Dining at the Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar at Universal Citywalk – Surf Meets Turf Like You’ve Never Seen Before

When you’re going out to eat with friends or family, one of the toughest tasks is settling on a restaurant that everyone’s excited about. That’s where the Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar at Universal CityWalk comes in. 

Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar combines fresh-made sushi and hot, juicy burgers under one roof. You might think you’ve seen everything there is to see from sushi and burgers, but that’s where you’re wrong. Stop by the Cowfish for a bit of both – and be sure to sample one of their spiked milkshakes while you’re at it!

What the Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar is All About

It’s hard to believe, but the Cowfish is the first-ever sushi burger bar. It’s the only place where you can get fresh-caught sushi and expertly-crafted burgers in the same place. This American-Asian fusion spot serves up lunch and dinner, joining surf and turf like never before. Dive into a custom-designed burger or sidle up to some sushi. 

Enjoy them separately, order a bento box with a mini burger and a small order of sushi, or try Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar’s signature fusion dish: the Burgushi. It’s an out-of-this-world combination of burgers and sushi that you’ll have to see to believe. And while you’re at it, wash it all down with a spiked milkshake, premium sake, or an exciting twist on the classic martini.

The Ambience

Part of the Cowfish’s signature style is serving up its whimsical dishes with a healthy dose of humor. You’ll find offbeat original pop art lining the walls, eye-catching décor, and a bustling atmosphere – including larger-than-life fish tanks with actual cowfish swimming around and saying hello. Eclectic music plays in the background (as their website says, it’s “Vanilla Ice and Johnny Cash meet Bruno Mars out on a date with Britney Spears”) and the occasional gong punctuates the bustle of the restaurant. It’s a great atmosphere for a family meal.

The Menu 

The Cowfish prides itself on its huge menu. From your starter to your dessert, you’ll have no trouble finding something that catches your eye and tickles your tastebuds. In fact, you’ll probably have a lot of trouble choosing just a few dishes!

Starters

The American-Asian fusion fun starts right at the beginning of your meal. Dive into a plate of panko-crusted sesame chicken bites in a sweet and sour glaze or share classic edamame (steamed with your choice of sriracha, garlic, or ginger sea salts) with the table. Try a classic like the parmesan bacon truffle fries, or try something fun like spicy togarashi shrimp in a spicy Japanese chili sauce with slaw and a pounded ginger sauce. For a riff on the poke trend, try the spicy poke dip – spicy salmon, yellowtail, and tuna with seaweed salad and wonton chips.

You’ll want to take your time savoring a few appetizers because choosing your entrée will certainly take some time! There’s plenty to choose from.

Pan-Asian Favorites

Cowfish pulls inspiration from all over the world to craft their entrée menu. Indulge in classics like the Chinese chicken salad with peanuts, red bell peppers, mandarin oranges, snow peas, crispy wonton strips, all tossed in a flavorful peanut ranch vinaigrette. You can also enjoy an array of classic sushi rolls like California rolls, spicy tuna rolls, Philly rolls, and tempura rolls. 

But for the full Cowfish experience, what you really want to look for is the fusion specialty roll menu. These over-the-top rolls deliver a big punch of flavor in ways you’ve never experienced. The fried flamin’ salmon roll pairs spicy salmon with togarashi mayo, spices, minced pickled ginger, jalapeno strings, and cayenne pepper strands. Dion’s OMG! Roll combines tempura coconut shrimp, cucumber, fresh mango, avocado, and a spicy honey marmalade that will have your taste buds dancing.

Burgers

True to its name, Cowfish has plenty of delicious burger options. Each burger entrée is served with a side of seasoned house fries or, for a small upcharge, you can get more unique sides like sweet and spicy Thai cucumbers, seaweed salad, bacon coleslaw, or edamame.

Every burger is made from a half-pound of your choice of all-natural beef, turkey, lamb, or bison. All their meats are raised humanely (as the owner puts it, their meats are “never spanked, only put in time-out”) and are never given antibiotics or hormones. So these burgers are as wholesome as they are delicious.

Try the Shroomin’ Swiss Burger (Swiss cheese, sauteed mushrooms, and roasted garlic aioli) or the jalapeno popper show-stopper (jalapeno bacon, jalapeno-infused cream cheese, fried jalapenos, fresh jalapenos, and a jalapeno citrus aioli) to set your mouth on fire. Ranch-lovers will fall in love with the cucumber ranch chicken sandwich (fried chicken breast dusted with ranch seasoning, Swiss cheese, cucumbers, pickles, and cucumber ranch dressing).

Bento Boxes

Can’t decide between a burger or sushi? Try both! Cowfish’s bento boxes are combo meals, each featuring a mini-burger and your choice of a 4-piece sushi roll along with sweet potato fries, Thai cucumbers, and edamame. It’s the best of both worlds!

Burgushi Rolls

The Burgushi, Cowfish’s signature creation, is a unique fusion of burgers and sushi like you’ve never seen before. Each Burgushi is either a burger-style sandwich that incorporates sushi-style ingredients or a sushi-style roll of burger ingredients. They’re what has made Cowfish a name for itself and definitely should be a must-try on their menu during your visit.

Take the all-American double bacon CheeseBurgushi for example. Black Angus beef, 2 kinds of cheddar cheese, and applewood bacon are all wrapped in shredded potato and soy paper, then flash-fried into a roll. The roll is then topped with ketchup, mustard, dill pickle, and Roma tomato. Grab your chopsticks and munch away!

We also love the High-Class Hillbilly Burgushi – or as they call it, Southern Style Bar-B-Q-Shi. It incorporates pulled pork, caramelized onion, and barbecue sauce into the iconic burgushi shape, then is topped with house-made bacon coleslaw.

Spiked Shakes

As if Cowfish didn’t have enough unique traits to set it apart from a typical burger or sushi joint, they also have an eclectic menu of spiked shakes that have quickly become fan favorites. These combine delicious, indulgent milkshakes with flavored liqueurs and quality mixers to turn a childhood classic into an adult favorite.

Highlights from their spiked shakes menu include The King Lives (Cruzan rum, banana liqueur, vanilla ice cream, banana, and peanut butter cups), Chocolate “To Dive For” (amaretto, Godiva chocolate liqueur, vanilla ice cream, malt, and shaved chocolate), and the Stick In The Mud (St. Augustine bourbon, vanilla ice cream, malt, caramel drizzle, and a pretzel rod).

Desserts 

As amazing as Cowfish’s spiked shakes are, you don’t want to sleep on their regular dessert menu either! 

Their non-alcoholic milkshakes are just as indulgent as their spiked ones. Good luck choosing just one between their delicious options like The Nutty Cow (chocolate and hazelnut), The Marshmallow Crisp (with Rice Krispies and marshmallow cream), and The Grasshopper (chocolate and mint).

Their regular dessert items are anything but ordinary. Each one finds a way to turn a classic into a unique fusion favorite. For an indulgent classic, try the Nutella mousse – it’s layered with caramel, cookie pieces, whipped cream, and candied hazelnuts.

But we love what they’ve done with their more off-the-wall desserts as well. Their vanilla cheesecake is served with a yuzu-blueberry compote and a fortune cookie crust. And their lemongrass brulee features a torched sugar crust, topped with an adorable matcha-powdered sugar cowfish.

Would you be down to try a Burgushi? Let us know in the comments!

Cover Image

Photo: Unsplash

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