Tsunami Japanese

Used to be separate from the Chinese buffet restaurant. Used to have an atmosphere. No longer, they now are in the same loud busy place. No more quiet romantic meals but food is still OK. If you don’t mind being piled up next to a family with 8 kids squawking over a plate of egg rolls this is your place. Disappointed.

I like the Ben Roll #2, Dynasty next door is not too bad either.

What’s a girl to do when she’s driving home to Austin on the desolate stretch of IH-​35 and she’s craving sushi? It would be too late to eat sushi once I arrive in the 78 704. Is there a solution to this problem?
Yes. Tsunami Japanese. I’m not gonna lie thinking about eating sushi in Temple, TX did not seem possible to me. I swear I’m not a snob I just didn’t think they would have any sushi at all. Come to find out they have a few sushi places and supposedly Tsunami is the best.
On evenings they offer a buffet for $ 11.99 that is all you can eat sushi. The selection is small, only about 4 different rolls along with some salad options but sheesh for the price you can’t beat that? Alas, I didn’t try the all you can eat sushi because I wanted a particular specialty roll that was yummy. The food was fresh and the service was great. They also have a bunch of cooked options for those not into raw fish. Thank you Tsunami for saving the day.

Fish can be fresher I think. Overall it’s good tho

Omg! We were staying in salado and headed up here for internet so we ended up Unilocaling for dinner and this place popped up. We went in and the nicest waitress served us and we got some of the best sushi we’ve ever had. It was surprisingly fresh considering it’s temple. It’s actually on the side of some other restaurant and really nice for how affordable it was. We each had two rolls and beer and it was only $ 50. In austin that would be at least an $ 80 meal. Bottom line, if you’re in the area, go here

On a road trip from central NE to the TX Gulf coast, we would never have found this without Unilocal,though it was only about a mile off the interstate. Yummy spicy tuna rolls, delicious seaweed salad. Our one– and three-​year-​olds did a great job eating their miso soup and tempura chicken bento box, though their favorite was also the seaweed salad.
Great décor in the whole campus of Asian cuisine (it’s attached to a giant Chinese buffet restaurant). Our kids also loved the giant aquariums and the lemon after-​dinner hard candy. Everyone was happy!

My wife and I have been eating sushi regularly for decades and moved to Temple from California last year. We have finally found a great place to have sushi.
We had been disappointed by the quality of other places (namely Nami and Shogun) but ate there many times, only because they were literally «the only places in town.» Nami is riding on its (not very impressive) laurels and Shogun, not surprisingly, went out of business.
We are VERY happy we have found Tsunami. I have been there three times now, and waited to write this review to make sure that our first experiences were reproducible. Tsunami is the real deal. The quality of their sushi and service is excellent — on par with very good places in CA and NV (where we frequently ate sushi.) Their head sushi chef is quite knowledgeable and able.
Their fish is fresher, the quality of the nori is excellent, the variety of rolls very creative, and the presentation superb. Unlike Nami, the service is prompt, courteous, friendly, and excellent. They also have a good beer and wine list and a full bar. I have not had any of the hot menu items, but have been told by friends that they are very good to excellent as well. Absent also is the very annoying clatter of the Hibachi bars (think Benihana) one hears continually at Nami.
All in all it is a very good to excellent sushi/​Japanese restaurant. My only slight complaint is that the sushi is sold by the piece, not as two pieces, and their pricing is moderately higher than their competition in Temple/​Belton. However, their sushi quality and service is so much better, it is worth the few extra dollars.

Tsunami has a wonderful atmosphere and great service. The selection of food is fresh and unique. I have the Millineum Roll, spicy crawfish center surrounded by peppered tuna and avocaodo, nothing I have had before, super yummy, order this if you go there. The unfiltered saki is wonderful with the khirin and of course goes well with the sushi. This eatery is nice for long dinners or happy hour, we had dinner. They do take a little time to bring your food but it’s ok if you are there to have a relaxing time and enjoy your company. The waitress, Yulu was super sweet and always on top of her game.
No complaints about this place. If you are in temple and want sushi and don’t mind dropping a couple dimes, patronize this sushi joint.

