The traditional method for preparing sushi requires slices of raw fish to be held over unlit fires in order to secure that signature “uncooked” flavor. Explore such innovative foodsmithing with today’s Groupon: for $10, you get $22 worth of authentic Japanese fare at Tsunami. This Groupon is only valid for redemption at the locations in downtown Charleston or in Mt. Pleasant.

Tsunami's menu floods at least half of the senses with sushi, steak, noodles, and traditional Japanese tempura. Appetizers such as the subtly salted edamame ($4.50) or the teriyaki skewer ($5.99) prepare diners for entrees so established that they can demand bowls of only neon-green M&Ms on their tour riders. Hibachi dinners, prepared teppan style with the help of an iron griddle, include teriyaki chicken ($13.99) and rib-eye steak ($16.99), and are served with the choice of salad or miso soup and steamed or fried rice. Nosh on noodle dishes such as the udon soup ($6.99 veggie, $9.99 shrimp tempura, $10.99 seafood) or round up the usual sliced-to-order suspects with Tsunami’s extensive and inventive specialty roll and sushi lineups. The classic California roll ($4.95) faces off against the succulent but notoriously jealous green dragon roll ($9.50), which joins eel, crab, and cucumber with avocado. The new “my..my…Mai!!” roll ($8.95) unites deep-fried tempura shrimp, crab, cucumber, cream cheese, and spicy sauce topped with oven-baked salmon flakes, and the heartbreaker ($8.95)—spicy tuna and cucumber topped with albacore tuna, avocado, and scallions—has ended most of its relationships with a text message of a few words and a single emoticon.

Tsunami always uses fresh ingredients, and its effortlessly cool milieu entices both knowledgeable culinarians and newcomers to Japanese cuisine. Settle debts of delicious raw fish or experiment with what food tastes like outside of your heavily fortified underground compound with a meal at Tsunami.

Reviews

Tsunami has received mixed reviews on service, but reviewers agree that the sushi is excellent, with three stars on average from Citysearchers and a three-owl-eye average from TripAdvisors.

• Plenty of different preparations of dishes, so the sushi and hibachi lovers are just as happy as those who like spicy or fried food. The atmosphere is lovely as well. – mdbelle, Citysearch
• They have a cute bar area, a great outdoor patio, and the rest of the restaurant is very cool and hip. - srualmn, Citysearch
• My husband says this is the best sushi of his life! – mfisherday, TripAdvisor