Only one word is needed to describe this restaurant...exquisite! Chahaya Malaysia is one of my favorite restaurants in Ottawa. Serving incredible authentic Malaysian food, the owners have done an amazing job of bringing a taste of this uniquely beautiful culture right to the customer. In every bite, you can taste the quality and care that was put into the dish.
I definitely recommend this hidden Ottawa gem, you won't be disappointed!
Chahaya Malaysia is our absolute favourite place in the Ottawa area for take out. Even though we live in Stittsville, we drive out there a few times a year to get our favourite dishes (#57, #V12 and #V9). Anyone we have ever introduced your food to has also loved it. We love the variety, the freshness, the flavour and all the vegetarian options. Our young children have also developed a love of your food too.
My beautiful wife decided she wanted Malaysian food tonight. So we went to Chahaya Malaysia which is my favorite restaurant. We first tried this restaurant when my in-laws took us out for dinner. That was 19 years ago. Since then we have celebrated birthdays, friendships and anniversaries here with Margaret and Buddy. I remember having friends over to our home in Russell, to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary. I had ordered 200 spring rolls for the party (150 for our guests and 50 for me). Every single guest has visited the restaurant and been completely satisfied.
The spring rolls are the best I have ever had - period. My favourite dish is Beef and Lentil Curry which is from the lunch menu.
If you like good food and even better service - this place for you.
Abdus Sabahat Chowdhury
+5
This place rocks! The most authentic Malaysian food I had outside of Malaysia. Everyone who loves food should try this place. You'll be on the losing side if you didn't.
Awesome Awesome Awesome. It has been far too long since my last visit but I was so pleasantly surprised to find that the quality of the food, tastiness and portion size are still all superb! I visited Malaysia this past summer and was craving Laksa - mmmmmmmmmmmmmm it didn't disappoint. Thank you so much to Subut and to Margaret for making our visit phenomenal. We will be back soon but with the whole gang next time!
This restaurant is a cosy place. The business is run by a couple who remember every customer. They are so pleasant and helpful. The food is delicious. Alcohol is not served on the premises but delicious food more than makes up for it if you're keen on great cuisine. We ordered the chef's special. Our children were treated so well and families are welcomed. A genuinely great place to eat, a stone's throw from downtown.
We have been going to Chahaya Malaysia for 25 years. We have never had a bad meal. I'm really excited to find them on facebook with the pictures of meals. Tried 3 new ones tonight and was not disappointed!. The Bali Beef was an amazing mix of sweet with a little spice. The Malaysian fried noodle dish we had was wonderful. Also love the Chef's special shrimp and pepper lamb. The lunch buffet is always a taste experience. The new problem - figuring out which dishes to order!
Claude Normandin-Banks
+5
My favourite restaurant in Ottawa. The family that owns it is a little eccentric which adds to the charm! It's like they invite you into their home. Bali beef, Malaysian noodles and the special chef's rice are my favourites!
Especially loved the:
1. chicken sate
2. springs rolls
3. traditional rice
4. lamb curry
5. fried chicken wings
6. roti canai
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If I could, I would eat there every day! Love the food and love the family! Amazing people! I chose to celebrate my birthday there and I even got a birthday candle with a free dessert!!!!!👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻 Can't wait to eat there again soon!!!!!!!
Love this place - it's always a treat to come here...we always try something new every time and never leave disappointed. we always order the chilli fish just to see if we can tolerate the heat in public - and we always enjoy the leftovers at home and let the tears naturally come out of our eyes cuz it's the best taste/feeling ever! And we still continue to come back for more! Thank you for staying true to your Asian flavours!
Margaret suggested that we try #48, a chicken dish. Ooooo so delish!
Probably my favorite restaurant in Ottawa. Impressive amount of vegan options.
Now this is one place I will review because I love it. They have steam tables. Don't knock it till you've tried it!
Amazing food! The Bali Beef is by far my favourite dish but all their dishes are pretty fantastic.
Want a safe and trustworthy place to enjoy dine-in during COVID pandemic?
then you should go to Chahaya Malaysia. Very responsible, considerate and kind staff will make you feel home and provide delicious food which made with love and care.
We are very lucky to have this restaurant in ottawa.
Ottawa is so lucky to have this extraordinarily great restaurant. People who go there, go there a lot. There are so many wonderful dishes to choose from and the lunch buffet is absolutely fantastic. My favourite is the chicken curry #14 and everyone I have shared this dish with is nothing less than astounding by its flavour, and this includes a friend who lives in Vancouver where there are so many great Asian restaurants, and has travelled all over every country in Asia. A great dining experience without question. The owners take great pride in their establishment and are the nicest down to earth people.
