This North Carolina Sushi-Burger Bar Turned Fusion Into A Fan Favorite
In Charlotte’s SouthPark neighborhood, there’s a place that doesn’t make you choose between sushi and burgers, they build both into one menu with swagger.
The Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar wears neon cowfish logos, sushi chefs, and burger patty sears side by side. Its “burgushi” concept, think flash-fried burger wrapped like sushi, made it a foodie landmark.
The energy in the room hums from talkers and first-timers, from sake pour to fries stealing glances. If you love bold combinations, you’ll want to see what happens when two favorites collide.
SouthPark Storefront On Sharon Road
Under mall lights and palms, the Cowfish entrance glows with backlit signage and glass that invites you inside. The vibe feels upscale casual, a neighborhood place with flair.
Founded in 2010, Cowfish has grown from local curiosity to regional chain, with this Charlotte location anchoring its identity. It fuses Japanese and American sensibilities while keeping both honest.
Step in and you instantly register contrast: sushi counters, burger menus, and décor that nods to both worlds. It sets the stage for what’s coming.
Neon Cowfish Logo At Dusk
As dusk settles, the neon Cowfish outline turns electric, blue and orange glow over the entrance, beckoning from Sharon Road. It catches headlights the moment you see it.
That glowing logo isn’t just branding. It signals the fusion idea: cow meets fish. It’s iconic, memorable, and part of what makes the restaurant a landmark in Charlotte.
Walking in under that neon feels like crossing a border into a hybrid dinner world, part sushi bar, part burger den, fully its own thing.
All-American Bacon Double Cheeseburgooshi
The roll arrives crisp, strings of potato, sesame, and soy paper hugging a burger core with bacon, cheese, and sauce peeking through. It’s audacious.
This signature “burgushi” item combines burger elements—beef, cheese, bacon, with sushi techniques: wrapped and pan-fried. It’s exactly what people come for.
Each bite cracks with texture: salty bacon, juicy beef, soft rice, crunchy wrapper. You realize quickly why locals bring friends here to try it together.
The Deliverance Roll BBQ-Sushi Style
Sauce seeps through the rice, glossy and tangy, topping pieces of BBQ-inspired roll that balance smoke and sweet. It’s a bold mashup.
Cowfish fuses imaginatively, including rolls that channel American BBQ concept into sushi form. These creations push the menu beyond safe borders.
If you order this, choose a clean drink. The sauce has weight. Let it roll its flavors across your palate before resetting for another bite.
The Cowfish Bento Box Mini Burger And Roll
In The Cowfish Bento Box, the best of both culinary worlds unite. This unique offering features a mini burger paired with a sushi roll, presented side by side. The juicy burger, with its savory toppings, complements the delicate flavors of the sushi, creating a delightful contrast. Vibrant garnishes add visual appeal, enhancing the overall dining experience. This bento box is perfect for those wanting a taste of Cowfish’s innovative menu, offering a playful yet satisfying meal that captures the essence of fusion dining.
Black Truffle Cheese Burger
Melted cheese perfumes the air; truffle aioli glistens atop the beef. The burger part doesn’t hide its gourmet intention.
Even in a hybrid menu, their purist burger options shine. This truffle cheese burger holds its own among sushi rolls, proving they can do both expertly.
You don’t always expect luxury in burger form, but here it’s honest. The truffle note lingers without overpowering; the meat holds texture.
Parmesan Bacon Truffle Fries
Golden shoestring fries dusted with parmesan, bacon bits, and a whisper of truffle oil, they flirt with decadence.
These fries feel like a side that could headline meals elsewhere. Here, they ride shotgun to bold rolls and burgers but deserve their shine.
Dip them or eat clean. Either way, they vanish too fast. I sometimes order a second side just to taste more.
Hand-Cut Colossal Onion Rings
Thick onion slices coated in beer batter, fried to deep gold, stacked like savory rings. The scent alone draws eyes.
These aren’t dainty rings. At Cowfish, onion rings scale up to match the bold menu. They’re hearty, crisp, and shareable, perfect between sushi and burger halves.
Try them first while your entrée waits. They set the stage: crunchy, oniony, simple but satisfying.
Crispy Rice With Tuna
Squares of rice crisped into golden pillows, topped with tuna tartare, scallion, sesame, each bite a textural play.
This sushi bar staple fits into the fusion ethos: combining crunch with raw fish, rice with finesse. Cowfish handles it deftly.
Bite it whole to feel texture transitions. That contrast, crisp exterior, silky tuna, makes you pause and appreciate what sushi can do next to burgers.
Nigiri And Sashimi At The Sushi Bar
Slices of salmon, tuna, white fish glisten on rice or solo. Every piece feels curated, pristine.
Even though the menu is wide, Cowfish keeps sushi fundamentals strong. Its nigiri and sashimi offerings win praise for freshness and knife skill.
Watching sushi chefs slice and plate creates a theater behind the counter. You feel confidence in the execution just by observing their grip, their steadiness.
Handspun Milkshake Lineup
Tall glass after tall arrives, topped in whipped cream, drizzled in sauces, chocolate, caramel, strawberry. The diner side of this fusion bar shines.
Milkshakes here aren’t afterthought. They match table energy and pair well with both burgers and sushi-heavy dishes. Cowfish markets them proudly.
Order a shake early, watch it land while your food cooks. That first sip bridges savory and sweet in perfect timing.
Edamame And Thai Cucumbers Sides
Greens arrive crisp: edamame pods lightly salted, Thai cucumber slices tossed in vinegar and chili. They cleanse the heavier items.
These sides count. They remind you this menu is balanced, not indulgent run riot. They pick things up where fried tuna or burgers leave off.
I often start with a few edamame. They warm the palate and set you up, bite by bite, for what’s coming next.