Restaurant

El Mazaj

Name: El Mazaj
Address: 5307 Canotek Rd Unit 100, Ottawa, ON, K1J 9M2, CA
Telephone: (613) 741-3000
Price range: value

Middle Eastern•Ottawa•value

El Mazaj is one of the best middle eastern restaurants in Ottawa for group dinner, especially if you want a strong option in Ottawa.

El Mazaj is doing something Ottawa's Middle Eastern dining scene genuinely needs: no-frills, wallet-friendly cooking that respects the source material.

Editorial review updated•Jul 28, 2026

El Mazaj is doing something Ottawa's Middle Eastern dining scene genuinely needs: no-frills, wallet-friendly cooking that respects the source material. At price level one, this is the rare spot where the price point reflects stripped-back overhead rather than stripped-back effort. The crowd, by all accounts, skews practical and loyal — students, families loading up on weeknight takeout, office workers who have quietly figured out that the Combo Platter is the most efficient lunch in their radius. There is no performance happening here, just the focused work of a kitchen that knows what it does well and stays in its lane. The Hummus with Meat & Pine Nuts is consistently cited as the dish that sets the tone — spiced meat and pine nuts over a creamy hummus base, the kind of preparation that separates kitchens that treat hummus as a vehicle from those that treat it as a destination. The Muhamara, a roasted red pepper and walnut paste, is reportedly thick and pita-ready, with enough heat to register. Tabbouleh here is known for being properly herb-forward, which sounds like a low bar but is not always cleared across the city. The Chicken Shawarma Platter draws consistent praise for depth of marinade and layered flavour — diners frequently point to it as a benchmark against the city's more casual shawarma operations. The Combo Platter functions as the surveying move: a broad look at the kitchen's range before you start narrowing down on return visits. The practical case for El Mazaj is straightforward. Lunch is reportedly the move, when turnover is high and everything coming out of the kitchen is at its freshest. Go with the Combo Platter if you are eating solo or scoping the menu. Bring cash and come ready to eat — this is a kitchen that rewards both.

Priya Sharma, Dining Editor

Methodology•Ottawa guides•Editorial team•Report outdated information

Group Dinner Lebanese comfort lunch takeoutwarmgenerous

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Taste ID

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Start with one score. Add details or a review when you want to help other diners.

Taste Score 8.5/10

Rating (Google) 9.4

1,114 reviews

Ottawa

At a glance

The fastest read on whether this place fits tonight.

8.5/10

Taste Score

Google 9.4 from 1,114 reviews

Best for

Group Dinner and Lebanese comfort

Price and pace

Good value

Neighborhood

Ottawa | 5307 Canotek Rd Unit 100, Ottawa, ON K1J 9M2, Canada

Price

Good value

Taste Score

8.5/10

Phone

(613) 741-3000

Inside the restaurant

Photos of El Mazaj

1 photo

Watch

El Mazaj on video

Video: Angelica Jordan (third-party feature) · plays on YouTube

Video: Assali Advertising (third-party feature) · plays on YouTube

Video: DJ KVN - KRZ PRODUCTIONS (third-party feature) · plays on YouTube

Video: Edwin Cruz Morabe (third-party feature) · plays on YouTube

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What to order

Signature dishes at El Mazaj

Hummus with Meat & Pine Nuts

hummus, meat, pine nuts

Muhamara

Combo Platter

kafta, kabab, chicken brochette

Chicken Shawarma Platter

Tabbouleh

Why go

What makes El Mazaj worth the move

El Mazaj is a clean first click in Ottawa when you want a middle eastern option you can trust. Hummus with Meat & Pine Nuts and Muhamara also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.4 rating across 1,114 Google reviews.

What to know fast

Public rating

9.4 from 1,114 Google reviews

Best for

Group Dinner and Lebanese comfort

Style

Middle Eastern in Ottawa

Spend

Good value

Best for

Group Dinner Lebanese comfort lunch takeout warm generous

Know before you go

Google rating: 9.4 from 1,114 reviews

Price point: value

Popular dishes: Hummus with Meat & Pine Nuts, Muhamara, Combo Platter

Website linked on this page

TastyPals Reviews

What diners are saying

0 diner reviews · reviewed by Priya Sharma for El Mazaj

Google snapshot

9.4 from 1,114 reviews

TastyPals notes

Editorial review by Priya Sharma

Vanier doesn't need Starbite Resto to be precious about anything, and from what research consistently turns up, it isn't.

Vanier local spotslunchtakeout

308 reviews

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Website Menu Rate

Plan the visit

Quick details

Visit Website Menu Directions

Address: 5307 Canotek Rd Unit 100, Ottawa, ON K1J 9M2, Canada
Phone: (613) 741-3000
Price: value
TastyPals score: 8.5/10
Google rating: 9.4 (1,114 reviews)
Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Neighborhood: Ottawa

Frequently asked questions

What cuisine does El Mazaj serve?

El Mazaj is a Middle Eastern restaurant located in Ottawa, Ottawa. El Mazaj is doing something Ottawa's Middle Eastern dining scene genuinely needs: no-frills, wallet-friendly cooking that respects the source material.

What is El Mazaj best for?

El Mazaj is best for group dinner, lebanese comfort, lunch, takeout, warm, generous. El Mazaj is a clean first click in Ottawa when you want a middle eastern option you can trust. Hummus with Meat & Pine Nuts and Muhamara also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.4 rating across 1,114 Google reviews.

How much does it cost to eat at El Mazaj?

El Mazaj is in the Good value price range (value). Google rating: 9.4 from 1,114 reviews

What should I order at El Mazaj?

Start with Hummus with Meat & Pine Nuts, Muhamara, Combo Platter and Chicken Shawarma Platter. These dishes are shown from TastyPals notes or restaurant data on this page.

Is El Mazaj worth visiting?

El Mazaj holds a 9.4 Google rating from 1,114 reviews. El Mazaj is a clean first click in Ottawa when you want a middle eastern option you can trust. Hummus with Meat & Pine Nuts and Muhamara also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.4 rating across 1,114 Google reviews.