11 Cheap Ottawa Restaurants That Are Perfect If You're Hungry & Broke
Everybody loves eating out, but it’s not always easy when you’re a little strapped for cash. While Ottawa is full of wonderful and unique places to eat, they’re not all affordable if you’re on a budget. That said, this doesn’t mean you can’t treat yourself! If you’re looking for some inexpensive but tasty snacks ahead of the weekend, check out these cheap Ottawa restaurants that have meals for less than $20.
Luckily for Ottawans, there are so many delicious yet affordable restaurants located in the capital city.
That said, it can be a little difficult to know where to start when you’re looking for a cheap night out.
Fortunately, we've put the hard work in. We've compiled a list of some of the best spots in Ottawa to spend your limited cash if you're hungry-AF, but also broke-AF.
Whether you prefer spicy Indian cuisine, or comforting pasta and pizza, there’s bound to be a budget-friendly restaurant near you.
For vegans, vegetarians and meat-lovers, you can rest assured that these locations will go above-and-beyond to serve you up some tasty local grub.
Call your BFFs and get ready to spend the last $15 in your wallet, it's time to get fed.
What are you waiting for?!
Il Vicolo
Price: 💸💸
Cuisine: Traditional Italian
Address: 118 Clarence St., Ottawa, ON
Why You Need To Go: You can watch your pizza cook as the restaurant has great views of their wood burning ovens. Many of the main meals cost less than $20, too.
Burgers 'n' Fries Forever
Price: 💸💸
Cuisine: Burgers and Fries
Address: 329 Bank St., Ottawa, ON & 278 Dalhousie St., Ottawa, ON
Why You Need To Go: This isn't an ordinary burger joint. This spot has so many affordable but wacky burger creations, and there's even a secret menu.
The Green Door Restaurant
Price: 💸
Cuisine: Vegetarian Buffet
Address: 198 Main St., Ottawa, ON
Why You Need To Go: The pay-by-weight buffet and in-house bakery is a dream come true for veggie-lovers and vegetarians alike.
Oriental Chu Shing Restaurant
Price: 💸
Cuisine: Chinese
Address: 691 Somerset St W, Ottawa, ON
Why You Need To Go: With dishes starting at less than $5 and combos for less than $20, this is the perfect spot if you're looking to share dishes with your equally-broke besties.
El Camino
Price: 💸
Cuisine: Tacos and Tequila
Address: 380 Elgin St., Ottawa, ON & 81 Clarence St., Ottawa, ON
Why You Need To Go: With dishes costing anywhere between $5 and $15, it's not hard to have a budget-friendly feast here!
Farinella
Price: 💸
Cuisine: Traditional Italian
Address: 492 Rochester St., Ottawa, ON
Why You Need To Go: While pizzas cost between $38 and $40, they are a whole meter long and feed approximately 4-6 people. Not bad when you split the cost!
Little India Cafe
Price: 💸💸
Cuisine: Indian
Address: 66 Wylie Ave., Ottawa, ON
Why You Need To Go: With most menu items priced at around the $20 mark, this is a great spot to enjoy some truly authentic Indian cuisine.
Shawarma Palace
Price: 💸
Cuisine: Lebanese
Address: Various Locations
Why You Need To Go: There's a reason that Ottawans love local shawarma so much!
Via Cibo
Price: 💸💸
Cuisine: Italian Streetfood
Address: 120 Earl Grey Dr., Unit 100A, Ottawa, ON
Why You Need To Go: With so many pizzas and pastas around the $15 mark, this should be your go-to spot if you're craving traditional Italian cuisine.
Pham Le Kitchen
Price: 💸💸
Cuisine: Vietnamese
Address: 1261 Stittsville Main St., Stittsville, ON
Why You Need To Go: Most of the menu's main meals cost around $16, so it's an affordable treat if you've been dreaming of some delicious pho.
El Furniture Warehouse
Price: 💸
Cuisine: Bar and Grill
Address: 77 Clarence St., Ottawa, ON
Why You Need To Go: This Ottawa spot has literally everything you could ever dream of on their all-day $5.95 menu. They even cater really well for veggies, spice-lovers, and people with gluten intolerances.
All research done in this article is by the author. Restaurants never pay to be featured on Narcity's "Best Of" lists; furthermore, this list represents a showcase of great spots, and is not a numbered ranking.