Tsunami, a Japanese restaurant and sushi bar, is under new ownership and will transition into a new concept restaurant in January 2027. Google / Provided
COLUMBIA — A Japanese restaurant in a busy Columbia shopping area is undergoing a wave of changes.
Tsunami in the Harbison area is now under the ownership of El Vago Hospitality Group, according to a social media post by the business. The restaurant is located at 1290 Bower Parkway.
“We’re excited to bring fresh energy and a new vibe to Harbison while continuing to serve the Tsunami favorites you already know and enjoy,” the post said.
Tsunami now offers a full bar and updated food and cocktail menus, with more updates on the way as the transition continues, including lunch service, an updated patio experience, live DJs, special events and “a completely new atmosphere,” the business said online.
The transition “is just getting started,” it added.
In January, the restaurant will become Kahlo Modern Mexican Kitchen & Sushi — a new concept combining modern Mexican cuisine and sushi that promises “a vibrant dining experience,” the business said.
The new restaurant’s logo features the legendary Mexican artist Frida Kahlo. Concept renderings created with AI envision a dimly-lit, elegant space with a full bar and modern interiors.
“Our goal is to be more than just another restaurant,” the post says. “We want to become an active part of the Harbison community, support the people around us and create a place where everyone feels welcome.”
What is El Vago Hospitality Group?
El Vago Hospitality Group owns El Vago Mexican Kitchen on Main Street in downtown Columbia. The restaurant is marked by its party atmosphere, featuring regular live DJs, strobe lighting, neon décor and a multi-page cocktail menu.
Tsunami will remain open as it transitions to Kahlo Modern Mexican Kitchen & Sushi and will regularly operate from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., the business said.
For some, the new restaurant may fill the gap left by the closure of Takosushi in downtown Columbia, which also offered a mix of Mexican cuisine and sushi.
Tsunami is in the Harbison shopping center anchored by Regal Columbiana Grande. It directly neighbors Brothers & Beer II and The Juicy Crab.
That stretch of Bower Parkway off the busy Harbison Boulevard sees traffic from around 8,000 cars per day, according to state Department of Transportation data.
Dining and Cooking