Tsunami Ramen in Frederick became a go-to restaurant for Nicole and me not long after we started living in Frederick. I first had their ramen as takeout. To this day, getting Tsunami Ramen to go on a night you don’t want to cook is a real treat.
But Tsunami is more than just an excellent takeout spot. It is yet another restaurant in Downtown Frederick that should be on your night-out rotation.
The Vibe at Tsunami Ramen
We’ve all been to the generic Asian restaurant, where everthing is plain and looks identical to the last one. Places that focus on take out more than the in dining experience. That is not this place.
Tsunami Ramen has character. Its a delightful place to have a meal in downtown Frederick.
Tsunami Ramen has a full bar that is a worthy participant in your Frederick downtown bar crawl. The dining room is full of color, with large Japanese-themed murals and Hello Kitty decor.
If you can score a table in the small front nook by the window, you can watch Frederick nightlife while you eat.
Tsunami Ramen Basics
Tsunami is located on North Market Street right in downtown Frederick. They specialize in Ramen, but they market themselves as a fusion of Japanese and Western Cuisine, and a place that highlights tapas, or appetizers.
There are no online reservations, but you can call (240.815.6744) or email them and make reservations in advance, which I recommend especially on weekends.
As usual, you can park on Market Street or any of the side streets in Frederick, or head to the Carroll Creek or West Patrick Street Garage and you’ll have a 5 minute walk.
Creative Cocktails, Sake, and Something Called 'Shochu'
The first thing you’ll notice that makes Tsunami a destination restaurant and more than a take out joint is the beverage menu. The proper colorful bar mixes up interesting cocktails, many using sake to keep with the Japanese them.
Examples:
- Ocean 11 (Bombay Gin, Pineapple Juice, Blue Curacao, Club Soda, Lime Juice, Nigori Sake)
- Wasabi Mojito (Wasabi, Babardi Rum, Fresh Lime Juice, Mint, Simple Syrup, Brown Sugar)
- Pearicious (Absolute Pear, Sake, Lemon Juice, Simple Syrup
I love Japanese beer, especially with Asian food, so I get more excited about the Sapporo on draft. They also have several other local beers on draft, including Attaboy.
There’s also wine and an extensive selection of sake, which the servers will help you choose if you aren’t an expert.
Have you ever tried Shochu? This is another Japanese spirit made from rice, barley, and sweet potato and has a distinctive flavor. Our server offered it the first time we dined in Tsunami, and now it’s a regular part of a meal there.
If you want non-alcoholic, you are in good shape at Tsunami as well as there are not only mocktails, but several bubble teas to choose from.
Ramen You'll Crave for Days
Tsunami has some killer appetizers, we favor the various dumplings, spring rolls, calamari, and spicy pork buns are hits as well.
The ‘tapas’ menu extends into really interesting and delicious asian tacos, and some dishes that continue the fusion theme: miso black cod and chasu pork tapas.
But don’t get too distracted, you are here for one main reason: Ramen. Tsunami does not disappoint.
There are ~12 Ramen dishes on the menu, plus a few specials. I’ve probably tried 5 of them. Even if you have eaten a lot of Ramen and are familiar with Japanese food, you are likely to see lots of unfamiliar ingredients. So I recommend you use your server to assist you with your Tsunami Ramen journey.
In all honesty, you can go wrong choosing a Ramen, but here are the basic decisions you’ll need to make:
- Protein: Pork, Chicken, or Vegan?
- Noodle: Egg, Kale, or Wheat?
- Spice: mild or spicy?
- Flavor: Curry or Miso?
But no need to complicate. Pick a direction, get some input from your server, and go. Here are some of my favorites:
- Tonkatsu Ramen. Classic pork and egg noodles with tonkatsu broth.
- Red Curry Ramen. Huge flavor with chashu pork, egg noodle, bamboo shoot and red curry broth with coconut milk.
- Curry Karaage Ramen. Khao soi style curry with chicken karaage and egg noodles.
You can customize the inclusions and order sides to your liking (egg, mushrooms, kimchi, etc.). Be warned: You’ll probably get too much food and have plenty of take-home leftovers. Not a bad thing!
What Else You Need to Know About Tsunami Ramen in Downtown Frederick
- Reservations: Call (240.815.6744) or email
- Take Out: Online Ordering
