Pairings: Espresso, cappuccino, or a dessert coffee. If you want alcohol, a small pour of Frangelico or hazelnut liqueur on the side is the move.
Final Verdict: BUY — 9.5/10. This is Kinder Bueno’s first U.S. frozen launch and Costco landed it before anyone else. Members are clearing the freezer case on these — don’t walk past.
Kirkland Signature Broccoli Beef Is the New $6.99/lb Takeout-Killer — Here’s the Verdict
Price: $6.99 per pound from the refrigerated prepared-foods case (a typical container runs about 4 lbs / $28, enough to feed 4-6 people.)
Taste Test: The beef is the surprise here — wonderfully tender, sliced thin, and seared with real wok-flavor. Not a chewy piece in the batch I tested. The sauce is balanced rather than candy-sweet, with a clean soy-and-ginger backbone. Broccoli is crisp-tender, not the limp, over-steamed version some Costco prepared items have suffered from.
Texture Summary: This is the texture story Costco needed. Beef slices are uniform, broccoli florets are intact, and the sauce coats without pooling at the bottom. The whole tray reheats in 10 minutes without turning gluey.
Make It Better: Serve over jasmine rice with a soft-boiled egg cut in half on top, and add a quick drizzle of toasted sesame oil and a sprinkle of scallions. That single move turns it from prepared-foods dinner into something that feels homemade.
Perfect Pairings: A cold lager, an off-dry Riesling, or unsweetened iced jasmine tea. If you’re going Eastern, sake works.
Final Verdict: BUY — 9/10 with a sodium asterisk. One serving runs about 2,740 mg of sodium, so don’t make this a daily dinner. But as a once-a-week weeknight rescue at $6.99/lb, it beats every Panda Express container.
Olipop’s New Spring Variety Pack Lands at Costco — But Only One of Three Flavors Actually Earns the Hype
Price: $19.99 / 15-can Olipop Spring Variety Pack (Shirley Temple, Raspberry Sherbet, and Strawberry Vanilla — 5 cans each.)
Taste Test: Raspberry Sherbet is the only one that lands cleanly. Tart, creamy, a little bit nostalgic — this is the one to drink chilled on the patio. Shirley Temple is fine but tastes more like cherry-syrup-on-soda-water than the cocktail it’s named for. Strawberry Vanilla is the safest of the three but the least interesting — muted strawberry, no real vanilla bite.
Texture Summary: Standard Olipop carbonation — gentle fizz, not aggressive. The prebiotic fiber gives every flavor a slightly thicker mouthfeel than a normal soda, which most members will read as “creamy” and a few will read as “weird.” It grows on you.
Make It Better: For grown-up entertaining, pour Raspberry Sherbet over crushed ice with a splash of prosecco and a fresh raspberry on top. Skip the Strawberry Vanilla unless you have kids in the house.
Perfect Pairings: These are designed to drink solo, but Raspberry Sherbet works as the alcohol-free option at a brunch table next to mimosas. Goes with grilled chicken or a green salad.
Final Verdict: MAYBE — 7/10 as a pack, 9/10 if all three cans were Raspberry Sherbet. Worth the $19.99 if you can convince a coworker to take 10 of the other cans off your hands.
JonnyPops Organic Rainbow Fruit Stacks Are Back at Costco — And $3.50 Off This Month
Price: $8.99 / 18-count box of JonnyPops Organic Rainbow Fruit Stacks (regular $12.49; $3.50 instant savings runs May 11–June 7, in the current Costco coupon book.)
Taste Test: Six layers of real fruit puree per pop — strawberry, orange, pineapple, lime, blueberry, grape. No artificial dyes, no high-fructose corn syrup, no dairy. Each layer tastes like the fruit it came from, which is the bar most multi-flavor pops fail to clear.
Texture Summary: Smooth, dense, and creamier than typical fruit pops because they’re made with coconut cream as the base. No icy chips, no syrupy melt.
Make It Better: These don’t need help — but if you’re feeding adults, dip the bottom inch in melted dark chocolate, then back in the freezer for 5 minutes. Sets up like a chocolate-shell magic-shell.
Perfect Pairings: These are stand-alone summer treats. The only pairing that matters is a warm afternoon and at least one grandkid.
