Costco Has the Gift I Stock up on Every Year—and It’s One You’d Never Expect

The holidays are coming, and while this mostly means good things (delicious food, time with loved ones), it also means navigating tricky waters. For me, finding great gifts for everyone on my list is an inevitable annual struggle. Not only do I want the recipients to be satisfied, but I also don’t want to break the bank. 

While you may have a Costco trip on the books to stock up on food to serve at all your holiday gatherings, that’s not the only thing you should be shopping for at the wholesale club. In fact, you can find one particular gift that will make nearly anyone on your gift-giving list happy. We’re talking about restaurant gift cards.

Why You Should Buy Restaurant Gift Cards at Costco

Buying restaurant gift cards at Costco makes sense for plenty of reasons. To start, it’s cost-effective. The gift cards sell for less than the value of the gift cards themselves. For example, a $100 gift card to Morton’s The Steakhouse costs only $80 at Costco. 

The other benefit? The gift cards typically come in a multipack of lower-increment cards (like that Morton’s pack, which is actually two $50 gift cards vs. one $100 gift card). You can give the whole stack to one person or break it up and spread the love. In my family, the multipack is particularly beneficial for stuffing stockings—a $15 Subway gift card in my stocking won’t last long after the holidays are over and I realize I haven’t grocery-shopped for a week. 

And while you can always count on gift cards from chain restaurants to be in stock (with enough options to satisfy almost anyone you’re giving a gift to), Allrecipes Associate Editorial Director Devon O’Brien shared that you can also shop local when buying gift cards at Costco. According to Devon, “Your local Costco likely carries gift cards to local restaurants, too, not just national chains. I love that I can still pick my favorite places and support local businesses while shopping at Costco.” Talk about a sweet deal.