Emma WhiteKorean cuisine is great because it’s incredibly filling. For every order of a main dish like bibimbap (a rice bowl with lots of toppings), you’ll receive several banchan or side dishes (kimchi, seasoned soybean sprouts, and braised potatoes are the most popular).
And if that doesn’t sound good enough, there’s also the all-you-can-eat Korean barbeque that lets you order and grill as much meat as you can.
Want to try these out? You’re in luck because there are several Korean restaurants in Ottawa.
Here are some of the best that you should try!
Alirang Korean Restaurant
Address(es):
- 134 Nelson St, Ottawa, ON K1N 7R5, Canada
- 1485 Merivale Rd, Nepean, ON K2E 5P3, Canada
Operating Hours:
- Nelson St: 3 to 9 pm (Wednesday to Sunday), closed on Monday and Tuesday
- Merivale Rd: 3:30 to 9 pm (Monday and Thursday), 3:30 to 9:30 pm (Friday), 3 to 9:30 pm (Saturday), 3 to 9 pm (Sunday), closed on Tuesday and Wednesday
Contact Number(s):
- Nelson St: +16137892223
- Merivale Rd: +16136955188
The great thing about Alirang is its ambiance; you’ll truly feel like you’re dining in a restaurant in Korea!
Of course, the food is great as well. You can start your meal with a plate of tteokbokki, which are spicy rice cakes that are so addictively chewy, then you can have bibimbap as your main meal.
If you want some protein, go for the tender galbi (beef ribs).
A Korean meal is not complete without drinking soju (a clear and colorless Korean alcoholic drink), and luckily, you can buy a bottle here. There are different flavors available here (e.g., peach, apple, and blueberry), so take your pick!
| Pro Tips: If possible, try going to the restaurant on Merivale Road because the one on Nelson Street can get pretty crowded, so you’ll have to wait before a table is available for you. The portion sizes of the dishes are pretty generous, so you can just order one for each course and share them with your companions. |
Korean House
Address: 785 Somerset St W, Ottawa, ON K1R 6R3, Canada
Operating Hours:
- Tuesday—4 to 8 pm
- Wednesday to Sunday—11:30 am to 8 pm
- Closed on Monday
Contact Number: +16132370808
Are you starving? Then, you’ll want to come to Korean House because it has an all-you-can-eat barbeque (only available during dinnertime)!
For this all-you-can-eat grill, you have various meat options: marinated beef, chicken, or pork. There are also options for seafood (squid and shrimp) and LA galbi ribs, but because of their limited quantity, you can order them once per table.
Aside from all these meat options, you’ll be served several side dishes that you can ask for refills. These side dishes include miso soup, fried mandu (beef dumpling), vegetable pancakes, or japchae (transparent noodles stir-fried with vegetables).
If you don’t want the all-you-can-eat grill, the restaurant also has an a la carte menu. There are different kinds of bibimbap available (including a vegan one).
Other bestsellers include bulgogi (marinated, thinly sliced beef) and kimchi fried rice.
| Pro Tip: Korean House is a popular spot, so it gets fully booked fast. If you really want to dine here, you should book a reservation ahead of time. |
GOGIYA
Address(es):
- 155 Bank St, Ottawa, ON K1P 5N7, Canada
- 251 Laurier Ave W, Ottawa, ON K1P 5J6, Canada
- 700 March Rd unit e, Kanata, ON K2K 2V9, Canada
- 504 Bank St, Ottawa, ON K2P 1Z4, Canada
Operating Hours:
- 155 Bank St: 11 am to 11 pm (Monday to Thursday), 11 am to 12 am (Friday and Saturday), 12 to 8 pm (Sunday)
- Laurier Ave W: 11 am to 9 pm (Monday to Friday), 4:30 to 9 pm (Saturday), closed on Sunday
- March Rd: 11 am to 10 pm (Monday to Thursday), 11 am to 11 pm (Friday), 2 to 11 pm (Saturday and Sunday)
- 504 Bank St: 11 am to 10:30 pm (Monday to Thursday), 11 am to 11 pm (Friday), 2 to 11 pm (Saturday and Sunday)
Contact Number(s):
- 155 Bank St: +16136800988
- Laurier Ave W: +16132301200
- March Rd: +16135920305
- 504 Bank St: +16135679696
GOGIYA is another popular Korean restaurant in Ottawa, and this one has several locations, each specializing in certain kinds of food.