Final Verdict: BUY — 9.5/10. Organic, clean ingredients, $3.50 off in the active coupon book, and they make you look like a hero with the under-10 crowd. Grab two boxes.
Vita Coco Frosted Lemonade Tastes Like a Spoon of Lemon Sorbet in a Box
Price: $15.99 / 12-pack of Vita Coco Treats Frosted Lemonade (11.1 oz boxes)
Taste Test: This is a half-frozen lemonade in a juice-box format — tart, bright, and noticeably less sugary than a soda. About half the sugar of a typical lemonade. The lemon flavor is real, not artificial-candy.
Texture Summary: Best part of this product: you give the box a 30-second squeeze and it turns into a slushy without a blender. The mouthfeel is right between a slush and a smoothie.
Make It Better: Pop it in the freezer for 20 minutes before serving for a thicker, frostier consistency. For adults, this also makes a clean lemon-drop cocktail base — pour into a shaker with vodka and a splash of triple sec.
Perfect Pairings: On its own or with a turkey sandwich for the world’s easiest summer lunch. Pairs surprisingly well with anything spicy — the cold + sweet cuts through heat.
Final Verdict: BUY — 9/10. Stock up now — once the weather turns these will fly off shelves and the price will likely climb after the launch promo.
Bobo’s PB&J Oat Bar Variety Pack — Genuinely Portable, Genuinely Good for You
Price: $19.99 / 20 bars (10 strawberry, 10 raspberry) of Bobo’s PB&J Oat Bars
Taste Test: These taste like an actual peanut butter and jelly sandwich on a soft, chewy oat base. The strawberry is the sweeter of the two; the raspberry has a noticeable tartness that grown-ups will prefer. Peanut butter is the dominant note in both.
Texture Summary: Soft, chewy, dense — not crumbly, not dry. These bend instead of snapping when you fold them, which is the texture you want in a bar that lives in your purse or glovebox for two weeks.
Make It Better: Microwave for 8 seconds and the peanut butter softens just enough to read as a real warm PB&J. Or break one in half and crumble it over Greek yogurt with a drizzle of honey for a 2-minute breakfast.
Perfect Pairings: Black coffee, a tall glass of cold milk, or the school-lunch nostalgia of a side of apple slices.
Final Verdict: BUY — 9/10. Gluten-free, dairy-free, plant-based, 230 calories each, no weird aftertaste. Bobo’s first PB&J warehouse launch and an obvious one for travel, road trips, and pre-workout fuel.
Authentic Wagyu A5 Beef Tallow Lands at Costco — Worth the $60 for Cooks, Skip If You’re Just Curious
Price: $60 / two 22-oz jars (2.75 lb total) of Authentic Wagyu A5 Japanese Wagyu Beef Tallow
Taste Test: You don’t eat this on its own — you cook with it. But when you do, it’s an experience. Steaks finished in a tablespoon of this melt have a depth and butter-richness that vegetable oil can’t touch. Sear fries in it and they taste like a steakhouse’s side instead of a frozen-food shortcut.
Texture Summary: Solid at room temp, melts at 95°F into a thin clear-amber liquid. No off odors, no oxidation taste — the jar lid seals tight so it stores well.
Make It Better: A tablespoon in the skillet before you sear a ribeye, then baste with another tablespoon plus a smashed garlic clove and thyme sprig for the last minute. Or render it into popcorn for a snack that’s borderline indulgent.
Perfect Pairings: Steaks, fries, roasted potatoes, smashed burgers, popcorn. Bold red wines — a structured Cabernet or a Napa Zinfandel.
Final Verdict: MAYBE — 8.5/10 if you cook often; 5/10 if you’re a curious shopper. The price-per-ounce undercuts specialty butchers significantly, but if you don’t already cook with rendered fats this jar will sit unopened.
Havanna Alfajores 3-Box Bundle Brings the Cult Argentine Cookie Stateside — But Read the Price Tag First
Price: $64.99 / 3-box Havanna Alfajores bundle (mix of chocolate and white chocolate)
Taste Test: A genuine Havanna alfajor is two soft, slightly crumbly cookies sandwiching a thick layer of authentic dulce de leche, then dipped in chocolate. Cult-favorite in Argentina since 1948, and Costco landed both the chocolate and white-chocolate varieties as a limited bundle. The dulce de leche is the star — rich, milky-caramel, not artificially sweet.
