Costco’s new meal has people comparing it to Chick-fil-A

Warehouse clubs and fast-food chains have spent 2026 adding more chicken items as value meals remain a major draw for U.S. diners. Costco is now part of that trend with a new chicken meal that shoppers have compared to Chick-fil-A because of its format and familiar fast-food appeal. The comparison centers on Costco’s new chicken strip and fries meal, which adds another hot-food option to the retailer’s food court lineup.

Costco adds a chicken strip and fries meal

Costco has introduced a chicken strip and fries meal at select food courts, according to shopper photos and menu reports shared in July 2026. The meal includes breaded chicken strips, French fries, and dipping sauce, giving Costco a combo-style offering that looks closer to a quick-service restaurant meal than its long-running hot dog and pizza staples. Costco has not publicly released a nationwide launch total.

The company has also not issued a broad press release detailing price, rollout timing, or how many warehouses are testing the item. What is confirmed is that the meal has appeared on in-store menu boards and in customer purchases documented this month at Costco locations in the U.S. That visibility is what prompted direct comparisons to Chick-fil-A’s chicken strips and waffle fry meal setup.

Those comparisons are about the meal category, not a formal partnership or licensing arrangement. Costco has not stated that the product is meant to imitate Chick-fil-A, and Chick-fil-A has not publicly commented on the comparisons.

What shoppers know so far about where it is showing up

The local picture is still incomplete because Costco has not published a store-by-store list of locations carrying the chicken strip and fries meal. Reports circulating in July 2026 indicate the item is showing up at some U.S. warehouse food courts, but the company has not confirmed whether the release is regional, test-based, or part of a wider national expansion. That means availability may differ by market.

For shoppers, the main confirmed detail is that the item is being sold through Costco’s food court system rather than its refrigerated prepared-food section. That matters because food court menus often vary by country and sometimes by warehouse, with some items appearing first in limited tests before a broader decision is made. Costco has used that approach before with seasonal and market-specific food offerings.

No public filing reviewed for this report gives an exact count of affected states or stores. Until Costco provides a fuller breakdown, customers should expect menu differences depending on the specific warehouse they visit.

Why Costco is leaning further into chicken and value meals

Costco’s food court has long served as a low-price traffic driver, with the $1.50 hot dog and soda combo remaining one of its best-known offers for decades. Adding a chicken strip and fries meal fits a broader restaurant pattern in 2026, as chains across the U.S. continue putting chicken at the center of value-focused menus. Industry tracking has shown chicken staying strong with consumers looking for familiar meals at predictable prices.

The Chick-fil-A comparisons also make sense in a straightforward way because chicken strips, fries, and dipping sauce are already a recognizable fast-food combination. Costco’s version gives members another ready-to-eat option during warehouse trips, especially for families already using the food court for lunch or dinner. The company has not said whether the item will become permanent.

For customers, the practical takeaway is simple. The meal is real, it is being sold at some Costco food courts, and a full national availability list has not yet been released by the company.