Food · Ottawa · Canada
What to eat in Ottawa
The dishes, drinks and food experiences that define Ottawa, and where locals actually eat them.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: No machine-readable author provided. Arctic.gnome assumed (based on copyright claims)., CC BY 2.5
Quick answer
Start with BeaverTails, Shawarma and Poutine. Skate the Rideau Canal Skateway to a kiosk and eat a cinnamon-sugar BeaverTail on the ice — a classic Ottawa winter moment. Menu prices in Ontario exclude the 13% HST sales tax, which is added at the till; in Gatineau, Quebec, sales taxes are about 15%.
Key facts
- Signature dish
- BeaverTails
- Vegetarian-friendly picks
- 5
- Tipping
- Tip 15–20% on the pre-tax amount at restaurants and bars, about $1–$2 per drink, and…
- Food experiences
- 4
9 foods to try
Snack · Vegetarian
1.BeaverTails
A hand-stretched whole-wheat pastry, fried and topped with cinnamon sugar or other sweet toppings, shaped like a beaver's tail. The 'Killaloe Sunrise' adds a squeeze of lemon. It started in the Ottawa Valley and became a capital tradition.
Where: The George Street stand in the ByWard Market and kiosks along the Rideau Canal Skateway in winter.
Street food
2.Shawarma
Ottawa's large Lebanese community has made shawarma the city's signature late-night meal: chicken or beef carved from a spit, wrapped with garlic sauce and pickled turnips, or served as a platter with rice, potatoes and salad.
Where: Dozens of shawarma shops across the city, especially on Bank Street, Elgin Street and in the suburbs.
Dish
3.Poutine
Fries topped with fresh cheese curds and hot gravy, from neighbouring Quebec. Good versions use squeaky curds; St-Albert, east of Ottawa, is a well-known cheese co-op that supplies them.
Where: Diners and casse-croûtes (snack bars) in Ottawa and especially across the river in Gatineau.
Dessert · Vegetarian
4.Maple taffy (Tire d'érable)
Hot maple syrup poured on clean snow and rolled onto a wooden stick as it sets into chewy toffee — a winter and early-spring treat.
Where: Winterlude stands in February and sugar shacks (cabanes à sucre) in the Ottawa Valley and Quebec in March and April.
Dessert · Vegetarian
5.Butter tart
A small Ontario pastry shell filled with a gooey mix of butter, sugar and eggs, sometimes with raisins or pecans; whether to include raisins is a running debate.
Where: Bakeries across the city and in Ottawa Valley towns.
Dish
6.Tourtière
A spiced French-Canadian meat pie of pork, beef or game, traditionally eaten at Christmas and New Year but served year-round in Quebec-style restaurants.
Where: Quebec-style restaurants in Gatineau and at sugar shacks.
Drink
7.Caesar
Canada's national cocktail: vodka, Clamato (tomato and clam juice), hot sauce and Worcestershire sauce in a celery-salt-rimmed glass, garnished with celery or more elaborate toppings.
Where: Any bar or brunch restaurant in the city.
Drink · Vegetarian
8.Local craft beer
Ottawa and the surrounding Ottawa Valley have a large number of craft breweries, from Hintonburg taprooms to farm breweries in eastern Ontario.
Where: Brewery taprooms in Hintonburg, Westboro and the ByWard Market, and pubs on Elgin Street.
Breakfast · Vegetarian
9.Maple syrup (Sirop d'érable)
Pancakes, crêpes and French toast drowned in local maple syrup are a standard brunch, and syrup is graded by colour from golden to very dark.
Where: Brunch restaurants citywide, and producers selling direct at the ByWard Market in spring.
Food experiences
BeaverTails on the canal
Skate the Rideau Canal Skateway to a kiosk and eat a cinnamon-sugar BeaverTail on the ice — a classic Ottawa winter moment.
Sugar-shack lunch
In March and April, sugar shacks around Ottawa and in Quebec serve all-you-can-eat maple meals of pea soup, ham, beans and pancakes, finished with maple taffy on snow.
Late-night shawarma
After a night in the ByWard Market or on Elgin Street, a garlic-heavy shawarma wrap is the local way to finish.
Market morning
From spring to autumn, the ByWard Market's outdoor stalls sell local produce, cheese and maple products; Lansdowne Park also holds a farmers' market.
Quick bites and street food
- BeaverTails — The George Street stand in the ByWard Market and kiosks along the Rideau Canal Skateway in winter.
- Shawarma — Dozens of shawarma shops across the city, especially on Bank Street, Elgin Street and in the suburbs.
- Maple syrup — Brunch restaurants citywide, and producers selling direct at the ByWard Market in spring.
Vegetarian options
Of the 9 foods in this guide, 5 are usually vegetarian: BeaverTails, Maple taffy, Butter tart, Local craft beer and Maple syrup. Check preparation with staff, as stocks and fats vary.
Eating out: tips and etiquette
- Menu prices in Ontario exclude the 13% HST sales tax, which is added at the till; in Gatineau, Quebec, sales taxes are about 15%.
- Tap water is free and served automatically in most restaurants.
- Patios are a big deal in summer; arrive early for an outdoor table in the ByWard Market.
- Restaurants in Gatineau will greet you in French; 'Bonjour' is a polite start, and staff switch to English easily.
- Weekend brunch is popular and busy; book or arrive before 10am.
Tipping
Tip 15–20% on the pre-tax amount at restaurants and bars, about $1–$2 per drink, and 10–15% for taxis. Card machines usually suggest percentages; you can enter a custom amount.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Bonjour | Hello |
| Merci | Thank you |
| L'addition, s'il vous plaît | The bill, please |
| Parlez-vous anglais ? | Do you speak English? |
| Bonne journée | Have a good day |
Questions travellers ask
+What food is Ottawa famous for?
BeaverTails, Shawarma, Poutine and Maple taffy. A hand-stretched whole-wheat pastry, fried and topped with cinnamon sugar or other sweet toppings, shaped like a beaver's tail.
+Is Ottawa good for vegetarians?
Several local staples are meat-free, including BeaverTails, Maple taffy and Butter tart.
+Do you tip in restaurants in Ottawa?
Tip 15–20% on the pre-tax amount at restaurants and bars, about $1–$2 per drink, and 10–15% for taxis. Card machines usually suggest percentages; you can enter a custom amount.