Texture Summary: The cookie is soft and almost cake-like; the dulce de leche is thick enough to stay put but soft enough to ooze slightly when you bite. The chocolate shell has a clean snap.
Make It Better: Eat them with espresso — they’re engineered for the pairing. For dessert plating, dust the white-chocolate ones with a tiny bit of cocoa powder and serve next to a strong coffee.
Perfect Pairings: Espresso, dark coffee, or a small glass of Pedro Ximénez sherry. Avoid mild teas — the dulce de leche overwhelms them.
Final Verdict: MAYBE — 9/10 on quality, 7/10 on value. At $64.99 for the bundle this is gift-territory pricing — great for Mother’s/Father’s Day or as a hostess gift, harder to justify for everyday snacking.
11 More Costco Finds the r/Costco Community Has Been Buzzing About
Pasta Prima Spinach & Mozzarella Ravioli Is the Most Beloved Frozen Item at Costco — and It’s Back
You May Be Interested In
Price: $12.99 regular / ~$9.99 on sale / 3.5 lb club-size bag (item #229644) with the included parmesan-herb seasoning packet that members swear is the secret weapon.
Taste Test: After a multi-year disappearance in some warehouses, Pasta Prima’s spinach-and-mozzarella ravioli is back — and the Costco subreddit lit up with 1,400+ upvotes calling it the best item in the entire warehouse. The pasta has real spinach in the dough; the filling is creamy mozzarella with just enough herb to taste like a real Italian restaurant version, not a freezer-aisle cheat.
Texture Summary: Tender but never mushy — the ravioli pillows hold their shape through the boil and into the sauce. The included seasoning packet does the work most pre-packaged ravioli skip; sprinkle it during the final minute of simmering and it transforms a $13 bag into a dinner that tastes hand-made.
Make It Better: The pro-move from longtime fans: skip the boil, go straight to a sheet pan with marinara, a layer of fresh mozzarella, and 22 minutes at 400°F. That’s the “lazy lasagna” the back of the bag teaches you and the version most members ended up cooking weekly. Add a squeeze of lemon and torn basil at the end.
Perfect Pairings: A Chianti Classico, a Barbera, or even a cold Pinot Grigio on hot nights. For a side, a chopped arugula salad with shaved parmesan keeps the meal balanced.
Final Verdict: BUY — 10/10. One of the most childhood-defining items in the Costco freezer for thousands of members. If your warehouse has it (still gone in AZ and NE Ohio per recent threads), grab two bags — the second goes in the freezer for the next desperate Tuesday.
PuraVida Fire Roasted Mexican Street Corn Is the $11 Freezer Shortcut That Actually Tastes Like Elote
Price: $10.89–$10.99 / 4-pack of 14 oz pouches (3.5 lb total, item #1792936)
Taste Test: Real elote needs lime juice, cotija, tajin, and time — PuraVida gets you about 75% of the way there straight from the freezer. The fire-roasted char is genuine (not just food coloring), the creamy mayo-and-cheese coating is balanced, and the corn itself tastes like sweet summer corn. Members who genuinely love elote say it needs doctoring; members who just want a quick side say it’s the easiest weeknight win Costco has stocked all year.
Texture Summary: The corn stays toothsome through reheat — no mushy kernels. The sauce melts evenly without curdling, which is the harder part to nail.
Make It Better: Hit it with a squeeze of fresh lime, an extra crumble of cotija or queso fresco, and a dust of tajin or smoked paprika before serving. Total upgrade time: 90 seconds. Pro-move from the subreddit: stir in a spoon of mayo + a tablespoon of chopped cilantro right at the end.
Perfect Pairings: Carne asada tacos, grilled chicken thighs, or just on its own with crumbled queso fresco and a margarita. A Tecate or Modelo with a lime wedge keeps it casual.
Final Verdict: BUY — 9/10 with the lime upgrade; 7/10 straight from the bag. Pair this with the Pasta Prima ravioli and you have a Tuesday night dinner in 20 minutes.
