4 Must-Try Bubble Tea Places in Ottawa

Are you a Bubble Tea enthusiast in Ottawa and looking for the best spots in the town for the perfect blend of flavors and textures?

Here’s a compilation of the best bubble tea spots in the city that I found –

SipTea

Address: 203 Bank St, Ottawa, ON K2P 1W7
Business website: https://www.sipteaca.com/

My order at Sip Tea was just perfect, I think it has been the best bubble tea I have had so far in the city. My Brown Sugar Bobo Milk Tea came with Tapioca, Green Tea and Cheese Mousse. So far, out of all the places, Sip Tea has come out as my favorite place for Bubble Tea! The reason being every time I have ordered from this place, the flavor is spot on and the quality has been consistent!

If you want the best bang for your buck, go for their Super Bucket Tea which has a litre of milk tea and you can even share it with your friends!

Sip Tea does have another location in Merivale but the one on Bank Street is the best!

Highly recommend their Brown Sugar Milk Tea
Large seating area
Best bubble tea in downtown Ottawa
Casual hangout location

Chatime

Address: 695 Somerset St W, Ottawa, ON K1R 6P5
Business website: https://chatime.ca/

Chatime has been another one of my favorites bubble tea spots in Ottawa and I have found that the one in Chinatown seems to be consistent in terms of quality. I have tried out other Chatime locations in Ottawa as well however the quality of my bubble tea was slightly lower at those locations.

Chatime locations also have deals running from time to time and sometimes you might just get a free drink or 50% off regular price. So make sure to provide your number to take advantage of their periodic deals.

Takeout oriented
Limited seating
Multiple locations
Best bubble tea in Chinatown

Juice Dudez

Address: 91 Richmond Rd A, Ottawa, ON K1Z 0A7
Business website: https://juicedudez.ca/

While they don’t have the largest variety of Bubble Teas, they definitely have one of the better ones in Ottawa. This Shop not only offers Boba Tea but also are popular for their fruit smoothies, juices and desserts. Also it appears to be a cool hangout spot for youngsters and remote workers. This shop is open till midnight and even sells a few farm products.

Open till late
Chill spot for late night hangout
Seating available but can be busy

Pomelo Hat

Address: 1196 Bank St, Ottawa, ON K1S 3Y1
Business website: https://www.pomelohat.com/

While this bubble tea shop was the smallest I have been to, I found their bubble tea to be quite good. They do have vegan options available as well. Besides bubble tea, the place is also known for its smoothie bowls, poke bowls and fresh bakery products.

Tiny bubble tea location
Takeout oriented
Limited seating

Other good bubble tea places worth visiting –

Hi T (Address: 1076 Wellington St. W, Ottawa, ON K1Y 2Y3)
While their bubble tea is just good enough, they have a really nice seating area and free to play board games as well. This place might be really nice for a group hangout! They also offer a do it yourself bubble tea experience which is something I have seen for the first time.
Hangout (Address: 839 Somerset St W, Ottawa, ON K1R 6R6)
This location has a large seating area, and features a ton of board games to choose from. Besides bubble tea they also have slushies, fruit smoothies, sodas, cupcakes, cheesecakes, ice-creams and ramens. This would be a good spot if you want to play some games with your friends and have some snacks/drinks. There is a per person charge for the board games.
Tiger Sugar (Address: 238 Besserer St Unit B, Ottawa, ON K1N 6B1)
Tiger Sugar markets itself as a premium bubble tea experience and I think it does deliver somewhat on it. My drink looked nice but I think the flavor was a bit below expectation especially when you pay a high price for your drinks.
Coco Bubble Tea (Address: 290 Bank St, Ottawa, ON K2P 1X6, Canada)
It’s a nice and clean location, I have usually headed down there when I am with a big group of people. This is one of the large bubble tea locations and is very conveniently located. They do have some other locations as well around Ottawa. Also they do have monthly specials so you might end up saving a few bucks on your order.

Bubble Tea Places that I do not recommend –

PapaSpicy (Address: 366 Dalhousie St, Ottawa, ON K1N 5W2)
This location had the worst bubble tea I had in Ottawa. It just seemed sugar and water. I don’t think it was worth paying for this one at all and it needs serious improvement.
Tealive Somerset Chinatown (Address: 675 Somerset St W, Ottawa, ON K1R 6P3)
I felt the ingredients in my drink were cheap. Before TeaLive, there used to be a Chatime store here which I think had really good bubble tea. However the quality has gone really downhill.
Meow Tea (Address: 279 Elgin St, Ottawa, ON K2P 1M1)
Meow Tea needs a better quality control over their bubble tea. I felt that sometimes it was too sweet and sometimes not sweet at all.

