Restaurant

SemSem

Name: SemSem
Address: 2430 Bank St, Ottawa, ON, K1V 0T7, CA
Telephone: (613) 733-5736
Price range: value

Middle Eastern•Centretown•value

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

SemSem is doing something Centretown badly needed: serving Middle Eastern food that reads like a family's actual cooking rather than a diplomatically softened version of it.

Editorial review updated•Jul 28, 2026

SemSem is doing something Centretown badly needed: serving Middle Eastern food that reads like a family's actual cooking rather than a diplomatically softened version of it. At a price point that sits well below most of its neighbours, the room draws a crowd that skews young, multilingual, and loyal — diners who grew up eating this food and will immediately clock whether the tahini ratio is right. By all accounts, it is. The whole premise here is that Ottawa should eat the way someone's grandmother actually cooks, and the regulars who keep coming back suggest SemSem is making good on that promise. The Fatteh Chickpeas with Meat is the dish most consistently cited as the reason people return. The menu builds it in layers — torn bread, chickpeas, a yogurt-tahini pour — and the meat version is reportedly the more grounding choice, adding depth without overtaking a bowl that is already confident on its own. Grandma's Breakfast functions as an unhurried spread, anchored by the Shakshouke: eggs set in spiced tomato, known for carrying enough heat to demand attention. The Mutabal has a reputation for genuine char rather than the decorative smokiness that shows up at lesser spots, and Dibis & Tahini — date molasses pooled into sesame paste, served with bread — is the dish diners describe as the right way to close a meal. These aren't crowd-pleasing approximations; the menu reads as if it's cooking for people who would notice the difference. The practical move: come for Grandma's Breakfast on a weekend and arrive just ahead of the brunch rush. Start with the Fatteh Chickpeas with Meat, let the middle of the table be shared, and end with the Dibis & Tahini. Front of the room, reportedly, is where the space feels most itself.

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Methodology•Ottawa guides•Editorial team•Report outdated information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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Taste Score 8.0/10

Rating (Google) 9.0

1,284 reviews

Ottawa

At a glance

The fastest read on whether this place fits tonight.

8.0/10

Taste Score

Google 9.0 from 1,284 reviews

Best for

Group Dinner and Lebanese comfort

Price and pace

Good value

Neighborhood

Centretown | 2430 Bank St, Ottawa, ON K1V 0T7, Canada

Price

Good value

Taste Score

8.0/10

Phone

(613) 733-5736

Inside the restaurant

Photos of SemSem

1 photo

What to order

Signature dishes at SemSem

Fatteh Chickpeas with Meat

Levantine dish built on layers of fried pita bread, chickpeas, pomegranate seeds and marinated tahini with cumin topped with Top Sirloin meat. Served with assorted pickles

Grandma's Breakfast

A blend of mini dishes comprised of fresh labneh, cheese, Za'atar, olives, tomatoes, cucumber, jam and halawe

Shakshouke

Mutabal

Roasted eggplant blended with tahini, lemon, garlic, garnished with pomegranate and parsley. Served with pita

Dibis & Tahini

Why go

What makes SemSem worth the move

SemSem is a reliable middle eastern choice in Centretown in Ottawa when you want something that tends to land well. Fatteh Chickpeas and Mutabal also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.0 rating across 1,284 Google reviews.

What to know fast

Public rating

9.0 from 1,284 Google reviews

Best for

Group Dinner and Lebanese comfort

Style

Middle Eastern in Centretown

Spend

Good value

Best for

Group Dinner Lebanese comfort lunch takeout warm generous

Know before you go

Google rating: 9.0 from 1,284 reviews

Price point: value

Popular dishes: Fatteh Chickpeas, Mutabal, Grandma's Breakfast

Website linked on this page

TastyPals Reviews

What diners are saying

0 diner reviews · reviewed by Priya Sharma for SemSem

Google snapshot

9.0 from 1,284 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: 2430 Bank St, Ottawa, ON K1V 0T7, Canada
Phone: (613) 733-5736
Price: value
TastyPals score: 8.0/10
Google rating: 9.0 (1,284 reviews)
Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Neighborhood: Centretown

Restaurants in Centretown

Frequently asked questions

What cuisine does SemSem serve?

SemSem is a Middle Eastern restaurant located in Centretown, Ottawa. SemSem is doing something Centretown badly needed: serving Middle Eastern food that reads like a family's actual cooking rather than a diplomatically softened version of it.

What is SemSem best for?

SemSem is best for group dinner, lebanese comfort, lunch, takeout, warm, generous. SemSem is a reliable middle eastern choice in Centretown in Ottawa when you want something that tends to land well. Fatteh Chickpeas and Mutabal also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.0 rating across 1,284 Google reviews.

How much does it cost to eat at SemSem?

SemSem is in the Good value price range (value). Google rating: 9.0 from 1,284 reviews

What should I order at SemSem?

Start with Fatteh Chickpeas with Meat, Grandma's Breakfast, Shakshouke and Mutabal. These dishes are shown from TastyPals notes or restaurant data on this page.

Is SemSem worth visiting?

SemSem holds a 9.0 Google rating from 1,284 reviews. SemSem is a reliable middle eastern choice in Centretown in Ottawa when you want something that tends to land well. Fatteh Chickpeas and Mutabal also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.0 rating across 1,284 Google reviews.