Jadeland — Restaurant in Ottawa

We came here for dim sum with a large group of friends (8 people), and overall, it was not a great experience — both the food and service left much to be desired.

From the start, things felt off. When we asked for the largest table, the staff hesitated and tried to fit us at a smaller one that was already set. Keep in mind, we’re a group of bigger guys, and the restaurant was practically empty (only one couple was there at the time). Eventually, they agreed, but we had to wait for them to wipe down and prepare the larger table.

Once we started ordering, the wait for food was long. Strangely, two other tables who came in after us got their food before we did. When our first dishes finally arrived, it was just a fried donut and fried wonton skins — neither of which should take 20+ minutes to serve. The donut tasted oily, hard, and old. As for the wonton, we expected it to be filled — instead, we got just the crispy skin. That’s a huge difference and honestly misleading. The staff told us it was more catered toward “Western tastes,” which left us speechless. At the very least, the menu should specify that it’s just the skin, not actual wontons.

Thankfully, the rest of the food was okay. Not amazing, but maybe we were just hungry. We did finish everything we ordered, though the portions were small and pricey. Honestly, it's shocking how expensive it was compared to places in Toronto — and with much lower quality and service.

Other issues:

The washroom door was hard to open/close. I genuinely thought I might get stuck inside.

My chair had soy sauce on it, which I didn’t notice until after it stained my white shorts.

Despite eating everything, we were still hungry — but didn’t order more because of the long wait and subpar food.

In conclusion, this place just isn't for us. I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone I know. While the food isn’t outright bad, it’s nothing memorable and certainly not worth the price. They need to work on clearer menu descriptions, pricing, cleanliness, and overall service quality. For the money, I’d rather go somewhere else that delivers a better experience...

If you’re looking for authentic, delicious, and reasonably priced Cantonese or Hong Kong–style food in Ottawa, JadeLand (翠园酒家) in Chinatown is absolutely one of the best choices in the city!

I’ve been here several times, both with friends and family, and every visit has been a great experience. The menu is extensive and full of classic Cantonese dishes. I highly recommend the BBQ meat platter, stir-fried rice noodles with beef (干炒牛河), black bean spare ribs, salt & pepper squid, and stir-fried gai lan with XO sauce. Everything is flavorful and freshly made — just like the restaurants back in Hong Kong or Guangdong.

Their dim sum is also excellent. The har gow (shrimp dumplings), siu mai (pork dumplings), and chicken feet are all top-notch — thin skin, juicy fillings, and great texture. You can really taste the care in how everything is prepared.

The atmosphere is not fancy or modern, but it’s clean, bright, and has that nostalgic, traditional Hong Kong tea house vibe. It feels cozy and welcoming. The staff — including the owner — are very friendly, attentive, and speak both English and Chinese fluently. Service is fast, and dishes always come out hot and fresh.

One of the best parts? The prices. For the quality and portion sizes, this place offers amazing value. On our last visit, four of us shared about 6–7 dishes and dim sum, and we were all full — and the bill was under $30 per person. That’s hard to beat in Ottawa.

All in all, JadeLand is a hidden gem for Cantonese food lovers. Whether you’re coming for lunch, dinner, or weekend dim sum, it’s a place I’ll continue coming back to again and again. Highly...

YOU KNOW CHINESE FOOD IS GOOD WHEN THE RESTAURANT IS FILLED WITH CHINESE PATRONS - A LOCAL SECRET HIDDEN JEM

I normally reserve 5⭐️ rating for excellent food + impressive food presentation nice decor/atmosphere, but I couldn’t hold back on the rating because the food is that good.

I’ve been a customer for 25+ yrs, and eaten here ~50+ times. The food is consistent and delicious. Small restaurant, small kitchen, massive menu (I really don’t know how they do it). Terrible decor, but who cares when the food is this good! We’re there to eat good food, right? It’s truly a hidden jem that only locals know about.

My favourite dishes: Szechuan crispy beef (also a favourite with other Google reviewers - menu item 205), Cantonese-style noodles (another favourite by reviewers - menu item 226), crispy chicken (menu item 39), sweet corn and crab chowder (menu item 14). Even at high-peak times the food has always been served quickly, usually one dish followed by your next dish a few minutes later - always piping hot.

I’ve done a lot of take out orders with no problems, but never delivery. Based on how busy they can get, I imagine they really don’t want to do delivery since they need all staff on hand. It would likely help if they confirmed this.

Do not expect buffet-style, conveyor-belt food. This is authentic Chinese (hence the heading). Many menu items clearly indicate this (chicken feet, tripe, etc.). Lots of menu items for the adventurous and not-so-adventurous 😉 My kids love this place. Check-out their...