American shoppers jealous after visiting Costco abroad... and sampling 'wild' food court menu items

Daily Mail​

21-07-2025

Shoppers were full of jealousy after a TikTok user revealed food court offerings at a Costco in Japan.
The TikToker, known as racquecitytravels, visited a Costco in Tokyo this month and ordered items like a 20-piece chicken stick bucket and matcha ice cream.
'If you have the time in your itinerary, I suggest spending an afternoon at your closest Costco trying out the different food court menu items & shopping around,' she wrote in her video caption.
Other items commenters couldn't stop freaking out about on the food court menu included a jumbo Bulgogi Bake, melon smoothie, and the fan-favorite combo pizza, which has been discontinued in the US.
Now that shoppers have gotten a hint of the location's menu, many of them are looking to visit Japan just to order one of its 'wild' offerings.
'I needed a reason to move … and this was the icing on the cake,' a commenter wrote.
'I would go into extreme debt shopping in the Japan Costco,' a shopper responded.
'Everything in Japan is just better than USA I'm starting to see that,' another Costco member added.
Several TikTok users were stunned to see that matcha ice cream was available at Costco in Tokyo
Out of over 900 Costco stores worldwide, Japan is home to nearly 40 locations as of this year.
The first store opened in 1999 in Hisayama, Fukuoka Prefecture, and it wasn't an easy task in making sure it would be suitable for Japanese culture.
'We had to change some of our apparel. The sizing on men's shirts in Japan, Korea and Taiwan is entirely different,' Costco co-founder Jim Seinegal told the Seattle Times.
'Our Kirkland Signature shirt has an Asian cut to it, slimmer in the waist and smaller sizes.'
Despite the changes, Costco was not afraid to bring some of its American-style menu options to menus, including its signature hot dogs.
The Japanese stores are also full of Kirkland branded baked goods, which were described as a ' staple at Japanese supermarkets.'
Besides the Tokyo store's scrumptious food court items, TikTokers went crazy for its toys, including its Godzilla figure.
'Godzilla figures at a Costco?! - I'm in the wrong country man,' a shopper commented.
Several items ranging from KitKat bars to Godzilla toys are available to purchase at Costco stores in Japan
Japan is currently home to nearly 40 stores. As of now, there are over 900 locations worldwide
The US has the highest Costco store count worldwide, with more than 600 locations.
Many of these stores have implemented changes recently that have ignited fury from shoppers.
Backlash began last year after the chain hiked its membership prices for the first time in seven years.
It got worse that December after the company announced its plan to replace Pepsi beverages with Coca-Cola.
Some members claimed they'd boycott the store after the change was confirmed in January, and the situation worsened in March once the first Coca-Cola machine was spotted in a newly-opened California location.