New Restaurant Species Cowfish Spotted In South
While I have lived in Atlanta my whole life, I have tried many restaurants across the South. From crawfish and sushi to spicy food, there are few foods I do not eat.
In college, I began cooking to save money, but I realized my favorite part of eating out is not just the food. I can make meals at home just as delicious as food in restaurants. I love the vibe of restaurants, the scenery and spending time with friends while enjoying delectable meals. So I strive to find the trendiest restaurants everywhere I go.
I like to make mental notes of the places, scenery, vibe and food when I rate these restaurants in my head. The place that has scored the highest over the years is The Cowfish Sushi and Burger Bar.
Located in Birmingham, Charlotte, Raleigh and Orlando, the first time I tried Cowfish was at their previous Atlanta location, but I have also been to the Birmingham location, and it was nothing short of fantastic. I hope to try the Charlotte, Raleigh and Orlando locations in the future.
The owners via the website describe the restaurant as a place with technicolor walls, original offbeat artwork, and exotic fish (including real cowfish) darting around in larger-than-life aquariums. “To pique the senses further, expect nostril nudging, taste bud tickling and visually vivid food—the likes of which you’ve never tasted,” they write.
The decor at The Cowfish receives a 10/10. Their bright red walls covered with artwork immediately catch your eye. The exotic fish, including real cowfish swimming around in restaurant aquariums, add to ambiance. It’s a perfect combination of the two foods I love the most – sushi and cheeseburgers.
The restaurant is famous for its Fusion Specialty Bento Box – a combo meal featuring both burger and sushi, including the featured mini-burger of the week, sweet potato fries, Thai cucumbers, edamame and a choice of a four-piece Fusion Specialty Roll, or three pieces of mixed nigiri. This specific menu item is what lured me into Cowfish.
The menus at all four locations are almost identical with subtle changes. Cowfish offers many appetizers. They have lots of dips, nachos, spring rolls and edamame. Cowfish serves four different starter salads – a house salad, goat salad, Chinese chicken salad, and a seared tuna arugula salad. Read the full menu of the Birmingham restaurant here.
The main courses of burgers, sandwiches or sushi at The Cowfish attracts the most customers. The Cowfish takes pride in hand-forming all their burgers and grilling them fresh to order. All burgers are made from 1/2 pound of all-natural beef, turkey, chicken, lamb or bison that were humanely raised and never given hormones or antibiotics. In addition, they source local ingredients when possible.
All burgers and sandwiches are served with a side of house seasoned fries. For sushi, The Cowfish serves sashimi, nigiri classic rolls and fusion specialties. All fusion specialties are entree-sized rolls, cut and served in nine pieces with wasabi and ginger. All fusion specialties are available with brown rice or soy paper for $1 each.
The most unique section of The Cowfish menu is the Burgushi section with four different rolls in this category.
The All American Bacon Double Cheeseburgergooshi. This burger has seasoned beef, sharp cheddar cheese, white cheddar cheese, applewood bacon and red onion wrapped in soy paper and potato strings, then flash fried. It is topped with ketchup, mustard, dill pickle and roma tomatoes and served atop Cowfish sauce with house seasoned fries.
Doug’s Filet Roll. My personal favorite includes avocado, kani, cream cheese inside, and is topped with thin slices of seared filet mignon, spicy mayo, scallions and masago served with a side of pounded ginger sauce
The Deliverance Roll – Southern Style Bar-B-Q-Shi. Made of pulled pork, caramelized onion and BBQ sauce wrapped in soy paper and potato strings, then flash fried, it is topped with house-made bacon coleslaw and chives.
The Prime Time Filet & Lobster Roll includes fresh lobster and cucumber inside, topped with seared, rare, seasoned filet mignon, pan-fried portobello mushroom slices tossed in truffle oil, green onions and spicy mayo. It is served with a side of pounded ginger sauce.
To wrap up your experience at The Cowfish, try one of their desserts, whether it’s a chocolate mousse, berry cake or one of their eight unique hand-spun milkshakes.
