Ottawa's Lebanese food scene runs from ByWard Market shawarma counters open past midnight to family-run kitchens in Nepean and Orleans that have been grilling meat over charcoal since the 1990s. This list was put together by reading through Tripadvisor, Yelp, Restaurant Guru and Google listings for restaurants currently operating in the Ottawa area, and cross-checking each one against its own website or social page where available.
1. Les Grillades
Area: Nepean and the west end · Specialty: charcoal-grilled meats and halal Lebanese breakfast · Rating: 4.4 on Tripadvisor (78 reviews), 4.5 on Restaurant Guru (2,442 reviews) · Since: 2003
Les Grillades started as a family-run halal restaurant at 111 Colonnade Road and has built a following for meat grilled over real charcoal rather than gas. Reviewers consistently call out the kibbe nayyeh, the cheese sambousek and a Lebanese breakfast built around fatteh, balilah and msabaha. It suits diners who want a full sit-down meal rather than a quick shawarma stop.
2. Boustan
Area: ByWard Market · Specialty: late-night shawarma · Rating: 4.3 on Birdeye (518 reviews), 4.8 on Restaurant Guru (568 reviews)
Boustan on Rideau Street is a fixture of the ByWard Market's late-night food scene, part of the wider Boustan chain that started in Montreal. Reviewers praise the garlic-forward shawarma wrap, generous portions, and staff who keep the line moving even at 2 a.m. It's the obvious pick for anyone who wants Lebanese food after a night out downtown.
3. Lebanese Palace
Area: Industrial Avenue, near the Ottawa Train Yards · Specialty: mezza buffet and shawarma plates
Lebanese Palace runs a salad and mezza buffet alongside its shawarma plates, and reviewers single out the variety of traditional Lebanese salads and dips as the reason to come back. Several reviews note the shawarma is priced a few dollars below other popular Ottawa spots for a comparable amount of food, with a drink included. Reviews are mixed on consistency between visits, so it suits diners looking for value more than a guaranteed top-tier experience every time.
4. Arz Lebanese Fine Cuisine
Area: St. Laurent Centre, east Ottawa · Specialty: shish kebob and tabouli · Rating: 3.5 on Tripadvisor · Since: 1992
Arz has been serving the St. Laurent Centre food court area since 1992, making it one of the longer-standing Lebanese kitchens in the city. Reviewers who like it point to the beef shish kebob, calling it more tender than some steak restaurants in town, and describe the tabouli as consistently fresh. Reviews are mixed overall, with some complaints about inconsistency, so it's best suited to regulars who already know which dishes they like there.
5. Jericho Lebanese Food
Area: Bank Street, the Glebe area · Specialty: halal falafel and shawarma · Rating: 4.4 on Tripadvisor (78 reviews)
Jericho is a small, family-run diner on Bank Street where the owner, Raouf, has filled the space with colourful art. All food is certified halal, and reviewers consistently highlight the falafel combination plate and the hummus as standouts, along with a welcoming, casual atmosphere. It suits vegetarians and diners who want an unpretentious neighbourhood spot over a formal dining room.
6. Shawarma Palace
Area: Multiple locations, including Bank Street, Rideau Street and Carling Avenue · Specialty: shawarma · Rating: 4.3 on Tripadvisor at the Bank Street location (311 reviews), 4.9 on Restaurant Guru (1,978 reviews) · Since: 1996
Shawarma Palace has operated across the National Capital Region since 1996 as a locally owned, family-run franchise, and it's often cited as the benchmark for shawarma in Ottawa. Reviewers praise the generous portions and quality ingredients, though some note that consistency varies somewhat between locations. It's a solid pick wherever you happen to be in the city, since there are several outlets to choose from.
7. Fattoush Lady
Area: Elgin Street, downtown · Specialty: fattoush salad · Rating: 4.3 on Tripadvisor, 4.6 on Restaurant Guru (201 reviews)
Fattoush Lady is a compact, mostly-takeout spot on Elgin Street built around its namesake dish. Reviewers highlight the freshness of the ingredients and the balance of flavour in the fattoush salad specifically, along with attentive service given the small footprint. It suits office lunches and quick takeout more than a sit-down evening out, since seating is limited.
8. Alissar Lebanese Cuisine
Area: St. Laurent Boulevard, east Ottawa · Specialty: chicken shawarma · Rating: 4.8 on Restaurant Guru (277 reviews)
Alissar is a smaller St. Laurent Boulevard spot that reviewers repeatedly describe as home to some of the best chicken shawarma in the city. Visitors mention prompt, friendly service and a clean space as recurring themes alongside the food itself. It's a good pick for a fast, dependable shawarma or chicken donair without the wait of a bigger-name location.
9. Prince Bakery & Sweets (formerly Nasser Bakery)
Area: Meadowlands Drive, Nepean · Specialty: Lebanese pies and Middle Eastern sweets · Rating: around 4.3 on Google
Long known as Nasser Bakery, this Meadowlands Drive shop has rebranded to Prince Bakery & Sweets while keeping its reputation for savoury pies with crispy dough and well-spiced meat, plus a wide sweets counter covering Turkish delight and nougat. Reviewers consistently mention the variety of pie fillings and the affordability of the food. It suits grab-and-go lunches and stocking up on Lebanese pastries rather than a sit-down meal, since it's primarily a bakery counter.
10. Tarboush Lebanese Bakery & Cuisine
Area: Orleans · Specialty: shawarma and Lebanese pies
Tarboush fills a gap for Lebanese food specifically in Orleans, offering both a bakery counter for pies and a menu of shawarma and other Lebanese mains. Reviews for the restaurant are mixed across different platforms, with some very positive individual reviews and a wider spread on aggregator sites, so it's worth treating as a solid local option for Orleans residents rather than a guaranteed citywide top pick.
How We Built This List
This list was compiled from public web sources, including Tripadvisor, Yelp, Restaurant Guru and Google listings, along with each business's own website or social page where one could be found. Ottown did not visit or test any of these restaurants, and no business on this list paid for placement. Ratings and review counts shown are the ones visible on those platforms at the time of research and will shift over time. Last reviewed: August 2026.
Sources: Tripadvisor Ottawa Lebanese restaurant listings, Yelp Ottawa Lebanese search results, Restaurant Guru Ottawa listings, and individual restaurant websites and Google Business listings.