Please feel free to share your experience on which bubble tea spots you have visited and enjoyed so far in the Ottawa region.

Tom Mehra

Tom Mehra, an Ottawa-based Software Engineer with a Masters in Information Systems from the University of Texas at Dallas, shares insights on local food spots and top attractions in Canada and the US. He’s also a former resident of the US, UK, and India, and in 2023, his blog was nominated for an Ottawa Award by Faces Magazine. He is also a cat sitter.

tommera.com/

6 Country Bars In Ottawa For A Night Out

While country music is not huge in Ottawa, there are still some bars out there for country music fans to visit and enjoy country music. Here are some of the places that might be worth checking out if you are into the country lifestyle.

Crazy Horse Saloon

Address: 115 Roland Michener Dr, Kanata, ON K2T 1G7
Business website: https://www.thecrazyhorse.ca/

If you are really into country music and dancing then Crazy Horse Saloon would be your best bet! Out of all the places I have gone to so far, Crazy Horse Saloon offers the best experience in the city for country music folks. The place regularly has live music events and it can get quite busy so if you want to get a table, make sure that you arrive early! They also have a mechanical bull on certain days.

Best Country Music bar
Best days to go: Wednesday, Friday and Sunday
Western themed Bar and Restaurant
Regular live music performances
Plays country music and hip hop.
Attracts a younger demographic
Free to enter but cover might apply on busy days
Can get very busy
Relatively small dance floor
Offers food and drinks
Bit of a drive from Ottawa downtown

Nash Boîte Country

Address: 325 Bd Gréber, Gatineau, QC J8T 8J3
Business website: https://www.nashvillequebec.com/

Nash Boîte Country (also called Nash Bar Gatineau) is a new country bar that has opened up in Gatineau. Previously this place used to be called as X Lounge. This bar has a large dance floor than the other bars however it can still get quite packed with people during weekdays. If you are looking for line dancing then this would be the place to go.

Best Country and Western Bar
Best days to go: Friday and Saturday
Line Dancing Lessons on Wednesday
Large dance floor (relative to other bars)
Plays mostly country music
Live Musical performances
Only bar for proper line dancing in Ottawa
Lots of slot machines
Attracts relatively older demographic

Pop-O-Bar

Address: 75 Bd Gréber, Gatineau, QC J8T 3P9
Business website: https://restaurantpopobar.com/

Based out in Gatineau, Pop-O-Bar is a popular bar among locals for live music. Just make sure to check their schedule as sometimes they have other things like Karaoke going as well!

Best days to go: Friday and Saturday
Nice atmosphere
Live country music in both English and French!
Attracts a slightly older demographic
Lots of slot machines
Small dance floor
Small cover charge on weekends
Free coat check

Lunergans Pub and Eatery

Address: 1661 Montréal Rd, Gloucester, ON K1J 9B7

Lunergans Pub and Eatery has local country music nights every then and now! If there is a band performing then there wouldn’t be much of a dance floor at this place. I would recommend this place if you want to have chicken wings and beer while listening to country music.

Best days to go: Wednesday
Dive bar feel
Attracts older demographic
No dance floor

La P’tite Grenouille Gatineau

Address: 9 Rue Aubry, Gatineau, QC J8X 2H1
Business website: https://laptitegrenouille.ca/

I haven’t tried their food yet but this place gets packed on Weekends! La P’tite Grenouille usually has live music early in the night and then this place converts into a dance bar late into the night. The place tends to attract younger crowd on the weekends. Live music is usually country however once this place is a dance club then the place has a variety of hip hop, or dance music.

Best days to go: Friday and Saturday night
Bilingual live country music (French and English)
Drinks are cheaper (compared to bars in Ottawa)
There might be an entry fee over the weekend if you arrive late
Large dance floor on the second floor

Chateau Lafayette

Address: 42 York St, Ottawa, ON K1N 5S6
Business website: https://www.thelaff.ca/

The Chateau Lafayette is the most convenient spot to go to if you are in the Ottawa Downtown area. Located in the Byward Market, the venue has live country music every weekend! The Laff is quite well known for the its local performers who have been performing at the location for more than a decade now and previously the place has been visited by many popular celebrities including Justin Bieber!

