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Costco has built a reputation on low prices, bulk deals, and member-exclusive perks. But one of the warehouse club’s most recognizable attractions is also one of its most controversial: the food court.

For many shoppers, a trip to Costco isn’t complete without a $1.50 hot dog and soda, a slice of pizza, or another inexpensive bite after navigating the warehouse’s crowded aisles. 

The food court has become an important part of the Costco experience, reinforcing the retailer’s value-focused image and giving members another reason to shop. 

The hot dog deal, whose $1.50 price point has been locked in since 1985, is particularly iconic. 

Former Costco CFO Richard Galanti told Fortune in 2024 that the retailer sells approximately 199 million food court hot dogs annually, describing the hot dog and the company’s $4.99 rotisserie chicken as “foundational” to its business.

But not every customer is happy with the food court experience. And recent complaints highlight a challenge for Costco: maintaining the low prices that attract customers while delivering a convenient experience that keeps them satisfied.

Costco shoppers complain about crowded, dirty food courts

Cleanliness and overcrowding are two of the most persistent complaints about Costco’s food court, Tasting Table recently highlighted.

Some shoppers say finding a clean table can be difficult, with customers often leaving behind trash and food debris. 

“I have yet to find a clean table at a Costco,” one Reddit user said.

Other customers have raised concerns about food court employees’ cleaning practices. In one anecdote cited by Tasting Table, a shopper said they witnessed an employee using a broom that had been used on the floor to sweep a tabletop.

Meanwhile, the food court’s popularity can create another headache. Customers contend that crowded dining areas, long lines, and limited seating make it difficult to enjoy a quick meal, particularly during busy shopping periods.

The menu itself is also drawing criticism. Although Costco offers inexpensive comfort food, including pizza, hot dogs, and chicken bakes, some customers would like more nutritious alternatives.

“I love Costco, and I would eat at the Costco food court so much more if they had actual somewhat healthy options,” said another Redditor.

Other customers have questioned the taste and quality of certain items, with some describing Costco’s pizza as overly greasy and expressing disappointment with the food court’s sandwiches.

Costco customers have complained about dirty, overcrowded food courts.Shutterstock

Slow service and confusing systems frustrate members

The food court’s ordering and pickup process is another source of frustration.

For some customers, having to order at a digital kiosk and then wait in another line to receive their food is a deal-breaker. Shoppers have also attributed delays to understaffing and inefficient order handling.

The result can be a lengthy wait for an inexpensive meal, undermining the convenience customers expect from a quick-service operation.

These seemingly minor problems can make an already crowded food court feel more chaotic, particularly for families shopping together.

Ultimately, complaints like these underscore the balancing act Costco faces. Its food court remains a major value driver, but low prices alone cannot eliminate frustrations over cleanliness, convenience, and quality.

For Costco, improving the experience without undermining the affordability that made the food court famous could help preserve one of its most recognizable customer perks. And it could also help the company grow its membership base.

During Costco’s most recent earnings call, CFO Gary Millerchip noted an uptick in younger members. 

“You may have seen actually there was a recent article that talked about for younger consumers, how they’re really engaging and excited about experiences and the opportunity that Costco presents to be in a brick-and-mortar retail environment and to enjoy the treasure hunt experience and engage in whether it’s the food court or the nonfood items that we offer,” Millerchip told investors.

Fixing problems with the food court could further drive younger member engagement, which is another reason for Costco to prioritize it. 

Maurie Backman owns shares of Costco.

Related: Costco is getting a new kind of member

Google parent Alphabet Inc is set to report after the closing bell on Oct. 28, 2026, joining AI peer Microsoft in a tech-heavy after hours slate which could provide clues on the health of AI demand.

These are the top and bottom-line figures expected from today’s report, with consensus estimates tabulated by Reuters:

Revenue: $128.2 billion, +25% YoY

Earnings per share (adj): $3.02 / share

Live updates from the company’s earnings report and call will be posted on TheStreet.com as they come available. Check back periodically for the latest.

AT&T (T) had two major security failures in 2024.

Both put customer data in the hands of people who were not supposed to have it. A class-action lawsuit followed, and a federal judge has now granted final approval to a $177 million settlement that will pay out to customers who filed a timely claim.

