Where Does Costco Source Its Lobster Tails, Anyway?

Seafood can range from exceptional to subpar, and it can be tough to gauge how good a product will be when eyeing it at the supermarket. Understanding where your local grocer sources seafood such as lobster tails can be an indicator of its quality. Getting that information can sometimes prove challenging, but membership warehouse Costco doesn't keep its customers in the dark about where its plump lobster tails hail from.

Coastal Lobster supplies the big-box store with crustaceans caught off the coast of Canada and Maine, the same place "Shark Tank" alum Cousins Maine Lobster sources its protein. The frigid temperatures create meat within the animal that is more condensed and plentiful than its warmer water counterparts — perfect for exceptional lobster tails fresh off the grill.

You will likely pay a pretty penny if you order the frozen shellfish to be delivered, as the product is currently only available online and costs $249.99 for 12 lobster tails ranging from 6 to 8 ounces each (for roughly five pounds of seafood total). Yet, judging by the rave reviews on Costco's website, the lobster tails may be worth the elevated price tag.

While not every review for Costco's lobster tails is glowing, the product currently has a 4.5 out of 5-star rating out of nearly 700 reviews on the company's website. Some folks indicated that the quality didn't meet their expectations, but plenty of other customers had nothing but praise. One repeat buyer wrote, "This is my second order, and they are the best, sweetest lobsters I have ever had." Another happy customer wrote, "I butterflied and broiled them and all agreed that they were some of the best lobster we had ever had and we have had plenty; even in Maine."

Various other grocers sell lobster tails, but they aren't always quite so transparent about where the crustaceans come from. Kroeger offers single wild-caught lobster tails in-store, but it doesn't specify where they were sourced. Price Chopper advertises 3-ounce Coldwater Lobster Tails, but where that cold water is located is anyone's guess. Walmart, on the other hand, joins Costco in proudly declaring that its shellfish are from the chilly waters of the North Atlantic, and the cost is less than the product the membership warehouse sells. However, folks would have to buy roughly nine of the 9-ounce lobster tail packs to walk away with as much seafood as Costco delivers to your door. So, if you are cooking for a crowd, Costco's slightly higher price may be the way to go.