Best days to go: Friday and Saturday
Dive Bar
Jukebox machine to play whatever music you want
Seating capacity for large group
Small dance floor

If you are looking for other options for country music in Ottawa, your best bet would be when the weather is warmer, as there are internationally known country music artists performing at different festivals in the city.

Feel free to share your experience if you have been to these places or know any other bar in the region.

Tom Mehra

tommera.com/

7 Reasons Not To Move To Toronto!

Toronto is not for everyone! Despite being ranked as one of the most livable cities not only just in North America but in the world, Toronto has a number of issues which make people who have tried living there hate it, leave it and never come back –

Here are some of the reasons why it’s not worth moving to Toronto –

Toronto is an Expensive City to live In

Don’t be surprised if the rent for housing amounts to more than half of your salary. Rampant money laundering, lack of housing supply and mass immigration have caused housing prices in Toronto to skyrocket.

A lot of people in Toronto are not able to buy a house because they don’t have enough savings to be able to pay for their down payment.

It comes as no surprise that the younger generation in Toronto are either forced to live with their parents or go for shared accommodation despite having a full-time job.

If you were to lose your job, the unemployment benefits are not even going to be enough to cover your rent! This can end up being a very stressful event for you.

Toronto is Overcrowded

Toronto is the most populated city in Canada and you will often end up in situations where you are stuck in long queues to get into a restaurant, or in cramped conditions in a street car. This can often lead to frustration as the city hasn’t really been able to navigate on how to resolve these issues to a big extent.

Money doesn’t go a long way in Toronto

While salaries might be higher when compared to third world countries, most people who move to Toronto don’t really end up making a lot of money. Additionally with the cost of living being high and a substantial portion going to taxes, there isn’t much to save either. Only if you get a really high paying job or make big cuts to your standard of living, you would be able to save money while living in Toronto.

Poor Infrastructure

A representation for bad roads in Toronto

Toronto lacks the necessary infrastructure to support its population.

The city lacks highways and it can take hours for short commutes.
There isn’t sufficient parking available or being too expensive.
Emergency healthcare wait times can be very long.
It can take years to have a family doctor.

Housing Shortage and Chronic Homelessness

Finding housing in Toronto is like looking for a job. You will have to go through a lot of viewings, spend a lot of time, do interviews, and have endless formalities just to be able to secure housing.

Toronto has a very large homeless population

The city has failed to keep up with the large number of migrants that move to the city every year and that has often lead to landlords taking advantage of the situation.

If you belong to a lower income group, you might be eligible to apply for community housing, however it can take more than a decade to get housing.

Toronto has tens of thousands of people who suffer from chronic homelessness as the city has been deemed unaffordable. The homeless situation is expected to worsen as the city fails to take any reasonable action.

Mental Health

There is a shockingly high number of mentally unstable people that you would encounter daily while living in Toronto. Whether you are in public transit, on the street or even in your apartment building, you will notice that a large number of people in Toronto suffer from Mental health issues.

Public Transport is a nightmare

While it might be rated high in reports and called the best in North America, the reality is that Toronto’s public transport is one of the worst that you can experience.

Public Transport in Toronto is not as great as you might think

Not only is it quite costly to use the transit system, the street cars break down often, and are also overcrowded during peak hours. What might be a normal 5-10 minute commute can become an hour in transit.

Tom Mehra

tommera.com/

6 Top Sushi Restaurants In Ottawa Metro!

The Ottawa-Gatineau region has a ton of sushi restaurants and it can be quite hard to figure out which one offer a great sushi experience. I have made it easy for you by visiting out a number of sushi shops in the city and only listing those that offer an incredible sushi experience!

Sunrice Sushi

Address: 190 Dalhousie St, Ottawa, ON K1N 5G1
Business website: https://www.sunricesushi.ca/

What previously used to be a European style bistro is now a Japanese Sushi restaurant called Sunrice and while the restaurant is relatively new, they are doing a great job at it. Sunrice Sushi offers an extensive sushi menu and the prices are relatively very affordable for the quality of their sushi. I was surprised with the quantity of sushi that I got for my order as well. Besides Sushi, they also offer a variety of dishes including Poke, Noodle Soup, Donhuri, Deep Fried Rolls and More!

