Ottawa’s Korean food scene has grown faster in the last five years than almost any other cuisine in the city. Korean BBQ has driven a lot of that — it’s a format that works for groups, it’s visual, and the quality floor has risen as competition has increased. But beyond the BBQ, Ottawa now has excellent Korean fried chicken, bibimbap, tteokbokki, and Korean-Japanese fusion options that have made Korean food a regular part of how the city eats.
Korean BBQ: Ottawa’s Group Dining Default
Daldongnae Korean BBQ in ByWard Market has become one of the most consistently visited restaurant pages on OttawaEats — and it’s earned it. All-you-can-eat Korean BBQ in the Market is a strong deal, the quality is consistent, and it’s reliably good for groups of four or more who want a social dinner. If you’ve never done Korean BBQ and want to try it, this is a solid starting point.
Korean Fried Chicken
Korean fried chicken — twice-fried for an exceptionally crispy exterior, usually glazed with sweet-spicy sauces — is one of the better things to happen to chicken in decades. Ottawa has a growing number of spots doing it well. Look for places that are frying to order rather than holding batches — the crunch is the point, and it only lasts about five minutes after it comes out of the fryer.
Korean-Japanese Fusion in Ottawa
Several of Ottawa’s best Japanese restaurants have Korean ownership and menus that blend the two traditions in interesting ways. This is authentic to the way Korean-Japanese food culture actually works and produces some of the most interesting dishes in the city — sushi rice bowls with Korean toppings, ramen with kimchi-inflected broths, hybrid fusion plates that don’t feel forced.
What to Order If You’re New to Korean Food
For a first Korean meal: start with the banchan (the small side dishes that arrive automatically — pickled vegetables, kimchi, fish cakes) to calibrate the flavours. Order bibimbap (a rice bowl with vegetables, egg, and gochujang) as a safe, excellent entry point. At a Korean BBQ spot, the server will usually guide you through the grill — ask for samgyeopsal (pork belly) if you’re not sure where to start.