Forget pizza and hot dogs. Costco, often secretive about its merchandising strategy, is selling a Shake Shack-style cheeseburger made with an organic beef patty at a few of its fast-food courts in Southern California.

The burger is being sold at warehouses in Corona, Pacoima, Lakewood, according to Santa Ana-based Foodbeast, the popular food marketing site. The burger is also being tested in Seattle.

Costco confirmed the burger test, which is replacing items less popular on the menu — known for its extra-large pizzas and all-beef frankfurters.

Costco’s new cheeseburger. (Photo courtesy of Foodbeast)

A Costco in Lakewood promotes the “new” organic cheeseburger being tested at select warehouses. (Photo courtesy Jim Lawson))

Sound The gallery will resume in seconds

Jim Lawson recently tried the Costco cheeseburger, which is in test in Lakewood. “It was ok but I wouldn’t go out of my way to buy another,” he said. (Photo courtesy Jim Lawson)

An all-beef hot dog, with a soda for $1.50. ISAAC ARJONILLA, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Another look at the Costco cheeseburger, which contains a lot of leafy lettuce. (Courtesy Jim Lawson)



Costco’s BBQ Brisket Sandwich overflowing with beef for $4.99 ISAAC ARJONILLA, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Food Court manager Maria Gutierrez shows off an 18-inch Pepperoni Pizza before it goes into the oven. ISAAC ARJONILLA, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

A Costco Food court staffer checks an incoming meal ticket during Thursday’s lunch service at the Lakewood Costco. ISAAC ARJONILLA, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Chicken Caesar Salad sells for $3.99 ISAAC ARJONILLA, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

An entire 18-inch Combo Pizza goes for $9.95. ISAAC ARJONILLA, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER



A Very Berry, Strawberry Sundae.

Dozens of stuffed Chicken Bake are arranged side by side waiting to be wrapped; each one costs $2.99.

Customers stand in line waiting to get their food at the Costco Food Court in Lakewood. ISAAC ARJONILLA, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Related Articles Get cheaper cheeseburgers on National Cheeseburger Day, Sept. 18

El Pollo Loco launches new line of L.A. Mex Burritos

Taco Bell will remove Mexican Pizza from its menu this year

McDonald’s announces spicy Chicken McNuggets and a Chips Ahoy McFlurry On Wednesday, a Costco representative said the new “organic cheeseburger” is made with an organic ground beef patty, cheddar cheese, lettuce and tomato and a “Costco” special sauce spread on a brioche style bun.

Foodbeast, which first spotted the burger in late May, called the 1/3-pound burger “massive.” EaterLA food blog said the $5 burger looked like a cheeseburger at Shake Shack, Danny Meyer’s string of fast-casual better burger stands.

Shopper Jim Lawson recently tried the Costco cheeseburger at a warehouse in Lakewood.

“It was OK but I wouldn’t go out of my way to buy another,” he said.

It’s unclear if the burger will roll out to other Costco warehouses. Costco said it “is continually researching new food items, but we cannot share specifics at this time.”

Costco could not say if any item was eliminated from the menu to make room for the burger. However, it is normal for Costco to change “our selection of food court items, which occasionally causes us to drop less popular items,” she said in a statement.

Costco’s food court is known for its inexpensive menu of standard fast-food items, including its 18-inch pizza and all-beef hot dogs. Over the years, the menu has included sundaes, a brisket sandwich, a salad and a hot turkey sandwich.

Costco's New Cheeseburger Causes Some Confusion As To What A "Chicago-Style" Burger Means@johnandkenshow https://t.co/mMEaZWME0y — Brian Hund (@brianhund) June 29, 2017

Costco is adding a cheeseburger to its menu and I'm already there. https://t.co/N5edKzMj5w — Colleen O'Brien (@ColleenKIROFM) June 28, 2017