Vietnamese Restaurant Near Downtown Ottawa & Parliament: Why Vietnam Palace Is Worth the Walk
If you are searching for a vietnamese restaurant downtown ottawa locals actually trust, you have probably scrolled past a dozen lookalike listings. Here is the honest answer from the heart of the city: Vietnam Palace at 819 Somerset Street West has been serving authentic pho, fresh rolls and made-from-scratch Vietnamese cooking since 1989. It sits a short, pleasant walk from Parliament Hill, the downtown core and Centretown, which makes it one of the easiest authentic lunches or dinners to reach without ever needing to drive across town.
In this guide we will cover exactly where Vietnam Palace is, how close it is to Parliament and the downtown business district, how to get there and park, what to order on your first visit, and a little history behind one of Ottawa’s longest-running Vietnamese kitchens. Whether you work near the Hill, you are visiting the capital, or you simply typed vietnamese restaurant near me ottawa into your phone at noon, this is the walk worth taking.
A Vietnamese Restaurant Downtown Ottawa Can Actually Walk To
Location matters when you only have a lunch hour. Vietnam Palace is on Somerset Street West, right at the edge of Ottawa’s Chinatown and a stone’s throw from Centretown. This is the sweet spot of the city: close enough to downtown towers and government offices that you can walk over, yet far enough off the main concrete canyon to feel like you have escaped for a proper meal.
For anyone hunting for vietnamese food near parliament ottawa, the proximity is the headline. Parliament Hill sits roughly 1.7 kilometres to the northeast — about a 20-minute walk, a five-minute drive, or a quick hop on the bus along Bank or Bronson. From the downtown financial core around Bank and Slater, you are looking at a 15 to 18 minute stroll. That puts a steaming bowl of pho well within reach of a single lunch break.
Why Centretown and Chinatown Make This Spot Special
Being a centretown vietnamese restaurant on the Chinatown strip gives Vietnam Palace something the chain spots downtown cannot fake: context. The Somerset Street West corridor has been the spine of Ottawa’s Vietnamese and Asian community for decades. The famous Chinatown Royal Arch, the grocers, the bakeries and the long-standing family kitchens all sit within a few blocks. When you eat here, you are eating where the community itself eats, not in a food court approximation of it.
That neighbourhood density is also why a somerset street vietnamese meal tends to taste more honest. Competition on this stretch is fierce and the regulars are demanding. Restaurants that cut corners do not last on Somerset. Vietnam Palace has lasted since 1989 — that longevity is its own review.
There is also a practical upside for downtown diners. Because Somerset sits just outside the densest part of the core, you get the authenticity of a community neighbourhood without the premium prices and lunch-rush chaos of the towers. A bowl of pho here is generous, fairly priced and made with care — exactly what you want when you are spending a real lunch break rather than grabbing something on the run. For visitors to the capital, it is also a chance to see a living, working neighbourhood rather than only the polished tourist corridor around Parliament.
Getting There & Parking Near Downtown Ottawa
One of the quiet advantages of dining at the edge of downtown rather than dead-center is that getting in and out is genuinely easy. Here is the practical breakdown for visitors and office workers alike.
- Walking: From Parliament Hill, head southwest down Bank or Kent and cut over to Somerset — about 20 minutes through pleasant Centretown streets.
- Transit: Multiple OC Transpo routes run along Somerset, Bank and Bronson. The O-Train and downtown stations are a short connection away.
- Driving: Somerset Street West has street parking, and there are pay lots nearby in Chinatown and Centretown. Off-peak lunch parking is usually painless compared to the downtown core.
- Cycling: Centretown is flat and bike-friendly, with lanes feeding toward Somerset from the downtown grid.
Below is a quick reference for how close Vietnam Palace sits to the landmarks people most often ask about when they search for a vietnamese restaurant downtown ottawa.
| Landmark | Approx. Distance | Walking Time |
|---|---|---|
| Parliament Hill | ~1.7 km | ~20 min |
| Downtown Core (Bank & Slater) | ~1.2 km | ~15 min |
| Bronson Centre | ~0.5 km | ~6 min |
| Chinatown Royal Arch | ~0.3 km | ~4 min |
| Dow’s Lake | ~1.8 km | ~22 min |
What to Order at Vietnam Palace
First-timers should start where the kitchen is strongest: the pho. The broth here is simmered for hours, aromatic with star anise, charred onion and ginger, and it is the dish that built Vietnam Palace’s reputation along Somerset. If you want the deep dive on the broth itself, read our breakdown of pho in Chinatown Ottawa on Somerset Street.
