Shocking incident leads restaurant to issue public apology and open investigation with authorities
A Japanese restaurant in Sydney, Tatsuya West Ryde, is at the center of a controversy after a customer claimed to have found a dead rat in her meal.
The complaint surfaced through a Google review by a user identified as “DO,” who reported the incident during a lunch when she was eating a Katsudon — a dish consisting of rice, breaded pork cutlet, vegetables, and sauce. According to the customer, the rodent was hidden under the salad that accompanied the dish.
“I had already eaten half when I noticed it. It was completely disgusting and unacceptable,” she wrote. “Everyone who was there stood up and left.”
Other negative reviews quickly followed, including one from “JH,” a friend of the complainant, who stated they were having lunch together and the rat was found in the salad. She rated the restaurant with only one star, emphasizing that the establishment continued to operate as usual despite the chaos. The customer’s husband, Daniel Kim, also expressed his outrage, reinforcing the account: “My wife’s salad had a rat in it. Absolutely disgusting.”
In response to the backlash, Tatsuya’s team addressed the online criticism with a formal apology. They explained that the problem stemmed from a batch of salads delivered by a supplier, and the situation is being investigated in conjunction with food safety authorities.
“We are taking all necessary steps to ensure this does not happen again and appreciate your understanding,” the restaurant said in its official response.
In a statement to the 9 News channel, the owners reiterated that an investigation is ongoing and stressed that online reviews reflect personal perceptions, not necessarily verified facts. However, they assured that they are treating the matter with “utmost seriousness.”
Source and images: Lad Bible / NY Post. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
