The 8 Best Kebab Places in Ottawa That Will Totally Leave You Craving for More
I remember when I had my first kebab like it was yesterday. It was a rainy evening, and I was in the mood for something both meaty and spicy to warm things up.
Then I remembered I always pass by this random restaurant called Persian Darbar on the way to the beach in Mumbai, India. Its numerous kebab posters looked appetizing, so I gave it a shot.
After I moved to Ottawa, I started to miss that first juicy chicken zafrani kebab I had and wondered if there were any places nearby that could help me relive that culinary experience.
Little did I know that this city is a melting pot of cultures, and there are plenty of great kebab places that make you think you just traveled halfway across the world!
Pita Bell Kabab
– Media credit: pitabellkabab
Address: 1696 Carling Ave
Contact Number: +1 613-686-1740
Operating Hours:
- Mon-Sat: 11:00am – 10:00pm
- Sun: 11:30am – 10:00pm
Must-Order: Adana Kabab
Pite Bell Kabab is a popular Middle Eastern restaurant that offers many different kebabs straight out of its charcoal grill.
Their Regular Kabab order, which comes with 2 skewers, is already a great starting point. The meat is quite tender and juicy, and the seasoning has that slightly salty and pepper-ish taste to it.
However, my favorite would have to be the Adana Kabab. As a lover of spicy food, I like how it’s a perfect mix of being spicy and savory, with a slight hint of smokiness to it (the good kind).
You can also tell that the rice accompanying the kebabs is filled with spices that give it that aromatic scent, which is characteristic of Middle Eastern dishes.
Since I loved the Adana Kabab so much, I ended up ordering two more skewers for $7.49 each. I quickly found out how consistent the texture and flavor were from one batch to another.
Pro Tip:
Order the Family Platter to get a 2-meter-long plate of 10 skewers of your choice, which is good for 4 people.
Saffron Kabab Restaurant
– Media credit: saffronkababottawa
Address: 1729 Bank St Unit 105
Contact Number: +1 613-260-2229
Operating Hours:
- Mon-Sat: 11:30am – 9:00pm
- Sun: 11:30am – 8:00pm
Must-Order: Vaziri Kabob
Locals who crave the taste of authentic Persian kebab feel right at home when they dine in at Saffron Kabab Restaurant.
This halal-certified location specializes in hearty servings of kebab, with choices of either beef, chicken, or lamb. All of the kebab plates come with fragrant Persian rice and saffron (hence the name).
I initially couldn’t decide between chicken or beef skewers, which is why I went for the Vaziri Kabob that gives you the best of both worlds.
The cuts of ground beef have a very meaty taste to them, while the chicken breast skewer has been marinated well and is extra tender.
I was also surprised at how good the tomatoes were. They’ve been grilled to perfection and were one of the juiciest that I’ve ever bitten into.
Pro Tip:
Dip your choice of kebab into one of their housemade garlic sauces to complete the culinary experience.
Turkish Kebab House (Kanata)
– Media credit: turkishkebabhouse.ca
Address: 471 Terry Fox Dr Unit 120, Kanata
Contact Number: +1 613-271-0000
Operating Hours:
- Tue-Sun: 12:00pm – 9:30pm
- Mon: CLOSED
Must-Order: Beef Shish
Turkish Kebab House in Kanata is a major hit among those craving authentic Turkish flavors in their kebab.
This location has a great lineup of main platters for its kebabs, from several shish options, lamb chops, to even marinated chicken wings.
I went for their Beef Shish, and I highly recommend it to anyone going here. It’s made of AAA Canadian beef, which was really tender and seasoned to perfection.
I, together with many other customers, also noticed the distinct smoky flavor in their meat, which is due to it being thoroughly cooked on a charcoal grill.
One unique thing about this restaurant is that instead of serving rice with its platters, it serves bulghur, which is an earthy and nutty-tasting cracked wheat used in Middle Eastern cuisine.
Pro Tip:
Get your starter bread refilled for free as you wait for your kebab.
German Doner Kebab
– Media credit: gdkcanada
Address: 272 Elgin St
Contact Number: +1 613-235-6688
Operating Hours:
- Sun-Thu: 11:00am – 11:00pm
- Fri-Sat: 11:00am – 1:00am
Must-Order: Kebab Sandwich
Those looking for a unique twist to the typical kebab will have plenty of surprises in store for them at German Doner Kebab.
GDK’s trademark meal is its Kebab Sandwich, which can come in beef, chicken, or mixed form. Whichever meat you pick, it never feels dry because of how perfectly they cook it.
Even the vegetables in the sandwich complement the meat quite well. They’re extra fresh and have that satisfying crunch to them.
The sauces are also a strong point for this restaurant. Each sandwich or doner box comes with 3 dips, which include a spicy sauce, a sour yogurt sauce, and a tangy garlic sauce.
