The Saucy Costco Food Court Sandwich That Customers Sorely Miss

Costco's food court has long been a favorite for its affordable eats, including its famous $1.50 hot dog and soda combo or $1.99 pizza slices. But over the years, many discontinued Costco food court items have left customers wishing for their return. One of the most underrated has to be the BBQ Beef Brisket Sandwich. First introduced at select locations around 2013, the $4.99 sandwich came with smoky, shredded beef brisket covered in a sweet and tangy barbecue sauce, topped with creamy coleslaw, and served on a soft bun.

Many customers loved the sandwich so much that one fan on Reddit even joked about getting a job at Costco "just to get the recipe." Another Redditor called it the "best Costco food I ever had." Even customers who weren't used to coleslaw on sandwiches, or didn't normally like the side dish, were won over. As this Redditor said, "I don't even like cole slaw, but in this sandwich? It all worked." Unfortunately, Costco began removing the sandwich from some food courts in 2018, before it eventually disappeared from the menu altogether about two years later.

There's no verified reason why Costco took the BBQ Beef Brisket Sandwich off its food court menu, but there are a few theories. For example, one Costco employee complained on Reddit that making the sandwiches was a "pain in the butt to prep and go through all the procedures" compared to other items on the menu. The extra preparation may have also been a factor in why Costco discontinued its Combo Pizza, so it wouldn't be the first time an item was phased out for that reason.

Other theories behind the disappearance of Costco's barbecue beef brisket sandwich include supplier issues and a possible push toward healthier menu items. At 1,630 milligrams of sodium per sandwich, the item provided nearly three-quarters of the recommended daily limit in one sitting. Not everyone loved Costco's the BBQ Beef Brisket Sandwich, either; one customer on Reddit complained that "the slaw was horrible." 

Whatever the reason for its disappearance, you can always try making your own version at home, even using some ingredients from Costco. We've got a melt-in-your-mouth brisket sandwich recipe that's so worth the effort. Just substitute the pickled onions and chimichurri for creamy coleslaw to make it more like Costco's version.