Really special little place, family run. Fòod is excellent, made with quality ingredients and care. It shows. The service is great. They make sure you are satisfied. I absolutely recommend this place. Very clean and spacious and tastefully decorated. Do yourself a favor and try it. Nice lunch buffet as well.
My sister and I love this place. Discovered it a few years ago and we go back again and again. I love the Vietnamese Vermicelli and my sister always get the HOT fish dish (Chilli Fish). We've tried several dishes and love them all. The owners are friendly and helpful.
Only place in Ottawa that serves Indonesian/Malaysian food. The food is more akin to Indonesian than Malaysian. The beef rendang was spicy and authentic and tasty, the gado gado left much to be desired however (too little sauce), and the fish curry lacked some kick. The satay was nice, but once again, they skimped on the peanut sauce. The meal was nice, but I think they need to kick it up a notch!
If its Malaysian food its Chahaya Malaysia, nice tasty food, friendly service, worth it. Recommend dishes to try are hearty chicken soup and chefs special chicken.
Oh my. Far too long since my last visit but pleasantly surprised to discover that the food and portion size remains superb. Can't wait to go back with the whole family! Tasted just like we were back in Malaysia. Thank you so much to our Host Subut and Hostess Margaret - you made the evening quite special.
One of our favourite places! Great selection for veggies and omnis alike, with wonderful service at this family owned restaurant. LOVE the tofu dishes here, and the spring rolls are made in house and are delightfully fresh and flaky. Spice level is whatever you want it to be, ask for not spicy and ye shall receive. Great service and also fairly quick for takeout orders.
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I've been wanting to try this place out for a few years now, just never happened to be anywhere near this part of town. As luck would have it, I was in the East End earlier this week and decided to stop in.I presume it was the owner (very nice and very knowledgeable woman) greeted us. Having not eaten Malaysian/Indonesian food in a restaurant before, she explained all the heat levels and the best choice for a good. The heat level was explained very thoroughly, and I really wanted to try the 3-star. My dining companion, despite also being from the subcontinent, can’t handle a lot of heat. Sadly, wasn’t able to have anything spicy. We ordered the Gado Gado, coconut milk fish curry, and beef rendang (the 1-star version).I ask a lot of questions about food, and wasn’t disappointed to have the cooking techniques, product, process, and everything else explained to me when I asked. Awesome. When I try new cuisines I try and absorb as much knowledge as possible, but this requires a lot of questions. She was more than happy to answer. For two hungry adults, we had enough leftovers for another full meal. With juice and an iced coffee the bill came to $60. Portions could have been a bit larger for the price, but still very reasonable. If I’m in the hood again, I’ll be back for more! Bring friends though, I feel that having a lot of different options to share would be far more fun, and frankly, I’m just not fat enough to order more.
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I have been a client there for over one decade, and I am still a regular.
The decor is simple but the service and the food there rapidly makes you realize that it is all about the food. The best ethnic food in the Ottawa area.
The lunch buffet is always amazing, with consistently excellent food. The level of spice is toned down a bit for lunch, but it is all good. The vegetable spring rolls are probably famous beyond all frontiers, and the spicy Thai-style soup is also memorable. Asian noodles, shrimp chips, beef and lentil curry, chicken curry, beef in sweet soy sauce, make it difficult not to go for a second portion.
If you have never had Malaysian or Indonesian food before, the staff will be more than helpful in helping you choose the best combination of dishes to create harmony on your table and in your mouth. Don't be too concerned if you are not sure what you want to order, everything there is excellent. I have loved foods I usually don't even care for like tofu and fish.
Not all dishes there are spicy, but if you decide you want spicy food, be prepared for a new experience in spiciness. Just enough to make you sweat a bit in the back of the neck, but it is all good.
If you are a foodie, this is a must go to. I posted a recipe for Beef Rendang on my blog and the owner was kind enough to specify the differences between my recipe and theirs. (monfoodblog.com)
No matter what state of mind you are in when you walk in there, you will always leave that place with a smile on your face, because happiness can be so simple sometimes.
