Might be the opposite of what you imagine a tattoo shop to be, but in all the best ways. The space is quiet, calm, clean, and peaceful. It's the second floor of a house, and you genuinely feel like you've been welcomed into a home. And then the artists...are spectacular in really every way. Everyone I have met has been so nice, so cool, and of course so skilled and talented. They take their work tremendously seriously and produce amazing results. On top of all that, their prices are super reasonable. Getting inked can be super nerve wracking, particularly if it's your first time. I can't imagine a better studio than Tsunami to put you at ease. Seriously I can't recommend them highly enough. read more

I started getting tattoos 2 years ago. My sister and I get a tattoo every 3 months whether we need one or not . Tsunami and specifically Matt have become my go to "shop". Matt is so kind and knows exactly what will work and what won't. He's not going to give you a shitty tattoo. The " shop" is in a beautiful second floor Portland apartment flat. It's clean, organized and quiet. There's parking on the street but I've never not parked in front of the building. I would recommend Tsunami a hundred times over. You need an appointment and I'd recommend calling well ahead because they do not take walk ins. read more

Wonderful experience- made a last minute appointment with Matt for the next day. I had long wanted a small red fox to represent my son. Finally, after surviving a cancer scare, I decided to do it and have tattoos that honor both my children (got a rose tattoo recently for my daughter in LA) When I arrived Matt had the design ready and went to work.. he is a personable guy and made the experience as pleasant as possible and was finished in an hour. He is also very talented- couldn't have asked for better, I love my new tattoo! The salon is lovely with antiques and a peaceful atmosphere! Highly recommend Tsunami and Matt! Patti W read more

Don't come in looking for a book of flash. This is a custom shop. I first saw Phuc's work at the Boston Tattoo convention in 2007. I didn't call for an appointment until Feb 2012. He had an opening in August 2012. When I got to his shop it didn't look like a typical tattoo "parlor". Buddha on the wall, "Hello Kitty", and no posters of flash. If you are serious about getting a unique artful tattoo, make an appointment, take the next 6 to 10 months doing research on what you like, send your ideas to Phuc, come in for a consultation, and prepare for a great tattoo. By the way, don't forget to take off your shoes. read more

See all

I feel like this review is going to end up reading like a thesaurus - with me searching for as many words that mean "awesome" as possible. Phuc is the owner of Tsunami Tattoo. These days he has two people working with him - Cydni Lou, and Mike, which as far as I witnessed were also incredibly talented artists. But Phuc's my guy. He's done a few smaller pieces on me, and when it came time for a cover up of a tattoo that has plagued me since my ripe old age of barely 18 (note to readers: do not get matching tattoos with your high school boyfriend no matter how sweet you think it is at the time. It's not sweet. You're only 18 and you're stupid) there was literally no other place I would have even considered. As another poster mentioned, this is not a flash shop. You won't find that here. Custom designs only, made up by the most talented in the biz. But since that last statement was not an exaggeration, be prepared to wait. Going to the best is great - but so are a lot of people. Decide what you want as soon as you can, go in and consult about it, let him interpret your ideas into a tattoo concept dripping with badassery, and then make an appointment in his soonest available slot - about 10 months from now. Insane, you say? But... but... that dirty shop down the road said they could get you in in 15 minutes? Yeah, have fun with that and give Hep C a high five from me. (Disclaimer: that's probably not true. Even they can't get you in in 15 minutes). Tsunami is clean. It's elegant. Yes, I used the word elegant in conjuncture with the idea of a tattoo shop. It's detailed with ornate oriental pieces of art, a "please remove your shoes" sign, and they'll even offer you tea. It's the only tattoo shop I've ever stepped foot in where I wasn't immediately body slammed by my social awkwardness. It's comfortable there. And aside from gushing on the enormity of their talent, is the best compliment I can give. So if you're looking for a place that has the best talent in town, mosey on over to Tsunami Tattoo. Tell Phuc I said hi. And get ready for the most impressive tattoo experience Portland has to offer. read more

Tsunami Tattoo - A poorly taken selfie of a baddass tattoo. Still in progress... - Tattoo Near Me - Portland, Maine

