Restaurant

Habesha Restaurant

Name: Habesha Restaurant
Address: 99 Montréal Rd, Vanier, ON, K1L 6E8, CA
Telephone: (613) 761-6120
Price range: value

Ethiopian•Vanier•value

Habesha Restaurant is one of the best ethiopian restaurants in Ottawa for cheap eats, especially if you want a strong option in Vanier.

Vanier doesn't do performance dining, and Habesha fits the neighbourhood like it was built for it.

Editorial review updated•Jul 28, 2026

Vanier doesn't do performance dining, and Habesha fits the neighbourhood like it was built for it. This is a room that operates on the logic of family generosity rather than restaurant theatre — the kind of place where, by every account, the welcome is immediate and unrehearsed. If your frame of reference for Ethiopian food is the polished spots downtown, Habesha is worth understanding as a different proposition entirely: the priority here appears to be feeding people rather than impressing them, and diners consistently report that the communal, sharing-forward format is the whole point of the experience. The Habesha Platter is the obvious starting point and, from what regulars describe, the right call — eight beef and lentil stews arranged across a large injera that the kitchen is known for making hot and to order, with the tangy, porous quality that makes injera function simultaneously as utensil and accompaniment. Kitfo is a dish that separates places taking Ethiopian cooking seriously from those that don't, and Habesha's version has a strong reputation for being handled with care. Dulet with rice is the menu's outlier worth paying attention to — reportedly rich and well-seasoned, the pairing with rice rather than injera gives it a different register from the rest of the menu. The Habesha fish and chips sounds like a gimmick; it isn't — the Ethiopian twist on the format is one of the more talked-about items on the menu, and it reads as the kitchen having genuine fun rather than chasing novelty. Vegetarian and gluten-free options run through the menu without feeling like afterthoughts. Practical reality: the room is tight and the format rewards a table of four or more, so plan accordingly. Weekend evenings move fast — arrive early or expect a wait. A weekday lunch is the low-key local move. When in doubt, lead with the platter and let the kitchen do the rest.

Carlos Mendez, Food & Drink Editor

Methodology•Ottawa guides•Editorial team•Report outdated information

Cheap EatsVanier local spotslunch takeoutlocallow key

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Taste Score 8.0/10

Rating (Google) 9.2

643 reviews

Ottawa

At a glance

The fastest read on whether this place fits tonight.

8.0/10

Taste Score

Google 9.2 from 643 reviews

Best for

Cheap Eats and Vanier local spots

Price and pace

Good value

Neighborhood

Vanier | 99 Montréal Rd, Vanier, ON K1L 6E8, Canada

Price

Good value

Taste Score

8.0/10

Phone

(613) 761-6120

Inside the restaurant

Photos of Habesha Restaurant

1 photo

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Habesha Restaurant on video

Video: Brian Eng doing his Theng! (third-party feature) · plays on YouTube

What to order

Signature dishes at Habesha Restaurant

Habesha Platter

Kitfo

Dulet with rice

Habesha fish and chips

Why go

What makes Habesha Restaurant worth the move

Habesha Restaurant is a strong ethiopian option in Vanier in Ottawa when you want somewhere that already has a solid public track record. Habesha Platter and Kitfo also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.2 rating across 643 Google reviews.

What to know fast

Public rating

9.2 from 643 Google reviews

Best for

Cheap Eats and Vanier local spots

Style

Ethiopian in Vanier

Spend

Good value

Best for

Cheap Eats Vanier local spots lunch takeout local low key

Know before you go

Google rating: 9.2 from 643 reviews

Price point: value

Popular dishes: Habesha Platter, Kitfo, Dulet with rice

Phone number available

TastyPals Reviews

What diners are saying

0 diner reviews · reviewed by Carlos Mendez for Habesha Restaurant

Google snapshot

9.2 from 643 reviews

TastyPals notes

Editorial review by Carlos Mendez

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

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Address: 99 Montréal Rd, Vanier, ON K1L 6E8, Canada
Phone: (613) 761-6120
Price: value
TastyPals score: 8.0/10
Google rating: 9.2 (643 reviews)
Cuisine: Ethiopian
Neighborhood: Vanier

Restaurants in Vanier

Frequently asked questions

What cuisine does Habesha Restaurant serve?

Habesha Restaurant is a Ethiopian restaurant located in Vanier, Ottawa. Vanier doesn't do performance dining, and Habesha fits the neighbourhood like it was built for it.

What is Habesha Restaurant best for?

Habesha Restaurant is best for cheap eats, vanier local spots, lunch, takeout, local, low key. Habesha Restaurant is a strong ethiopian option in Vanier in Ottawa when you want somewhere that already has a solid public track record. Habesha Platter and Kitfo also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.2 rating across 643 Google reviews.

How much does it cost to eat at Habesha Restaurant?

Habesha Restaurant is in the Good value price range (value). Google rating: 9.2 from 643 reviews

What should I order at Habesha Restaurant?

Start with Habesha Platter, Kitfo, Dulet with rice and Habesha fish and chips. These dishes are shown from TastyPals notes or restaurant data on this page.

Is Habesha Restaurant worth visiting?

Habesha Restaurant holds a 9.2 Google rating from 643 reviews. Habesha Restaurant is a strong ethiopian option in Vanier in Ottawa when you want somewhere that already has a solid public track record. Habesha Platter and Kitfo also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.2 rating across 643 Google reviews.

Where is Habesha Restaurant located?

Habesha Restaurant is located at 99 Montréal Rd, Vanier, ON K1L 6E8, Canada. Directions are available via Google Maps.

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Restaurants in VanierBrowse nearby places around Vanier.

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