Upscale casual dining experience
Affordable pricing
Ideal for small group hangouts
Service in English and Japanese
Japanese Cuisine

Yuzumi Sushi

Address: 83 Holland Ave, Ottawa, ON K1Y 0Y1
Business website: https://yuzumi.ca/

This Japanese Fusion restaurant actually surprised me as it offers a sushi experience with their own unique taste. My sushi was spicy, flavorful and it was both soft/crunchy which is something I really enjoyed. Definitely try out their specialty rolls if you visit this sushi restaurant. They are also quite popular for their poke bowls and sushi tacos.

Casual dining experience
Takeout oriented restaurant

Sapporo Sushi Ottawa

Address: 1671 Carling Ave, Ottawa, ON K2A 0Y2
Business website: https://sapporosushiottawa.com/

If you are on a date, then maybe you would want to go with the Sapporo Sushi restaurant in Ottawa. Their sushi is great and the restaurant has a bit more private space between tables. You might want to go with the Lover’s Platter that has a variety of sushi and comes with appetizers as well.

My order of Sushi had Mango sauce in it and was quite delicious. They do give out Free Miso soup and I think it’s quite rare to get free stuff at restaurants in Ottawa.

Casual upscale dining
Japanese cuisine
Suitable for large groups

Mya Sushi

Address: 277 Boulevard Saint-Joseph, Gatineau, Quebec J8Y 3Y2
Business website: https://myasushi.ca/

If you ever driving by in the Hull region, you should definitely try Mya Sushi restaurant which offers both Japanese as well as Vietnamese cuisine. My sushi was just fantastic and quite flavorful. I would definitely be visiting this place again. If you are going on a date, I recommend that you go for their popular choices. As the restaurant also offers Vietnamese cuisine, you might want to try their pho and other dishes as well.

Even though we were seated quite far away from the sushi chef, I was surprised that he actually showed up at our table and asked if the sushi served was good or not.

Japanese/Vietnamese Cuisine
Casual dining experience

Shinka Sushi

Address: 2900 Sheffield Rd, Ottawa, ON K1B 1A4
Business website: https://shinkasushibar.com/

While Shinka Sushi previously used to offer a dining experience, it has now converted itself to a takeout only restaurant. Nevertheless, their Sushi is one of the best in the city. Shinka Sushi scores well on both presentation and flavor and I haven’t been disappointed with any of my visits so far.

I would hope that sometime in the future they have some seating capacity though as eating the sushi in a car is a little inconvenient. Some of their popular menu items are Spicy Yellowtail, Sashimi Omakase, and Salmon Carpaccio.

Takeout restaurant
No seating available
Japanese cuisine

Genji Japanese Restaurant

Address: 175 Lisgar St, Ottawa, ON K2P 0C3

Phoenix Roll with jalapeno, chicken, and spicy mayo sauce

Genji Sushi is a fine dining Japanese restaurant and offers quite an extensive sushi menu ranging from the cheap California rolls to the more expensive Dragon Rolls. I found my order of sushi to be fresh, flavorful and reasonably priced.

Some of the popular items at this restaurant include – Sweet Potato Maki, Salmon Avocado Maki, Spicy Salmon Maki, California Maki, Sake Maki

They also have a variety of cold/hot appetizers that might be worth trying. From the appetizers I ended up trying their baby octopuses which were quite delicious!

Japanese cuisine
Fine dining restaurant
Ideal for dinner dates

Tom Mehra

tommera.com/

How to get an FBI Background Check for Canada Immigration?

You would be required by the Canadian Immigration to submit an FBI Police Clearance certificate if the following conditions apply –

Applying for Canadian Permanent Residence or Canadian Citizenship. AND
Currently residing or have previously resided in the United States.

Steps that you need to follow to apply for your FBI Police Clearance Certificate

Step 1 – Fill out the FBI Identity History Summary Request Form

You can either fill out the summary request form in paper format or online.

RECOMMENDED – For faster processing it is suggested that you submit your request online using the Electronic Departmental Order – https://www.edo.cjis.gov/.

To start your online process –

Submit your email address.
Receive Identity History Summary Request from FBI in your email.
Open the Link in the email and fill out the application.

The online form requires you to fill your Personal Information, Mailing Address and Preferences.

For Preferences, it is recommended to provide ‘Yes’ to all, that way you will receive a copy of the response in email as well as a hard copy.