This place was a great place to eat at. We went there on sunday dinner. So it was just my gf and I, then some family of four. I felt there was an intimate service between what seemed like the owners. We felt the service was amazing. We ordered 33 , 20, and spring rolls. The dishes were spectacular. The coconut shrimp curry was flavoured well it went well with the chef special chicken. It was a two punch spicy~sweet savory dish. It was a whole new level of tasty. It may be a little pricey if you're on a budget . But if you want some great malay indo singaporean cuisine. Greatest place in Ottawa
What a great place to spend time with friends. The service is excellent. The waitress knows the menu very well, is funny and is able to make great suggestions when you go there for the first time. All 4 dishes we had (chicken, lamb and shrimp) were very tasty. The spicy thai soup was excellent but watch out for the chilli slices. Also, the hot pepper paste on each table is volcano waiting to erupt.
This place is a new dimension in Asian fusion. They make Tofu into a truly wonderful thing. I am a total carnivore and feel in love with their V9 dish. Try it you will not regret it.
This is easily one of the best meals I've had in Ottawa, in both eating and the dining experience. We were served by the restaurant owner who was the kindest and funniest person ever, she gladly served us even though my group walked in 35 minutes before closing. Everyone in our group was so happy with their dinner, it was a perfect experience. Once again I must mention how hospitable and fun the restaurant's owner was. (I ordered a delicious lamb kurma)
Great food and service. Staff know their food and provide additional info that is useful for ordering and/or to better understand how it is prepared. This place is worth trying and going back (and back). :)
Excellent meal for my first time here, and first time eating Malaysian cuisine! We started with spring rolls and the Gado Gado salad. Then had the bali beef (sweet but yum!) and chicken curry with rice. finished with fried plantain and ice cream. Will definitely be back as there were many other great looking menu items! Service was excellent. Worth a try for sure!
Chahaya Malaysia is the best restaurant I've been to in Ottawa - and quite possibly anywhere else. Though it's located on a dreary stretch at the far end of Montreal Road, it's worth the trip - we've done it by bus and almost every time we've rented a car.
The owners are friendly but, as others have said, it's the *food* that's the drawing card. My sweetie loves the Laksa and I the spicy beef rendang and we both love agree that the spring rolls are the best we've had anywhere. Crisp, flaky shell with barely a hint of grease and a delicious filling, served with a wonderful dark and slightly sweet soy sauce.
Never been disappointed by a dish. But a word to the wise: their hot dishes are HOT!
Decided to try this place out randomly. The food is excellent and the service we received during our meal was phenomenal. The server answered all our questions in a friendly and knowledgeable manner. Definitely recommended.
Amazing food and service!. 5 stars
My favorite restaurant in Ottawa. Delicious, authentic food. Menu is very friendly to vegetarians and meat-eaters alike (I'm a vegan). Best spring roll I've ever had. Definitely a must try.
Excellent food - like homemade!. The food is excellent. I can't do spicy and I still have enough food to choose from. Many of my friends from all over the world who are adventurous with trying different food like this restaurant. It's cozy and family owned.
Delicious!. I've been coming here for years and it's always amazing!
My favourites are the spring rolls, the sweet and sour fish, and the chef special chicken.
So good!
I keep craving it. The food here is really yummy and the staff are very attentive. The menu gives good descriptions of the dishes and the staff are happy to offer suggestions. Malaysian noodles and Bali Beef are our must-haves that keep us coming back! As others have mentioned, the spicy dishes really are spicy... milder dishes are available too!
Love this place. Have been going to Chahaya for more than a decade now, and I love the place. The food is really good and the chef clearly puts a great amount of care into the food. Be warned with getting really spicy, because, unlike the "spicy" of many other restaurants, this one is extremely spicy. Only change I would make with this restaurant is that they should renovate it to look more modern and possibly even expand it.
Good food. Went to the restaurant once. Satay is great with the peanut sauce. Service is great. A little on the pricey side but overall, good food. Would go back.
Amazing! I've travelled thr.... Amazing!
I've travelled through Malaysia, as well as a good part of se Asia - this restaurant got it perfect!
The food was incredibly flavorful, nice balance of spice and heat. the owners gave us great advice as to what to order too. They were both very passionate about the food they serve, and told us great stories about what made the food so good.
I'll definitely be making this one of my go-to restaurants.
Great job!
Buffet and take out. I've tried the lunch buffet a couple times and found it to be a good alternative to the usual chinese buffets. I've also tried a few items like homestyle chicken, chicken kurma and spring rolls - good quality and nice flavours .
Everyone needs to try this place. The quality is consistently fantastic! The owners hide nothing about how their food is made and ingredients used which is extremely helpful when ordering. Try it! I dare you!
