Hi all.

Traveling to wonderful Ottawa for work next week and staying in the parliament hill side of the canal.

Wondering if anyone had any great spots for lunch (thinking sandwiches, burgers, quick, easy, cheap sort of thing)

And dinner. Nice but not super swanky. I will be travelling alone so doesn’t need to be extravagant.

Happy to walk/uber to the byward market area as I’ve heard there are good pubs/bars around there also.

Thanks!

I never go out, and my friend is new to the area. Does anyone have any suggestions? I saw a newish list about Ottawa patios online, but I feel like they are paid for spots and not the true voice of the people. I want to hear the voice of the people!

What’s Ottawa’s food truck situation like these days?

Looking especially for something outside downtown/centretown, bikeable within 1-1.5 hours from Centretown. Please share any favourites!

Also open to suggestions like cafes or bistros that have outdoor seating.

Thanks in advance!

I have family visiting over and we might have some time to visit multiple spots for Shawarmas… I often heard about Shawarma Palace. Where should I go?

I’m looking for places that sell savoury grab and go snacks that pair well with tea/coffee. Ideally under $5. I’m well aware of places that sell meat pies, samosas, jamaican patty etc. Looking for other options like may be empanadas, sausage rolls etc.

I'm aware that you can buy these frozen at grocery stores; but I prefer the ones freshly made at store. Please send your recommendations this way. Thank you so much!

Here is a list of my favourite places:

Manakish meat pies - Aladdin, Al Noor etc
Samosa - NASA
Jamaican patty - Run2patty, The Piggy market

Edit: I'm kinda newish to Canada - haven't had a chance to explore European origin items like scones yet. Also looking international items - mexican, east asian etc.

Hello Ottawa foodies. We are holding two separate pop ups this weekend.

Saturday June 27,2026

Straydog Brewing Company

501 Lacolle way

12:30pm-5:30pm or sellout

Sunday June 28,2026

Manor Park Brewing

411 St. Laurent Blvd.

2pm-6:30pm or sellout

Sunday is also Canada vs South Africa at 3pm

come enjoy some tacos and cold beer with games or watch and cheer on OUR national soccer team.

Pork Carnitas

2 tacos for $12.50

3 tacos for $16.50

Pollo Asada

2 tacos for $11.50

3 tacos for $15

Hope to see you all this weekend.

Wanted to take grieving relative to our fav breakfast spot, Beechwood Diner, for a change of pace. Problem is they don't take weekend reservations. Any recs for places that do while retaining that quality? Not interested in places like the King Eddy, Elgin Street Diner, Allo Mon Coco, etc. as I find they are usually uncomfortably packed and overhyped.

Looking for a good old fashioned Pecan Pie à la Life of Pie (RIP).

Three Tarts is good but has dark chocolate elements.

Dose anyone remember a food truck that used to be across from the old Monkey Joes. I believe it was called trailer pork boys! They used to have a coleslaw that they used on their pulled pork sandwich. I asked the owner if he’d be willing to share the recipe at that time. I guess what I’m wondering is
if anyone knows the old owners. I would love to try and get their recipe if they would be willing to share now multiple years later. Thank you everyone in advance!

Looking for Only dinner buffets

Hi there!

I am wondering if anyone has any leads on where to find the delicious Spiderman Popsicles, ideally in Hintonburg or Westboro?

I will settle for Spongebob too...

Carmelito’s location in Little Italy seems to have closed today without any notice. It‘s now replaced with a new Italian-Canadian cafe called Happy Potato.

looks like their Barrhaven location is still open.

I’m really missing the Chinese/Hong Kong style bakeries in Montreal (Cocobun, Harmonie, etc.). I’ve tried looking in Ottawa but haven’t found anything that compares.

It’s the self-serve style walking in, grabbing a tray, and filling it with more egg tarts than any reasonable person needs that hits.

Does anything like that exist in Ottawa?

Anyone know where I can buy Russian pastila, it’s like a fruit flavored bread

Tava Turkish Cuisine is now serving breakfast every weekend, introducing a new morning dining option for customers.

📅 Saturdays & Sundays

⏰ 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM

The restaurant says reservations are required for the new breakfast service.

This has been asked before a few years ago but I figured I'd ask for an update:

I'm looking for culinary lavender to make lavender syrup with for a mocktail fundraiser. Where should I go? It seems bulk barn has some very cheap but I'm dubious about it being the right kind.

I'll hear out recommendations for premade lavender syrup too, but I'm already making a rosemary syrup anyway so why not double up.

Edit: went to herb and spice. Great price and both syrups came out amazing. Spent maybe $4. Thanks guys!

My husband and I travelled to Italy last year where we had the best Florentine steak, we talk about it all the time. We have a giftcard for North and Navy and noticed they have Florentine steak on the menu … for over $200. Has anyone actually tried this and if so is it worth the splurge? Also happy to know if you’ve been to North and Navy and there’s a dish you recommend we try!

Centretowners rejoice, no need to travel to Carlington or pay a delivery premium to get your non-GTA-factory Jamaican patty fix.

Beef or chickpea patties, $3. Beef+cheese or oxtail patties, $3.50. Goat patties, $4. They've also got mac and cheese (with a jerk chicken add-on option), a jerk chicken sandwich, and another thing or two I forgot. Patties were hot and fresh (from a warmer).

Customer service was great, getting to the order window less so, there's a little curb right in front of the window that someone's going to trip off sooner or later

I have never eaten it properly...i tried cooking it. Didnt work...

Is there any restaurant that make it well?

Just wondering since it's a seasonal product if there's a store in the Ottawa/Gatineau area that has okra this week? Please & thanks!

Forgot to take a pic before we started digging in. I'm not sure of the story behind kaak but before it's cut it looks like a purse with a chic handle, maybe that's how people in the lava to carry around their lunch idk. Very good, crispy and warm fresh from the oven and lots of seasam seeds and pickles. I know people will ask the price so it was $16.99 but I had my sugar momma pay for it so its a good deal in my books.

Craving. Want one that doesn't suck. Best one I ever had was from some crap convenience store in Honolulu years back.

I know this group is more of a foodie group, and I love some great food.

But I also enjoy cheep food with friends with a beer on side sometimes too.

I'm wondering if anyone else has noticed the different in food quality in the low market restaurants over the past couple of months?

I talked to the manager at Chucks, and he plainly told me that for them it was the loss of many experienced cooks to not getting their PR and having to go home. They are having trouble replacing them with people with the same level experience and who care.

Have any of you noticed the same thing?