The size of your payment depends on which settlement class you qualify for and whether you documented your losses at the time.

Some claimants could receive up to $5,000. Others will receive less, or a proportional share of what remains in the fund after costs are taken out. The exact amount will not be known until payments are distributed.

The deadline to file has already passed. If you submitted a claim, you can check your status at TelecomDataSettlement.com. Here is what the settlement covers, how payments are calculated, and what to watch for before the money goes out.

What AT&T’s 2 breaches actually exposed

The first incident became public on March 30, 2024. AT&T said a data set containing customer information had appeared on the dark web.

The company confirmed the exposed data included Social Security numbers, account numbers, passcodes, email addresses, and birth dates for roughly 73 million current and former customers.

Also read: AT&T accelerates the end of a network that’s losing customers

On July 12, 2024, AT&T said limited data had been illegally downloaded from its workspace on a third-party cloud platform. The downloaded data was call and text records. It covered nearly all of AT&T’s wireless customers. The records spanned May through October 2022.

The lawsuit alleged that AT&T failed to put adequate cybersecurity protections in place before either incident occurred. AT&T denied wrongdoing but agreed to settle rather than take the case through trial.

The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas granted final approval to the settlement on Oct. 2. If no appeal is filed, the effective date is Nov. 12. An appeal would push that date back and delay any payments by the length of the appeals process.

How much you could receive from the AT&T settlement?

Your payment depends on which of the two settlement classes you fall into. The classes are defined by when your documented losses occurred, not by which breach affected you.

The first class covers documented losses that took place in 2019 or later. If your claim falls into this class, the maximum payment is $5,000. Valid documentation includes records of identity theft, fraud losses, credit-monitoring expenses, or other out-of-pocket costs you can connect to the breach.

The stronger your documentation, the closer to the cap your payment is likely to be.

The second class applies to documented losses that occurred on or after April 14, 2024. Payments in that class are capped at $2,500.

If you did not document a specific financial loss when you filed, you may have selected the pro rata option instead. That gives you a proportional share of whatever remains in the $177 million fund after administrative costs, attorney fees, and service awards are paid out.

The pro rata payment will be smaller than the documented-loss caps, and the exact amount depends on how many claimants choose that option.

The size of your payment depends on which settlement class you qualify for and whether you documented your losses at the time.dennizn / Getty Images

When your payment will arrive

Payments must go out within 60 days of the effective date. The estimated effective date is Nov. 12. The distribution deadline is around mid-January.

You will receive an electronic payment or a paper check, based on what you chose when you filed. If your contact details or banking information have changed, update them at TelecomDataSettlement.com before payments go out.

More AT&T:

AT&T puts $3 billion behind expanding a key service for customers

Apple’s priciest iPhone is giving some AT&T customers problems

AT&T launches free healthcare perk for customers

Your claim is already on file. The administrator will send your payment after Nov. 12, assuming no appeal is filed.

If you are unsure whether your claim was accepted, the settlement website is the place to check. The administrator sends status updates through the site, not through unsolicited messages.

Watch for scams using the AT&T settlement as cover

The filing deadline has closed. No third party can help you submit a new claim or move up your payment.

If you receive an unsolicited call, text, or email offering to help you collect a settlement payout or expedite your check, it is a scam.

Legitimate updates come from TelecomDataSettlement.com or directly from the settlement administrator. The administrator will not contact you to ask for payment information, Social Security numbers, or personal details beyond what you already provided when you filed.

Even if you did not file a claim, treat the two breaches seriously. Data exposed in a security incident can be used for identity theft months or years after the initial event.

Pull your credit reports from each of the three major bureaus and look for accounts or inquiries you do not recognize. You are entitled to a free report from each bureau weekly at AnnualCreditReport.com.

A credit freeze prevents new credit from being opened in your name without your authorization and costs nothing to place or lift. A fraud alert is a lighter option that flags your file without blocking new accounts outright.

Either step is reasonable, given the scope of what was exposed in the two 2024 breaches.

Related: AT&T CEO holds firm stance on Elon Musk’s SpaceX phone strategy