If you want sushi and poke bowls, you can go to the ones on 504 Bank Street and March Road. The restaurant on 155 Bank Street is known for its fried chicken and bibimbap, while the one on Laurier Ave W offers Korean barbeque and sushi.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed with your options, you might want to start at the restaurant on Laurier Avenue. Aside from the all-you-can-eat special, there’s an a la carte menu filled with all the classic Korean dishes, including fried chicken and bibimbap.
| Pro Tips: Do you want to make your own Korean dishes at home? GOGIYA has a grocery store: Arum Korean Market. Check the grocery’s website to see what they’re offering. GOGIYA also offers catering services. If you’re interested, you should contact [email protected]. |
Daldongnae Korean BBQ
Address: 610 Somerset St W 1st floor, Ottawa, ON K1R 5K4, Canada
Operating Hours:
- Sunday to Thursday—12 to 11 pm
- Friday and Saturday—12 pm to 12 am
Contact Number: +16132328880
Daldongnae Korean BBQ pays homage to the charming moon villages, which are called daldongnae, that were popular in the 1950s and 60s in Korea. Though they don’t exist anymore, the name is still associated with the feeling of tranquility and nostalgia.
That’s why the ambiance in this restaurant is relaxing and quiet, making it perfect for family gatherings or chill date nights.
Since this is a Korean barbeque restaurant, you have different cuts of meat and side dishes. Your meat options are pork, beef, and premium Wagyu beef.
There’s even a vegan set (including vegan sausage, tofu, and zucchini) if you’re interested.
If the barbeque isn’t enough, feel free to add something from the a la carte menu. For example, you might want to order a stew to wash down all the greasiness from the barbeque.
| Pro Tip: If you’re eating during lunchtime, you should try any of the lunch specials because they’re only available for a limited time. |
Maht Korean Restaurant
– From: ottawachinatown
Address(es):
- 726 Somerset St W, Ottawa, ON K1R 6P8, Canada
- 195 Kent St, Ottawa, ON K2P 2M4, Canada
Operating Hours:
- Somerset St W: 11 am to 9 pm (Thursday to Tuesday), closed on Wednesday
- Kent St: 11 am to 9 pm
Contact Number:
- Somerset St W: +16136807268
- Kent St: +16132326868
Maht Korean Restaurant may seem humble and unassuming, but it’s definitely one of the best Korean restaurants in town! The menu here is pretty extensive, and the portion sizes are generous, so you’ll really be full after dining here.
Here, you can find many of the iconic Korean dishes—from stews to bibimbap to Korean fried chicken. If the number of options overwhelms you, you can’t go wrong with the bestsellers, which include seafood pancakes, kimchi tofu soup, and bulgogi.
You should also try the fried chicken here! There is a boneless option if you don’t like dealing with the bone when eating fried chicken.
| Pro Tip: If you’re a big Lego fan, you’ll be delighted to know that this restaurant has many rare Lego car models on display. You can’t buy them, but you can check them out while waiting for your order. |
Mu Goong Hwa Garden
– From: melshangrytable
Address: 376 Rideau St, Ottawa, ON K1N 5Y8, Canada
Operating Hours:
- Monday and Wednesday—3:30 to 9 pm
- Thursday—3:30 to 8 pm
- Friday to Sunday—12 to 3 pm, 5 to 9 pm
- Closed on Tuesday
Contact Number: +16138608300
Mu Goong Hwa Garden is another Korean restaurant with a homey, chill vibe. The menu is filled with traditional Korean dishes like jae yook baek ban (thinly sliced pork neck marinated in a mildly spiced sauce) and chicken katsu (deep-fried chicken cutlet).
If you want to splurge, you can also go for the all-you-can-eat promo. For this promo, you have several options, including soy-marinated beef, mildly spiced pork, sweet soy-marinated chicken, unseasoned squid, unseasoned shrimp, yam, and onions.
Do take note that if you choose the all-you-can-eat promo, you have to consume everything you’ve ordered within two hours time. After that, if there’s still leftover food, it will be charged at regular price.
| Pro Tip: Additionally, if you want to come here for the all-you-can-eat promo, try to come anytime between Monday and Thursday. This is because the price is cheaper than the one for Friday and the weekends. |
Table SODAM
– From: bearly_hungry
Address: 1200 Bank St, Ottawa, ON K1S 3Y1, Canada
Operating Hours:
- Tuesday to Saturday—11:30 am to 2 pm, 5 to 9:30 pm
- Sunday—11:30 am to 4 pm
- Closed on Monday
Contact Number: +16134211229
While a lot of Korean restaurants choose a more relaxing, homey atmosphere, Table SODAM goes for the modern setting with rustic decor. Because of this, it’s so aesthetically pleasing, perfect for Instagram photos!
