Review Dolsot Cafe - Ottawa

I don’t know is it us which were so hungry or is it the resto itself. The foods are sooo good. The best Korean food we ever had in Canada. The star is the hot and spicy chicken, but be careful, it’s so hoot yet soo satisfying. The seafood pajeon (omelette) also so delicious, crispy and perfect. Even the free kimchi, radish pickle and sweet potato also very good. Moreover, the service is excellent, the food come fast and the staffs are friendly.

I think this is the best fried chicken in the city! Don't tell to too many people, I don't want my favorite chicken place to get crowded! Def try the "Gold" ans the "Soy and Garlic"

This place truly hits the spot for Korean fried chicken!!! I really loved the sweet and spicy Fried chicken. The sauce was perfectly coated on the crispy batter of the chicken. The chicken itself is juicy and tender. It was an overall good experience to eat!

Indeed - a 5 star review from me is very rare. This is deserved for multiple reasons. I order the half chicken - hot and spicy! This flavour tasted incredible! Like a Gochujang 🇰🇷 red chilli paste, but in a sauce format! 🌶 The spice level was perfect - although I could see some people finding it a bit too spicy! I recommend you ask for a sample of the sauce before committing to it! The PTP (Price to Protein) ratio was acceptable in this case and produced 5-6 pieces of bone in giant drumsticks and thighs! I was definitely full after 4 pieces but continued on as the spiceness was addictive! Could you easily make this at home ? I suppose so! If you go to the effort of making fried chicken, you can very likely douse it in many different flavours. I wish they had the option for getting 2 flavours in a half chicken order ($22) but they do have that option for full chicken. Must try at least once.

First experience eating Korean fried chicken. We chose an order with two varieties of chicken: original flavor and spicy and sweet. We would have really liked to try the spicy and soy flavor but it was not available. There is no better experience than eating Korean fried chicken with a cold beer!

Went there a few days ago with some friends for dinner. I ordered the teriyaki chicken k-bowl while my friends had the fried chicken. The portion of the k-bowl was very generous with lots and lots of meat and it was very delicious. My friend had me try one of his chicken pieces. It was not too greasy, the breading was very crispy and well seasoned and there was a lot of meat on that piece. It's very pricey but it's very good quality. It's fried chicken the way it should be made. The staff there was also very friendly and efficient. I will definitely be coming back.

Good fried chicken and good price. A bit tough at times (not super tender on every piece). Great takoyaki.

It's been a while since I ordered my favourite Korean fried chicken from here. It never failed to disappoint me in terms of taste and size of servings. Today, however is a different story. Not only were the chicken, smaller pieces but over fried to almost burnt. It no longer taste the original fried chicken and too salty as well. Either it's a new owner or cook or both. 2 thumbs down for me this time. I don't think I will go back.

The Dolsot cafe was a great treat. My partner and I specifically came here to try the seafood hotpot and the Korean BBQ ribs. It came with some side dishes which were rice, kimchi, bean sprouts and potatoes that were marinated. The ribs were extremely delicious and sizzling hot when we got them with Caramelized onions that were to die for!!! So delicious! The seafood hot pot was good, it would have been even better if it was spicer. Although my partner didn't like the fish in the soup, I in fact liked it and everything else in the soup. The service was great and with time it started to get really busy in there as well. However it was nice having the Korean market next door as well because we got the soda milk yogurt drink I tried and other things Like the glass noodles in the hotpot. I truly recommend!

Casual Korean eatery next to a Korean grocery store. The menu that us posted on Zomato is out of date. Lunch specials now are $10 95 - $12.95 a meal, no more bento box style specials but meat and rice selections. I had the bulgogi lunch, came with rice and some side dishes. It was good, the sauce not too sweet and the portion size was very generous. Too many onions for my liking though. Service staff were friendly but doesn't check on your table until asked or waved down.

Via Uber Eats and not bad. Bulgogi acceptable but surprised that the kalbi was as good as it was. I was disappointed in the pancake but did like the kimchi. Would do it again.

Dolsot Cafe is a cute, family run little restaurant attached to the Arum grocery store (only Korean grocery store that I know of in Ottawa, I was really excited to find out about it!). Dolsot is a cute place for a date, or small group outings but large groups may find it a bit cramped. There is a back-room, with a small play area for children, which is great, but it gets cramped and they are under-staffed to deal with big orders. The food is good, but I've had better at Alirang where every dish comes out piping hot. The deep fried chicken with sweet & sour sauce has good sauce, but the chicken isn't as crispy as Mugoongwha. I am intrigued by the spicy ramen hotpot, which we didn't get a chance to order, but looked really promising.

