Your Complete Guide to Vietnamese Food in Ottawa’s Chinatown
Ottawa’s Chinatown, stretching along Somerset Street West, is one of the city’s most vibrant and flavourful neighbourhoods. And at the heart of this culinary corridor sits Vietnam Palace Restaurant — a family-run institution that has been serving authentic Vietnamese food in Ottawa since 1989. Whether you’re a Chinatown regular or visiting for the first time, this guide will help you navigate the incredible world of Vietnamese cuisine right here in Canada’s capital.
From fragrant bowls of pho to crispy spring rolls, sizzling wok dishes to delicate rice paper creations, Ottawa Chinatown restaurants offer an extraordinary range of Vietnamese flavours. But with so many options, where do you start? Let us be your guide to the very best Vietnamese dining experience in Ottawa’s Chinatown.
Why Ottawa’s Chinatown is a Vietnamese Food Destination
Ottawa’s Chinatown has evolved significantly since its establishment in the 1960s and 70s. While the neighbourhood proudly represents multiple Asian cultures, Vietnamese cuisine has become one of its defining culinary pillars. The wave of Vietnamese immigrants who arrived in Canada during the late 1970s and 1980s brought with them centuries-old recipes, cooking techniques, and a food culture that emphasizes freshness, balance, and bold flavour.
Today, Somerset Street is lined with restaurants, grocery stores, and bakeries that celebrate this heritage. Among them, Vietnam Palace stands as one of the longest-operating Vietnamese restaurants in the area — a testament to the quality and authenticity that has kept customers returning for over 35 years.
What makes the Chinatown food guide experience so special is the concentration of authentic dining options in such a walkable area. You can park once and spend an entire afternoon exploring different flavours, picking up ingredients at Asian grocery stores, and discovering new dishes you’ve never tried before.
The History of Vietnamese Cuisine in Ottawa
Vietnamese food didn’t arrive in Ottawa by accident. The Vietnamese diaspora that settled in Canada brought their culinary traditions as a way of preserving culture and building community. In the early days, Vietnamese restaurants in Ottawa were modest family operations — and many of the best ones, like Vietnam Palace, still are.
The cuisine itself reflects centuries of influence from Chinese, French, and Southeast Asian cooking traditions, blended into something uniquely Vietnamese. You’ll see this in dishes like banh mi (French-influenced baguette sandwiches), pho (Chinese-influenced noodle soups), and fresh spring rolls (distinctly Southeast Asian). This cultural melting pot is part of what makes Vietnamese food so universally appealing.
Essential Vietnamese Dishes to Try in Ottawa’s Chinatown
If you’re new to Vietnamese cuisine — or even if you’re a seasoned fan — here are the essential dishes you need to try when visiting Ottawa Chinatown restaurants:
Pho (Vietnamese Noodle Soup)
No Chinatown food guide would be complete without starting with pho. This iconic Vietnamese soup features a deeply aromatic broth (simmered for hours with bones, star anise, cinnamon, and other spices), rice noodles, your choice of protein, and a plate of fresh herbs for customization. At Vietnam Palace, the pho has been made the same way since 1989 — and with good reason. It’s perfection in a bowl.
Whether you choose the classic beef pho with rare steak and brisket or opt for the lighter chicken pho, you’re getting a bowl that represents decades of perfected technique. The broth alone is worth the trip to Chinatown.
Gỏi Cuốn (Fresh Salad Rolls)
These translucent rice paper rolls filled with shrimp, vermicelli noodles, fresh herbs, and crisp vegetables are the perfect light starter. Dipped in peanut hoisin sauce, they’re a refreshing counterpoint to the richness of pho. Vietnam Palace makes them fresh to order, ensuring the rice paper is perfectly soft and the fillings are vibrant and crunchy.
