The food was amazing and the portion large so come hungry! I ordered the vegetarian platter so was…read moreable to try a variety, and all were delicious. If you are not familiar with this food, you do eat with your hands, so get ready to dig in! The staff could be a little more helpful, especially if guests are not familiar with the food. This is an upstairs location and I am not sure if they have an elevator, so check options if you are unable to do stairs.

If you're craving a hole in the way dining experience of delicious Ethiopian cuisine, D'Afrique is…read morethe place to be! The highlight of the evening was definitely the lamb--succulent, flavorful, and a definite 10/10. The mixed platter we chose was perfect for sampling a variety of dishes. It included a delightful assortment of vegetarian options alongside two chicken dishes and a savory beef dish. Each item was bursting with unique flavors and perfectly complemented the injera bread. We were able to ask for medium spiciness and some extra spice on the side so we weren't overwhelmed. The service was friendly and attentive - our waitress was able to give us great recommendations - adding to the overall enjoyable dining experience. The easy to miss entrance leads you upstairs to a nice dining area with table cloths but comfortable ambiance. Great for your dairy free and pork free friends plus there are gluten free options.

Food wise, it's cheap and large portion. But there's little variety. Everything is big bread with…read moredifferent variations of toppings. For mine, it was soggy where the toppings were placed because of the olive oil. Service was close to non-existent. They forgot my Coke until I reminded them. It also took time for the food to be ready or to get the bill. I only saw one star, so I assume he's the wait staff, the chef and the cashier.

Pre-pandemic, I had an appointment down the road and I decided to walk the 15 minutes to get some…read moreEthiopian food. I used to live in the area and visited their old location on Gladstone ages ago, so I thought it would be a nice opportunity to try their new(er) location, also on Gladstone. I've only had Ethiopian food a few times in the past, including at Blue Nile, but I was in the mood to try a dish I never had before. The restaurant had just opened for lunch so it was empty. I was grateful to have the full attention of the server, who I realized later was also the cook - the one and only staff member there! He was patient with me as I took a look around and debated over what to get on the menu before asking him for a suggestion. He asked if I ever had tibbs before, a staple in Ethiopian cuisine, and I hadn't, so that's what I ordered. I definitely read the menu, but I didn't pay attention at all to what he was making. I just said yes and got excited lol. It was about $12 at the time, before taxes and tip, though the price didn't matter at all because I was hungry and drooling at the sights and smells of him making the food. He made it with such care, packed it for takeout with such care, and rang it up with such care. He was very kind and courteous. Top-notch service. It was about 20 minutes or so before I was able to sit down to eat it and it was still piping hot. I had no idea what to expect. Whatever it was, it was fully wrapped in a huge piece of injera. When I unfolded the injera, there was a giant portion of sliced beef, onions, and peppers in a tomato-based sauce. I looked at the menu online and saw you could get juicy or dry, so I assumed I got juicy. My coworkers kept asking what I got, saying it looked and smelled amazing. A couple of them even tried some. It was delicious! The beef was tender and the sauce was very flavourful. The injera was light and spongey, not too sour. The meal was super filling, too. The injera soaked up some of the extra juices and it was all great to eat it with your hands. I would, however, separate the beef from the injera if saving leftovers, as the injera at the bottom would be super soggy. I would definitely eat here again. Maybe in person next time! I was tempted to buy some of the snacks, spices, and other pantry items by the cash, but I get carried away with that stuff and I knew I wouldn't be able to carry it back with me. But I totally regretted not getting anything. Definitely next time, too!

I tried Ethiopian years ago and didn't like it. I couldn't get over the using your hands aspect of…read moreit. Fast forward 20 years and my friend suggests Habesha for lunch and I go along. We ordered two Habesha platters (mix of meat and veggie dishes) with injera bread. I found out you can use the bread to pick up the meat or veggies. The cabbage was my favourite. Great flavours! The beef cubes/stew was great too. Lentils were well prepared too. The tea and coffee were unique and good. I am converted. This was delicious! Service is a bit slower so plan accordingly. The decor is plain but it doesn't matter when the food is good!