My mom went in for her first session. And every session has been cancelled and rescheduled the day of. 4 sessions cancelled. And she was very excited to finally add to her family tree. Unfortunately, I think another artist may have to finish it. read more

Cyndi Lou is the best! If you're looking for intricate line work definitely reach out to her. It took her about an hour to complete my forearm tattoo and that was some serious line work to be done in just an hour. Folks are usually pretty darn impressed when I tell them how long it took. The shop is a beautifully curated space with interesting antiques and pieces Phuc's picked up. Easily the aesthetic is a pleasing one to have while getting pricked! Their shop's very clean, all of the staff is super professional and capable. You are in QUALITY hands! If you're looking for the perfect special and unique piece, reach out to the folks at Tsunami. Quality over quantity - this one will be with you forever! read more

Tsunami Tattoo - Cyndi Lou ! - Tattoo Near Me - Portland, Maine

Even though I only wanted a small "tasteful" tattoo, it took me eight years to work up the courage and make a final decision on exactly what I wanted. I decided on a one-word tattoo in a script font. Waited three months for an appointment at Tsunami Tattoo with owner Phuc Tran, and it was worth the wait. The studio is beautiful and inviting. Super clean and not scary at all. It was more like a spa than a tattoo parlor! Even though I had decided on the word and the font, I was still unsure about placement (after all, this was a forever decision). Phuc was extremely patient with me, transferring the stencil multiple times to different locations on my forearm, until I finally decided on the perfect spot. Phuc executed perfectly the tattoo in the font I had chosen and I couldn't be happier! My little tat was probably a waste of his talent and what he is capable of, but little or big, you can trust that Phuc's hand will perfectly execute the design you have in mind. Thank you, Phuc and Tsunami Tattoo! (Already planning my next one.) read more

See all

Ubered all the way here for her to say that we had to wait another hour and a half, after being told we could come in at a certain time. Didn't apologize, didn't really seem to feel bad. Disappointed & don't recommend. read more

Came in here last minute as a walk-in to do two blackwork tattoos. They were fully booked, but Sean was able to accommodate and did a fantastic job. Very impressed. Next time I'm in Portland, I will for sure be coming back here. Also - they have a no shoes policy, which normally annoys me but for some reason I really appreciated here. Pro-tip: bring slippers or use some of theirs! read more

Great experience. Very professional and talented artists. Highly recommend. Will definitely go back. After years of thinking about getting a tattoo I finally decided this was the year. I wanted to have a tattoo that represented my love of dogs and honored Starbuck, my dog of a lifetime. Sean was able to create a beautiful piece of art from the picture I sent him. I have received nothing but compliments on since I had it done. read more

Had a nice tribute piece done today by Mike. He had a great relaxed attitude. He interpreted what I wanted really well and I ended up with exactly what I was looking for. I'm sure between Phuc, Cyndi Lou, and Mike; Tsunami is in great shape. read more

Tsunami Tattoo - Great work and interpretation by Mike! - Tattoo Near Me - Portland, Maine

Phuc Tran is an amazing artist. This is the kind of tattoo shop where you can go in and get a little something done, or you can let Phuc create something custom and incredibly original. When he put the layout for my custom tattoo on me, it was a vague outline compared to the amount of detail he incorporated all by hand. If you see his drawings, he really is a great artist. For the skill Phuc possesses, the prices are ridiculously low. Phuc wants to make sure your tattoo looks as amazing as it can. He stayed for a 5.5 hour sitting just to make sure my tattoo was up to his high standards. He also works very quickly for such high quality tattoos. He got what normally would have taken 3 sittings (or more) and did an amazing job in just 2 sittings! The shop is such a low key place, the atmosphere is great. Phuc and his wife Sue are a lot of fun to talk to, not to mention all their friends and clients stopping by to say hi. My session went late and they just ordered pizza and had a good time. Phuc's waiting list is 7 months for good reason. If you want a piece of art on your body that you can appreciate for the rest of your life, then I highly recommend you consider Tsunami Tattoo. read more