Chả Giò (Crispy Spring Rolls)
The Vietnamese answer to the egg roll, chả giò features a crispy, shatteringly thin wrapper around a savoury filling of ground pork, taro, wood ear mushrooms, and glass noodles. At Vietnam Palace, these are fried to golden perfection and served with lettuce leaves and nuoc cham (Vietnamese dipping sauce). Wrap a spring roll in lettuce with fresh mint and herbs, dip it in the sauce, and experience a flavour explosion.
Bún (Vermicelli Noodle Bowls)
Vermicelli bowls are the unsung heroes of Vietnamese cuisine. A bed of cool rice vermicelli noodles is topped with your choice of grilled meats (lemongrass pork, chicken, shrimp), fresh vegetables, herbs, crushed peanuts, and nuoc cham. It’s a complete meal that’s simultaneously light and satisfying — perfect for warmer weather or when you want something other than soup.
Cơm Tấm (Broken Rice Plates)
A staple of Southern Vietnamese cuisine, broken rice plates feature slightly fractured rice grains (which have a unique texture) topped with grilled pork chops, shredded pork skin, a steamed egg cake, and pickled vegetables. It’s hearty, flavourful, and deeply comforting — the kind of dish that Vietnamese families eat at home.
Bánh Xèo (Vietnamese Crepes)
These sizzling, turmeric-yellow crepes are filled with shrimp, pork, bean sprouts, and green onions. The name literally translates to “sizzling cake” because of the sound the batter makes when it hits the hot pan. Tear off a piece, wrap it in lettuce and herbs, and dip it in nuoc cham. It’s one of the most fun and interactive Vietnamese dishes to eat.
Cà Phê Sữa Đá (Vietnamese Iced Coffee)
No Vietnamese meal is complete without coffee. Vietnamese iced coffee is made with dark roast coffee brewed through a small metal filter (phin) directly into a glass of sweetened condensed milk, then poured over ice. It’s strong, sweet, and absolutely addictive. Ask for one at Vietnam Palace to complete your Chinatown dining experience.
The Vietnam Palace Experience: More Than Just a Meal
When you step into Vietnam Palace Restaurant at 819 Somerset St W, you’re not just walking into a restaurant — you’re walking into a piece of Ottawa’s culinary history. The walls tell stories of 35+ years of service. The menu, with its 100+ dishes, reads like an encyclopedia of Vietnamese cuisine.
But what truly sets Vietnam Palace apart from other Ottawa Chinatown restaurants is the family atmosphere. This is a restaurant where the owners know their regulars, where children who came with their parents now bring their own kids, and where every guest is treated like family. It’s not just about the food — it’s about the feeling of being welcomed and cared for.
Navigating the Menu
With over 100 dishes, Vietnam Palace’s menu can seem daunting at first. Here’s how to approach it:
- First-timers: Start with a bowl of pho and an order of spring rolls. This classic combination gives you the essential Vietnam Palace experience.
- Adventurous eaters: Branch out into the curry dishes, the hot pots, or the specialty seafood section. Ask your server for recommendations — they love sharing their favourites.
- Groups: Order family-style. Get a variety of dishes to share: soup, appetizers, a stir-fry, and a rice or noodle dish. This is how Vietnamese families eat, and it’s the most satisfying way to explore the menu.
- Vegetarians: Vietnam Palace offers numerous vegetarian options, from tofu pho to vegetable stir-fries. Just let your server know your dietary preferences.
Check out the full Vietnam Palace menu to start planning your order before you arrive.
A Walking Tour of Ottawa’s Chinatown: Beyond the Food
While food is undoubtedly the main draw, Ottawa’s Chinatown offers much more than restaurants. Here’s how to make a full day of your visit:
Morning
Start your day with a stroll along Somerset Street. Visit one of the Asian bakeries for fresh-baked buns and pastries. Pick up exotic fruits and vegetables at the grocery stores — you’ll find ingredients here that you won’t see at mainstream supermarkets.