Whenever I go the woman who owns the place is waiting tables, and is usually quite busy but takes time to chat and smile if you do the same. A hidden gem with delicious food. If only they served peanut ice kacang
The Bali beef was so delicious! We also ordered the chicken kurma - not amazing or special, but still good. Sprig rolls and satay combo are also amazing. Definitely a restaurant worth checking out!
Awesome. One of my favorite restaurants. My favorite is the Bali Beef. Margaret, one of the owners, really knows her stuff. Every time I ask for a recommendation, she always knows what various dishes/rice combos to lead me to. On humid days, the shrimp chips they bring to the table can be stale and rubbery, but since those are free, it's no big deal.
Went with a group of 10. Service.was.friendly and.timely. Very tasty food,.we had a diverse selection of food. Ordered at least 2 of each meat dish and 1 vegetarian. The fish was very spicy as expected and provided an hours worth of.entertainment and discussion. The food was excellent! Definitely recommend and will be back.
Ottawa's best kept secret - Awesome food!. I've been a loyal customer here for years. I've eaten everywhere in this city, and can honestly say this place remains my favourite.
Wonderful food bursting with flavour that's different from anything else around. Friendly staff, reasonable prices, and again, THE FOOD.
If it's your first visit, any of the curries are great, the sweet and sour fish is really special, and the veggie spring roll are the best you'll ever eat anywhere. Realistically though, one visit and you'll be addicted and work your way through the whole menu anyhow.
I can't recommend it enough!
Hidden gem!!! Food was great service was friendly, very pleased.
Best spring rolls in the city and much more. I've been going to this restaurant for years and always have a fantastic meal. The spring rolls are out of this world and anything else I've had here is absolutely delicious. So many choices on this diverse menu: vegetarians, meat-eaters, etc alike will have a feast. Make sure you finish off your meal with the Malaysian Tea - a real treat.
This is one of my favourite restaurants in the city. It may not look like anything from the outside and the parking lock is treacherous, but the food is delicious. Fresh and spicy. Our favourites are the rendang (Malaysian), chicken curry, chili squid and the Bali beef. The sprig rolls are also unreal - they're six inches long and served with dark soy sauce and chili.
The service is not always the friendliest, but they'll make sure you're full!
Love it here!. I'm a chef who grew up eating Chahaya Malaysia, way back when it was in the Glebe. I don't live in Ottawa anymore, but always come here when I'm in town. The fish curry is so good, so is the traditional rice, five star chicken, and the spring rolls. I can't say much for the decor, but it doesn't matter. All of the dishes are meant to be shared, so if you two people want to have a well rounded meal expect to have a little extra to take home. If you aren't into spicy, there are options, but don't order the Beef Rendang. It is really, truly the hottest dish I've ever seen on a restaurant menu, good, but fiery.
Love it. I was in the city for the better half of a year and have been to this restaurant AT LEAST once a month. The owners are very kind and welcoming, and are very helpful when deciding what to order. I look forward to every visit; the food is delicious - my favourite being the Five Star Chicken which has a sweet flavour, pairing well with many spicy menu items. The dishes contain such unique mixtures of spices, fruits and veggies on top of the meat which is unlike any restaurant I have been to. My favourite restaurant in Ottawa by far. Highly recommended!
Love/hate relationship. The goods:
- The spring rolls
- the Peanut sauce
- the Bali beef
- The mixed noodle
The bads:
- Over-priced
Final word:
If you go with a few buddies where you can all order a few dishes together and split the bill, its not bad. But if you go with just another person or a large group who wants to order separately you might be left either ordering two dishes which will cost you dearly or with just one dish and kind of unsatisfied. Overall its kind of expensive, but the quality of food is descent.
Family owned and operated. Great savory dishes of all kinds!
If you like spices/hot in your food you'll love this place. Generous portions at a reasonable price!
I'm definitely going back.
Always Good. I've been visiting Chahaya for over 13 years regularly, but have never posted a review. In short, it's economical, good, and friendly. If you're not familiar with Malaysian/Indonesian food - fear not. The wait staff (owners often) will help you select an excellent meal, and are more than glad to educate you on both Malaysian food and culture.
It's good, and there are options for everyone. It can be hot hot hot, or mild. Vegetarian or fully meaty. Lots of fresh good tastes. The lunch buffet is my regular fare, and is excellent (and affordable). The evenings sport more variety.
This has been my favourite restaurant since 1987. It has the best tasting and hottest food I have ever had. You don't have to like hot food to enjoy Chahaya, many of my friends who don't like hot LOVE this place. I would highly suggest trying out the lunch buffet to get an idea of the quality of the food. The building and parking lot are not in great shape but the interior and kitchen are great. This is a family run restaurant and it shows by the quality of food and service. Btw, I really enjoy good Indian, Thai and Chinese. Try Malaysian and Indonesian for a change.