My husband and I lost our infant son a year ago and we wanted to get tattoos in his memory. This was our first tattoo experience for both of us so we weren't really sure where to go or what to expect. After doing a ton of research and asking for recommendations, Tsunami stood out head and shoulders above the rest, and now we know why. The shop itself is so peaceful, welcoming and CLEAN but the experience overall was just amazing. We booked with Cyndi Lou and I am so so glad we did! She answered all our questions via email, collaborated with us by listening to what we wanted and gently guided us along the way when it came to things we were unsure of. I was very nervous because of how important and meaningful this piece was for me but she had such a calming, even keeled presence, it put me right at ease! Even though they were absolutely not as elaborate or intricate as some of her other work, we never once felt like Cyndi thought she was "wasting her time or talent" on our small pieces. She knew they were meaningful to us and so they were important to her, too. I cried when I saw my finished product, it was exactly what I had envisioned and a perfect tribute to our son; and my husband feels the same way about his piece. Definitely will be our #1 choice for any future work as well as only recommendation to others! We can't thank you enough! read more

Phuc's work is incredible. Welcoming and relaxed shop atmosphere. The longer book-out for appointments is a tribute to his skill. I will never go to any one else again. read more

Phuc Tran and Tsunami Tattoo hold up the utmost professionalism while ensuring a tattoo that is as meaningful to them as it is to you. While I've been tattooed in several places, I always go back to Portland, Maine to be tattooed on a larger scale. In the middle of a 4 session half sleeve event, I already have a full backpiece done by Phuc. His work speaks for itself in his portfolios, available in the shop and online. The shop is an extremely professional as well as a comfortable, ambient environment. He works with you on your ideas. He is extremely helpful and the long waiting list is well worth it! There is no better place to be tattooed. read more

I got my first tattoo here about a month ago with Sean, and I couldn't be happier with it. The whole processes was super easy to set up, and I was absolutely in LOVE with the design Sean created for me, even with the little information I gave him. The actual studio is gorgeous too, very clean and welcoming, it almost feels like walking into someones house which helped with my nerves for my first tattoo as well. Sean was also super friendly and warm which, again, helped with my nerves. The whole process took about three hours, and never once was I uncomfortable (aside from the actual pain of the tattooing, obviously). I haven't met the other tattoo artist, but I've only ever heard great things about them. I would definitely recommend Tsunami Tattoo! read more

I created a Yelp account just to praise Phuc and his Tsunami tattoo team. The parlor is pristine and very comfortable. In fact, it felt like hanging out in a coffee shop. Phuc is a true talent and the consultation was thorough while still being relaxed. By the time he started the tattooing, I was completely at ease. He uses a silent needle, which also made the process more comfortable. During the tattoo, we talked about travelling and life in the Northeast. My tattoo was on my right thigh and it was so cool to be able to watch him work close up. His detailed work is stunning. I am beyond thrilled with the finished product. Despite living in Boston, I will absolutely be making the trek back to Portland for any future tattoos. read more

I went in yesterday for a tat from Mike and he was so kind and helpful and calm but excited. I can't even say enough how great of an experience this was and that is really important for a tattoo because you want to remember getting it fondly. I plan on going back to Tsunami for all future tats. read more

Thought that Phuc deserved the same recognition as the other shops in Portland on this site. I have a ribpiece from him and it's an amazing tattoo. Clean lines, bold color, and excellent composition. Phuc and Sue are 2 of the warmest people you could meet and I enjoy going there to get work done... despite the painful nature of the work. Highly recommend. read more

I actually followed my previous tattoo artist from Cambridge, MA after he moved up to Portland and started working for Tsunami Tattoo. I knew according to both his and my judgment, he wouldn't be working for a sub-par tattoo shop. I didn't set any expectations for the shop itself (mainly just his work) but it blew me away. It's a relaxed, calming, creative environment and its openness is very comforting. Matt is the artist I had an appointment with, and he knew the owner of the shop who is apparently a stand-up guy. Set an appointment with me about a month out, and was extremely flexible and informative. I'm sure every artist has their own methods for working with clients, but Matt kept my consultation ongoing as he drew up my image. It's literally the most perfect piece I could have pictured. After dreaming it up for 2-3 years, it came to life! I highly recommend Tsunami for the talented artists and the serenity brought to the tattoo experience (as serene as getting a tattoo can be). I made the drive and even if you have local shops around you, you're missing out if you haven't gone here. read more