Look, we Aussies take a certain pride in exporting culinary hits – Tim Tams, flat whites, the classic Bunnings snag. But recently, Fishbowl, the go-to salad spot for corporate baddies on their lunch break, has been getting shoutouts for all the wrong reasons. After conquering Australia with its mix-and-match bowls, Fishbowl’s New York cousin, ThisBowl, has kicked off what could be an actual shitstorm.
If you’re an Aussie working in corporate, then you would know the grip Fishbowl has on girlbosses and capitalism’s minions alike. Since opening in New York in 2024, ThisBowl has too been all over social media. But as Grub Street reported, behind the TikTok hype and snappy Insta captions, a less appetising backstory was brewing: a growing number of customers, both in the US and back home, have been alleging that these bowls pack an extra punch – and not the good kind.
Things really kicked off when TikToker, @anyonecancookforreal, claimed three of her mates copped a nasty bout of food poisoning after eating at ThisBowl. The comment section turned into a bit of a confessional, with people from both sides of the Pacific blaming the salmon sashimi for some seriously rough nights.
The saga didn’t stop there: Google Reviews told similar tales of undercooked fish and “horrible stomach pains”.
A ThisBowl spokesperson told PEDESTRIAN.TV, “Earlier this summer, one of ThisBowl’s employees was unknowingly infected with a contagious illness that affected some staff and customers. It was swiftly addressed with a third-party food safety expert and in full cooperation with the Department of Health, who found no issues with our food safety or handling practices.
“After a thorough investigation, the root cause of the issue was not related to food quality, freshness or supply, but a contagious illness that was unknowingly brought in by an employee. The wellbeing of our customers and team remains our top priority, and we stand by the integrity of our operations.”
Now, these aren’t just spicy US reviews. Here in Australia, where Fishbowl started, forum posts and food safety sites like I Was Poisoned.com have collected reports over the years from folks left regretting their poke bowl lunch decisions. Complaints ranged from classic food poisoning (nausea, diarrhoea, vomiting, sore muscles and joints) after eating an “OG Salad” in Sydney, to a Miso Salmon box in Queensland that “tasted a bit off” (and left more than just a bad taste). One particularly unlucky diner in Bondi Junction reported that a pulled beef bowl had them ill for days.
To be fair, not all the outrage comes with rock solid receipts, and according to research done by AusMed, food poisoning is estimated to affect over 4.7 million Australians every year.
So where does this leave you if you’re eyeing off a Fishbowl for lunch? Like any dish with raw or undercooked ingredients, there’s always a bit of risk involved — especially if food safety slips for even one shift. While Fishbowl/ThisBowl has said they’re working with food safety experts and authorities, the chorus of complaints is hard to ignore.
The moral of the story? Maybe think twice before ordering the raw salmon – and if your bowl tastes “different”, don’t just shrug and keep eating. Your gut might thank you later.
Lead image: FishBowl / TikTok
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