Highly recommend this restaurant!!! Every single item we tried was delicious unique with different…read moretextures and flavors. Family friendly and staff is happy to explain dishes to people new to Ethiopian cuisine. I definitely recommend getting a platter so you can try more than one thing. Each person can have an individual plate or you can share a large platter to eat communally (our group of 7 asked to eat together and we were given two large platters). We just said we wanted to try a variety of meat and vegetarian dishes and asked to add on the special stewed lamb that isn't usually included on the Habesha Platter. It was the best lamb I've ever had and my daughter still talks about it months later! I don't know the name but it was super tender small cubes of lamb meat stewed in a very spicy red sauce. Even as a meat lover, many of the vegetarian dishes like the cabbage, green beans, and yellow split peas were among my favorite bites of the meal. We will definitely go back next time we're anywhere near Ottawa.

I've had both dine in and takeout at Sa'hara and the food was great…read more My most recent visit was for lunch takeout for my parents and I. I got us a small chicken drumsticks platter ($10.99), a small lamb platter ($11.99) and a small Bajiyo (Somali falafel) platter ($9.99). All platters come with rice and salad. The salad is boring with only iceberg lettuce, tomatoes and onions, with a creamy ranch dressing, but at least the vegetables were fresh. The rice is soft and fluffy and really flavourful. I loved it. The small chicken drumsticks platter came with 2 drumsticks. They were nicely marinated and had flavour. I would say this was my favourite platter. You get 2 Bajiyo in the small platter. They are similar to falafel but are made of black beans instead of chickpeas. They were too greasy for my liking, but were still ok. I would describe them as a cross between a Middle Eastern Falafel and the Indian Medu Vada. I'm glad I tried it as I had never had it before, but it's not really to my liking. The lamb was tender and not gamey at all. I usually shy away from lamb as it's sometimes tough and gamey but I actually loved the lamb here. You get 2 pieces in the small platter. I would be remiss if I didn't mention that their green hot sauce is da bomb! It's spicy but not too spicy. It was my parents' first time trying Somali food and they loved it. On my prior dine-in visit I had the large chicken kebab platter ($16.99), beef sambusa ($1.99), Vimto Mojito - it's non-alcoholic ($4.99) and Biscoff cake ($12). It was my first time having Vimto. The drink that is now known as Vimto was shortened from the original name "Vim Tonic" and is apparently popular with those who fast during Ramadan, as it supposedly gives you vim and energy after a long fast. It tastes like berries with a herbal element to it. I found the drink far too sweet but I did enjoy the flavour. Since it was served in a to-go cup, I took most of it home and diluted it with club soda and it was fantastic after that! The chicken kebab platter has the same rice and salad I already described. The chicken kebabs were lean breast meat, tender, moist and full of flavour. I'm undecided whether I like the kebabs or the drumsticks better. They were both so good. The beef sambusa had a thin crispy pastry and the filling was ground beef, onions and spices. It was excellent. The Biscoff cake tasted like a tres leche cake, so moist and rich. I enjoyed it, but personally feel that $12 is pricey for the cake. For that price I'd rather get another small platter of food, lol. Service was friendly on both occasions. There's a small parking lot with free parking behind the restaurant. It's unpaved though, very uneven with lots of potholes, so be careful. There are also no drawn lines, so it's kind of a free for all back there. There is a smaller parking lot at the front. It's paved, but also unlined. Sa'hara Restaurant opened very recently in early 2022. I'm glad to see more Somali restaurants open up. Ottawa is finally starting to catch up when it comes to more diversity with restaurants :)

We have been trying to check this new halal spot for a while.. but living in the west kept delaying…read moreit! I'll start with the food, it was fresh , tasty y, the steak plate was very flavourful, the chicken was too but a bit burnt.. the rice came warm, I'd rather a hot plate! The samosa were 10/10 very fresh and yummy! We had a mango lemonade and a vimto mojito they were refreshing! The dessert didn't live up to my expectations lol.. I love lotus but this was on the soggy side.. but my kids loved it.. my main disappointment was the cleanliness, the tables, the washroom the whole place really needs more cleaning.. I'd wish they take this note and next time we visit it's more pleasant

I went here upon a friend's recommendation. I refer to the shop name as 'Suya Joint' rather than…read moreAfrican Grill. Food: I ordered a side of plantains and Assorted Suya which came with 3 meats that they had available that day, in my case, it was chicken, beef, and goat. I also got to try the combo which comes with jollof rice, plantains, and salad. The combo comes with a generous amount of jollof rice. The seasoning in combination with the grill cook was like a delicious barbecue dance in your mouth. I didn't get to try the chicken but was told it is really good and is moist on the inside. The goat and beef had a chew to them but the flavours are 100%. I really enjoyed the goat meat. Service/atmosphere: The staff who took our order was courteous, gave positive customer service, and answered all my questions. There are tables for dining in, but everyone pretty much comes here to pick up, deliver, or take out. Throughout our time waiting for our food, there were customers coming in left and right. I will definitely be back again! They speak French here too.