The menu is also pretty great. You can’t go wrong with bulgogi bibimbap or gamjatang (braised pork on the bone in a bean-paste broth with rice).
If you like chicken, you should try the spicy dak gang jung, which is boneless chicken with alfredo linguini.
Different flavors of soju are available here as well, so be sure to order a bottle to share with your companions. If soju isn’t your thing, you can try the bekseju instead, which is a traditional Korean rice wine made from ginseng, licorice, and arrowroot herbs.
| Pro Tip: If you like their kimchi, you can buy a 500-ml jar of it here. Your options are classic kimchi, white kimchi, and cucumber kimchi. |
In’s Kitchen
Address: 1-65 Templeton St, Ottawa, ON K1N 7P7, Canada
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Friday—11 am to 8 pm
- Saturday—12 to 7 pm
Contact Number: +16132331001
If you’re Muslim but you really want to try Korean cuisine, In’s Kitchen is a great choice because this restaurant uses only halal ingredients!
The menu here is more limited and curated than the other ones on this list, but all the options are great. You should try the bulgogi burger if you want something filling.
If you like spicy things, jeyuk (a stir-fry of thinly sliced, marinated pork) is worth trying.
The dinner menu has more options. Some of the ones you might like are the chicken cutlet, dakgalbi (a spicy and savory stir-fry of boneless chicken, cheese, chewy Korean flour cakes, green cabbage, sweet potato, and other vegetables), and bulgogi.
| Pro Tip: There are only limited seats available here, so you should come as early as you can. Try to avoid coming during rush hour (especially noon) as well. |
K, Let’s Eat
Address: 449 Preston St, Ottawa, ON K1S 4N5, Canada
Operating Hours:
- Tuesday to Saturday—11 am to 7 pm
- Sunday—12 to 6 pm
- Closed on Monday
Contact Number: +16132368158
The moment you see the sign with this restaurant’s name, you’ll feel compelled to come and eat. And you should because the dishes served here are absolutely delicious!
K, Let’s Eat is mostly known for its flavorful fried chicken, so you must try it. One order is literally one whole bird broken down into many delicious pieces, making it perfect for sharing with other people (or you can consume it by yourself. Who’s there to judge?).
The fried chicken pieces are also coated in the most delectable sauce. The soy garlic flavor is the most popular, but if you like spicy things, you should try the hot chili pepper fried chicken because it’s super spicy!
Aside from the fried chicken, you can also try the japchae, deep-fried dumplings, and tteokbokki.
| Pro Tip: It’s worth noting that spicy dishes are incredibly spicy because they use a lot of chilis. Even if you ask for something to be “mildly spicy,” chances are it’s still going to be spicy. If you’re not sure about your spice tolerance but still want to try spicy dishes, try going for the lowest spice level. |
Seoul Dog
Address: 154 O’Connor St, Ottawa, ON K2P 1T5, Canada
Operating Hours:
- Sunday to Thursday—12 to 10 pm
- Friday and Saturday—12 to 11 pm
Contact Number: +16136191503
Corn dog, or gamja hotdog, is one of the most well-known Korean snacks, which is understandable because it’s comfort food on a stick. If you’re suddenly craving this, you should head to Seoul Dog and order one (or two) corn dog.
There are so many options you can try! You can’t go wrong with the corn dog with half-cheese and half-beef and then coated in potatoes (the potatoes add a lot of crunch).
If you like the spice, you should try the corn dog wrapped in jalapeño dough.
Aside from corn dogs, other snacks you can buy here are tteokbokki and takoyaki.
| Pro Tip: If you’re feeling experimental, you can actually build your own corn dog! You can choose which dough to use, toppings, and more. |
Kochu
Address: 266 Preston St, Ottawa, ON K1R 7R5, Canada
Operating Hours:
- Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday—4 to 8:30 pm
- Friday to Sunday—3 to 8:30 pm
- Closed on Tuesday
Contact Number: +16132360000
Kochu is the Korean word for chili pepper, so you can expect to find spicy dishes here—great news for spice lovers!
