West end vs east end, split by the Rideau River.
The split: West is Kanata, Nepean, Barrhaven, Westboro and Carling Avenue. East is Vanier, Overbrook, Alta Vista, Gloucester and Orléans. Chinatown, Centretown, the ByWard Market, Lowertown and Sandy Hill count as "central" and sit out.
We paired spots by style, not score. Sichuan, Dongbei, Shanghainese and Cantonese are distinct regional cuisines, and Chinese-Canadian cooking has its own Ottawa story. Uyghur cuisine, the cooking of the Uyghur people of Xinjiang, is its own tradition too, shaped by Central Asia as well as China. Altay Flame describes its food as Uyghur cuisine, and we've included it because the Citizen counts it in its guide to Chinese food in Ottawa. There's no overall winner.
On the evidence: in our research, East-end Chinese restaurants got far less press than West-end ones. Of our five East picks, only Altay Flame has had a recent independent review; the other four rest on their own sites. The West has thin spots too (Ng's and Liuyishou). That shows where critics have eaten, not that the food is weaker.
How we chose: We picked these 11 spots from the Ottawa Citizen's reviews and Chinese-food guide, an awards list and a local business-association profile where it exists, plus each spot's own site and menu. Where a pick has no press, we say so. No business paid to be included.
Round 1: Sichuan and Dongbei vs Uyghur
West: Spicy Man (川满居)
West of the river · Carlington, 958 Merivale Rd., 2nd floor · No official site; Uber Eats listing
Sichuan with a Dongbei (northeastern) streak. The Ottawa Citizen's critic points to the ma po tofu and the cumin lamb stir-fry. Source: Citizen review, July 23, 2026
East: Altay Flame
East of the river · Vanier, 8 Beechwood Ave. · altayflame.ca
Uyghur cuisine from Xinjiang, in China's northwest, with Central Asian as well as Chinese influences. The Citizen calls it Ottawa's first Uyghur restaurant and notes the food is halal. Try laghman, hand-pulled beef noodles ($20 on its menu), or the big plate chicken ($40 for two; the critic found it drier than hoped). Why go: the Citizen's critic liked the noodles, kebabs and mantu (lamb dumplings). Sources: Citizen review, June 4, 2026 · Citizen guide, updated Aug. 31, 2026
Round 2: Cantonese and dim sum
West: Ng's Cuisine
West of the river · Nepean, 1499 Merivale Rd. · ngscuisine.ca
Cantonese with some Sichuan, plus dim sum. From its menu: shrimp har gow (dim sum plates run $6–$8.25) and salted chicken. Source: Ng's menu, checked Oct. 9, 2026
East: Li's Fusion
East of the river · Orléans, 200 Vanguard Dr., Unit 1 · lisfusion.com
Cantonese and Sichuan, with dim sum. Its menu lists Cantonese seafood chow mein and Buddha's Delight. Worth knowing: no press coverage that we found, so this pick rests on its own site. Source: Li's Fusion website, checked Oct. 9, 2026
Round 3: Chinese-Canadian classics
The Citizen has traced the history of Chinese food in Ottawa from Rideau Street to Somerset Street West.
West: Golden Palace
West of the river · Carling Ave., 2195 Carling Ave. · goldenpalacerestaurant.ca
On Carling since 1960, famous for hand-made open-ended egg rolls. Source: Citizen, April 12, 2014
East: Willie's Chinese Food
East of the river · Orléans, 2908 St. Joseph Blvd. · willieschinesetakeout.com
Takeout and delivery, and an Orléans fixture for 50-plus years. Try the open-ended egg rolls or chicken soo guy. Sources: Willie's menu · Heart of Orléans BIA, July 23, 2020
Also worth the trip
Bite & Bite Shanghai Fried Bun
West of the river · Nepean, 1465 Merivale Rd., Unit 002 · bitebite.ca
Shanghainese pan-fried buns ($7.99 for four) and pan-fried wontons ($12.99 for 10). Why go: Ottawa's only entry in the Chinese Restaurant Awards' 2026 national Top 50. Sources: Bite & Bite menu, checked Oct. 9, 2026 · Chinese Restaurant Awards, Sept. 23, 2026
Harbin Chinese Restaurant
West of the river · Kanata, 591 March Rd., #5 · harbinchinesetogo.com
Northeastern cooking from a Harbin-born owner, plus Sichuan dishes. The Citizen points to the Harbin casseroles of meatballs, spinach and vermicelli. Why go: in 2020, the Citizen's critic named it a favourite broad-menu spot. Source: Ottawa Citizen, Jan. 24, 2020
Liuyishou Hotpot
West of the river · Nepean, 1568 Merivale Rd., #10 · liuyishouna.com
Hot pot from Liuyishou, a chain founded in Chongqing, China, where you cook your own food in simmering broth at the table. Worth knowing: the Citizen's 2020 piece names it as one of two Chinese-based hot-pot franchises in Ottawa, but we found no review of this location. Sources: Liuyishou, Our Story · Ottawa Citizen, Jan. 24, 2020
Mandarin Orléans
East of the river · Orléans, 2055 Tenth Line Rd. · mandarinrestaurant.com
Our only buffet, from an Ontario chain. The chain's site lists more than 100 dishes, from General Tao chicken to sushi and dinner prime rib. Weekday lunch is $28.99 and Monday-to-Thursday dinner $38.99, before drinks, tax and tip. Weekends, holidays and Friday dinner cost more. Sources: Mandarin Orléans page, checked Oct. 9, 2026 · Mandarin dine-in menu
Lucky House Take-Out
East of the river · Orléans, 1675 Tenth Line Rd. · luckyhousetakeout.com
Chinese-Canadian takeout and delivery. Its menu lists combination plates and complete dinners built around sweet and sour chicken balls and garlic spare ribs, with egg rolls and fried rice. Worth knowing: no press that we found. The menu pages on its site carry 2016 posting dates, so confirm prices when you order. Source: Lucky House menu
Details were checked Oct. 9, 2026. Check hours and confirm with venues before heading out.