The Korean Sweet & Spicy Puffs Are Dangerously Addictive — Members Are Rationing Them by the Handful
Price: $4.97–$7.89 / 10.58 oz bag of 180 Snacks Korean Sweet & Spicy Puffs (yangnyeom-style)
Taste Test: A real flavor moment. Crispy puffed rice base coated in a sweet-spicy yangnyeom glaze that hits sugar, chili, soy, and garlic in the right balance — no single note dominates. The heat builds slowly, the sweetness pulls you back, and the salt closes the loop. The orange-chicken-flavored variant from the same brand is also worth chasing if you spot it.
Texture Summary: Crisp puff that stays crisp through the bottom of the bag. The glaze is dry-coated (not sticky), so your fingers stay clean — which is dangerous because it means you keep eating.
Make It Better: These are the snack-bowl move next to charcuterie or game-day spreads. Pour into a small bowl with a serving spoon rather than eating from the bag — the Costco subreddit’s top advice is “don’t pretend you’ll save some.”
Perfect Pairings: A cold beer (Korean lager or any pilsner), Topo Chico with lime, or as a textural addition to a poke bowl — toss a small handful on top for crunch.
Final Verdict: BUY — 9.5/10. A small minority of members find the sweet-and-spicy combo nauseating; everyone else finishes the bag in two sittings. Best bargain snack Costco is stocking.
Cloud 9 Mango Sticky Rice Crispies Are the $18 Bag Members Are Driving Across State Lines to Find
Price: $17.99 / 31.5 oz bag (21 individually-wrapped 1.5 oz bars, item #2026968)
Taste Test: A genuine surprise — this is real Thai mango sticky rice translated into a crispy rice-treat bar format. Dried mango pieces are folded into a crispy rice base with shaved coconut, and the sticky-rice sweetness comes through cleanly. Not as cloying as you’d expect from a marshmallow-style crispy treat.
Texture Summary: The rice stays crispy (no sogginess from the mango); the coconut shavings add a soft top note. Individually wrapped bars mean each one bites cleanly.
Make It Better: Eat them cold from the fridge for the most-defined sticky-rice flavor. For dessert plating, pair with a small scoop of vanilla ice cream — the warm-cold contrast against the room-temp bar is the move.
Perfect Pairings: Thai iced tea, jasmine green tea, or a cold lager. Skip dessert wine — these are sweet enough already.
Final Verdict: BUY — 9/10 if your warehouse has them. Geographically gated — East Coast members report empty shelves while West Coast and Mountain warehouses are well-stocked. Home Goods also carries them as a backup.
Choice Beef Bulgogi Is the $7/lb Costco Member Favorite — But Everyone Says the Same Thing About the Sweetness
Price: $6.99 / lb (Choice grade, marinated, item #36946)
Taste Test: The beef is genuine USDA Choice with respectable marbling, sliced thin and pre-marinated. The flavor is rich, savory, with the gochugaru-and-soy backbone you want from real bulgogi. The one near-universal critique: it’s too sweet straight from the package. Once you cut the sugar, it’s outstanding.
Texture Summary: Thin slices that sear in 60–90 seconds per side. The marinade caramelizes hard if you hit it with high heat, which gives the crispy edges Korean BBQ joints charge $25 for.
Make It Better: The Costco-subreddit fix: stir in 2 tablespoons of gochugaru (Korean chili flakes), a teaspoon of sriracha, and a glug of soy sauce, then rest 1–2 hours before searing. Or sous-vide first to render some of the sticky marinade off, then high-heat finish in cast iron. Slice extra-thin against the grain.
Perfect Pairings: Steamed jasmine rice, a quick cucumber-rice-vinegar pickle (oi sobagi style), and kimchi on the side. Hite or Cass lager if you can find them; otherwise any cold Mexican lager.
Final Verdict: BUY — 8.5/10 with the sweet-fix; 7/10 straight from the package. The fix takes 5 minutes and turns this from candy-beef into a legitimate weeknight Korean BBQ.
Kirkland Flank Steak with Lime-Cilantro Marinade Is the $12/lb Grilling Shortcut That Costco Pros Swear By
Price: $11.79–$14.99 / lb (Kirkland Signature, pre-marinated, item #40241)
Taste Test: Real citrus, real cilantro, real garlic — not a sugar-bomb teriyaki situation. The marinade is bright and balanced, lets the beef stay the star, and works as well over rice as it does in tortillas. The lime-cilantro lift makes this an instant carne asada substitute without the overnight marinating step.