Beyond pho, here is a starter menu for a balanced table:
| Dish | What It Is | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Pho Tai | Rare beef noodle soup in slow-simmered broth | First-timers & cold days |
| Goi Cuon | Fresh shrimp & herb spring rolls with peanut sauce | Light, healthy starters |
| Bun Bo Hue | Spicy lemongrass beef noodle soup | Heat seekers |
| Vermicelli Bowls | Grilled meats over rice noodles & herbs | A lighter lunch |
| Com Tam | Broken rice with grilled pork & egg | Hearty appetites |
If you are coming with a crowd, the menu scales beautifully for sharing. We put together a full breakdown for that in our guide to the best Vietnamese restaurant in Ottawa for groups, families and date night. For a broader tour of the city’s scene and where Vietnam Palace fits, our best Vietnamese restaurant Ottawa guide is the place to start, and pho obsessives should bookmark our ranking of the best pho in Ottawa for 2026.
A Downtown Institution Since 1989
Vietnam Palace did not arrive yesterday. Opening its doors in 1989, it predates most of the trendy noodle spots that have come and gone in the downtown core. Through more than three decades, the kitchen has stayed loyal to traditional recipes — broths built from scratch, herbs prepped fresh daily, and a menu that reads like a love letter to Vietnamese home cooking rather than a fusion experiment.
That consistency is why generations of Ottawa families, students and downtown workers keep returning. A restaurant survives 35-plus years on Somerset Street not by chasing trends, but by getting the fundamentals right meal after meal. When you are weighing a vietnamese restaurant near me ottawa against a familiar chain, that track record is the difference between a meal and a memory.
The room itself reflects that history. It is warm, unfussy and built for actual eating — wide enough for a family gathering, quiet enough for a midday work lunch, and welcoming whether you arrive in a suit from the Hill or in jeans from a Centretown walk-up. Over the years the staff have watched students become regulars, regulars bring their own children, and downtown colleagues turn a quick noodle run into a standing tradition. That sense of continuity is rare in a downtown dining scene where storefronts turn over constantly, and it is a big part of why people who work near Parliament keep choosing the walk to Somerset over the closer, easier option.
Can’t Make the Walk? Order In
Some days the lunch hour disappears before you can leave the desk. When that happens, Vietnam Palace still comes to you — explore our options for Vietnamese food delivery and takeout in Ottawa so the pho arrives hot at your downtown office or Centretown apartment. The broth travels well, and the fresh rolls are practically built for takeout.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the best Vietnamese restaurant downtown Ottawa?
Vietnam Palace at 819 Somerset Street West is a longtime favourite, sitting at the edge of Chinatown and Centretown — an easy walk from Parliament Hill and the downtown core, serving authentic pho and Vietnamese dishes since 1989.
How far is Vietnam Palace from Parliament Hill?
It is roughly 1.7 kilometres from Parliament Hill — about a 20-minute walk or a five-minute drive — making it one of the most convenient spots for authentic Vietnamese food near Parliament in Ottawa.
Is there parking near Vietnam Palace on Somerset Street?
Yes. There is street parking along Somerset Street West plus several pay lots nearby in Chinatown and Centretown. Lunchtime and off-peak parking is generally much easier than parking in the downtown core.
What should I order on my first visit?
Start with the pho — the slow-simmered beef broth is the house signature. Pair it with fresh shrimp spring rolls (goi cuon), and try a vermicelli bowl or bun bo hue if you want variety.
Does Vietnam Palace offer takeout or delivery downtown?
Yes. Vietnam Palace offers takeout and delivery across Ottawa, including the downtown and Centretown areas, so you can enjoy the food even when you cannot make the walk.
Visit Vietnam Palace
Skip the chain and take the short walk to the real thing. Whether you are coming from Parliament Hill, the downtown towers or your Centretown apartment, a hot bowl of authentic pho is waiting.
Vietnam Palace
819 Somerset Street West, Ottawa
Call to reserve or order: (613) 238-6758