Ottawa's cheap eats scene runs through a few reliable strips: Bank Street, Preston Street, Chinatown's Somerset Street West, and the plazas along the city's east and west ends. This list was put together by researching menus, prices, and public reviews for restaurants that consistently put out a satisfying meal for well under $15. It leans on real Google, Tripadvisor, and Yelp review data rather than guesswork, and every business below is currently operating.
1. Shawarma Palace
Area: Multiple Ottawa locations, including Bank Street and St. Laurent Boulevard · Specialty: Lebanese shawarma wraps and platters · Rating: 4.3 on Tripadvisor, ranked #79 of 2,039 Ottawa restaurants (Bank Street location)
Shawarma Palace wraps every order fresh with house-made garlic sauce, pickled turnips, and warm pita, and reviewers consistently point to the size of the portions relative to the price as the reason they keep coming back. The Ottawa Citizen has singled it out as consistently ranked among the city's favourites for shawarma. It suits anyone who wants a filling wrap or platter without spending much past ten dollars.
2. Father & Sons
Area: Sandy Hill, 112 Osgoode Street · Specialty: Diner and pub fare, breakfast sandwiches, burgers · Rating: 4.3 on Google (1,792 reviews) · Since: 1967
A fixture near the University of Ottawa campus, Father & Sons is known for cheap breakfast, casual pub food, and a no-frills atmosphere that has made it a landmark for generations of students. Reviewers describe it as cramped and unfussy but reliably good value, with food that comes out fast even when the place is packed. It's the kind of spot suited to students, shift workers, or anyone who wants a hearty plate without ceremony.
3. East India Company
Area: Nepean, 1993 Robertson Road · Specialty: All-day South Asian thalis and buffet
East India Company runs an all-day thali program with vegetarian, vegan, halal, and gluten-free options every day, alongside a rotating hot buffet. The format lets diners get a full multi-course meal, soup or salad, a main, rice, and naan, for a set price well inside cheap-eats territory. It's a strong fit for anyone craving variety in one sitting rather than a single dish.
4. Pho Thu Do
Area: Chinatown, 781 Somerset Street West · Specialty: Vietnamese pho and noodle soups · Rating: 4.4 on Google
Pho Thu Do is trusted locally as one of the steadier Vietnamese kitchens in Chinatown, with reviewers highlighting hot, MSG-free broth, a clean dining room, and quick service even during lunch rushes. A large bowl of pho here lands in the same range as most of the neighbourhood's Vietnamese spots, making it an easy stop for anyone exploring Somerset Street West's cluster of affordable restaurants.
5. Kettleman's Bagel Co.
Area: Multiple Ottawa locations, including 912 Bank Street · Specialty: Montreal-style wood-fired bagels and bagel sandwiches · Since: 1993
Kettleman's kettles and wood-fires its bagels on site around the clock, and the shops sell sandwiches built on those bagels for well under fifteen dollars. It's a Montreal-style bagel bakery through and through, with locations spread across the city, and it works equally well for a quick breakfast bagel or a fuller lunch sandwich.
6. Shanghai Wonton Noodle
Area: Downtown, 178 Rideau Street · Specialty: Wonton soup and hand-made noodle dishes · Rating: 4.5 on Tripadvisor, ranked #595 of 2,042 Ottawa restaurants
Reviewers praise Shanghai Wonton Noodle for exceptional wonton soup and dumplings, with especially strong marks for its broth and generous portions relative to price. It sits a short walk from the Rideau Centre despite modest signage out front, and suits anyone looking for a comforting noodle soup that still counts as a cheap eat.
7. Umbrella Burger
Area: Little Italy, 186 Preston Street · Specialty: American-style smash burgers · Rating: 4.7 on Tripadvisor, ranked #996 of 2,037 Ottawa restaurants
Umbrella Burger has built a following for its beef, chicken, veggie, and Beyond Meat burger options, with reviewers calling out ingredient quality and generous portions at a price that stays under fifteen dollars for most combos. Its double cheeseburger and southern-style crispy chicken sandwich come up often in customer feedback. It's a solid pick for burger cravings on a budget in the Preston Street strip.
8. Sula Wok
Area: Old Ottawa East, 184 Main Street · Specialty: Pan-Asian rice bowls, noodles, and dumplings · Rating: 4.8 on Google, ranked #98 of 2,018 Ottawa restaurants on Tripadvisor
This family-run counter draws steady lineups for its rice bowls, dumplings, and noodle dishes, with reviewers consistently citing fresh ingredients and a solid vegetarian and vegan selection. Nearly every item on the menu comes in under fifteen dollars. It suits diners who want a fast, flavourful bowl rather than a sit-down meal.
9. Shawarma Station
Area: South Bank Street, 2446 Bank Street · Specialty: Shawarma sandwiches and platters · Rating: Ranked #798 of 2,033 Ottawa restaurants on Tripadvisor (57 reviews)
Shawarma Station gets consistent praise for massive serving sizes and friendly staff, with customers noting the shawarma sandwiches, ground lamb dishes, and flatbread stay reasonably priced even as portions run large. Free parking at the south end of Bank Street makes it a convenient stop for a fast, filling meal.
10. Sí Señor Mexican Street Food
Area: Downtown Ottawa, with locations on Rideau Street and Preston Street · Specialty: Mexican street food, tacos, and quesabirria · Rating: 4.6 on Restaurant Guru (883 reviews)
Sí Señor built its reputation on quesabirria, tacos, and churros served from small, no-frills counters. Reviewers describe the food as authentic and reasonably priced, with tacos and street-food style mains that comfortably fit a cheap-eats budget. It suits anyone craving Mexican street food without a sit-down restaurant price tag.
How We Built This List
This list was compiled from public web sources, including Tripadvisor, Yelp, Google reviews, Restaurant Guru, and restaurant websites, current as of August 2026. It is not a paid placement, and ottown has not tested or visited any of the businesses listed. Ratings, review counts, and founding years are included only where a source we read stated them directly; details we could not verify were left out.
Source: Best Cheap Eats in Ottawa | Via Ottawa, Best Cheap Eats in Ottawa (2026) — Ottawa Eats