Finalize your online application by making the payment.

Information for paper based applicants only
If you are NOT able to do the online order then you only try doing the paper format. Here is what the paper format of the identity history summary request form looks like, you will need to fill out your details, print it and then sign it. You will need to attach a check or money order or provide a credit card form as well in this case.

Step 2 – Fill out FBI Standard Fingerprint Card

You will need print out the FBI Fingerprint Card, provide your personal details and then need to do your fingerprints.

Here is what the current fingerprint form looks like –

Where to get your fingerprints done?

Doing your fingerprints at home is not recommended as the quality of the fingerprints might not be good enough. It is recommended that you contact your nearest police station and ask them if they can do it for you. Some police stations might do it for free but some of them might charge you a fee so make sure to carry cash with you.

Step 3 – Mail your printed identity history request form AND fingerprint form

You will need to mail both your identify history request form as well as the fingerprint form to the FBI CJIS Division. Their complete address is –

FBI CJIS Division
ATTN: ELECTRONIC SUMMARY REQUEST
1000 Custer Hollow Road
Clarksburg, West Virginia 26306

Expedite your mail

If you are sending the mail from outside the United States, it can take weeks, even months for the FBI to receive it. If you need the FBI background check soon, it is recommended to send it as priority shipping or whatever fastest method is available.

Tom Mehra

tommera.com/

Fun Things That You Can Do At The St-Tite Western Festival!

Saint-Tite Western Festival (also known as Festival Western de Saint-Tite) is one of the largest rodeo events in North America, the others being the Calgary Stampede and Houston Rodeo.

The festival takes place in St Tite spanning a duration of 10 days during the month of September. There is just so much to do at the Festival that many people prefer to camp nearby and go there everyday of the festival!

Here is how you can spend your day at the St Tite Western Festival –

Learn Country Dancing!

Throughout the venue, there are multiple dance floors where you will see artists and bands perform live country music in French as well as English! You will see people dancing so feel free to join them and learn some country line dancing! There are also separate dancing lessons that happen throughout the day.

Country Dancing at St Tite Western Festival

Party Bike Tour!

Grab yourself a drink and pedal with your friends on the Pedal Pub Bike! Think of it as the country’s version of the Party Bus! Drinking in public is allowed at the Festival. You can even bring your own alcohol.

Shop for Western Clothing

If you have been looking for western hats, shirts, jeans or boots, you will be able to find numerous stores within the venue where they are selling Western clothing. While some of the shops sell off-branded stuff, you will see branded stuff as well.

Play Paintball!

Up for a challenge? Play Paintball with your friends and see who scores the most. You might win a prize depending on how well you score! There are many games similar to this around the venue.

Beautiful Art at St Tite

You will see Quebec’s/Canada’s talent selling their art. This could be an opportunity if you are looking to decorate your house or office space.

Free Massage!

There are some shops selling body massage tools and they will let you try out their product for free! So if you are feeling tired, you should definitely head there for a relaxing massage!

Horse-Drawn Carriage Rides

For a price you can take a ride that takes you through the small town of St Tite. These rides are suitable for couples or even large families! Some couples even do their ceremony at the festival and use these carriage rides.

Horse Rides

If you love horses then why not take a horse ride at St Tite! This might be more suitable for experienced people. You might need to register early in the morning for the event.

5D Attractions

Unique mobile truck that offers you an immersive experience with a combination of 3D imaging and sensory effects (vibration/rain/foam). You can even take your kids on this ride with you!

Electric Bikes Store

The festival has kept up with modern times! Some stores are selling electric bikes and you might be able to get them at a discount! There are other automobiles, trailers to view and try as well!

Play and win Freebies!

There are a number of big companies that have setup their stores/showrooms and have games and competitions where they let you win freebies. Some even have draws for winning grand prizes like a car or house! There are fun activities for both adults and kids.

Try some jerky!

If you haven’t tried Quebec’s jerky, you will see some stalls selling jerky. You can also get to try the product before buying. There are many other stalls to try other different food products as well

Eat BBQ Food!

The quality of the food at the stalls is decent and the prices are reasonable. If you are at the festival, you should definitely try out some BBQ!

Even Pet Food is there!

Don’t be surprised if you see stalls selling pet food and supplements! Not only are they selling dry food but you can also buy frozen food for your cats/dogs! Pet food is primarily focused more towards Dogs but you will find a few products for cats and other pets as well.

