Emma WhiteCeviche—if you haven’t tried it, you’re seriously missing out. I once thought ceviche was just “fish in lemon juice”, and boy, was I wrong.
A friend dared me to try a spoonful, and I instantly understood what all the fuss was about—tangy, fresh, and basically like a party in my mouth. Ever since, I’ve been on the lookout for the best ceviche in Ottawa (sometimes dragging my friends along).
Between the wild flavours and the citrusy kick, some spots just do it way better than others. So if you’re ready to experience ceviche like never before, here are the joints in Ottawa you need to check out. Read on!
How much does ceviche typically cost in Ottawa?
In Ottawa, a typical serving of ceviche at a restaurant usually ranges from $15 to $25, based on the average pricing for seafood dishes in the city.
Ceviche isn’t super common, but at establishments that serve fresh seafood, this is the price point you can expect.
How We Chose the Best
1. Raphaël Peruvian Cuisine
Address: 200 Elgin St.
Phone: +1 819 441 7090
Business Hours:
- Monday to Sunday – 4:30 PM to 10 PM
Dining at Raphaël Peruvian Cuisine just feels like discovering a real gem. The vibe here is warm and welcoming—every detail, from the authentic Latin music playing to the personable staff, seems designed to put you at ease.
There’s definitely a buzz to the place, especially since their humble start as a little takeout behind a warehouse. Still, you get the sense Chef Lizardo Becerra and his team never compromise on quality or hospitality.
Now, their ceviche got that fresh Pacific lingcod, perfectly cooked in vibrant Aji Limo Tiger’s milk. We loved that the crunch from plantain and chulpe corn just takes it to the next level.
If you’re curious about other Peruvian specialties, some in our team swear by their Pacific tiradito, which delivers with bold colours and flavours.
Service here is nice and super attentive, which definitely adds to the experience. If there’s any downside, it’s probably the chairs—if you’re planning to linger for a while, they are not the comfiest.
Vibrant flavours and beautiful presentation
“Delicious experience at Raphael. First time having Peruvian food! Flavors were amazing and tasty. Loved the color in the dishes too. We shared 4 dishes between 3 people – the lingcod, steak skewers, ceviche and crab appie. We also tried the flan and corn dessert. Portions are on the smaller side.”
Audrey T, Google Review
Exceptional taste and unique dessert options
“What an unexpected culinary experience! We came without high expectations and oh my God, Raphael did not disappoint. Everything is bursting with flavour! From the mocktails to the main dish and dessert. Everything was special. We had the ceviche and the lomo as main dishes, both were excellent, fresh and flavourful. For the dessert we had dona manuela, what an interesting marriage of flavours, and the lava cake. It’s a bit on the expensive side but definitely worth it. Highly recommended.”
Hassan Mrad, Google Review
2. Pelican Seafood Market & Grill
Address: 1500 Bank St.
Phone: +1 613 526 5229
Business Hours:
- Monday to Thursday – 8 AM to 9 PM
- Friday and Saturday – 8 AM to 9:30 AM
- Sunday – 9 AM to 9 PM
We’re big on places that really know their seafood, and Pelican Seafood Market & Grill is hands down one of Ottawa’s heavy hitters. You walk in, and it smells like the ocean, but in the best way possible.
The place is bright and open, with a bunch of booth seating, indoor dining, and a private dining room if you want to bring a bunch of friends. Now, if you’re craving ceviche, theirs is seriously next-level.
They use wild shrimp, bay scallops, and white fish and let them sit in heaps of fresh citrus—then top it off with a chipotle-lime emulsion. It’s got that tang and spice we wouldn’t hesitate to rave about!
Their seafood tower is a showstopper, too, loaded with oysters and crab straight from the market bar. And for anyone who needs it, there are tonnes of gluten-free options, plus takeout and retail if you want to whip up your feast at home.
Unfortunately, we did have to flag the staff several times to get our dirty plates just to make room for our new orders.
Fresh seafood
“First time to visit was Saturday and came back 4 days later! And already made my next reservation! The food is amazing. Service is awesome. I love that the menu is simple. They do seafood. And they don’t hide delicious seafood behind complex over the top recipes. First time here I got 6 oysters. My husband, who had always said he hates oysters, tried them. Guess who ordered a dozen this go round? Go figure. ;). Do yourself a favor and buy a shrimp and feta quiche on your way out. You can thank me later.”
T Bishop, Google Review
Delicious oysters and tasty desserts
“Decided to treat ourselves to the happy hour oysters, which is between 2-5pm. We arrived at 3pm and were promptly seated. Service was friendly, food was so delicious, we had to have more! The creme brulee dessert was super tasty too. A great afternoon treat!”
Candi M, Google Review
3. Le Poisson Bleu
Address: 610 Somerset St W.
Phone: +1 613 656 1638
Business Hours:
- Wednesday to Friday – 5 PM to 10 PM
- Saturday and Sunday – 10 AM to 2 PM, 5 PM to 10 PM
Le Poisson Bleu is a go-to for those craving creative seafood—honestly, it’s the playful vibe that won us over. Their space leans into this modern, slightly quirky decor—there’s a lot to look at, so you’ll enjoy it.
