--- title: "Top 5 Indian restaurants in Ottawa | voche.me" canonical_url: "https://voche.me/on/ottawa-2026/guides/top-indian-restaurants-ottawa" last_updated: 2026-11-15 meta: description: "Five Ottawa Indian restaurants named by CAA North & East Ontario magazine, Narcity, the Ottawa Business Journal and Tastet." "og:description": "Five Ottawa Indian restaurants named by CAA North & East Ontario magazine, Narcity, the Ottawa Business Journal and Tastet." "og:title": "Top 5 Indian restaurants in Ottawa" "twitter:description": "Five Ottawa Indian restaurants named by CAA North & East Ontario magazine, Narcity, the Ottawa Business Journal and Tastet." "twitter:title": "Top 5 Indian restaurants in Ottawa" --- OTTAWA · RESTAURANTS # Top 5 Indian restaurants in Ottawa This guide lists five Indian restaurants in Ottawa, from Kerala cooking on St. Laurent Boulevard to a buffet on Somerset Street West. It draws on CAA North & East Ontario magazine's 2025 guide to Ottawa's Indian food, Narcity's 2024 list of chefs' favourites, an Ottawa Business Journal report and a Tastet review. Every page this guide cites was read on 15 November 2026. See the 5 places 1. Number 1 ### Coconut Lagoon Kerala restaurant 853 St. Laurent Blvd, Ottawa, St. Laurent Boulevard, Ottawa CAA North & East Ontario magazine named Coconut Lagoon its fine dining pick in November 2025 and wrote that it brings the food of Kerala to Ottawa. Narcity's 2024 list of chefs' favourites included it, and the Ottawa Business Journal reported in December 2025 that chef Joe Thottungal opened it in 2004. - > “The food is elegant and elevated, bringing the tastes of Kerala to a fine dining atmosphere.” [CAA North & East Ontario, Naomi Badour](https://caaneo.ca/magazine/travel/biryani-butter-chicken-heres-where-find-ottawas-best-indian-food/) · best-of list · November 13, 2025 (opens in a new tab) - > “Coconut Lagoon prides itself on being a "modern Indian restaurant."” [Narcity, Jordan Pizzuti](https://www.narcity.com/ottawa/best-indian-restaurants-in-ottawa-according-to-chefs) · best-of list · September 17, 2024 (opens in a new tab) - > “He opened his first restaurant, Coconut Lagoon, in 2004 and Thali in 2018.” [Ottawa Business Journal](https://obj.ca/?p=268887) · news · December 15, 2025 (opens in a new tab) [Visit coconutlagoon.ca (opens in a new tab)](https://coconutlagoon.ca/) 2. ![Thali, from its own website](https://thaliottawa.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Thali.jpeg)Number 2 ### Thali Indian restaurant 136 O'Connor St, Ottawa, Ottawa CAA North & East Ontario magazine named Thali, chef Joe Thottungal's second restaurant, for the variety of its thali platters. Narcity's 2024 list explained the thali style of meal, and the Ottawa Business Journal reported in December 2025 that Thali opened in 2018. - > “Here, you’ll find more traditional curries, biryani, and, of course, thali platters.” [CAA North & East Ontario, Naomi Badour](https://caaneo.ca/magazine/travel/biryani-butter-chicken-heres-where-find-ottawas-best-indian-food/) · best-of list · November 13, 2025 (opens in a new tab) - > “The name Thali refers to a type of dish in the south of India.” [Narcity, Jordan Pizzuti](https://www.narcity.com/ottawa/best-indian-restaurants-in-ottawa-according-to-chefs) · best-of list · September 17, 2024 (opens in a new tab) - > “He opened his first restaurant, Coconut Lagoon, in 2004 and Thali in 2018.” [Ottawa Business Journal](https://obj.ca/?p=268887) · news · December 15, 2025 (opens in a new tab) [Visit thaliottawa.ca (opens in a new tab)](https://thaliottawa.ca/) Photo: Thali's website 3. ![East India Company, from its own website](https://www.eastindiaco.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/EIC-Ottawa-Centre6.jpg)Number 3 ### East India Company Indian buffet restaurant 210 Somerset Street West, Ottawa, Somerset Street West, Ottawa Tastet reviewed the Somerset Street location of East India Company in October 2026 and wrote about the family that runs it and its buffet of Punjabi and other regional dishes. CAA North & East Ontario magazine named it for its interior in November 2025. - > “The cooking leans Punjabi, with South Indian, West and North Indian dishes, vegetarian plates and seafood sharing the buffet.” [Tastet, Marie-Ève Godin](https://tastet.ca/en/reviews/east-india-company/) · review · October 6, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - > “The decor incorporates Hindu statues, friezes and iconography, with the focal point being a stone archway in the centre of the restaurant.” [CAA North & East Ontario, Naomi Badour](https://caaneo.ca/magazine/travel/biryani-butter-chicken-heres-where-find-ottawas-best-indian-food/) · best-of list · November 13, 2025 (opens in a new tab) [Visit eastindiaco.com (opens in a new tab)](https://www.eastindiaco.com/reservations-ottawa-centre/) Photo: East India Company's website 4. Number 4 ### Little