Shawarma
If you haven't realized that Ottawa is the
shawarma capital
of Canada,
you will when you bite into one. With a great spot (or multiple) in every neighbourhood, it's the tastiest dinner and a great drunk food.
Where to find it:
Anywhere is great, but
Shawarma Palace
is the holy grail
BeaverTails
These may be all over the world now,
but Ottawa was BeaverTails first permanent store. Just look at how beautiful they are. I mean, even Obama stopped by to grab one of the famous Canadian treats. This fried dough pastry is absolutely to die for, and even though they are all over the world now, there aren't any like the ones made in Ottawa.
Where to find it:
BeaverTails
(ByWard Market)
Caesars
Caesars are the Canadian version of Bloody Mary's,
but better, no offence. Copper Spirits and Sights is a restaurant in Andaz Ottawa ByWard Market, and they make the most unreal
Caesars
. It's appropriately named National Capital Caesar, and it's rimmed with ketchup chips. The most Canadian drink ever, and we love it.
Where to get it:
Copper Spirits and Sights
Sandwiches
Obviously you can get a
sandwich
no matter which city you're in.
However, there are a few shops in the city that will have you craving a sandwich for every meal. Once you have one of these delicious and fresh deli sandwiches, you'll never look at Subway the same. The best sandwich shops in Ottawa are Italian delis, and they will blow your mind with how fresh they are.
Where to get it:
La Bottega Nicastro
,
Di Rienzo
Obama Cookie
Ah, the famous Obama Cookie that no one will call the Trump cookie now.
These
cookies
were named the 'Obama Cookie' when Barack Obama visited Moulin de Provence to buy cookies for his family in 2009. Ever since then, no cookie in Ottawa has been able to top them as tourists still search for them when here.
Where to get it:
Moulin de Provence
Egg Rolls
You can get egg rolls all over the world,
and a lot of them taste the same. Basically egg roll is a term that's used when a food has been filled and wrapped in a flat bread. However, you don't know egg rolls until you've tried the Golden Palace ones. They're so popular that they can ship you egg rolls all over Ontario if you're not in Ottawa. I had my first Golden Palace egg roll last year, and it changed everything.
Where to get it:
Golden Palace
Gelato
Okay, I know.
Gelato
originally comes from Italy, however, if you have never tried Italian gelato then this is the next best thing. Some of these shops will actually make you feel like you're in Italy. This dessert is an amazing treat during the summer, especially while walking around the ByWard Market. Gelato in Ottawa is some of the best I've had, and there are a few shops that will blow your mind.
Where to get it:
Stella Luna Gelato Cafe
,
Pure Gelato
,
Mantovani 1946
Donuts
Move over Timmies.
Until you've tried SuzyQ Doughnuts, you don't know what amazing
donuts
are. These are the most popular donuts in Ottawa, considering they have flavours that will always blow your mind. Blue Vanilla Fruit Loop? Salty Caramel? Sign me up. And we also have Maverick's Donut Company where you can make your own donuts. All of their donuts are so fresh and delicious, you'll be disappointed when you go anywhere else for a donut outside of Ottawa.
Where to get it:
SuzyQ Doughnuts
,
Maverick's Donut Company
,
Little Jo Berry's (Vegan Donuts)
Bagels
Montreal and NYC are known for their
bagels
.
However, you've never tried an amazing bagel until you've tried Kettleman's. With shops all around Ottawa, there is no excuse for not trying one. Not only can you go in and buy a bagel of your choice there, but you can bring some home to your family (or keep them all to yourself, I don't judge). They have so many different options and they're
all
unreal. Move over, MTL and NYC.
Where to get it:
Kettleman's Bagel Co.
Macarons
Ah, the sweetest French food.
You either love or hate macarons, and I definitely love them. These adorable desserts come from France, however, Ottawa has a different spin on it. Ranging from
macaron milkshakes
to
macaron ice cream sandwiches
, we definitely do something right. The spin on these make these simple treats such a delicacy, and we're so into it.
Where to find it:
Quelque Chose Pâtisserie
Breakfast food
There is no denying that each city has it's own holy grail
breakfast
spot.
Does your holy grail spot have ice cream waffles? Deep fried bacon? A Cinnamon Toast Crunch shake? Probably not. We may not have IHOP but we have Flapjack's Canadian Diner, which is the best. If you've never been, you'll find it hard to choose what to get. They have salty sweet options, unbelievably sweet options, and just regular breakfast food for those who aren't that adventurous (like me). Did I mention they have all day breakfast?
Where to get it:
Flapjack's Canadian Diner