Ride the Mechanical Bull!

While you won’t be able to ride a real bull at the festival, you can still try out what it’s like riding with a Mechanical Bull! You might be able to watch real bull riding at the Festival’s rodeo event though!

Buy sexy clothing!

Don’t be surprised! You will find all sorts of stores at the Western Festival. If you want to make yourself look good and sexy, you will find stalls selling you that kind of stuff!

Fine Chocolate!

It might be worth trying out Quebec chocolate at the Western Festival. If you are looking for specialty chocolate for yourself or as gifts, you are definitely going to find some at the Festival.

Ice Cream Experience!

You will find just so many stores selling you ice-cream and even bubble tea at the Festival. It’s going to be warm during the day so why not have some ice cream?

You will find that there are tons of things to do at the Western Festival of St-Tite! Whether you are into shopping, or enjoy activities, you will find something at the Festival that suits your interests!

Tom Mehra

tommera.com/

Experience Chinese Cuisine At Soup Fairy Malatang!

Even though I love Hotpot, I usually avoid going to hotpot restaurants in Ottawa as they are quite expensive. But recently I came across a similar concept restaurant called Soup Fairy Malatang in the Byward Market whose prices appeared to be relatively affordable so I decided to give it a try.

How to experience Malatang?

All of their ingredients are displayed on the shelf.
You get a bowl to decide what ingredients you want.
You decide what type of soup base you want it to be cooked with.
Create your own custom dipping sauce!
The chef is going to cook your meal for you with the ingredients you picked!
Enjoy your meal

What ingredients should I pick?

Since the restaurant charges you by the weight of the ingredients, I would recommend that you go mainly for meat/seafood and less veggies. Pick some meat items that you enjoy and some items that you have never tried before. Go with a bit of noodles as well.

You are charged per 100 grams of ingredients, and you can always ask the person working their to weight your bowl. For most people 200-300g of ingredients should be more than sufficient.

What Sauce Combination Should I Go For?

Here are some dipping sauce combinations that you can go for –

Peanut Butter and Sesame, Black Vinegar, Green Onions, Garlic sauce
Coriander, Peanut Butter and Sesame, Chili Oil, Green Onions
Black Vinegar, Peanut Butter with Sesame, Garlic Sauce, Chili Oil
Garlic Sauce, Peanut Butter and Sesame, Green Onions, Chili Oil

If you like less spicy, go for less chili oil for your dipping sauce.

How Should I Eat My Meal?

The preferred way to have Malatang is to take the ingredients out of the soup and dip them in the dipping sauce before eating. However, you can always pour the dipping sauce in your meal and enjoy it that way as well.

Tom Mehra

tommera.com/

5 Best Korean Restaurants In Ottawa For A Tasty Adventure!

There are plenty of Korean restaurants in Ottawa but which one should you go for? I ended up trying a bunch of Korean restaurants in the region and have listed what I think are the best and must-visit Korean restaurants in the city!

Kitchen Maroo

Address: 281 Kent St, Ottawa, ON K2P 2A3
Business website: https://www.kitchenmaroo.com/

This was my first restaurant in Ottawa that I was just absolutely wowed by, Kitchen Maroo is a Korean Fusion restaurant and they do an amazingly good job bringing the Korean heat in their food. I had their Seafood Noodles with Mussels; Shrimp which were hot and spicy; and absolutely delicious. For the quality and portions that you get for your food, the price is very reasonable.

Casual dining experience
Good portions for pricing
Korean fusion cuisine

Table SODAM

Address: 1200 Bank St, Ottawa, ON K1S 3Y1
Business website: http://www.table85.com/

Table SODAM does a really great job with their presentation; quality and taste. Ideal for dates or special family occasions. Their portion sizes are generous with lots of meat and side dishes were great as well. Note that this restaurant is quite small so you might need to wait sometimes but is worth it!

Upscale Casual dining restaurant
Good for dates / small gathering
Small restaurant

Daldongnae Korean BBQ

Address: 610 Somerset St W 1st floor, Ottawa, ON K1R 5K4
Business website: https://www.daldongnaebbq.com/

Daldongnae offers the perfect Table BBQ experience enjoy sizzling, succulent meats grilled to perfection right at your table. I went with their lunch special and was served with a not only just a combination of marinated squid and pork, but my order also come with multiple side dishes including seaweed, cucumber, acorn jelly, bean sprouts, pumpkin salad, soup and more. I like the variety of flavors from the dishes and it seemed like a decent quantity of food for my order.

