Why We Visited The Cowfish in Raleigh
We went to The Cowfish in Raleigh, North Carolina—a sushi-burger restaurant, mostly because of the tank. The main tank was built by the crew from TANKED – that reality show where Wayde King and Brett Raymer made completely over-the-top custom fish tanks for people. This one is shaped like a giant martini glass with an olive on a stick poking out the top — Peak TANKED energy.
Before you even walk inside, there’s a massive, bright yellow cowfish statue out front with a saddle on it. You’re basically required to climb on it for photos. We both did.
The Martini Glass Tank
The martini glass tank is the centerpiece of the dining room. When we visited on May 2, 2025, the water was a little cloudy but there were plenty of bright tropical fish swimming around. It’s big and dramatic and definitely the main reason to visit. If you look closely at photos of the tank, you can see the olives on top — the TANKED crew really committed to the theme.
Here’s the thing, though. The restaurant is called The Cowfish. Giant cowfish statue outside. The whole brand is built around this fish. But there’s no actual cowfish in the main tank.
The Missing Cowfish
Turns out, cowfish can be too aggressive to live with other fish. So they keep their one cowfish in a small tank on a shelf between the men’s and women’s restrooms. Bathroom cowfish, basically.
Except when we were there, he was sick and wasn’t even in that tank. A shrimp was hanging out in there instead. We went to The Cowfish in Raleigh, and there was literally no cowfish anywhere in the building. The statue outside was a good compromise!
The Food at The Cowfish in Raleigh
The whole concept here is burgers and sushi on the same menu. Zach ordered sushi. Gross. Eek – raw fish – no thank you. I got a burger bento box, which was exactly my speed.
The food was fine. Not amazing, not terrible. The presentation was decent, and having the aquarium to look at while you eat is a nice touch. It’s more about the experience than groundbreaking food. The Cowfish in Raleigh is a fun spot if you’re looking for something different, but don’t go in expecting the best meal of your life.
Visiting The Cowfish in Raleigh
If you’re into tracking down reality TV restaurant locations, The Cowfish in Raleigh is one to add to your list. The TANKED connection alone makes it worth stopping by, and the giant yellow cowfish statue photos are mandatory. Even though the actual cowfish was MIA during our visit, we still got the experience we came for – a quirky restaurant with a giant martini glass fish tank and a bright yellow statue out front.
Just don’t expect to actually see a cowfish when you visit, unless you are one of the lucky ones!
📍 The Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar – 4208 Six Forks Rd, Raleigh, NC 27609
If you’re exploring the Raleigh area, there are plenty of other quirky stops worth checking out in North Carolina. The state has no shortage of unusual roadside attractions and odd landmarks to add to your list. Check out our Things to Do in North Carolina page!