From biryani to butter chicken, here’s where to find Ottawa’s best Indian food
6 Minute Read
Whether you’re eating in or taking out, Indian cuisine offers aromatic arrays, ultimate comfort food and refined dishes to excite your palate. As Ottawa’s Indian food scene continues to grow, you’ll probably need some direction on where to have dinner.
These 12 restaurants will take you on a journey from Kerala to Punjab, from Mumbai to Delhi to Kolkata. You’ll cross the country’s flavours and cultures with traditional plates, unique street foods and fresh modern spins on classic favourites.
Ready for your culinary adventure? Here are the best Indian restaurants in Ottawa.
Best fine dining: Coconut Lagoon
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Where: 853 Saint Laurent Blvd., Ottawa, ON
Coconut Lagoon is the acclaimed restaurant owned by Joe Thottungal, the award-winning chef who took home silver at the Canadian Culinary Championships in 2017. This spot is a consistent favourite among Ottawans, even earning a CAA/AAA Three Diamond Rating. The food is elegant and elevated, bringing the tastes of Kerala to a fine dining atmosphere.
Guests can enjoy dishes like butter lobster masala, gingery okra pal curry or crispy woodland mushroom croquettes, dishes that combine delicate flavours with spices that pack a punch.
Best variety: Thali
Where: 136 O’Connor St., Ottawa, ON
If you’d like to try Joe Thottungal’s cooking but prefer a more casual option, Thali is his newest project, inspired by the award-winning cookbook My Thali. Here, you’ll find more traditional curries, biryani, and, of course, thali platters.
Thali is a traditional style of dining where a variety of dishes are served on a circular platter, typically accompanied by a selection of condiments. You'll get to try multiple dishes at once, sampling the best that this restaurant has to offer. Then, you can move on to dessert, such as warm gulab jamun or cool, creamy mango gelato.
Best vegetarian options: Second Wife
Where: 511 Bank St., Ottawa, ON
Indian cuisine is notoriously vegetarian-friendly, and Second Wife offers a vast menu of curries, appetizers, and sides for non-meat eaters. The daal makhani is fragrant and creamy, and the mango paneer blends homemade cottage cheese with a sweet and savoury curry. If you’d like to try some Indian street food, their samosa chaat is a dish made from smashed samosas, chickpeas, potatoes and a variety of sauces.
They also offer meat dishes, such as fish palak, lamb vindaloo, and chicken tikka.
Best butter chicken: Little India Cafe
Where: 66 Wylie Ave., Ottawa, ON
This cozy spot is one of Ottawa’s oldest Indian restaurants, a local favourite that has stood the test of time for good reason. Little India Cafe offers other classics like flavourful biryani and crispy vegetable pakoras; their butter chicken is truly to die for. With a creamy sauce and tender chunks of chicken, you can’t go wrong with their delectable recipe. Head to the lunch buffet or order takeout for a delicious night in.
Most unique: Ek Bar
Where: 225 Preston St., Ottawa, ON
This new restaurant is a partnership between up-and-comer Teegavarapu Sarath Mohan and Michelin-recognized chef Hemant Bhagwani. The menu features unique takes on traditional dishes, like goat tacos and chaat-inspired raj kachori. Large plates, such as oxtail curry and fresh paneer, present a complex feast for the senses, blending theatrical presentation with exceptional taste.
Best desserts: Gwalia
Where: 1460 Merivale Rd., unit 5, Ottawa, ON
If you’ve been searching for a place to buy mithai, a type of traditional Indian dessert, Gwalia hits the sweet spot. They sell tasty morsels made with mawa, a milk-based ingredient, such as saffron-flavoured kesar peda or akhrot barfi, made with sugary walnuts. You can also sample dry fruit sweets like silver foil-covered kaju katli and anjeer tea cake. Each dessert has a unique taste and look, bringing floral accents, fruity flourishes and syrupy sweetness to nutty flavour bases.
Gwalia also serves an all-vegetarian menu of hot appetizers and entrees.
Perfect for breakfast and lunch: RamaKrishna Indian Restaurant
Where: 417 Rideau St., Ottawa, ON
This North Indian restaurant, located in the heart of downtown Ottawa, serves a variety of dishes, including tandoori specialties, curries, and biryanis. Generous portion sizes make for great value, with standouts like the lamb vindaloo. They also offer an extensive breakfast and lunch menu featuring stuffed flatbreads, pakoras, thali, and more, so you can start your day off right.
Best service: Sona the Indian Kitchen
Where: 1183 Hunt Club Rd., Ottawa, ON
Sona the Indian Kitchen is well-known around the city for its attentive staff and excellent service. When you arrive, you’ll be welcomed into the trendy modern atmosphere of wicker lampshades, bright lighting and dark leather booths, which complement robust flavours and fresh ingredients. You can sample signature dishes, such as ginger chicken curry and lamb tava masala, alongside appetizers like aloo paneer tikki and desserts like kheer.
This restaurant also offers catering, allowing you to serve Indian cuisine at your next event.
Coolest interior: East India Company
Where: 210 Somerset St. W., Ottawa, ON
This buffet will transport you to an ancient temple in the heart of India. The decor incorporates Hindu statues, friezes and iconography, with the focal point being a stone archway in the centre of the restaurant. Serve yourself from a variety of curries, appetizers, chutneys and desserts in a space that feels like travelling across the world.
Best biryani: The Biryaniwalla
Where: 130 Riocan Ave. #1, Nepean, ON
This restaurant is named for its signature dish, which is unbeatable elsewhere in the city. Biryani is a spiced rice dish made with meat, paneer or vegetables, and The Biryaniwalla has perfected its unique taste to make a version that’s a cut above the rest. You can also order Hyderabadi curries, kebabs, dosas and more, with each dish packing a zesty, flavourful punch.
Best for takeout: Sha’az Indian Cuisine
Where: 320 Eagleson Rd. Unit-D5, Ottawa, ON
For delectable Indian cuisine in Kanata, head to Sha’az. Their curated menu elevates traditional dishes to a royal standard, serving you legendary foods that will please foodies and casual diners alike. Their takeout is fast and packed with care, ensuring your order arrives safely. You can enjoy every popular biryani, crispy chicken 65, and mouth-watering mandi from the comfort of your own home or in their trendy seating area.
Best samosas: Brampton Authentic Indian Cuisine
Where: 178 Meadowlands Dr. W., Ottawa, ON
This family-owned spot, located near Algonquin College, offers affordable takeout to fuel your study sessions. Their newly renovated dine-in area is cute and cozy, perfect for date night or small groups. While they have a sizeable menu, the standout is their samosas—Brampton Authentic Indian Cuisine serves crispy, flavourful pastries that have no parallel among their competitors in the city.
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