If you prefer to eat your kebab with rice, then you can opt for their Doner Rice Bowl, which puts the same well-cooked choices of meat together with fresh vegetables on a bed of fragrant long-grain rice.
Pro Tip:
Spice up your kebab order even more with their curry seasoning, flaming seasoning, or chopped jalapenos.
Salang Kabob House
– Media credit: salangkabobs
Address: 2934 Carling Ave
Contact Number: +1 613-820-0007
Operating Hours:
- Tue-Sun: 12:00pm – 9:00pm
- Mon: CLOSED
Must-Order: Shami Kabob
Great Afghan kebabs are quite hard to come by, which is why places like Salang Kabob House are treasured well by their paying customers.
Salang has several great options of chicken, beef, and lamb cooked Tikka or Tandoori-style, which involves marinating the dishes in special spices and baking them in a traditional Tandoor oven.
However, their bestseller is their classic Shami Kabob, which I also tried myself. This flame-grilled kebab is well-seasoned with herbs and spices, giving it a very savory flavor.
I opted for the ground beef version, but it also comes in chicken. Either way, you’re getting tender meat that’s not tough to chew on.
All orders come with one piece of naan, which is a traditional leavened flatbread. The one included in my order was freshly baked and soft on the palate.
Pro Tip:
Have your kebab wrapped in naan bread by ordering one of their delicious wrap options.
Persis Grill (Bells Corner)
– Media credit: persisgrill
Address: 360 Moodie Dr, Nepean
Contact Number: +1 613-721-0665
Operating Hours:
- Wed-Thu: 11:30am – 9:00pm
- Fri-Sat: 11:30am – 10:00pm
- Sun-Mon: 11:30am – 9:00pm
- Tue: CLOSED
Must-Order: Koobideh Kabab
Persis Grill goes beyond the traditional kebab house with its dedication to elevating the Persian dining experience.
The place has a slightly fancier touch to the way it prepares and presents the kebabs. The meals are either charbroiled or grilled in a nice kitchen, and then plated with aromatic herbs and garnishes.
The Koobideh Kebab I specifically ordered was a bit simpler in its plating, but it had this almost high-end steak-like appeal and mouthwatering scent that I would easily recommend to anyone.
I could tell the ground beef was grilled to the right temperature, judging by how easily it melted in my mouth. It was nice and juicy, but not too much to be called a greasy mess.
The long-grain rice was warm and fluffy, and the grilled tomato rivaled the meat in terms of juiciness. Everything generally went together as a perfect Persian meal should.
Pro Tip:
Get more juicy grilled tomatoes with your kebab for only $0.99 a piece.
Khokha Eatery
– Media credit: khokhaeatery
Address: 605 Longfields Dr Unit 13
Contact Number: +1 613-440-3999
Operating Hours:
- Tue-Fri: 11:30am – 8:00pm
- Sat: 12:00pm – 8:00pm
- Sun-Mon: CLOSED
Must-Order: Chapli Kabab Plate
Locals who frequent the place say that Khokha Eatery is easily one of the best desi restaurants around, thanks to its delicious Pakistani take on the kebab.
All of its kebab items are centered around using Chapli, which is a type of Pakistani kebab that’s made of minced meat and shaped into a patty.
Their Chapli Kabab Plate is a great example of this, and I have no regrets trying it. The patty is slightly crispy on the outside, and the special peshawari spices they used enhance the meat with a smoky flavor.
This kebab can also be made into a burger, which is called Bun Kabab on their menu. A lot of people love ordering this for its comforting beefy taste and soft brioche buns.
A veggie version of the Bun Kabab is available for slightly cheaper, making it a great option for those looking for a healthier choice without sacrificing the traditional kebab taste.
Pro Tip:
Try out their traditional Kheer rice pudding to get a sweet dessert with your kebab.
Cafe Tehran
– Media credit: cafetehran.ca
Address: 470 Rideau St
Contact Number: +1 613-860-8000
Operating Hours:
- Sat-Thu: 12:00pm – 9:00pm
- Fri: 12:00pm – 10:00pm
Must-Order: Bakhtiyari Kebab
Cafe Tehran promises a rich taste of Persian cuisine with its flavorful kebabs, all while ensuring you’re as cozy as can be.
The cafe offers an impressive selection of kebab dishes that can rival big kebab houses. From the Shishlik lamb-rib kebab to the marinated Chenjeh chicken kebab, there are a lot of complex flavors to choose from.
By recommendation of the staff, I ordered the Bakhtiyari Kebab, which contains both beef and chicken. The meat was carefully cut into perfect chunks and grilled perfectly.
The marinade that they used really brought the dish to life. It was a well-balanced flavor of different spices, and I could also taste a hint of lemon that gave it a more zesty personality.
The rice is made beautifully with saffron, which has an almost indescribable taste to it. It had notes of being sweet, bitter, and floral all at once.
Pro Tip:
Complete your cafe experience by ordering a cup of authentic Persian tea.