Please complete your profile to unlock commenting and other important features.

Please select your date of birth for special perks on your birthday. Your username will be your unique profile link and will be publicly used in comments.
Narcity Pro

This is a Pro feature.

Time to level up your local game with Narcity Pro.

Pro

$5/month

$40/year

  • Everything in the Free plan
  • Ad-free reading and browsing
  • Unlimited access to all content including AI summaries
  • Directly support our local and national reporting and become a Patron
  • Cancel anytime.
For Pro members only Pro
Summary

I Spent 2 Hours In Costco Canada & Ranked All Of The Free Food Samples From Worst To Best

Who needs lunch if you have free samples?

A Costco store in Etobicoke. Right: A Hi-Chew in a Costco store.

A Costco store in Etobicoke. Right: A Hi-Chew in a Costco store.

Creator

The views expressed in this Opinion article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Narcity Media.

There's more to Costco Canada than just their bulk deals. In fact, I think a trip to Costco is one of the best shopping experiences out there and that's for one reason and one reason alone: those free samples.

Anyone who's ever visited a Costco location knows that dotting the store are little kiosks preparing hot samples for your tasting pleasure.

Not only is it a chance to get away from the monotony of shopping in a giant warehouse, but it's also a great chance to get some free bites.

So, to get an idea of what the average Costco is offering up right about now, I went into my local store — without a membership — and tried every available sample.

Here's how I ranked each item on offer, from the frozen worst to the sugary best.

7. Pelmen Perogies

Half of a pierogi in a cup.

Half of a pierogi in a cup.

Tristan Wheeler | Narcity

I'm a freak for pierogies, but these ones didn't really do the job for me.

The sample was about half of a pierogi and it just didn't have a lot of the familiar flavours that I was used to.

It didn't have the rich, heartiness you'd expect with pierogies.

While it wasn't bad, I would find myself reaching for a classic bag of Cheemo pierogies before these ones.

Score: 1/5

6. That's It Mini Fruit Bars

A fruit bar in a paper cup.

A fruit bar in a paper cup.

Tristan Wheeler | Narcity

This was by no means bad — these bars could easily find a place in your pantry — but it's not something I'd see myself reaching for.

The sample portion size was fair, about half of a bar, and it had a really mellow natural sweetness which would probably be good for kids.

However, as an adult, I don't really see the need to eat things like this anymore. Sorry!

Score: 2/5

5. Normandy Blend Steamed Veggies

Some veggies in a plastic cup and a fork.

Some veggies in a plastic cup and a fork.

Tristan Wheeler | Narcity

How can I put steamed veggies above things made out of fruit or dough?

But honestly, I was pleasantly surprised by the warm steamed veggie selection I was given. The carrots, cauliflower, and broccoli all worked well together and had a subtle sweetness.

Honestly, I could see myself getting a bag of these for an easy serving of vegetables.

But also, it's just steamed veggies, it's not breaking any barriers.

Score: 2.5/5

4. Chicken Wonton

Half of a chicken wonton with a skewer in it.

Half of a chicken wonton with a skewer in it.

Tristan Wheeler | Narcity

It's not often that meat's on the menu in a free sample, so this was a welcome surprise on that front alone — albeit it was only a half wonton.

I was pleasantly surprised by how good it tasted for a frozen wonton. It had that rich, comforting taste that you expect with such a dish.

You can only go so far with a frozen wonton, but I would definitely recommend grabbing a sample if you come across one.

Score: 3/5

3. Bueno Chocolate bar

A piece of a Bueno chocolate bar.

A piece of a Bueno chocolate bar.

Tristan Wheeler | Narcity

This is one of the better chocolate bars out there, so I was delighted to get the chance to sample it for free.

While the sample was on the small side, I believe it was about one-third of a full chocolate bar, it still reminded me how good Buenos are. It made me think "I should buy more of these things."

But, while good, it was quite rich and would only be a special occasion treat for me personally.

Score: 3.5/5

2. Pesto

A piece of bread with pesto on it in a paper cup.

A piece of bread with pesto on it in a paper cup.

Tristan Wheeler | Narcity

One thing that I was really pleasantly surprised by was this pesto and bread sample.

If I had fewer scruples, I would have swung by a few times and hit this one over and over again - it was that good.

It came with a small piece of bread covered in a generous dollop of some green basil pesto.

Unfortunately, it did really punch you in the face with salt, which relegated it to a mere second place.

Score: 4/5

1. Hi-Chew

A single strawberry Hi-Chew.

A single strawberry Hi-Chew.

Tristan Wheeler | Narcity

If you know, you know.

This is one of the God-tier candies you can buy.

Created as a Japanese replacement for chewing gum, this chewy, sweet and fruity candy is a blessing from the gods whenever you can get it.

So, imagine how happy I was to get the chance to eat a Hi-Chew in the middle of a Costco for free. Plus, they gave me my own individually wrapped piece.

It was exhilarating.

Score: 6/5

  • Creator

    Tristan Wheeler (he/him) was a Toronto-based Creator for Narcity Media. He graduated from the University of British Columbia in 2020 where he was the Blog & Opinion Editor at the campus publication, The Ubyssey, for two years. Since then, his work has appeared in publications such as Curiocity, Maclean's, POV Magazine, and The Capital Daily, delving into topics such as film, media criticism, food & drink, podcasting, and more.

19 Costco products that are cheaper than items at Walmart and other grocery stores

You get the most bag for your buck when you buy these products at Costco. 🛒

This enchanting small town set on a BC island was named among North America's 'most peaceful'

Sandy beaches, ancient forests and a cozy town — anyone?. 🌲

Canada's housing market is set to get cheaper and 5 cities are dropping more than Toronto

A buyer's market is finally taking shape across much of Canada. 🏡

We compared a basket of 11 items at Costco, Loblaws, Sobeys & Walmart and prices vary so much

The difference between the most and least expensive totals is $79.73! 👀