7 Common Customer Complaints About Costco's Pizza

Costco's food court is known for stellar deals, including the legendary $1.50 hot dog combo and the pizza. While most members already know everything they need to know about the dogs, people's feelings about the pizza aren't so straightforward. It landed in third place in our ranking of Costco's food court offerings, but still has fairly mixed reviews. While the food court staple has plenty of redeeming qualities, like the ultra-low price of the slices and whole pies, it also falls flat in a handful of areas. With that in mind, understanding the most common customer complaints about Costco's pizza can help you decide whether to buy it on your next visit, or at least manage your expectations.

To make things easier, I scoured social media sites, Reddit, and YouTube for customer complaints about Costco's pizza. I also considered my own experience with the product and compiled the list of common grievances. A more in-depth look at my methodology is at the end, but for now, let's find out what could turn you off about the pizza, so you know exactly what you are getting yourself into the next time the food court sign at Costco calls to you.

The most glaring complaint customers have about Costco's pizza is its limited topping variety. The only options are plain cheese or pepperoni. To make matters worse, Costco used to offer a combo slice with a mix of veggies, sausage, and pepperoni — and it's sorely missed. Despite the high praise for its flavor, Costco discontinued it during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Customer outcry about the loss of the combo pizza is widespread, and many people hope for its return. On a Reddit forum about the company's pepperoni pizza, one person chimed in, saying they wish they'd bring back the combo. Another Redditor backed this up by saying, "RIP to the combo pizza." In addition, under a YouTube video reviewing the cheese pizza, a commenter bluntly said, "Bring back the combo pizza Costco, you buffoons!"

An online petition with close to 20,000 signatures also begs the big-box store to revive the combo pizza. Whether you ever got a taste of it before it disappeared or not, there's no denying the current menu, which features only cheese and pepperoni options, is seriously lacking.

Another common complaint about Costco's pizza is that it is overly greasy. With pizza, you should expect a fair amount of grease, but in my opinion, the company's recipe really pushes the limits. So much so that I often use a paper towel to dab up a significant amount of oil before diving in for a bite. In fact, the few times I haven't, I wound up with grease not only dripping onto the plate while I'm eating, but also running down my fingers and hands.

The online community also finds Costco's pizza to be excessively greasy. A commenter on Reddit even went so far as to say, "The pizza is greasy enough to lubricate industrial machinery." I can't say I disagree. In a thorough YouTube review of the cheese pizza, it was dubbed "very greasy" from the start, and later, it was noted that there was still an "insane amount of grease coming off." Your choice, obviously, but maybe grab an extra-thick stack of napkins to help curb the grease as well.

Of the reviews I read, there is an overwhelming consensus that Costco's pizza isn't exactly known for its quality. It won't rival a gourmet pizza, and it certainly doesn't make the list of the best pizzas in every state. Still, that doesn't necessarily mean people dislike it. For many Costco shoppers, the appeal is simple: The pizza may not be the best quality, but it's hard to argue with the low price.

On Facebook, a post claimed Costco's pizza quality has declined significantly, and people clapped back. As one customer said, "It's never been good. It's meant to be cheap." As someone who's eaten it many times, I couldn't agree more. Unlike many of the store's other offerings, the pizza isn't a shining star of quality, but who cares when it's priced so low? FYI: A slice costs $1.99, and an entire pie goes for $9.95 plus tax. On Reddit, the sentiment about quality stays the same, with one Redditor saying, "We go there for the convenience and price, not for the quality."

On YouTube, you find the same kind of feedback. Under a video reviewing the food court item, a commenter said, "Costco pizza is one of those things where it's good because it's cheap." Honestly, that about sums it up. The pizza is a great choice when you need a speedy, inexpensive option, but it won't wow you with its quality.

Regrettably, Costco pizza isn't overflowing with robust flavors, either. Given the limited topping options, this isn't too surprising. Still, when done right, even a plain cheese pizza can be plenty yummy thanks to a carefully crafted sauce, crust, and premium-quality ingredients. With Costco, that simply is not the case. In fact, all things considered, it is rather bland.