Though the tables are set pretty close, so when they’re packed, you’ll want to save the secret-sharing for later. Now their NS scallop ceviche? We’d go back for that alone.
It actually lives up to the hype—a tangy, chilli-fuelled leche de tigre, big hits of citrus, and that toasted corn for extra crunch; it’s fresh and genuinely interesting.
We’ve also heard plenty of regulars say you can’t skip the oysters here (we don’t disagree)—if you’re around Wednesday, the Buch-a-Shuck deal is no joke.
The cocktail list is also a blast: you get inventive pairings, and the staff can give good recommendations.
However, if you’re hoping for a quiet date night, just know things can get a bit loud when they’re busy, and there’s definitely a wait for tables unless you book ahead.
Friendly service and lively atmosphere
“Amazing service and ambiance good music.
Just a bit cold for the front i must say.
We went for the fish and chip Thursday it was tasty beautiful delicious on my top 10 they definitely are 1# .Last thing I need to add is the fish was delicious tasty crispy and flavoured the only thing is the fish bone if it could of been removed … or even half removed that would be nice.Overall because of the service and the tasty food and the experience and the unic style it’s still 10/10.”
Jacoba Agbovi, Google Review
Creative menu and relaxed vibe
“The food is creative and enjoyable — not mind-blowing, but definitely very good and worth trying. The staff is very friendly, adding a personal touch to the experience. The atmosphere is calm and quiet, which makes it a great spot for a relaxed meal or conversation. A solid choice if you’re looking for something a bit different in a peaceful setting.”
David Habibi, Google Review
4. The Soca Kitchen
Address: 224 Beechwood Ave.
Phone: +1 613 695 9190
Business Hours:
- Monday to Friday – 10 AM to 2:30 PM, 5 PM to 9 PM
- Saturday – 5 PM to 9 PM
- Sunday – 8 AM to 2 PM, 5 PM to 7 PM
We loved the whole setup of The Soca Kitchen: there’s a cool mix of modern industrial details and those cosy, low-lit corners that make dinner feel a bit special. The energy is great for a casual catch-up or a night out.
Now, onto the main event. Their Soca shrimp ceviche is seriously a star—bright from citrus and cilantro, then a little heat from aji rocoto, and the shrimp is just-right tender.
This is the dish everyone talks about, and we don’t regret trying it! We also kept hearing rave reviews about the paella, so of course, we got some.
It’s packed with seafood and comes out with that just-right balance of smoky and savoury, really easy to share if you’re with friends!
The staff made our experience feel extra welcoming—they’re pretty quick with orders even when it’s busy.
Sadly, parking can be a real pain since street parking is the only option. We even ended up walking a few blocks.
Comforting ambiance
“Enjoyed the dining experience. Lovely appointed restaurant and delicious food. It was wonderful to experience Soca’s offerings again as it used to be a neighbourhood go-to and I have missed their food. Even though it was very quiet (it was a Monday, afterall), it had a good vibe and would be a vibrant place when full. Worth the drive.”
Monica Leonhardt, Google Review
Authentic dishes and attentive service
“If you are craving Latin or Spanish food here in the Ottawa area, this is the place to go! We had the Paella & it was amazing. Our server was great & personable. Great Atomsphere and feel throughout the restaurant. We also had the beet root salad and although a little pricey for an app it was delicious.”
Jayson Saikaley, Google Review
5. Margarita’s Latin Fusion
Address: 873 Bank St.
Phone: +1 613 233 2523
Business Hours:
- Tuesday to Thursday – 5 PM to 11 PM
- Friday – 5 PM to 2 AM
- Saturday – 11 AM to 2 AM
- Sunday – 11 AM to 10 PM
We’ve heard so many good things about Margarita’s Latin Fusion that we finally had to check it out ourselves. The second we walked in, we got hit with such a fun Latin vibe—bright wall art, DJs playing music, and there’s even a karaoke.
We dug into their legendary seabass ceviche first. It completely lived up to the hype: super fresh fish, loads of that tangy leche de tigre, and all the fixings like sweet potato and choclo.
Huge bonus that it’s naturally gluten-free, so none of us has to guess at ingredients. The menu is actually way more than just ceviche; we totally get why their empanadas and fish tacos have their own fanbase.
We ordered both, and, yeah, let’s just say there were no leftovers. Staff-wise, we appreciated how friendly everyone was, but you could tell that when the place was slow, they were still figuring out how often to check in.
Didn’t really bother us, but something to note if you’re big on service pacing.
Memorable celebrations and attentive service
“We celebrated my dad’s 65th birthday at Margarita’s Mexican Fusion and everything was absolutely amazing! The food was fresh, flavourful, and beautifully presented every dish was a hit. The staff went above and beyond to make sure we were comfortable and well taken care of. Thank you for helping us create such a memorable night. Highly recommend for any special occasion or just a great night out!”
Indhira Vz, Google Review
Outstanding tacos and exceptional staff
“The BEST tacos in Ottawa . OMG and the tempura cauliflower appetizer was out of this world . We had the best waitress her name was Valentina. I hope that you get her also when you come here. U NEED to come here today . 10 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️”
Michelle Desroches, Google Review
