Top South Asian restaurants in Ottawa, Canada

DELICIOUS AND AUTHENTIC!!! I love this place for authentic kothu roti, and a fun twist on items like their butter chicken kothu roti. The owner/chef is a sweetheart! Their food is authentic, spicy if you want it to be! Ive had their biryani and enjoy that as well. I have ordered from here about 4 times in the past year and its always fresh.

It is a small Kottu Restaurant, mainly focused on take out. The location wasn’t hard to find and the employees were really sweet and welcoming. The Kottu is probably one of the best I have had in Canada. Will go again when I visit Ottawa.

We ordered 2 Thali plates and an eggplant side. The thali plates looked gross and bland, the spice mix was non existent other than it was super spicy and dry. The Eggplant tasted delicious but again too spicy for any of us to eat and we generally can eat spicy enough. Unfortunately, I threw everything in the garbage and picked up something else.

Great food - fresh ingredients, tasty, nice spice level. Great value! Under $10 for three veg/an curries, rice and papadum. Their namesake dish (pictured) is a bit more expensive but super filling. The ambiance is mediocre, but it’s primarily a take out joint. If you’re looking for a nice sit down meal, hit up their awesome sister restaurant Ceylonta!

Their takeout packaging is eco friendly adding to the big green thumbs up I’ve given them.

Kothu roti was a bit soggy for my liking, but tasted decent. Spice level was adequate and good quantity of food for price. Need to go back to try other food items

I loved the food. It’s flavorful and the portions are generous.

It’s the second time my husband and I dine in at Khokha Eatery and we are definitely going to repeat the experience soon.

We ordered Butter Chicken w rice and Lamb Curry w rice - First time we ordered Samosas and it was delicious too.

The place is located in a small marketplace that offers free parking. The restaurant has an relaxed atmosphere and a beautiful decor inspired in Pakistani culture.

Visited the outlet on our way from Montreal to Ottawa. Was disappointed to know that they don't serve chicken or mutton curry or karahi. However enjoyed the available food. They have good customer service. They are struggling with space (as we were there at lunch time, which might be there busy time).
The decorations is great and remind about desi culture.

We went here for a quick lunch and were not disappointed. Tried the fish thali and it was great. Excellent food and the rice and roti were great. Curry portions could have been a bit more and the payasam was a bit watery for my taste but loved the food on the whole.

I had a great time eating delicious food at your restaurant. The attendants were committed to great service and were very friendly. The atmosphere was awesome and I definitely like that you have very Morden style. And more importantly, every food and drink on your menu tested great!! Specially, chicken biryani, lamb biryani and kheer.
Thank you so much.

Immersing oneself in the culinary delights of Khokha is an unrivaled journey through the rich, diverse landscape of Pakistani cuisine. The decor, harmoniously blending traditional and contemporary elements, ushers you into an authentic dining atmosphere, matched only by the extraordinary warmth of the staff's hospitality. The menu, brimming with authentic dishes from Pakistan , showcases an impeccable balance of spices and flavors, with standout dishes like the succulent Chicken Biryani and the depthful Nihari. The vegetarian options, too, shine brightly, each creating a symphony of taste and texture. The hand-crafted Naan breads, Kheer (rice pudding) dessert, and traditional Chappal kabab all enhance the meal's satisfying conclusion. You will fall in love with the Khokha chicken roll. Reasonably priced, given the top-tier quality, Khokha not only offers a delicious feast but also presents the heart and soul of Pakistan's culinary tradition in a single, exceptionally curated experience. Hands down the best experience in a Pakistani restaurant. Too good ! mA

Great place to experience authentic food. Place is conveniently located close to Byward market. I order a chicken and veg thali and each of the dish has distinct taste.

This authentic Pakistani restaurant has truly captured the essence of Pakistani cuisine in such a beautifully vibrant way!

From the moment you step in, the warm ambiance and welcoming staff make you feel right at home. Perhaps one of the best experiences at this restaurant is the decor that captures the vibrancy of Pakistan. Everything from the colors to the seating to the art is unique and pleasing to the eye.

The menu offers a wide array of mouthwatering dishes with rich flavors without it being overbearing on your stomach. My wife & I ordered the chicken and lamb Biryani's and they were absolutely delicious. I recommend everyone to try it and make this their main home for Biryani because the food rivals - if I keep it real - surpasses any other Biryani effort in Ottawa . The portions are generous, ensuring that you leave fully satisfied.

I must also mention that the mango milkshake is amazing. It deserves its own paragraph lol. Absolutely loved it.

Lastly, the service here is impeccable, with attentive and knowledgeable staff who are more than happy to guide you through the menu and suggest dishes based on your preferences. I was assisted by Ayesha and Mahad and couldn't be happier with their service. Kind is the best word to describe them.

The combination of authentic flavors, warm hospitality, and an inviting atmosphere make it an absolute must-visit. Prepare to be transported to the heart of Pakistan. Highly recommend!!!!!

I hope this review captures the essence of the restaurant and helps others discover its wonderful offerings!

PS. I hope the owners read this and it makes them happy because you deserve major props. Thank you! May Allah bless you all! Ameen.

