Best Korean Food in Ottawa

Ottawa's Korean food scene has grown beyond the traditional BBQ joints. From award-winning tabletop grilling to Canada's first Jokbal specialist, there's authentic Korean flavour across the city. Here are 4 spots that deliver.

1. Daldongnae Korean BBQ — The Award Winner

Daldongnae Korean BBQ highlights a Yelp Canada Top 100 recognition on its official brand website. Its Ottawa locations offer meat cooked on tabletop grills.

The Ottawa branches at 610 Somerset Street West, first floor, and 25 York Street in ByWard Market offer tabletop grilling. Choose the branch-specific menu before visiting: Daldongnae charges by the serving rather than offering all-you-can-eat BBQ.

What to order: Pork belly or boneless short rib from the BBQ menu.

Good to know: The official Ottawa menus require at least two servings of meat or vegan selections to start, with a minimum of one serving per person. Steamed egg, corn cheese, lettuce, five side dishes and soybean stew are included; side dishes, egg and corn cheese have limited refills.

Neighbourhood: Chinatown (also in ByWard Market)

2. Table SODAM — The Modern Comfort

Table SODAM is a Korean restaurant at 1200 Bank Street in Old Ottawa South. It is another Bank Street option for a Korean meal alongside the downtown restaurants in this guide.

Good to know: Check directly with the restaurant for its current menu, seating and hours before visiting.

Neighbourhood: Old Ottawa South (Bank Street)

3. Hanyang Jokbal — The Unique Specialty

Hanyang Jokbal specializes in jokbal, braised pork hocks and feet. The operator's website describes the brand as Canada's first and only jokbal specialist and lists its Ottawa branch at 132 Bank Street.

What to order: Jokbal, the braised pork dish at the centre of the restaurant's menu.

Good to know: Use the operator's Ottawa branch listing to check current visit details.

Neighbourhood: Downtown (Bank Street)

4. Pelicana Chicken — The Takeout Classic

Pelicana Chicken is a Korean fried chicken chain established in South Korea in 1982. Its official location list places the Ottawa branch inside OK Mart, unit 17, 1508 Merivale Road.

What to order: Original chicken or the half-and-half option from the Canadian menu; check the Ottawa branch's current selection when ordering.

Good to know: The Ottawa branch offers pickup from its OK Mart location.

Neighbourhood: Nepean (Merivale Road)

The Quick Comparison

Restaurant	Style	Location
Daldongnae	Tabletop Korean BBQ ordered by the serving	Somerset West or ByWard Market
Table SODAM	Korean restaurant	1200 Bank Street, Old Ottawa South
Hanyang Jokbal	Jokbal specialist	132 Bank Street, downtown
Pelicana	Korean fried chicken for pickup	Inside OK Mart, 1508 Merivale Road

Korean BBQ in Ottawa: By the Serving or All You Can Eat?

For tabletop Korean BBQ, compare the ordering format as well as the menu. Daldongnae's two Ottawa branches use serving-based orders; Korean House on Somerset West offers an AYCE BBQ menu.

Restaurant	Ordering format	What to check before ordering
Daldongnae — Somerset or ByWard Market	Pay for each serving of meat or vegan selections	At least two servings to start and at least one per person. Egg, corn cheese and side-dish refills are limited.
Korean House — 785 Somerset Street West	AYCE BBQ; the official dinner menu lists $37.95	The menu includes marinated beef, chicken or pork and lists kalbi and seafood as per-table orders. Ask the restaurant to confirm the current price and ordering conditions.

Checked October 21, 2026 against Daldongnae's Somerset menu and ByWard menu, and Korean House's official AYCE BBQ menu and dinner menu. The Korean House page does not specify whether its displayed price includes tax or gratuity. For other cuisines and buffet formats, see our Ottawa all-you-can-eat guide.

Korean Dishes to Know

Korean BBQ — Grill your own meat at the table. Wrap in lettuce with ssamjang sauce.
Jokbal — Braised pork hocks. Tender, flavorful, unique.
Korean Fried Chicken — Double-fried for extra crunch. Various sauces available.
Bibimbap — Rice bowl with vegetables, meat, and egg. Mix it up with gochujang.
Bulgogi — Marinated beef, sweet and savory.
Tteokbokki — Spicy rice cakes in red pepper sauce.

Tips

For Korean BBQ — Compare Daldongnae's serving-based orders with Korean House's AYCE menu before choosing.
For fried chicken — Pelicana for takeout.
For jokbal — Hanyang Jokbal specializes in braised pork hocks.
For Old Ottawa South — Table SODAM is on Bank Street.
For west end — Pelicana inside OK Mart on Merivale.

FAQ

Where can I try Korean BBQ in Ottawa?

Daldongnae offers tabletop BBQ at 610 Somerset Street West and 25 York Street in ByWard Market, charging by the serving with a minimum of two servings to start and one per person. Korean House at 785 Somerset Street West offers AYCE BBQ; its official dinner menu lists $37.95 as checked October 21, 2026, with kalbi and seafood listed as per-table orders. Confirm current prices and conditions with the restaurant.

Where can I find Jokbal in Ottawa?

Hanyang Jokbal's official website lists its Ottawa branch at 132 Bank Street. The restaurant specializes in jokbal, braised pork hocks and feet.

Where can I get Korean fried chicken on Merivale Road?

Pelicana's official location list places its Ottawa branch inside OK Mart, unit 17, at 1508 Merivale Road. The chain was established in South Korea in 1982 and offers pickup at the Ottawa location.

Where is Table SODAM in Ottawa?

Table SODAM is at 1200 Bank Street in Old Ottawa South. Check directly with the restaurant for its current menu, seating and hours.

What is Jokbal?

Jokbal is a traditional Korean dish made from pork hocks and feet that are braised for hours with flavorful ingredients until tender. It's typically served sliced and wrapped in lettuce or perilla leaves.