Pleasantly Surprised. This was a nice find. All in all a great place to eat. Great food, friendly staff and a very relaxed atmosphere made for a wonderful experience. I will be back.
Great Value - Visit!. Delicious food at great prices. The setting is tasteful. It took no time to get the food that we had ordered, and the server was very helpful and friendly. We had the spring rolls to start, and they were great. Our mains were the chef's special tofu, which was good, and the Lamb Kurma, which was outstanding. The lamb was tender and tasted very good. We finished with the Ice Kacang. It was quite unique and light, which was excellent after we had eaten so much. Support this restaurant! If you are accustomed to going downtown or staying in your area, make the trip, it is worth it.
The food is very delicious and flavorful. I had the shrimp tamarind. It had lemon grass and a variety of different spices which i really enjoyed. I suggest having a bowl of rice on the side to whatever dish you are having. The place itself is very cosy and the service is great. I recommend this restaurant to people who love spicy (as in flavorful) food.
This restaurant is great, if you like hot food. Then try thier shrimp chile wow but not all thier food is hot and you can ask them to make a hot dish milder as well. Then there is a nice dessert called ice kachang with different flavours like rose, coffee
Worth a visit.. I have eaten at this restaurant on and off for several years but it never disappoints. Food is excellent and the service is always good. I agree with the other review stating not to judge the place by how it looks from the outside. It's well worth the drive out to the east end of town.
Great Place. Friendly staff, work atmosphere ... really good food!
Awesome Food. The food and service is absolutely phenomenal. Be sure to try the Ice Kachang. It's so unusual and delicious. My only complaint is that the building needs a little TLC and can be a bit of a turn off to those who judge a book by it's cover.
April 5, 2010 at 4:03 pm 2 comments Since this friday was Good Friday, Dorothy and I decided that rather than completely foregoing our weekly dining out treat, we would simply change the date to thursday. This meant that instead of our normal seven, it wa
THIS PLACE IS AMAZING! We went and Margaret was so incredibly kind to us. The customer service is great. The food is also very delicious, and if you like spiciness, you will LOVE this place. They are also quite flexible with their spiciness (you can change the amount of spiciness freely). Also, the food came quickly which is a nice bonus. (As a tip): If you pay with debit or cash, you could win a free dinner for 4 people (it is a draw). Great restaurant!
Amazing food, all dishes were well seasoned and full of flavour. We tried the Jumbo Shrimps in Coconut Milk (#33), Bali Beef (#43), Traditional Rice (#55), and Malaysian Fried Noodles (#57). These dishes were all perfect for my lower spice tolerance, and they also offered to bring some of their spicy sauce to the table so others could individually adjust the heat level on their plate. Great customer service and experience overall. I would recommend a visit 😊
Nice little place for good Malaysian/Indonesian dishes. We had the sweet & sour fish, Malaysian fried noodles, Bali chicken, ice kacang, fried plantain, and free shrimp crackers! The servers are very nice, the portions are good, the quality of food is fantastic, and the price is reasonable. I would definitely come back here and I recommend this restaurant.
Perfect comfort Malaysian food. Delightful home cooked recipes. Served fresh and hot and excellent recommendation. A must visit in Ottawa.
Nothing beats their Spicy Thai soup, Chefs Special Chicken, and Pepper lamb. I've been an occasional customer over the last 20 years and the quality has been consistently excellent. Ambience is cozy and inviting, service is generally good.
The lunch buffet quality is a little less consistent, but a good option if you work in the area.
First of all, the owner of the restaurant is the sweetest! She came to see us often to ensure that nothing is missing and that everything is to our liking! We appreciated very much.
Secondly, the FOOD! the FOOD! The FOOD was really good. It was delicious! We loved it. We also tried the desert and it was also very good. Definitely a must try restaurant !
Cozy, friendly and lovely
Thank you Chef for the amazing food you prepared, and thank you to the lady who welcomed us. Everything was great
Wonderful staff , acommodated us even though we came in late. The customer service was superb. I was not a fan of the Malaysian style Tom Yum soup however the chicken curry and the noodles were delicious. Great portions they were generous with us.I will definitely come back for the curry and the excellent customer service!
Some of the best food you’ll find in Ottawa. No question. If you want something different to the typical mass-produced takeout/restaurant food then check this place out. Service is great. Food is great. Unpretentious vibe is great. This place is just great all round.
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