Lunch
Head to Vietnam Palace for a leisurely lunch. The restaurant opens at 11 AM (10 AM on Saturdays), giving you plenty of time to settle in and explore the menu. Lunch is an ideal time to visit — the restaurant is slightly less busy than dinner, and you can take your time savouring each dish.
Afternoon
After lunch, walk off your meal by exploring the neighbourhood. The Chinatown Arch, the various shops selling imported goods, and the vibrant street art all contribute to the neighbourhood’s unique character. If you’re interested in cooking Vietnamese food at home, stop by one of the grocery stores to pick up fish sauce, rice noodles, and fresh herbs.
Dinner
Come back to Vietnam Palace for dinner to try entirely different dishes from what you had at lunch. With 100+ options, you could eat here every day for months without repeating a meal. The dinner atmosphere is warm and bustling — perfect for a date night or family gathering.
Vietnamese Food Culture: Understanding What You’re Eating
Vietnamese cuisine is built on a philosophy of balance. Every dish strives to incorporate five fundamental flavour elements: sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami. The cuisine also emphasizes the balance of textures — crispy and soft, hot and cold, rich and light — within the same meal.
Fresh herbs play a central role in Vietnamese cooking. Unlike many Western cuisines where herbs are used as garnishes, in Vietnamese food, herbs are essential ingredients. A plate of Thai basil, cilantro, mint, and perilla leaves accompanies most dishes, allowing diners to add freshness and complexity to every bite.
This emphasis on balance and freshness is why Vietnamese food is often considered one of the healthiest cuisines in the world. It relies heavily on fresh vegetables, lean proteins, and aromatic herbs rather than heavy sauces, dairy, or excessive oil.
The Role of Dipping Sauces
Vietnamese dipping sauces deserve their own spotlight. The most common is nuoc cham — a blend of fish sauce, lime juice, sugar, garlic, and chili. This magical condiment appears on nearly every Vietnamese table and elevates everything it touches. At Vietnam Palace, the nuoc cham is made fresh and balanced to complement rather than overpower the food.
Hoisin sauce and sriracha are also staples, particularly with pho. Peanut sauce accompanies fresh rolls. Each sauce serves a specific purpose and adds a different dimension to the dining experience.
Planning Your Chinatown Food Adventure
Ready to explore Vietnamese food in Ottawa’s Chinatown? Here are some practical tips:
- Getting there: Chinatown is easily accessible by bus (routes along Somerset and Preston) or by car. Street parking is available, and there are several lots nearby.
- Best times to visit: Weekday lunches are the least crowded. Weekend dinners are the most vibrant. Both have their charm.
- Budget: Vietnamese food is incredibly good value. You can have a filling, delicious meal at Vietnam Palace for a very reasonable price.
- Group dining: Vietnam Palace is perfect for groups. The large menu means everyone can find something they love, and sharing dishes family-style is encouraged.
Experience Chinatown’s Best Vietnamese Food at Vietnam Palace
Whether you’re a lifelong Ottawa resident who hasn’t yet explored Chinatown’s Vietnamese food scene or a visitor looking for an authentic culinary experience, Vietnam Palace Restaurant is your essential starting point. With 35+ years of history, 100+ dishes, and a family-run atmosphere that makes every guest feel welcome, it’s more than a restaurant — it’s a Chinatown institution.
Vietnam Palace Restaurant is located at 819 Somerset St W, Ottawa, Ontario — right in the heart of Chinatown.
Hours: Monday 11AM–10PM | Wednesday–Friday 11AM–10PM | Saturday 10AM–10PM | Sunday 11AM–10PM | Closed Tuesday
Start Your Chinatown Food Journey Today
Book a table at Vietnam Palace and discover why we’ve been Ottawa Chinatown’s favourite Vietnamese restaurant for over three decades. Walk-ins are always welcome, or call us at (613) 238-6758 to reserve your spot. You can also reach us at info@vietnampalacerestaurant.ca.
Explore our full menu, learn more about our story, or get in touch. We can’t wait to welcome you to the Vietnam Palace family. 🥢