India Cafe North Indian restaurant 66 Wylie Ave., Ottawa, Ottawa Narcity wrote in 2024 that Little India Cafe is Ottawa's oldest Indian restaurant. CAA North & East Ontario magazine named it for its butter chicken in November 2025 and also wrote about its biryani, pakoras and lunch buffet. - > “Little India Cafe offers other classics like flavourful biryani and crispy vegetable pakoras;” [CAA North & East Ontario, Naomi Badour](https://caaneo.ca/magazine/travel/biryani-butter-chicken-heres-where-find-ottawas-best-indian-food/) · best-of list · November 13, 2025 (opens in a new tab) - > “Little India Cafe is Ottawa's oldest Indian restaurant.” [Narcity, Jordan Pizzuti](https://www.narcity.com/ottawa/best-indian-restaurants-in-ottawa-according-to-chefs) · best-of list · September 17, 2024 (opens in a new tab) 5. Number 5 ### Brampton Authentic Indian Cuisine Indian restaurant 178 Meadowlands Dr. W., Ottawa, Ottawa CAA North & East Ontario magazine named this family-owned restaurant near Algonquin College for its samosas in November 2025. It also wrote about its takeout and its renovated dining room. - > “Their newly renovated dine-in area is cute and cozy, perfect for date night or small groups.” [CAA North & East Ontario, Naomi Badour](https://caaneo.ca/magazine/travel/biryani-butter-chicken-heres-where-find-ottawas-best-indian-food/) · best-of list · November 13, 2025 (opens in a new tab) QUESTIONS ## Questions this guide answers
What are the top Indian restaurants in Ottawa? This guide lists Coconut Lagoon, Thali, East India Company, Little India Cafe and Brampton Authentic Indian Cuisine, each named by CAA North & East Ontario magazine and other outlets.
When was this guide checked? Every page this guide cites was read again on 15 November 2026.
Who runs Coconut Lagoon and Thali? Both belong to chef Joe Thottungal, who opened Coconut Lagoon in 2004 and Thali in 2018, according to the Ottawa Business Journal.
Where is Coconut Lagoon? Coconut Lagoon is at 853 St. Laurent Blvd in Ottawa, and it cooks dishes from Kerala, as CAA North & East Ontario magazine wrote.
What is a thali? Narcity wrote that a thali is a type of meal from the south of India, with proteins, rice, vegetables and sauces served together on one platter.
What does East India Company serve? Tastet wrote that its Somerset Street West restaurant serves a buffet of Punjabi, South, West and North Indian dishes, with vegetarian plates and seafood.
Which is Ottawa's oldest Indian restaurant in this guide? Narcity wrote in 2024 that Little India Cafe, at 66 Wylie Ave., is Ottawa's oldest Indian restaurant.
What is Brampton Authentic Indian Cuisine known for? CAA North & East Ontario magazine named the family-owned restaurant near Algonquin College for its samosas.
How do I report a mistake in this guide? Use the corrections form at voche.me/report and name the place and the line that is wrong.
SOURCES ## Every page this guide draws on 1. [From biryani to butter chicken, here’s where to find Ottawa’s best Indian food](https://caaneo.ca/magazine/travel/biryani-butter-chicken-heres-where-find-ottawas-best-indian-food/)CAA North & East Ontario, Naomi Badour · November 13, 2025 · caaneo.ca · read November 15, 2026 2. [The 6 best Indian restaurants in Ottawa, according to local chefs and restaurateurs](https://www.narcity.com/ottawa/best-indian-restaurants-in-ottawa-according-to-chefs)Narcity, Jordan Pizzuti · September 17, 2024 · narcity.com · read November 15, 2026 3. [Chef Joe Thottungal makes ‘heartbreaking’ decision to shelve plans for Almonte restaurant](https://obj.ca/?p=268887)Ottawa Business Journal · December 15, 2025 · obj.ca · read November 15, 2026 4. [East India Company: A Family Kitchen Carried Across Canada](https://tastet.ca/en/reviews/east-india-company/)Tastet, Marie-Ève Godin · October 6, 2026 · tastet.ca · read November 15, 2026 **Found an error?** Tell the editors with the [corrections form](https://voche.me/on/ottawa-2026/report). [Read our standards](https://voche.me/on/ottawa-2026/about). MORE GUIDES ## More Ottawa guides [All local guides ](https://voche.me/on/ottawa-2026/guides) Ottawa · 5 places ### [Top 5 brunch spots in Ottawa](https://voche.me/on/ottawa-2026/guides/top-brunch-ottawa) Five Ottawa brunch restaurants named by Apt613 and Narcity, covering spots in Hintonburg, Centretown and Downtown Ottawa. Ottawa · 5 places ### [Top 5 pizza restaurants in Ottawa](https://voche.me/on/ottawa-2026/guides/top-pizza-ottawa) Five Ottawa pizza restaurants named by the Ottawa Citizen, Apt613 and Capital Eats, in New Edinburgh, Lindenlea, Vanier, Westboro and Wellington Village. Ottawa · 5 places ### [Top 5 restaurants in Ottawa](https://voche.me/on/ottawa-2026/guides/top-restaurants-ottawa) Five Ottawa restaurants named by Apt613, Narcity and Noms Magazine, with each outlet's own words. ## Sitemap See the full [sitemap](/on/ottawa-2026/sitemap.md) for all pages.