Discovering Ethiopian Cuisine in Ottawa: A Review of Local Restaurants

Nov 06, 2025 0

Ottawa's culinary scene is diverse, offering a range of dining experiences from around the world. Among these, Ethiopian cuisine stands out for its unique flavors, communal dining style, and plentiful vegan options. This article explores some of the best Ethiopian restaurants in Ottawa, focusing on their ambiance, food quality, and vegan-friendly menus.

Assortment of Ethiopian dishes.

Habesha: A Vegan Delight

Habesha is a standout choice for those seeking authentic Ethiopian flavors with a focus on vegan options. Located away from the main dining areas, it is still worth the drive for its exceptional food.

Here's what makes Habesha special:

Vegan Platter: The "Veggie Platter for 2" is a popular takeout order that never disappoints. It features a generous combination of legume- and green-based dishes served over fresh injera, accompanied by a refreshing salad.
Flavor and Freshness: The injera is described as perfectly sour and fluffy, complementing the rich flavors of the dishes.
Value: Habesha is known for being very filling, healthy, comforting, and affordable.

One reviewer mentioned, "We moved to Ottawa 1 year ago and being vegan have struggled to find a good healthy dining experience. We happened to walk by Habesha and decided to try it for lunch. Since then, we have been frequenting it almost every 2 weeks. The staff are very friendly and the food is superb. We have eaten in many Ethiopian restaurants in both Canada & USA. This one is by far the tastiest and healthiest. Nothing worse than your food swimming in oil. The bar menu and food prices are beyond reasonable."

Many reviewers recommend Habesha for takeout, emphasizing that the dining room itself is not the main attraction. The focus is on the food, which is consistently praised for its quality and taste. One reviewer noted, "I would never "dine" there as the dining room is nothing special, but for me, the food is absolutely worth the drive from Orléans and back. My only wish is that they open a second location in my neighborhood. No, it would be bad for my wallet, as I crave their food EVERY week. I say, go there for the veggie platter takeout, not for a dine-in experience."

Keep the extra injeras for the next day: they are excellent with hummus. The vegan platter has all 7 vegan dishes with lots of the bread/wrap and makes a pretty hefty meal. Delicious!

Harges: A Memorable Dining Experience

Harges is another notable Ethiopian restaurant in Ottawa, offering a great ambiance and a diverse menu with both meat and vegan options. Located in the Glebe, it provides a welcoming atmosphere and excellent service.

Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony.

Key highlights of Harges include:

Atmosphere: The restaurant has a great ambiance, with nice décor that isn't overbearing.
Vegan Options: In Ethiopian cuisine, you will find vegan suitable dishes. The 7 or so vegetarian ones here are vegan, such as the mesir wot (lentils in sauce), shiro wot (seasoned chickpeas), and atkilt wot (veggies in curry sauce). Dishes can be ordered individually or all in smaller portions served over injera (thin teff bread).
Sunday Buffet: On Sundays, Harges offers a buffet for dinner, with a separate section for meat dishes.
Coffee Ceremony: Harges offers a traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony. The restaurant roasts the beans, grinds them, and serves the coffee in a traditional manner.

The coffee origin story of Ethopia – and why good coffee takes a lot of time. | Afrimaxx Episode 3

One reviewer shared a delightful experience: "First of all, the atmosphere was really nice... quiet. Sundays, they have buffet for dinner... all you can eat with meat. Everything was amazing... The injera was really good as well... She does a full on coffee ceremony for you... It was a great experience overall. The place is nice, the service was excellent, the food was great, and the price was great."

Read also: Authentic Ethiopian Cuisine

Hares was actually doing a demonstration on lentils the past weekend at the Ottawa Veg Fest! Unfortunately, we had just missed the demonstration when we went, but it's nice to see that the restaurant is getting out there.

General Tips for Enjoying Ethiopian Cuisine

When dining at an Ethiopian restaurant, consider the following tips to enhance your experience:

Injera: Embrace the injera, a spongy flatbread made from teff flour, which serves as both your plate and utensil. Use it to scoop up the flavorful stews and dishes.
Sharing: Ethiopian meals are often served communally, encouraging diners to share and enjoy a variety of flavors together.
Spice Levels: Be mindful of the spice levels, as some dishes can be quite spicy. Don't hesitate to ask your server for recommendations based on your preference.
Vegan Options: Ethiopian cuisine naturally includes many vegan dishes, making it a great choice for plant-based eaters. Look for dishes like mesir wot (lentil stew), gomen (collard greens), and kik alicha (yellow split pea stew).

Conclusion

Ottawa's Ethiopian restaurants offer a unique and flavorful dining experience, with options to suit both meat-eaters and vegans. Whether you're looking for a quick takeout meal or a leisurely dinner with friends, these restaurants provide a taste of Ethiopia right in the heart of Ottawa.