Texture Summary: Cook to medium (NOT medium-rare) — flank steak needs the slightly higher doneness to break down. Pat the surface dry before searing so you get crust instead of steam. Then rest 10 minutes, slice paper-thin against the grain, and watch the texture transform.
Make It Better: The Costco subreddit’s playbook: high-heat grill (cast iron at 500°F works too), 4 minutes a side for a 1-inch thick cut, rest, slice thin. Sous-vide-then-sear is a popular second option if you have the gear. The cooking instructions on the package are actually solid — read them.
Perfect Pairings: Warm corn tortillas, salsa verde, crumbled queso fresco, pickled red onion, fresh cilantro. A cold Tecate or a chilled Sauvignon Blanc cuts the marinade beautifully.
Final Verdict: BUY — 9/10. One of the rare pre-marinated Costco proteins where the marinade is actually balanced. Grab two and freeze one.
Bubbie’s Kosher Dill Pickles Finally Hit Costco — Lacto-Fermented, Salt-Brined, and Worth the Hunt
Price: ~$7 / 33 oz jar of Bubbie’s Kosher Dill Pickles (warehouse rollout in progress; some stores have only the bread-and-butter variant)
Taste Test: These are not vinegar pickles. Bubbie’s uses old-school lacto-fermentation (salt brine, no vinegar), which gives them a tangier, more complex sour-cucumber flavor that has real probiotic-good-for-you benefits. The crunch is real. The brine you can use later (chug it after a long run, or marinate chicken thighs in it for next-level juiciness).
Texture Summary: Crisp center, firm skin, no soggy ends. The brine is cloudy — that’s the lacto-fermentation working, not a defect.
Make It Better: Chop two pickles and stir into tuna salad with a dollop of mayo and a squeeze of lemon. Or slice lengthwise and lay across a turkey sandwich. The pickle juice itself is the secret to a great salad dressing — whisk 2 tablespoons into olive oil and shallot for a quick vinaigrette.
Perfect Pairings: Pastrami on rye. Smoked-fish bagels. A pickle martini if you’re feeling bold. Beer-cheese soup. The bread-and-butter variant pairs with cheddar on a charcuterie board if your store only stocks that one.
Final Verdict: BUY — 9.5/10 if you find the dill spear/whole variant; 6/10 if your store has only the bread-and-butter chips. Bubbie’s vs. Grillo’s is the great Costco pickle debate; both are excellent, Bubbie’s wins on consistency.
The Shrimp Chili Crunch Is the New Asian-Aisle Sleeper Hit — If Your Warehouse Has It
Price: Pricing varies by region; comparable jarred Asian crunches at Costco run $14–$17 for a 16 oz jar. Sold in the international/Asian aisle (regional rollout, not yet on every shelf)
Taste Test: Real shrimp flavor, real heat, real crunch — this is what XO sauce or chiu chow chili oil aspires to be in a more affordable format. Garlicky, smoky, savory with a low-heat warmth that builds gradually. Works on rice, eggs, noodles, dumplings, and any roasted vegetable.
Texture Summary: Crispy fried garlic and shallots plus tiny crunchy shrimp pieces suspended in chili oil. Spoonable but not soupy.
Make It Better: Spoon over a fried egg on rice and you have lunch in three minutes. For a dinner upgrade: stir into a butter-and-soy noodle sauce or finish a stir-fry with two spoons on top. Pro-tip from the subreddit: a single spoon transforms a $1 ramen pack into something genuinely good.
Perfect Pairings: Steamed jasmine rice, a soft-boiled egg, scallions, and toasted sesame seeds. Cold beer or chilled Riesling.
Final Verdict: MAYBE — 9/10 if you find it — uncertain price and limited regional availability. The Costco subreddit’s response was “item number please” en masse. Check the Asian aisle of your warehouse before you commit to a special trip.