Upscale casual dining
Large restaurant
Karaoke room
Table BBQ experience
Unlimited side dishes

Alirang Korean Restaurant

Address: 134 Nelson St, Ottawa, ON K1N 7R5
Business website: http://www.alirangkorean.com/

My order of Bulgogi at Alirang was just perfect. The food came sizzling hot and was sizzling for a few minutes afterwards. The beef was well seasoned without being spicy and was absolutely delicious. I didn’t realize they had parking but there is ample of street parking around the area. They do have another location in Nepean as well.

Korean cuisine
Large tables available
Reservation recommended
Casual dining experience

Korean House Restaurant

Address: 785 Somerset St W, Ottawa, ON K1R 6R3
Business website: https://koreanhouse.ca/

Reservation is recommended as the Korean House Restaurant gets quite busy. Whenever I have walked into this restaurant, I have seen it at full capacity. Ordered my dishes and even though it was full, the dishes came in without waiting too long. I liked that they had some sides coming in while I was waiting at the table like miso soup, kimchi and more. The food is delicious and portions are decent.

Korean restaurant
Reservation recommended
Offers Table BBQ experience

Other Good Korean restaurants in Ottawa worth visiting –

Kochu (Address: 266 Preston St, Ottawa, ON K1R 7R5)
This small restaurant serves not only Korean cuisine but also Korean inspired sushi rolls. Even though the place is quite small, the interior looks nice and they even serve drinks. Ideal for dates or small group hangouts. I did enjoy my order of Korean Sweet and Spicy Fried Chicken from this place.

Maht (Address: 726 Somerset St W, Ottawa, ON K1R 6P8)
Tried out their Spicy Korean Fried Chicken which was very good but was missing the wow factor. Even their small plate contained around 12 pieces of chicken which would be enough for 2 people. One thing I really liked about this place is that each order comes with a free side of kimchi and some other good korean stuff to try out while you wait for your order.

In’s Kitchen (Address: 1-65 Templeton St, Ottawa, ON K1N 7P7)
I really liked their presentation but I think the taste was good but not the best. Since it’s located close to UOttawa, it can be a good hangout spot to have lunch at. Parking can be a little tricky as well so you might need to drive around looking for street parking.

Food Mood (Address: 178B Rideau St, Ottawa, ON K1N 5X6)
Located close to the Byward market area, this restaurant is takeout oriented and has limited seating. Their braised pork belly is just so delicious and I would highly recommend that you try it out. They also serve Korean sushi if you are looking to try something different.

Tom Mehra

tommera.com/

3 Great Dishes To Try At Datsun In Ottawa!

Datsun is an Asian Fusion restaurant located on Elgin Street, just beside another restaurant called El Camino that serves great tacos. The restaurant has a really nice ambience so if you are looking for date night, having a party with your friends this might be a good spot to start at.

Some notes following my visit to Datsun –

Come a bit early as you might have to wait a bit for your group. There are a number of pubs located nearby where you could go, have a drink and come back when your table is ready. I recommend Manx Pub which has reasonably priced drinks.
I felt that the portion sizes for most of their mains were small so I recommend that you get an appetizer as well along with your order.
Usually people prefer to get multiple plates and share the dishes with one-another at this restaurant. This way you can try out different things.
Some of the items are mildly-spiced so it would be a good idea to let the server know how much spice you prefer before you order anything.

Here are some of their best menu items that I recommend!

Dan Dan Noodles with Minced Pork

Datsun’s Dan Dan Noodles come with minced pork, scallions, and red chili. I must warn you that these noodles are mildly spicy. While my plate was aesthetically pleasing and the meal was delicious, I felt the portions were small and there was only a little bit of meat. I have had Dan Dan Noodles at the 98lala Noodles restaurant in Ottawa, and I found their portions to be comparatively massive.

Datsun Ramen

Datsun’s Ramen is one of the most popular menu items at Datsun. The dish is served in Tonkatsu Broth and contains pork belly, garlic oil, egg and noodles. Even though the broth is not spicy at all, it was quite flavorful and had a salty/savory taste. I found the meal quite enjoyable.

