The Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar

Location

Universal Orlando Resort, CityWalk

Selections

Sushi, salad, burgers, shakes, salads, cocktails.

Entrée Range

Lunch and Dinner: Adult $7-30

Summary

A one-of-a-kind dining concept that melds pan- Asian cuisine with the good ol’ American burger, Cowfish brings something completely unique to the table. Like peanut butter and chocolate, The Cowfish’s burgers and sushi both taste great, and taste great together.

The voluminous menu starts with familiar-sounding appetizers, such as Parmesan bacon truffle fries and tuna nachos, expertly prepared and presented in generous portions (a recurring theme). Next comes an extensive list of half-pound hormone-free hamburgers, with names such as the Jalapeño Popper Show-Stopper, Big Squeal, and Rise & Swine. Veggie and turkey burgers are also available, and all are served with seasoned fries, which can be substituted with seaweed salad, bacon coleslaw, or edamame. The Boursin Bacon Burger, with garlic-herb cheese and sautéed mushrooms, is a standout. Traditional sushi selections range from chef combos of sashimi and nigiri, classic makimono rolls, and fusion specialties stuffed with tuna, coconut shrimp, shiitake mushrooms, or crabmeat; the premium tuna and salmon on Jen’s Fresh Find roll is particularly flavorful.

Finally, we arrive at the creative center of Cowfish’s menu: the Burgushi. You can try a sushi roll made with lobster and filet mignon (The Prime Time), Angus beef and applewood bacon (The Taste Explosion), or pulled pork and barbecue sauce (High Class Hillbilly). Despite the bizarro pairing, all the ones we’ve sampled (with the exception of the What’s Shakin’ Tuna Bacon Sandwich) have been as delicious as they are odd, which is saying something. Doug’s Filet Roll (with ginger dipping sauce for the steak) is a safe bet. If you’re still apprehensive, try a bento box, which brings a slider mini-burger, sushi roll, and several side dishes together on a Japanese TV dinner tray.

The extensive craft cocktail list includes a bourbon and candied bacon concoction and old-fashioned mules. Hand-spun milkshakes (nonalcoholic or spiked) headline the dessert menu, which also features sushi-shaped pastries exclusive to the Orlando location.

We love the overall atmosphere, but the time it takes for a meal to come out can be painfully slow because the kitchen is undersized for the multistory dining rooms. The wait can be long on a busy weekend, but the host will take your cell phone number when you check in, allowing them to text you when your table is ready.

Setting and Atmosphere

A photo op of this restaurant’s mascot—a giant bug-eyed fish with a saddle on its back—should clue you in that this isn’t the spot for stuffy food snobs. The Cowfish features colorful Pop Art, largerthan- life displays (including King Kong and a noodle-filled fishbowl), and silly signage—be sure to check out the restrooms. Guests can enter though the small lobby on the ground floor or the patio bar on the upper level; all seating—both indoors and out—is on the second and third floors, offering spectacular views over CityWalk.

Aside from table seating, there are multiple bars at Cowfish. Young children will enjoy the touch screen games and a make-your-own-fish app, which you can then watch swim in a virtual aquarium.

House Specialties

Crab Rangoon dip, blackened tuna nachos, half-pound burgers, sushi and sashimi combos, fusion and Burgushi rolls and bento boxes, hand-spun milkshakes, specialty cocktails, and spiked shakes.

Menus

• All Day Menu
• Kid's Menu

Details

Requires Credit Card to Reserve: No
Requires Pre-payment in Full: No

Photos