Edward Marc Strawberry Shortcake Bites — Reddit Is More Skeptical Than the Bakery Hype Suggests
Price: $11.49–$11.89 / 20 oz bag of Edward Marc Strawberry Shortcake Bites (item #1932019)
Taste Test: The packaging promises the Good Humor ice-cream-truck strawberry shortcake. The reality is closer to a strawberry-flavored shortbread cookie with a creamy filling and noticeable artificial-strawberry/food-dye tang. The first bite is fun. The second bite is plenty.
Texture Summary: Crisp shortbread shell, creamy filling that softens at room temp. The shell stays crisp from the freezer if you store it there, which the subreddit recommends.
Make It Better: Freeze them before eating — the texture and flavor both improve noticeably when they’re very cold. Or crumble two over a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a $2 dessert-plate dupe that hides the artificial notes.
Perfect Pairings: Strong coffee or a glass of cold milk to cut the sweetness. Skip wine pairings — too one-note.
Final Verdict: MAYBE — 7/10 with the freezer trick, 5/10 at room temp. The Costco subreddit is more measured than the marketing — many members report a still-80%-full bag months later. Try a single bag before committing to a stock-up.
Spiceology Teriyaki Takeout Seasoning Tastes Surprisingly Plain — Skip This One
Price: $4.97 sale / $9.59 regular / 8.8 oz jar of Spiceology Teriyaki Takeout Seasoning Blend (item #2011048)
Taste Test: The name suggests bold, sweet-savory teriyaki punch. The reality is muted — even applied heavy-handed, the seasoning doesn’t produce the lacquered, glossy, sweet-soy flavor that wet teriyaki marinades nail. Several members tried it twice and gave up.
Texture Summary: Standard dry-seasoning grain. Worth noting: contains silicon dioxide as an anti-caking agent, which some shoppers avoid.
Make It Better: If you grab it anyway, double the suggested amount and add a tablespoon of soy sauce + a teaspoon of brown sugar + a teaspoon of mirin (or rice vinegar) at the end of cooking to get closer to actual teriyaki flavor. Or skip it and pivot to Spiceology’s Greek Freak (sold next to it) — that one earns its shelf space.
Perfect Pairings: If you must use it: grilled chicken thighs with white rice and steamed broccoli. The dry seasoning never quite recreates a real bottled teriyaki, no matter the side.
Final Verdict: SKIP — 5/10. If you want a real teriyaki shortcut, grab a bottle of Yoshida’s Original Sweet Marinade ($9 at Costco) instead — that one delivers what this jar promises.
Bitchin’ Sauce Chips Are Sturdy Enough to Dip With — But the Flavor Doesn’t Match the $8 Price
Price: $7.99 / 10 oz of Bitchin’ Sauce Classic Sea Salt Tortilla Chips (almond-oil fried)
Taste Test: Plain. Aggressively so. There’s a faint almond-oil note if you pay attention, but the sea-salt level is mild and the corn flavor is muted. As a standalone snack chip these underdeliver; as a dipping vehicle they work fine.
Texture Summary: Thick, sturdy, and structured — built to scoop. Won’t shatter in a dip the way a thinner chip does. That structural strength is the chip’s one real win.
Make It Better: Use them strictly as a dipping chip with a high-flavor dip — the Bitchin’ Sauce cashew dips themselves (the brand’s namesake), salsa, or a roasted-pepper hummus. Don’t bother eating them solo.
Perfect Pairings: A high-flavor dip is non-optional. Pair with Bitchin’ Sauce Heat or Chipotle if you can find them, or with a thick guac.
Final Verdict: SKIP — 6/10 as a dipping chip; 4/10 as a snack chip. Better-value: Kirkland Organic Tortilla Chips at $5 for 30 oz, or Siete tortilla chips when they’re on the coupon book. Save the $8 for a better-tasting bag.
Bottom line for this week’s cart
- Top three buys: Fishwife Tinned Tuna, Lindt Lindor Ice Cream Truffles, Kinder Bueno Hazelnut Cones — all genuine breakthroughs.
- Best weeknight rescue: Kirkland Broccoli Beef at $6.99/lb. Plan a dinner around it.
- Best summer stock-up: JonnyPops (with the $3.50 coupon) and Vita Coco Frosted Lemonade.
- Approach with skepticism: The Olipop variety pack (only Raspberry Sherbet earns the price) and the Havanna bundle (gift-only pricing).
Recommended For You