Went to Khokha for the first time today, and what a great find!!
Loved the decor, the food, the host (Ayesha). We had Chicken Biryani, Mango Milkshake, Rasmalai cake. It was filling and tasty.
We took the Chapli Kabab and are looking forward to going back for more!!

I would say based on my experience, one of the best Indian restaurants in the Ottawa. Food was awesome. Hospitality was good too. The dish you should try are Thalis(veg, non-veg, Goan chicken curry, Mutton curry, Kochin special fish curry. It’s not far from Parliament hill . Definite recommend to those who want to try and enjoy the Indian cuisine in Ottawa.

Today was my first time visiting Khokha and I had a great experience. The atmosphere is really bright and warm feeling, there's really fun art peices covering all the walls that I over heard were hand crafted by the owners wife. Once it was my turn to order the Owner was super friendly and really helpful with explaining what the different dishes were and gave me some really good recommendations based on what kind of flavour profiles I enjoy. I couldnt choose just one dish and had to try multiple.
The food is amazing. Came out within 15mins and they were decently busy. Super fresh, Really good portion sizes, really fair priced and the packaging carried perfectly walking home. I will have to make sure to be back to try out the rest of the menu!
My only very very small downside is once i got home I realized the masala fries were left off the order but im sure they would have had no problem fixing that for me. (I dont blame them either my order was fairly large)
My overall experience was fantastic and I recommend everyone trying them out. Thank you Khokha! 9.9/10 stars!

Ordered a main course and asked about the quantity, said a high quantity of the price but given very small quantity. When asked for switch, they refused by saying they can't do anything once served, even if we don't touch the food.

Sure, here's a review for a food restaurant:

I recently had the pleasure of dining at , ayini restaurant and I must say, it was an exceptional experience. From the moment I walked in, the warm and inviting ambiance set the tone for what turned out to be a delightful evening.

The menu was extensive, offering a wide range of dishes to suit all tastes and dietary requirements. I opted for the dosa , and it was absolutely delicious. The flavors were perfectly balanced, and the presentation was impeccable. I also appreciated the attention to detail in the plating and garnishes, which added an extra touch of elegance to the dish.

The service was top-notch. The staff were attentive, knowledgeable, and eager to ensure that my dining experience was memorable. They were happy to answer any questions I had about the menu and made excellent recommendations.

The atmosphere was also noteworthy. Despite being a busy restaurant, the noise level was low enough to allow for easy conversation, and the lighting was just right, creating a warm and inviting ambiance.

Overall, I would highly recommend ayini restaurant to anyone looking for a fantastic dining experience. The food, service, and ambiance were all exceptional, and I cannot wait to return. If you're looking for a great restaurant that ticks all the boxes, this is the one for you!

Best South Indian food of all time in Ottawa. Each and every details were amazing. Great place to Dine In.

I ordered Masala dosa via Uber eats and the Sambar was gone bad. The colour was dark brown with a white film on it. It also had a funky smell. I called the restaurant to let them know. They said, “we will fix it next time”. What makes you think we will order next time if you can’t rectify this time’s mistake?

Disappointing experience! Sambar was cold, watery, tasted like they put water in a bunch of veggies. Poor service, nobody came to even ask for water or about the food.

This place deserves a 0 star. Absolutely horrendous service, waited for 15 mins for someone to take the order. No one turned up and had to call them on their phone for someone to come out to take the order. The medhu vada was served stale and the oil was foul smelling. The sambar was cold had no flavour, salt and was watery. The masala inside the dosa had no spices and the potatoes were uncooked and hard. Even the items in the hot section were cold and solidified. Should be avoided

Indian Tea and Mango Lassi were super, big portions. Beef fry is so tasty, must try!! Butter Chicken with Porotta was so delicious. Especially they serve big, fresh Porotta. Only 4 stars, just because they don’t have any ice cream for kids though they are on the menu. Other than that, must try if you’re looking for fine South Indian food. I would go back there, definitely.

OMG, ONE OF OTTAWAS BEST KEPT SECRETS.

The food that we had last night was epic.

Price, flavor and service. From a montrealers perspective I wish Ottawa had more hidden gems like this.

I will be back sooooo much more to try. Thank you again for a wonderful meal

Went to Khokha for the first time yesterday to pick up food. I was immediately welcomed with smiling and friendly staff who were patient with me while I figured out exactly what I wanted. I was very pleased with the service.

As for the quality of food, incredible. I ordered the lamb biryani, khokha wings, samosa, and the kheer. Everything was full of flavour and made with love.

If you haven’t gone already, it’s time to go give this place a visit.

Tried this place a few months back and had a disappointing experience, both taste and quantity-wise. We shared feedback with the owner and he was receptive; he mentioned they were revamping the menu, and that orders typically are customized for Keralites, to get a naadan taste; perhaps, that was missed by the person who relayed the order? We left disappointed.

Nevertheless, about a month ago, we decided to give it one more shot. This time, we decided to stick to thalis ( meen curry and kodanadu chicken) and the taste was amazing. In fact, it was so good we came back again the next day for thalis again. This time, we tried the chicken biriyani as well ; that was pretty good too.