They make good Korean food, and they sell good Korean products. The people who work there seem to be quite friendly, and the food somewhat reminds you of South Korea.

Birthday dinner with some of my best friends! We each ordered one dish and shared the various portions. I chose the classic dolsot bibimbap because why not? My friend ordered the dukbokki #50 which is rice cakes with various veggies and fish cakes in a spicy sauce. My other friend, who isn't at all familiar with Korean food, chose the Tonkatsu( fried pork cutlet with rice and sweet sauce)<br/>I loved my bibimbap; that crispy rice is so delightful. My egg was a bit too over cooked so it didn't coat the rest of the dish like I prefer. My friend who ordered the rice cake dish found it quite spicy but was still very enjoyable. I also ate most of the Korean side dishes that come with the meal such as kimchi and bean sprouts.The service was quite prompt and they let us just chat for 45 mins after we had finished our meal. The prices are very affordable and we all left happy and satisfied.

I have to admit..I wasn't sure what to expect at first because I thought it was a grocery store when I walked in( which is attached) and I loved it! I would have to say that Korean is one of my favourite cuisines and Dolsot did not disappoint. I ordered the spicy fish soup and my friend ordered chicken, tofu soup. Unbelievable flavors and came with all the fixings (Kim chi was on point) will definitely be returning! Service is fine but nothing outstanding, to the point. Delicious and all about the food!

My favourite restaurant in Ottawa. Huge portions and great service. Tea is free as well as rice. The spices and ingredients are very authentic and fresh.

Best Korean Food!. I like Korean food, and I have been to Korea a few times for business, but I have never tasted any Korean food as good as Dolsot.<br/><br/>At my first visit, I ate the "short ribs" and my wife had the soup noodles (with pork soup). Both dishes were absolutely outstanding that we had to come back within a couple of days to try other dishes.<br/><br/>But don't let the look of the restaurant deter you. It is a family run restaurant which you can tell as soon as you walk in. However, it serves great food and worth a try!

Amazing bang for your $$. The pork bulgogi is my fav. $13ish. So freaking tasty. Great portions. I usually get 2 meals out of it.

Good kimchi!. Very good-not as good as Ariang, but makes up for it in the price, location and lack of wait times. Reminds me of a kimbap shop in Korea: simple, efficient service, no wasted chit chat.

HIDDEN GEM. I've been to Korea, and this place makes me feel like I'm in Korea all over agsin . Excellent

I have eaten here regularly and will continue to . . .. I am kind of uneducated about Korean food (although I do make a couple of nice Kimchi's) and so I have only ordered a few dishes here that are kind of basic. A hot soup with loads of kimchi, bibibimbap (or whatever you call it), chap chae noodles, squid legs in hot sauce with various veggies. It has all been nicely presented, was tasty and is consistent each time I visit which is a good sign in my opinion. Lots of spice. Good noodles good side dishes for the most part. Any sushi I got was a side effect - did not order it specifically. I love the fact that it is attached to a Korean grocery where I can go and purchase ingredients and china ware. This is an informal place - if you are expecting "French" service and to be waited on by panting young waiters - forget it. I like it.

Big Bowls!. Ordered: <br/><br/>2 Gamjatang <br/>1 vegetable dumplings<br/><br/>Impressions:<br/><br/>Biggest Gamjatang I've ever eaten! It was actually tiring to eat, but their broth was very good — and spicy — and their side dishes did not disappoint. The vegetable dumplings were very fresh, and not too oily. <br/><br/>Atmosphere:<br/><br/>Simple, homey. Feels family run, which is a bonus for us. <br/><br/>Overall, would recommend! Not as good as Alirang, but we didn't have to wait and the serving size was gigantic.<br/><br/>Spent: $25~

