'Absolutely Revolting': Pregnant Diner Alleges Rat Found in Salad

Imagine eating halfway through your lunch, only to discover what you think is a piece of mushroom... but it's a dead rat. That's the nightmare one pregnant woman says she lived through at a Sydney restaurant — and now the incident has triggered a swirl of public outrage, online backlash, and an ongoing investigation that has left diners questioning just how safe their food really is.

The Allegation That Sparked a Firestorm

A customer at Tatsuya West Ryde — a popular Japanese restaurant in northwest Sydney — claimed she discovered a dead rat buried in her half-eaten side salad, served as part of a katsu don lunch set. She posted a detailed Google^® review using the initials DO, stating the rodent was found beneath the greens and had already been partially consumed before she noticed it.

"I'd eaten half of it at this point. Just absolutely revolting and unacceptable," she wrote, as reported by the New York Post.

Her friend, posting under the initials JH, backed her story in another one-star review. The second reviewer alleged the rat was hidden under the salad and criticized the restaurant for continuing to serve food to new customers after the discovery. The friend emphasized that everyone present reportedly stood up and left the premises once they realized what had happened, according to the Daily Mail.

Daniel Kim, who identified himself as the pregnant woman's husband, also left a review. He reiterated the claim, describing the situation as appalling and sharing that his wife had eaten a portion of the contaminated salad before realizing the presence of the dead rodent, according to the New York Post.

Restaurant Responds as Photos Spread Online

Photos posted online alongside the reviews appear to show a small rodent lying on a napkin, still tangled in leafy greens. These images circulated widely and intensified the backlash. The restaurant's Google listing was soon flooded with negative reviews from outraged customers and concerned community members.

In response, Tatsuya West Ryde issued a public apology and claimed the issue stemmed from a pre-packaged salad component delivered by a third-party supplier. They stated the matter was being investigated in conjunction with their food supplier and local food safety authorities.

A restaurant spokesperson, in a statement provided to Nine News, confirmed that an incident had taken place and emphasized that an investigation was underway. The restaurant also noted that Google reviews reflect personal opinions and not verified facts — an apparent attempt to manage the public reaction while distancing themselves from confirmed liability.

Business as Usual or Business as Risk?

Despite the graphic nature of the allegations, Tatsuya West Ryde remained open in the days following the incident. This decision attracted criticism from online reviewers, many of whom questioned why the restaurant did not close immediately to address the situation and conduct a full inspection.

Other diners claimed the quality of service declined after the alleged incident. One reviewer noted they were denied miso soup that typically accompanies the meal set. While unrelated to the core claim, it suggests that operational changes or resource limitations may have affected the restaurant's performance in the aftermath, according to the Daily Mail.

What We Know — And What We Don't

At this point, the claims made by the customer remain allegations. Neither the restaurant nor local authorities have confirmed the exact origin of the rodent or whether the salad was prepared on-site or pre-assembled. The restaurant maintains it is working closely with health officials to investigate the issue.

No citations, fines, or official reports from government health departments have been made public. The woman involved has not filed a formal legal complaint, and the exact timeline of events — including when the salad was received from the supplier and served to the diner — has not been confirmed by an independent authority.

A Food Safety Cautionary Tale

Whether this was a rare contamination error, a supplier oversight, or something else entirely, the incident serves as a jarring reminder of how fast trust can evaporate in the food industry. Even a single allegation — if believable enough and accompanied by photographic evidence — can send shockwaves through a restaurant's reputation.

As of now, Tatsuya West Ryde continues to operate while the investigation proceeds. Health officials have not issued any warnings or closures, but for concerned diners, the question lingers: what really happened in that salad bowl?

References: Restaurant serves up 'absolutely revolting' meal to pregnant woman — a rat salad | Pregnant mum finds disgusting discovery in salad from Tatsuya West Ryde