Ottawa's Best Budget-Friendly Chinese Restaurants | Tried & Tested!

As a long-time Ottawa foodie, these affordable yet delicious Chinese spots are my go-to's—each visited over 10 times! From dim sum to spicy mala, Northeastern dishes to Hong Kong-style cafes, all offer reliable flavors and wallet-friendly prices for everyday meals. 🍵 Dim Sum & Cantonese 1️⃣ Harmony Restaurant Ottawa's best-value dim sum—wide variety, decent stir-fries (try garlic shrimp or salted duck tongue). Avg: $15-25 (cheaper during dim sum hours). 2️⃣ Golden Clock Cafe Classic HK diner—French toast + milk tea = perfection! Hearty rice plates for solo diners. Must-order: Eggplant with salted fish, iced lemon tea. Avg: $12-18. 🌶️ Spicy & Sichuan 3️⃣ Friend Circle Mala tang, skewers, sour-spicy noodles—bold flavors! Their cold sesame noodles are legendary. Also serves bubble tea. Avg: $15-20. 4️⃣ Tang Xiao Xian Dry mala mix > soup base! Topped with peanut sauce, cilantro, and chili—addictively fragrant. Avg: $12-18. 🥟 Northern & Noodles 5️⃣ Lao Dao Wai Northeastern comfort food—crispy sweet & sour pork, massive portions (ideal for groups). Avg: $18-25. 6️⃣ Le Mian Hand-pulled Lanzhou noodles + roujiamo (Chinese burgers). Broth is rich, noodles chewy. Avg: $10-15. 7️⃣ Shanghai Wonton Noodle Peanut butter wontons + braised chicken legs—downtown lunch savior! Avg: $10-15. 🍳 Late-Night Eats 8️⃣ Ottawa Night Market Student favorite—wok-fried dishes like dry pot intestines or spicy potatoes. Takeout saves $$. Avg: $15-20. 💡 Quick Guide Dim Sum/Canto: Harmony, Golden Clock Spicy: Friend Circle, Tang Xiao Xian Northern: Lao Dao Wai, Le Mian, Shanghai Wonton Late-night: Ottawa Night Market #OttawaEats #ChineseFood #BudgetEats #StudentLife