Spicy Chicken Wings

You might think that these wings would be quite spicy but I felt that they were a mix of sweet and spicy sauce. The flavoring comes close to what I would call spicy BBQ wings. The wings are quite good, and they felt to me sweeter than spicy so you should reconsider if you were not planning to get them because they are called “Spicy Chicken Wings”. If you are looking for hot and spicy wings, my recommendation would be to try Chez Lucien instead.

Menu item that I won’t recommend –

Spicy Coconut Milk Laksa with white rice – The portion size of this one was huge but I don’t think I enjoyed Datsun’s Coconut Milk Laksa at all. To me something just felt off about about it when I had it though I couldn’t point it out.

Address: 380 Elgin St, Ottawa, ON K2P 1N1

Business website: https://eatdatsun.com/

Tom Mehra

tommera.com/

5 Places For Latin Dancing Lessons In Ottawa!

Ottawa has a number of dance studios and bars where you can learn Latin Dancing. Not only do you get to learn and exercise while dancing but also it’s a great way to meet new people in the city!

Here are some places in Ottawa that offer Dance lessons –

Ritmo Bailey

Address: 12 Byward Market Square, Ottawa, ON K1N 9C3
Business website: https://www.ritmobaileottawa.com/

Located conveniently in the Byward Market area, Ritmo Bailey is a good spot for dance lessons. While the place itself doesn’t serve any drinks, I like the fact that there are a number of bars and restaurants located nearby.

Variety of Latin dance lessons throughout the weekly.
Attracts a mixed demographic.
No alcohol or food served. (The water dispenser is there!)
Has Latin dance socials on weekends as well.

University of Ottawa Salsa Club

Address: University Centre 85 University Private, Ottawa, ON, K1N 9A7
Business website: https://uosalsa.wixsite.com/uosalsa

University’s Salsa Club is one of the biggest dance groups in Ottawa and has events regularly on a weekly basis. The event is open to everyone and there is a small fee for attending the lessons and the socials.

UOSalsa club provides same-day lessons for both salsa and bachata.
There are lessons for beginners as well as experts.
The lessons can get quite busy however the socials are less crowded.
Attracts primarily younger demographics.
LGBT friendly crowd.
Lessons are very affordable
Events usually happen on a Tuesday.

Mill Street Brewery

Address: 555 Wellington St, Ottawa, ON K1R 1C5
Business website: https://millstreetbrewery.com/

Mill Street Brewery has weekly salsa nights which include lessons followed by social. The Brewery is one of the few places where not only you can get food and drinks but they also have a decent amount of dance floor for the lessons.

Targeted more towards beginner-intermediate level folks.
Different instructors every week.
Attracts a mixed demographic.
Lessons usually take place on a Monday.

Amigos

Address: 858 Merivale Rd, Ottawa, ON K1Z 5Z4

While popularly known as a Dive Bar, Amigos has a large dance floor where they do weekly Latin Dancing lessons. The place does a beginner dance workshop before their socials and is relatively more affordable than other places that offer dance lessons.

10 minutes away from downtown Ottawa.
Lessons are usually on a Tuesday.
Attracts a mixed demographic.
Has pool tables, musical jukebox and slot machines.
Drinks can be purchased but no food.
Affordable lessons

Studio X

Address: 250 City Centre Ave Bay 122, Ottawa, ON K1R 1C7
Business website: https://www.studioxottawa.com/

Studio X is another Dance studio that offers a variety of Latin dancing lessons. While I found the dance lessons to be great, they are relatively more expensive than other places that I have been to.

Offers lessons on different types of Latin dancing.
Attracts more intermediate level folks.
Lessons can be quite pricey if you are paying at the door.
No alcohol or food is served at the venue.

Here are some tips before you head for your Latin dancing lessons! –

Make sure you are going to lessons at your level of comfort! If you are new to Latin Dancing, it is recommended that you go for beginner lessons to have a good foundation and only later try practicing advanced moves.
In Latin Dancing, people usually dance in pairs which involves a lead and a follower, with the lead usually expected to know the moves. It’s a bit easier to be a follower than to be a lead.
Do carry cash with you as some places might only be accepting cash as payment and charge you additional fees for paying with a credit card.
Check if the event is still happening! Sometimes the venue changes the dates or the type of lessons before the event takes place so check their Facebook or Instagram if they are still doing the lessons.

Tom Mehra

tommera.com/