Explore New Flavors at the 7 Best Filipino Restaurants in Ottawa
Even with 14,000 Filipinos making up the vibrant cultural fabric in Ottawa, we don’t have enough restaurants serving authentic dishes from the Philippines. They’re still very few and far between, but the ones we do have are quite exceptional.
Over the years, we’ve seen new spots pop up in town, offering everything from classic comfort meals to fusion dishes. To my pleasant surprise, the OGs, where we’d get shaved ice and other sweet treats, are still here and thriving.
Whether you’re a longtime lover of this cross-cultural cuisine or simply looking to expand your palate, we know some spots in town that you’re bound to love.
Below, we’ve made a list of the best Filipino restaurants in Ottawa that you shouldn’t miss out on.
Lola’s Kitchen
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Website: http://www.lolaskitchen613.com/
Location: 765 Somerset Street W
Phone: +1 613 276 7708
Opening hours:
- Wed-Thu 4:30 pm to 9:30 pm
- Fri-Sat 4:30 to 10 pm
- Sun 12 pm to 8 pm
Lola’s Kitchen is one of many catering businesses that flourished during the pandemic. Now, they have a small brick-and-mortar where you can ditch the forks, spoons, and knives to indulge in an epic family-style feast with your bare hands.
Spread over banana leaves are Filipino comfort foods like chicken adobo, barbecue, fruits, and of course, rice! You can also add other fiesta favorites such as garlic butter shrimp, crispy lumpia, and grilled fish.
Space is quite limited at this restaurant, allowing them to accommodate only a few people at a time. They will give you two hours to finish the feast so they can cater to the next guests.
Pro tip:
Filipino time, or being fashionably late, isn’t acceptable here. They will only hold your reservations for 10 minutes.
Tamis Cafe and Restaurant
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Website: http://www.tamiscafe.ca/
Location: 374 Bank Street
Phone: +1 613 567 7550
Opening hours:
- Wed-Thu 11:30 am to 8 pm
- Fri-Sat 11:30 am to 9 pm
- Sun 11 am to 4 pm
Another restaurant in Ottawa serving kamayan feasts is Tamis Cafe and Restaurant. Bring a friend when you come here because their platters, which come in beef, chicken, veggie, and seafood options, are best shared between two people.
If you aren’t looking for a hefty meal, you can stop by for some treats, many of which are made of classic southeast Asian flavors like ube and pandan. The desserts are quite sweet, so they pair well with a cup of coffee or tea.
Some of the must-haves are the dulce de leche cakes and donut bites. During the summer months, halo-halo, a shaved ice dessert packed with red beans, ube ice cream, and colorful coconut jellies, is a delicious way to beat the heat.
Pro tip:
All kamayan feasts must be pre-booked. On Wednesdays and Thursdays, they will give you a 10% discount on their kamayan platters for dine-in orders.
Divisoria Resto Bar
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Website: http://divisoriarestobar.ca/
Location: 3621 Innes Road
Phone: +1 613 590 6688
Opening hours:
- Tue, Fri-Sat 11 am to 8 pm
- Wed-Thu, Sun 11 am to 7 pm
Divisoria Resto Bar serves up a wide range of quintessential Filipino dishes. Aside from the all-time faves, the deep-fried pork hocks and belly, they have regional dishes that you probably haven’t heard of.
If you aren’t allergic to nuts, try kare-kare, a rich savory peanut-based stew made with beef, eggplant, bok choy, and string beans.
Here, you can get lumpia fresh instead of fried, stuffed with mixed vegetables, and doused in peanut sauce. It’s a refreshing and less greasy version of the crispy egg roll, which we think doesn’t get as much love as it deserves.
Pro tip:
Staying true to their family-oriented culture, Divisoria Resto Bar also serves feast packages that you can share with 4 people. Just order a day before you drop by the restaurant.
Grab n’ Eat by H&B
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Location: 2916 Carling Avenue
Phone: +1 613 421 8880
Opening hours: Sun-Mon 10 am to 6 pm, Tue-Sat 10 am to 7 pm
Grab n’ Eat is a small cafeteria-style restaurant serving a variety of stews, soups, and stir-fries. All you have to do is point at the dishes you want, then they will add generous portions to a container, which you can enjoy on the spot or elsewhere.
What we like about this place is that the service is quick and convenient while the food is good and affordable. It’s no wonder why their dishes sell out fast.
Small restaurants like these are a great way to explore Filipino cuisine because you can have a little bit of everything without breaking the bank. If you’re nice to the staff, you might be lucky enough to get a few dishes on the house.
Pro tip:
They don’t accept any reservations at Grab n’ Eat. Just swing by during their business hours, and you’ll be served with good food and warm smiles.
Meryenda
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Website: http://infomeryenda.wix.com/kainpo
Location: 1448 Prince of Wales Drive
Phone: +1 613 552 5125
Opening hours: Tue-Sat 11:30 am to 7:30 pm
Meryenda isn’t exactly a restaurant but a food truck, which you’ll regularly find on Prince of Wales Drive. Serving reimagined dishes like adobo balls and tosilog (a combo of egg and marinated pork) sliders, it’s a great gateway to more traditional flavors and dishes.
One of the popular items on the menu is the longganisa-inspired burger. It has beef, caramelized onions, and pickled green papayas stuffed between toasted Kaiser buns with banana ketchup aioli, then served with a side of sweet potato fries.
Even though they’re known for their fusion dishes, you can still get more traditional meals here like chicken inasal and adobo on rice. They even have turon, a sweet treat made of plantains, wrapped in a spring roll wrapper, and fried to perfection.
Pro tip:
There are a few benches near the food truck, where you can enjoy your meals. If all the tables are taken, you can eat from the comfort of your car because the truck is located in the parking lot of a strip mall.
Sanduk
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Website: https://sanduk.ca/
Location: 91 Holland Avenue
Phone: +1 613 729 2438
Opening hours: Sun, Tue-Sat 11 am to 9 pm
Sanduk, which means ladle in Filipino, serves traditional dishes using seasonal and locally sourced ingredients. Their menu consists of the flavors and cuisines of the province of Pampanga, including the favorite beer food—sisig.
Instead of getting the usual pork sisig, try their milk fish version, which is just as crunchy and sizzling but less greasy. They also have a savory and slightly spicy pork blood stew called Tidtad, known as dinuguan in other parts of the Philippines.
What we like about Sanduk is that they have a kid’s menu with grilled hotdogs on a stick and crispy chicken wings, so they won’t be left out of the experience. But no matter the age, we know everyone will love their shaved ice and ice cream desserts.
Pro tip:
Their website has yet to be integrated with OpenTable. The best way to book a table in advance is to call Sanduk.
Divisoria Market
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Website: https://sanduk.ca/
Location: 943 Carling Avenue
Phone: +1 613 729 2438
Opening hours: Sun, Tue 11 am to 6 pm, Wed-Sat 11 am to 7 pm
Not to be confused with Divisoria Resto Bar, a full-service Filipino restaurant, Divisoria Market is an Asian grocery store that serves cafeteria-style meals. Yes, they are owned and operated by the same people, so you can expect delicious food here too.
They serve all the staples like fried fish, meat stews, noodles, and rice. Their most popular dish is caldereta, a rich and savory tomato-based stew made with beef, carrots, potatoes, and peas.
Of course, no Filipino restaurant is complete without dessert. The sweet and crunchy turon is a favorite all year round, but the halo-halo is a must-have, especially during the hot summer months.
Pro tip:
While you’re at the grocery store, you might as well pick up a few ingredients so you can cook Filipino food at home. They have everything you need from the meats and sauces to the spices.