Even in a generally positive review of Costco's pizza, a YouTuber says, "I'm not getting much flavor out of it." Later in the video, he noted that the "sauce is fine; nothing to write home about." I wholeheartedly concur with his assessment. It isn't bad, but it won't impress you with lots of flavor. That goes for every element of the pie, too, not just the sauce.

My advice: load up your Costco pizza with lots of crushed red pepper flakes and grated Parmesan cheese. That will add tons of savory flavor. At many pizza restaurants, you may want to think twice about using the Parmesan cheese shakers left on the tables, but at Costco, it comes in individual packets, so you don't have to worry about whether it's been refrigerated after opening.

I love extra cheese on pizza, but I can admit Costco goes a bit overboard. Each slice features a super-dense, thick portion that takes over the other elements. In a Reddit thread, one person said, "The cheese slice feels like you're eating a molten blanket of dairy, while the pepperoni slice is too heavy." 

Even if a ton of cheese isn't a concern for you, Costco's use of so much cheese creates a compounding issue: it congeals and thickens quickly, leaving you with what can only be described as a gut bomb. I'm not the only one who feels like this, either. On YouTube, a reviewer agreed, noting that the cheese layer is super thick and coagulates a lot. You could always take some off, but then you'll be left with bare spots, something I can't recommend. Instead, eat your pizza when it is piping hot. It won't reduce the amount of cheese, but it will ensure the texture is at its absolute best.

One of the best things about Costco pizza is that it comes in a ridiculously large 18-inch size, yet has a super low price tag. However, that massive circumference also contributes to another common customer complaint: the middle tends to be floppy.

Many customers are willing to overlook the softer center of Costco pies, but as a commenter on Reddit said, "I feel like it would be better if it was slightly smaller. Too much flop in the middle." In the same Reddit thread, another person chimed in: "If lots of sugary sauce and a floppy crust are your thing, Costco always delivers." Yikes. This sentiment doesn't stop with Reddit, either. A YouTube reviewer also said, "It's criminally underbaked." That seems a bit extreme to me, but there is truth to it. A little extra time in the oven or a smaller size could eliminate the issue entirely.

Baking a pizza this size can trip up even the best cooks, but you can fix the texture issue with a well-known Costco pizza hack: order your pie well done. I've done this several times, and the people behind the counter are always willing to oblige. If you are only buying a slice, though, your best bet is to take it home and heat it in a pan or air fryer for a couple of minutes.

The final customer complaint that needs highlighting is aesthetic. There's no denying that Costco cooks don't always cut whole pies precisely. As a result, you wind up with a huge variation in slice sizes.

It is not just my Costco that fumbles regarding even slices; quite a few people on Reddit confirm that the same issue plagues their stores. One commenter said, "They NEVER properly cut mine." On the same thread, another person said, "I love my local Costco, but they do not know how to cut a pizza. The slices always come out wonky." That's absolutely been my experience as well. It is interesting, too, because several people on the thread note that the stores should have a metal frame slice guide, but they still seem to mess it up. As a person on the same thread said, "My Costco doesn't use it, unfortunately. They freehand it, and it cuts awful."

If you feel like you can do a better job, you can always ask food court employees to leave your pie intact and cut it yourself when you get it home. However, for the cleanest pizza slices, it should be cut when it is piping hot and fresh from the oven. With this in mind, I'll settle for uneven slices, but it's still good to know the option exists.

People hail Costco's food court for its fantastic prices and convenience, but the pizza offered gets both praise and complaints. To track down the most common grievances, I turned to Reddit, Facebook, and YouTube. After sifting through countless posts and videos, I narrowed the issues down to the handful above. Unlike some outliers, these issues popped up time and time again, making them the most common. I also considered my experience eating Costco pizza (of which there is quite a bit) to help confirm what people were saying online.

Even with all of the complaints, I still like Costco pizza a whole heck of a lot. It triggers a nostalgic food memory for me that I truly enjoy. However, if the customer grievances are enough to turn you off, don't worry. You can always head to Costco's freezer section and find plenty of great pizza options.