I was rather busy eating, so I have just my empty thali plates ( except for some drumstick pieces) to show, from dinner on the 1st day and lunch the next ; yeah, that’s how good it was.

On the 1st day, the owner graciously shared some biriyani rice for tasting. We also tried some chicken starter ( puli inji something) ; it was innovative, but not quite to my liking.

Thalis didn’t have matta rice though; anyway, they are awesome. It’s a bit expensive (for me); downtown prices, I guess.

If you’d like to have a nice naadan meal, do try it out.

Not a safe place to eat "FOR ME", An old man tried to kill me in February 2022.
I don't want to give a bad review because I don't want to destroy their business. For everyone safety I would like to share my experience in this location. Every time when I see this picture, I thank God that I'm still alive, I thank God that I didn't swallow 1 inch of nail tool in my stomach while eating the Dosa.

Every time when I see the picture of tool nail in my Dosa my hair stands up and my stomach gets sick. I came here once and the Dosa was really really good, so decided to came back to celebrate my birthday in February 2022. An old man was doing the Dosa for me.

After eating 3 bites, I saw the tool nail inside the Dosa, so I showed it to the old man, the old man told me that we never have that nail, it's not our nail. I was so angry that I don't even know what to say, I didn't say a word. The old man think I would eat a big bite, his plan was not successful.

I really wish he would did it to another bad customer and the bad customer would show him a lesson.
The old man should have thanks to me, he's very lucky that I didn't call the police, the Ministry of Health and the media right away.

Note: Dosa and dipping were not good enough. Here is the truth when I get home I have a stomach upset and I have had diarrhea for 2 days. I knew they know how to cook a good quality food. I really hope that they respect their business, their customers and use a good products.

They owe me in apologize.

Ordered two butter chicken pastas because it sounded interesting. One of worst dishes I've ever eaten.

There was no chicken at all except one tiny piece, and nothing "butter chicken" about it. The entire thing was just pasta (see photo), which was extremely over spiced. Save your money and time, it was gross. The portion was so tiny and extremely expensive for what was received. It seems the restaurant ran out, and instead of cancelling the order, cobbled together scraps. Extremely disingenuous and cheats the customer.

As a fellow Sri Lankan I'm all about supporting sri lankan businesses. This definitely wasn't the best food I've had but also not the worst. I ordered the mutton kothu which was a tad too salty but otherwise was okay. The deviled chicken was also not bad and isn't as hot as I was expecting. The mutton rolls were a let down, as it was way too much bread. I would not order them. Portion sizes were good and the service was very courteous. Definitely mom and pop vibes here.

My friend and I are quite picky eaters. When it comes to Indian food it often proves to be disappointingly heavy, too creamy, or spicy. Go figure..This restaurant delivered in droves. The blend of carefully blended condiments was truly superb. Not too creamy, spicy nor heavy. When was the last time you left an Indian restaurant not feeling completely bloated, with a stomach ache or prone to acid reflux? Anything but an issue here. I ordered some decent house wine to accompany this flavorful meal. I would definitely recommend it- you won’t be disappointed!

We had both Veg/Non-Veg, the taste is really good and we didn’t have any complaints. Taste of mango lassi and lime juice are of different taste, but its good and both the chicken and sea food are fresh, we didn’t feel like its kind of old/frozen ones. would highly recommend this place. The place is clean, staffs are very nice and they explained the dishes to patiently which helps us to decide. Seems like we need to have reservation but we got the table for our lunch.

Ordered paneer dosa and mutton rolls through UberEats. I wasn't expecting they'd just wrap grated paneer in the dosa. Tasted very bland and dry. At the very least, add some masala with the grated paneer or even some spices. That's how paneer dosa is served at Indian restaurants. It was edible only because it was served with sambhar and 2 chutneys. The mutton rolls were quite crispy and tasty. It had a decent amount of filling and the meat was well cooked.

I was so happy to find this place years ago. One of the only Sri Lankan food places in Ottawa, the other one being Ceylonta on Bank and from what I understand the present owner of Kothu was a cook there?? The first year I was a frequent regular, indulging in their vegetable Kut Rotti. The owner/cook made it to perfection, to my liking. He was always generous with his portions and gave me a complimentary coconut chutney on the side which was a small gesture that kept me coming back! He was always happy and smiling! Now, years later I can see how tired and worn out he is. He has no more smile on his face, the portions are still bigger than standard but less than his usual, the complimentary chutney is gone ( his wife made sure he charges me) and the perfect kut rotti is now imperfect. My last few trips there were disappointing, rotti was cold . He re cooked it in front of me but rushed through it. The time prior to that, something in the dish ( rotti or some of the pre made curried vegetable he added in) was tasting moldy and sour! Clearly I can see that this poor man is working himself to death and although I love his food I'm actually at the point that I feel so uncomfortable making him cook my order since he looks so tired and burned out. There is no doubt about it that the food is delicious but the owner/cook looks like he can use a holiday. There are only a few chairs to sit down and the place is always hot like an oven but somehow that never seems to bother me. I only hope the quality of his food doesn't go down.