It is the only place I know of that sells goat meat. The service is good, by the owners I presume…read more I'm not sure if they are still in business. new parking lot & no sign.

Service was great. Though beware that they use a significant amount of sugar in their dishes. This…read morecauses my party of 3 to all feel a little groggy and sick after the meal. Other than that the mocktails were pretty good. I don't think I'll come back given that the food didn't settle well with me but if a sweet toasty meal sounds like something you'd enjoy then I recommend this place.

The food was very good. I asked for mild spice and it was exactly that. The sandwich was a great…read moresize for me, though it could easily be shared between two people. The spice tasted like some type of masala, and the sauce was delicious, just a little messy, so don't forget the napkins. The ambiance was pleasant, with nice African music, and the service was fast and friendly. Overall, definitely worth a try

The food was amazing, everything tasted good. The chicken and tenderloin was seasoned to…read moreperfection. I would recommend not to get tenderloin if you like your beef soft. The plantain and the puffs were to die for, I highly recommend to get them with your meal.

The Short Version: Algerian restaurant in Chinatown…read more Original location in Montreal, recently expanded to Ottawa. Affordable prices, tasty food, friendly service, casual environment. The Long Version: I have noticed recently many restaurants that succeed in Montreal have ventured to Ottawa to open additional locations. Algrillades joins this list. Their original location is in Saint Leonard on rue Jean-Talon E. I'm not sure how long that location has been in business but this location in Ottawa just opened May 2026 in the space that was briefly Amazing Authentic Artisan Noodles (So Good Restaurant occupied the space before that for around 20 years or so). My husband and I dropped by for a late lunch on a Saturday and we really enjoyed our meals. We shared a Traditional Bourek ($3.49) which is ground meat and cheese in a wrapper and then deep fried. A bit like a spring roll. It was tasty and full of flavour, although a bit greasy. I got the 6 Chicken Skewers Meal ($18.99). It was 6 small skewers of chicken, with fries, and your choice of salad or rice (I chose the salad). It also came with a plain baguette covered in black sesame seeds. The chicken was moist and tender. The pieces were mostly lean breast meat, but it appeared that some pieces of fat were deliberately added to the skewers. I suspect most diners like this because fat adds flavour and moistness, but I prefer lean meats and prefer dryness over fattiness, but I'm sure this is an unpopular opinion, lol. Nonetheless, I enjoyed the chicken (I just picked out the fatty pieces). The fries were slightly battered and tasted like they are from frozen. However, they were hot and crispy and even though not from freshly cut potatoes, I still liked them. The salad was shredded iceberg lettuce, grape tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions, and olives. Ingredients were fresh. I asked for the dressing on the side and it arrived as requested. The dressing was a slightly creamy herbed dressing and was very pleasant. The bread was very reminiscent of traditional Vietnamese banh mi, except this bread had black sesame seeds on it. I suppose since both Algeria and Vietnam were French colonies at one time, it's not surprising that their breads are similar with French influence. There weren't many seeds, so I was able to break off pieces without seeds to try the bread and it was airy and crispy on the outside like Vietnamese banh mi. My husband got the Steak Sandwich ($12) and got it all-dressed which means it came with onions, lettuce, fries, steak and Algerian sauce. It came on the same sesame seeded baguette previously mentioned. So just be aware if you have a sesame seed allergy or intolerance. My husband enjoyed his sandwich. Service was friendly and welcoming. We got a pitcher of water for our table, which I always appreciate so I don't have to bother the server for refills. Ambiance is casual. Decor is simple. They have stuffed sardines on the menu, which I think my dad would love. I will need to take him here or get takeout and bring it to him. This was my second time having Algerian food (my first time was at Idriss on St. Laurent Blvd, here in Ottawa) and I'm looking forward to trying out more dishes. Street parking only. Review #94 (2026)