these ottawa restaurants are marking ramadan with special hours, menus and buffets
they're keeping kitchens open late for iftar and opening early for suhoor, with expanded menus and ramadan specials.
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khokha eatery's zermina siddiqi in march 2024, holding an iftar box, filled with food including chicken biryani that is meant for breaking the daily fast during ramadan, after sunset each day.
jean levac
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postmedia
through march 30, many ottawa restaurants are catering to customers observing ramadan, the holy month of fasting, prayer, and community for muslims. some eateries are staying open later for iftar, the meal eaten after sunset during which muslims break their daily fast. others will be open for suhoor, the pre-fast meal eaten before sunrise. also, some restaurants will serve buffets, special menus or offer ramadan takeout options.
here are some of the choices for ramadan dining.
agha restaurant ottawa
1 roydon pl., 613-617-8333 aghaottawa.carrd.co
this turkish restaurant will serve an iftar buffet each night during ramadan, priced at $49.99 for adults and $29.99 for children six to 12.
caspian pizza
4055 carling ave., unit 9, 613-695-0204, caspianpizzaottawa.com
this halal fast-food restaurant in ottawa’s west end will be open till 4 a.m. during ramadan, and it is offering free desserts with late-night orders.
cheese and olives restaurant
1183 hunt club rd., unit 108, 613-521-6666, cheeseandolives.ca
this mediterranean restaurant, which opened last fall and usually serves breakfasts and lunches from 9 a.m. till 4 p.m., will serve an iftar buffet, charging $40 for adults and $20 for children from the ages of two to 10. reservations are required. on fridays, saturdays and sundays during ramadan, it will be open for suhoor from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m.
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chocolats favoris kanata
449 hazeldean rd unit e-1, kanata ave. instagram.com/chocolatsfavoris_kanata
this dessert shop will be open till 1 a.m. daily during ramadan. “stop by for a sweet after iftar,” says an instagram post.
dhruvees restaurant
18 beechwood ave., unit 101, dhruvees.com
the vanier restaurant will serve sri lankan and coastal indian food for $44 and $54 per person. featured dishes include sri lankan black beef curry, sri lankan crab and more.
sri lankan black beef curry at dhruvees.
tony caldwell
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postmedia
karahi point
570 kanata ave, karahipoint.com
the ramadan buffet in 2024 at karahi point in kanata centrum.
peter hum
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postmedia
this pakistani restaurant in kanata will offer iftar buffets ($32.99 weekdays, $36.99 weekends, $21.99 for children 4 to 11) and will also be open for suhoor from 3 a.m. it is also hosting a flavours of pakistan iftar buffet on sunday, march 2, at 4 p.m. the fundraising event supports sakeenah canada, a local organization providing shelter and resources for women in need.
khokha eatery
605 longfields dr., unit 13, khokhaeatery.com/
this pakistani fusion restaurant in barrhaven will offer two iftar packages, each priced at $20. one will feature chicken biryani while the other will include chicken pasta.
khokha eatery’s chicken biryani iftar package in 2024
jean levac
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jean levac
new desi zaiqa restaurant
2121 carling ave., 613-981-1166, instagram.com/newdesizaiqarestaurant
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starting march 1, new desi zaiqa in carlingwood shopping centre will serve an iftar buffet with more than 20 items including chicken karahi, mutton korma, chicken biryani, tandoori chicken, gulab jamun and more. the meal will be priced at $34.99 for adults and $17.99 for children 6 to 11. prayer space will be available.
pak india restaurant
4025 innes rd., pakindiarestaurant.com
as in past years, this pakistani restaurant in orléans will serve an iftar buffet.
phynicia restaurant
605 longfields dr., phynicia.ca
this lebanese eatery in barrhaven will be open 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and then for sukhoor from 10:30 p.m. to 4 a.m.
pita bell kabab
1696 carling ave., pitabellkabab.com
at this popular turkish restaurant, reservations — best made several days ahead — are required for iftar meals and it will not be accepting walk-in customers.
river lounge
2259 prince of wales dr., theriverlounge.com
this eatery inside the ramada hotel will hold a fundraising iftar event on march 15, raising money for relief in gaza. tickets are $50, here.
royal rooster shawarma
3987 riverside dr., royalroostershawarma.ca
left to right, lamb on freekeh, chicken on kabsa rice, and saj chicken sandwich meal at royal rooster shawarma, a syrian restaurant on riverside drive.
peter hum
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postmedia
this syrian restaurant has a special ramadan menu and is open daily until midnight.
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rumi restaurant
5160 innes rd., unit 5/6, 613-793-6060, afghanrumibbq.com
this afghan barbecue restaurant in orleans is an iftar buffet for $29.99 a person, nightly from 5:45 to 7:45 p.m.
semsem
2430 bank st., semsem.ca
grandma’s breakfast at semsem restaurant.
errol mcgihon
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postmedia
for ramadan, this middle eastern bakery and restaurant in south keys announced that it will serve brunch from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. monday to thursday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. friday to sunday, with suhoor on fridays and saturdays from 10:30 p.m. to 3:30 a.m.
shinwari bbq & pizza
34 highbury park dr., unit 3, alraheem.ca
shinwari bbq & pizza in nepean has ramadan specials ranging from a $32.99 meal with a large pizza, samosas, and drinks to a $84.99 feast with kebabs, tandoori, naan, rice, salad, samosas, and a large pizza. samosas are available by the dozen for $20.99, and combo deals include up to six cans of soda.
sultan ahmet turkish cuisine ottawa
575 bank st., sultanahmet.ca
the turkish restaurant at the north end of the glebe is planning to have a ramadan buffet.
the exterior of sultan ahmet turkish cuisine on bank street in ottawa.
tony caldwell
/
postmedia
tealive ottawa
675 somerset st w., tealive.ca
this bubble tea and dessert spot will have an “after sunset” special through the end of march, with a regular-sized drink for $3 when purchasing any toastea after 7 p.m. the deal runs at all ottawa locations except merivale.
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tirkweka
473 hazeldean rd., unit 9, 613-836-1777, tirweka.com
this kanata restaurant is serving iftar meals throughout ramadan with traditional dishes and appetizers, while weekends feature a late-night suhoor menu. reservations are available.
3cents café
3-1940 bank st., 3cents2.com
originally “3cents2” on bank street, this yemeni-canadian coffee shop serves traditional yemeni pan bread, sandwiches, crepes, chai arabi, karak, coffee, tea, ice cream, foul (black beans), and liver. the café is open monday to thursday from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., friday from 9 a.m. to midnight, saturday from 10 a.m. to midnight, and sunday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
yrs: golden spoon restaurant
2285c st. laurent blvd., unit-c11, goldenspoonrestaurants.ca
the restaurant is offering south asian meals to go that serve up to five people for $45 to $60, as well as snacks and suhoor platters.
zaytoun pizza
1588 walkley rd. and 912 st. laurent blvd., zaytounpizza.ca
during ramadan, the halal pizzeria will be open monday to wednesday from 11 a.m. to 4 a.m. and wednesday to sunday from 4 p.m. to 4 a.m.
do you know of other restaurants in the ottawa area with extended or updated hours for ramadan? let us know in the comments below or by emailing contenteds@ottawacitizen.com with the subject line “ramadan restaurant hours” so we can update our list.
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