Some of the bestselling dishes worth trying are the Korean sweet and spicy fried chicken, bulgogi kimbap, stone-bowl bibimbap, kimchi fried rice, and tteokbokki.
This restaurant also has Japanese dishes, such as sushi, takoyaki, and tempura. You might want to order a mix of Korean and Japanese cuisines for more fun and flavor!
| Pro Tip: This restaurant is pretty small, so it’s ideal if you come here with a small group. It’s also a great idea to come here as early as you can and avoid the rush hour, which is usually lunchtime. |
Kitchen Maroo
Address: 281 Kent St, Ottawa, ON K2P 2A3, Canada
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday—11:30 am to 9 pm
Contact Number: +16132342945
Named after the Korean word for a large space in a traditional Korean house where families congregate, Kitchen Maroo is a Korean fusion restaurant that exudes a warm, inviting atmosphere.
You can start your meal with a potato croquette or kimchi pork mandu, then you order a full-fried chicken that’s glazed with garlic soy sauce or a sweet and spicy one. If the weather is cold outside, treat yourself to a bowl of steaming hot kimchi pork stew.
Another interesting dish that you might want to try is the bulgogi pasta. This dish usually comes with pepper seeds, but if you can’t handle the spice, you can simply ask them not to put the seeds in your order.
| Pro Tip: Sometimes, the restaurant has a special dessert that’s only available for a limited time. You might want to try it out if it’s available during your visit. |
Dakgogi
Address: 280 Elgin St Apartment 3, Ottawa, ON K2P 1M2, Canada
Operating Hours:
- Tuesday—5 am to 10 pm
- Wednesday and Thursday—5 to 10 pm
- Friday and Saturday—5 to 11 pm
- Sunday—5 am to 9 pm
Contact Number: +16136951300
Dakgogi is the place to go if you love chicken dishes! After all, this restaurant is widely known for its wide variety of authentic Korean fried chicken.
You can’t go wrong with ordering the classic fried chicken, but if you want something more exciting, try any of the flavors. The soy chicken is popular for its savoriness, while the hot soy garlic chicken is perfect for people who love anything spicy.
Aside from fried chicken, you can also indulge in chicken wings, fries, and spicy rice cakes.
| Pro Tips: If you can’t decide on a flavor, you can order a half-and-half. It lets you have two flavors in one order.If you love chicken wings, you should come here on a Tuesday because, on this day, there’s a 50% discount on wings. |
The Seoul Station
Address: 18 Beechwood Ave. unit 101, Vanier, ON K1L 8A9, Canada
Operating Hours:
- Tuesday to Saturday—11:30 am to 9 pm
- Sunday—11 am to 3 pm
- Closed on Monday
Contact Number: +16137447888
Another great place you can go to if you’re craving Korean chicken dishes is The Seoul Station. What makes this restaurant stand out is that the chicken dishes here are healthier because instead of deep frying the chicken, it’s oven-roasted.
There are different flavors you can try here. You can opt for the original Seoul Station flavor, but you can also try crispy lemon if you want a bit of acidity to the taste or sweet and spicy if you can handle the heat.
Aside from chicken dishes, this restaurant also sells pies. The bulgogi pie is worth trying, and so is the savory pumpkin pie.
| Pro Tip: Sometimes, The Seoul Station holds hot deals of the month, which include discounted prices for some of the items. Be on the lookout for these deals by checking the website or their social media. |
Chungchun Rice Dog Nepean
Address: 1379-A2, Woodroffe Ave, Nepean, ON K2G 1V7, Canada
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday—10:30 am to 11 pm
Contact Number: +13439870607
Chungchun Rice Dog is a well-established restaurant chain with more than 300 locations all over the world, and luckily, there’s one in Nepean. So, you can try one of the Korean-style corn dogs served here and see what the fuss is all about!
What makes Chungchun Rice Dog’s corn dogs stand out is that they don’t use flour-based batter, which is the traditional method. Instead, glutinous rice flour is used, making the corn dogs soft and chewy.
Try the classic corn dog, which has beef sausage, but you can also go for the half-mozzarella if you want that cheese pull. There are even vegetarian options; for example, a corn dog that’s made from mozzarella or one with only chocolate.
| Pro Tip: If you can’t decide which flavor to try, you can get the combo, which includes four corn dogs in one order. |