Tsunami is the best Japanese food in Temple/​Belton/​Killeen. They have the freshest ingredients, best service, best atmosphere (looking at you, smoke filled Nami), and are an all-​around great place to eat.
Their lunch bento boxes come with great cuts of meat and great sides. At Nami, soup costs you extra, but it comes with every bento box at Tsunami. It isn’t the same type of soup, but it is still very good. The ensalada es different, as well, but still very good.
If you are looking to try their unique sushi rolls, I suggest the spider roll, rock and roll, or tiger eye roll. They are all very good and priced well during lunch.
The after-​work happy hour has good prices too, I just wish they would let you take it to go.

Well if I had pick one place to go for sushi in Temple, I’d say Tsunami would be my first choice. It’s not perfect, but it’s competitively priced and the owner here is really nice.
Our team came here for a lunch recently, it wasn’t that busy, we were seated promptly. They had several lunch specials going on, we each ordered a bento box and also shared a roll.
The timing of the food was a bit off and unbalanced. Two of us got our Miso soups, they gave us plenty of time to finish them, and then we got our bento boxes while the other person was still waiting for her dish. The owner (or manager) came over and asked her if she wanted a bowl of Miso soup on the house — I thought that was a nice gesture, it shows he was paying attention and wants to please.
The food is good here, not the best sushi place I’ve ever been to, but it will do for sure and I’ve been back twice already. The food doesn’t come out that quickly, so you’ll have to be patient, just play with your chopsticks I guess, but it’s well priced and you’ll leave satisfied.

I’m always up for good sushi. Until Tsunami came along, I either settled for substandard sushi or paid way too much for it. Now I don’t have to do either! The food is delicious and reasonably priced as far as sushi goes.
I’ve been to Tsunami a couple times and have yet to sit at the sushi bar. I love the décor of the restaurant. It’s casual enough for comfort, but nice enough to go out on a dressier date (which is saying something in Temple). The service is very friendly and responsive. During busy times, the servers to tend to get a little neglectful, but they’re always apologetic about any wait times. If you ever have any problems, just let your server or a manager know, and it’s taken care of right away.
My recommendations: hot sake during happy hour, seaweed salad (I’m hooked!), Ben roll #3, Millenium roll, and kappa maki (I know, it’s just cucumber, but so yummy).

For temple, this is a good sushi place… I ordered 2 rolls: summer roll and the miso tuna roll and both tasted yummy and flavorful. My only complaint was how long it took to get our order placed and food in our face. We got there at 7:50 and didn’t finish getting our food till 9:10. There is ONE waitress for the entire restaurant. Granted it was nice service but if you only have an hour or limited on time, go somewhere else. If you have 2 hours to kill for dinner than this place does offer good tasty options. Don’t go here if you expect to order a sashimi dinner or a boat… each sashimi piece is 3 bucks! FOR ONE PIECE OF FISH.

If you’re in the Temple/​Killeen/​Belton area and you want sushi… don’t waste your time on any of the other so called «Japanese Restaurants» that offer what they claim is «Sushi». Go straight to Tsunami Japanese, pull up a stool at the bar, and be prepared to enjoy some of the best sushi your palette will ever get the chance to experience (at least in the US!). Let Jack work his magic and prepare for you some of the most flavorful, well balanced, fresh, perfectly proportioned, and delicious sushi you’ve ever digested.
The staff was EXTREMELY friendly and helpful. The owner actually came up and introduced himself to me while I was sitting at the bar, and chatted for a bit. I never had an issue with needing to flag down a waitress for drinks.
It was an extremely enjoyable experience, and I plan on frequenting it again in the future. Definitely 5 stars in my book!