I’m really starting to like Korean food!. I’m a neophyte when it comes to Korean food and not a big fan of sushi, so I tend to shy away from it. After reading reviews on this place, it came across as a benchmark for good Korean cuisine. We have had good experiences at Miga and negative reviews about Miga glorified Dolsot, so it was off to broaden my gastronomic horizons. Twice.<br/><br/>I Googled the location and was surprised that there was a restaurant here. The last I remembered, it was grocery store/laundry mat and then changed into something else. Too be honest, had it not been for the reviews and my search for healthier fare, I don’t think I’d ever set foot here. The building is a little run down and its always getting tagged, so it didn’t stand out as place that would have a good sit down meal. <br/><br/>When you walk in the door, you first encounter the grocery store and walk further down a small hall to the restaurant. The décor is simple and modest. Wooden chairs and tables, 70s wall paneling, and it has a general old feel. Nothing fancy, but functional.<br/><br/>On our first visit, ordered fried vegetable dumplings, bibimbap, deep-fried chicken in a spicy and sweet red sauce, and squid in hot sauce. I really wanted to try the octopus, but they were all out. We based our orders on our limited experience at Miga. We figured out that you order on a little slip of paper we were given with the menu where you write what you want. Though, I did see some orders being taken by staff. The food arrived after a short wait and we were overwhelmed when we saw the portion sizes and the accompanying sides. God, DAMN! It was enough food for a family of four and way too much for the two of us. After the initial shock wore off, we slowly started trying a little bit of everything. We were delighted at the quality and the variety of delicious flavours. The squid was tender and spicy. The chicken was perfectly fried and mouth-watering. The accompanying rice, kimichi (sic?), miso soup, etc. were all excellent. We left satiated and took home enough leftovers for another meal. All for ~$58.00 including 2 pops and a 20% tip.<br/><br/>We liked it so much we decided to do it again the next day. This time we avoided ordering as much. We ordered vegetable dumplings that we really like the day before, bibimbap, seafood pancake, and spicy vegetable soup with pig’s backs. I saw someone having the soup the day before and it reminded me of a rustic type of dish my mother used to make. The highlights of the meal for me were the seafood pancake and the soup. The soup was spicy and I knew I’d pay for it later, but the mixture of potato, greens, chilies, and fall off the bone pork was like BANG! in my mouth. My mouth was ablaze, but flavours came together in a way to make me want more. Needless to say, my sinuses have never been clearer. My guest was equally as pleased with the bibimbap and seafood pancake. I satisfied my craving for now, but I will be back. All for ~$47.00 including 2 pops and a 20% tip.<br/><br/>Prices are reasonable. Service is quick friendly and the place is family oriented too. They have a little area where kids can play. The cook (owner?) was handing out balloons to the children. They do not serve alcohol, street parking and the entrance I saw was not wheel chair accessible. If you’re not overly concerned about décor, then I highly recommend this place!

DELICIOUS. I've never really come to like asain food. However, when i came to Dolsot cafe i was very surprised about the price and taste. The waitress are very kind and useful recommending you and guiding you towards your favored taste. The owner in fact is very kind and fun to chat with. The food there is also soo delicious. I tried Ghamchachigae and oh my it was so delicious. My mouth was watering with the love of Korean food. Now i am a regular customer to the restaurant. So many good option that never come to disappoint you.

Tried Dolsot Cafe this evening, service was slow but friendly. The food however was good. The kimchi dumplings were very tasty, the kimchi chigae stew was ok, but i have had better. I think it was that they used chunks of pork instead thin sliced pork. It was worth the value and then some.

Having tried a fairly expensive Korean restaurant a while back in little Italy, I had been hoping to find a better priced place where the food was just as good. Came to Dolsot not sure what to expect but I found the selection on the menu extensive and very well priced. We went for dinner but it was still $11 each tax included. I got kimchi jigae and it was delicious! The waitress was very friendly and helpful. It's not a fancy place by any means but not run down either - just super comfy. Of course it always helps when you know all the people working there are Korean! Definitely recommend it.

DO NOT EXPECT SERVICE. I came due to the reviews... Only table there, waitress was busy chatting with her friend at a table and ignored us. I stepped up to see if they were actually open as no one had come to see us after about 6 minutes... They were... Still no service. Went somewhere else.

Great authentic Korean food in Ottawa. An incredible find!

I always crave for good Korean food. Love this place very homie and reasonable priced food. A regular of this restaurant

Good food, Good price. Their deco isn't impressive but the food is really good. This is more like a cafeteria style restaurant. If you are on a tight budget and look for good Korean food (most meals are under $10), this place is it!

Good food- cheap decor. Plain and simple. Not a place for a fancy date but the prices are extremely inexpensive.

Last Friday, my better half and I discovered quite the eatery in the Dolsot Cafe, home-style Korean food eatery that opened 8 years ago and is still overlooked by Ottawa locals. I was one of them. For four years, my better half and I made many trips to Ki