Get outta town Nami. Kick yourself out Kiku Gardens, You have been tamed Wild Wasabi, Shut Down Shogun. There is a new kid in town and when people find out, the only name for Sushi in Central Texas will be Tsunami.
Attached to the Dynasty Chinese Restaurant in Temple is the Tsunami Sushi Bar. They remodeled an older area, put in a sushi bar, hired REAL JAPANESE ATAMAE (SUSHI CHEFS) from Austin and what they came up with is sushi magic like this area has never seen.
Those of you who follow my reviews will think I have lost my mind, I cannot believe I was eating sushi of this quality in Temple, Texas. I have bruises from pinching myself!
Enough Gushing, okay, here is the low down on Tsunami Sushi Bar.
Tsunami recently opened their doors and they are young. The chef on duty, the waitress, and the manager were young and enthusiastic. The chef has been trained in classic Japanese style by his father. If this chef is still learning, I can’t wait to meet his Dad. The culinary pride of this young man was evidenced by the artistry that he sends out with every plate.
If you read my reviews of Oshimas in Orange, you will realize that Tsunami is not world class like Oshimas, BUT, I have been to sushi bars all over the US that cannot stand up to what I experienced tonight. I am a traditional Japanese food enthusiast. My wife enjoys Americanized Rolls and maguro (Tuna). Our friend has lived in Asia and had good Asian sushi. We were all pleased.
Now lest you think I have gone completely around the bend, there were a few bumpy patches.
The bumps — My mushroom Miso Soup was served tepid, but the minute I mentioned it the manager came out with a bowl of steaming hot soup. The salad was unremarkable with the everyday HoHum Chinese ginger dressing. The salad was a YAWN + (See I told you they were not perfect). The lettuce was fresh and crisp and cold, but it was still a boring American iceberg lettuce salad.
Our waitress had a problem keeping up with us. Empty serving dishes sat in front of us too long, & our beverages became empty so we had to ask for refills, they were not offered. I never did get a bowl of Ginger/​Wasabi, but I rarely use it on good sushi so I just shared with my wife. Our waitress was sassy and fun, and just needs a little time, she had what it takes. Erin noted that the music was more American Jazz than Japanese, and the manager ran back and changed it immediately.
The high points — This restaurant reeked of Asian atmosphere. The furnishings were in great shape and avant-​garde; instead of the usual lacquered pine the bar was a beautiful black marble! There was no TV in the bar (YAY!) and once the music was changed, the feeling became close to perfect. We were allowed to order directly from the Atamae so there was no opportunity for mistakes. I told my chef to have fun and make something new and fun. He did!
The Food — Tsunami just did just about everything right. (Other than the salad) The Saba (Mackerel) was not oily and was very tasty. Instead of buying the pre-​marinated Saba others use, Tsunami makes their own marinade that was light and delicate. Usually shunned as too fishy, a first timer could enjoy this.
The Suzuki (white sea bass or equivalent) dish was accompanied by a yellow tobiko that set off the flavor. The Hirami (Halibut) was served with Ponzu sauce (a soy sauce with, dashi and Japanese citron) which is a requirement to set off a delicate white fish such as Halibut.
I requested Tako (octopus) Sashimi dusted with sea salt and washed with lemon. The chef did a great job, only forgetting to use the lemon in the presentation, but the dish was as good tasting as I have ever had it. The menu went out the window as dish after dish was given to us. Each plate reminded me of Christmas morning as I waited to see what was coming next. The Ama-​Ebi was fresh frozen but acceptable and they deep fried the head for me without my asking.
My wife had her favorite Soft shell crab roll and spicy tuna roll. I tasted each and they were great. She raved about them. The spicy tuna roll was just spicy enough for me. There was spicy mayo on the side that wife dipped her slices into. Both my wife and Erin tasted several of my dishes and liked them. This is highly unusual for my wife, but the Chef made them look so good she could hardly resist.
Will I go back? YES, FREQUENTLY!
Will I go back to the others? NO! and neither should you.
Enjoy this place while it is young and unknown. The day will soon come that you will have to wait in line, and wait I will.
It is JUST THAT GOOD!