K BUI
It was our first time eating at this restaurant the other night and when we got there around 7:30pm it was completely empty. The layout is small and cozy. The food was good, portions were decent for the price, and the server was very nice as well.
Overall good; I didn't give it the 5 star rating because, in my opinion, for a restaurant that small - maybe a little bit of music playing wouldn't hurt so you aren't left listening to every conversation that's happening around you (other tables were filled shortly after us) and also, there was a strong odour when we first walked in and sat down. Smelt almost sewer like? It wasn't so bad as the food started to arrive, but my family was definitely not too impress with it.
Dominic Lo
Place is quiet and food is okay. I got the beef ribs bento. The ribs were so tough and chewy. Disappointed.
Elena D
Delicious food, humble and polite staff. Food looks authentic and more than half customers were Oriental. There are non-spicy and spicy options. Decor isn't the best, but it doesn't matter. I was mostly looking at my food! :)
I'll definitely come back, and recommend my friends to try this restaurant.
May Street
Awesome food here! Very authentic Korean vibe. The waiter was very efficient and the air of the place was very classic.
The kimchi itself was pretty good, could be a bit saltier. Really delicious Korean side-dishes; the potatoes and bean sprout dishes in particular were amazing. The Kimchi pancakes were amazing, as well as the mandu! Oh, that mandu - so delicious.
As for the main course (we got the Bulgogi hotpot for 2-3 people), it was SUPERB. The beef was tender and flavourful, the veggies were fresh and plentiful, the glass noodles were cooked to perfection. The serving size said 2-3 people, but it could definitely feed 3-4.
Prices were very reasonable; me and my friend ended up paying around 27$ (w/o tip) each for dinner, which I thought was cheap for such great food (2 apps, unlimited Korean side dishes, and a giant hotpot) with the fine dining atmosphere.
I will DEFINITELY be returning to try Le Kim Chi''s other offerings. <3
MK0119
Even thought Everything in the menu is Amazing, My favorites are
A2 Ddeokbokki (spicy rice cake) is amazing
Best Ddeokbokki I've ever had.
And Recently I've found out that, it is the only 5-star Korean Restaurant in Ottawa and it is worth the stars.
Love it!!!!!!
Grace Kelly
Just ordered on skip the dishes, the food was fabulous and my order was timely. I am very very very particular about my food. There is absolutely no reason for a bad review here. Those of you who want quantity over quality go to BK drive thru. THANKS!
Yevgeniya Chabanenko
Bulgogi is really good here! And I love the bento boxes. Service is very friendly, but I've noticed they stopped serving a couple sides that they used to before. It's a little disappointing, because I loved those potatoes!
Nitzan Eliyahu
I came because of the good reviews and got really disappointed. Got the ribs box and it was less then a mall food we quality. Rice had no taste to it and server never asked if everything is OK. I forced myself to eat really... Gave it 2 stars just for the look of the restaurant
John Thompson
Le Kim Chi lies in the heart of Ottawa’s Little Italy, which seems vaguely appropriate for a Korean restaurant. Actually, there are several Asian restaurants in the immediate vicinity and I can say, after a recent visit, that this is one of the better ones…. Le Kim Chi is a pretty small place, seating only 40 or so but it is pleasantly appointed and comfortable. It was empty when I arrived at noon on a Tuesday and only a few patrons arrived during my meal. That wasn’t entirely unexpected though as it was a very hot day just following a long-weekend. The menu is quite extensive, especially for such a small place, and what drew me to the place was the appetizer selection. I was very impressed, beyond the fast and friendly service, when my server volunteered to bring me a side dish of Kimchi free of charge even though the usual Korean Banchans only come with main course dishes.
Costa
Been in the past and was happy but last time via Uber it was very late due to restaurant being very slow with the order. Food was acceptable but it lacked flavor. Liked the kimchi and the onion pancakes. Noodles so so. Bulgogi ok but kalbi lacked flavor.
Lizzie590
I have only had them via ubereats. The orders are prepared quickly and I do get my meals fast. The ddokboki has a delicious sauce, but uses too many vegetables as filler (more ddok, plz). I also tried the kimchi jijgae, a favorite. Last order was too liquidy, but their kimchi was tasty and not overly salty. I still prefer Dolsot and Arirang...they are also cheaper.
Hoxjennifer
Adding this place to my list of favourite Korean restaurants in Ottawa. The service is very friendly and warm (the staff seem like they are actually Korean, but I'm not 100% sure). I came on a weekday with a group of friends at around 1:30 and the restaurant was practically empty except for 2 other tables, which allowed for quick service. Had the rice cakes with spicy sauce - the sauce was wonderful although a bit runnier than the consistency at Alirang's. Side dishes are great - kim chi is spicy, and the potatoes and bean sprouts are topped with sesame - a nice, unique touch. We were craving Hotpot and split the medium between 3 people - which was filling, but not over the top. The kimchi broth is amazing. Instead of pork, we replaced it with bulgogi beef. Only slight critqiue about the hotpot was that the meat portions were a bit skimpy, however for appetizer and hotpot we only paid ~$16 per person. The menu is extensive and I am definitely eager to go back and try more, especially since there is so much to choose from.
Jessica Parent
Pretty decent place, since there aren't a ton of Korean places here.<br/>$15 for a bento box at dinner which came with:<br/>-Bulgogi<br/>-Teriyaki Chicken<br/>-2 Beef Dumplings<br/>-Cold Sesame Noodles<br/>-Salad with Italian Dressing<br/>-Generous bowl of rice<br/>-Bowl of (I think) miso soup<br/>-Kimchi<br/>-Green Beans<br/>-Spicy Bean Sprouts<br/>-Sweet potato shoots<br/><br/>The only thing I specifically didn't like was the sweet potato sprout. It felt like eating small twigs. Kimchi isn't really my thing, but I tried it and it was okay. Everything else was good and tasty. Service was fast (Took 6-7 minutes to order and get my food), but I was literally the only one in there. I have a big appetite, but I was only able to be about 2/3rds of the food. I'd go back again for sure.
Rj.forgiel
Went to Le Kim Chi on Sept. 10, 2014 - Food is horrible. We used to go there on a regular basis and the food was wonderful, however we did not go all summer and just found out that Jenny and her family have sold to new owners. The waiter was terrible and the food was so disgusting that we just left without eating. The dumplings were just deep fried and not home made, the kim chi was not good and definitely not homemade. The chicken and beef dishes had no sauce and had not been marinade just spices thrown in.
Facebook User
A favorite. We have visited le kim chi quite a few times and it has grown into one of my favorites. the food is very well priced abd the food quality is consistent. would definitely recommend.
Joe
Take out. First time eating at Le KIM Chi. I ordered their bulgogi. It was messy, tiny portions and very expensive. For 18$ I got barely any food. If you are hungry, don't order their take out.
Jabber Wock
Close, but no cigar. Despite warm, funny, helpful service, I was unable to convince myself to give Le Kim Chi the old "thumbs up". The portion size to tastiness to price ratio was just not there for me, especially when some of these dishes are composed of quite basic, inexpensive staples (meat + egg + rice + a little veg). My friend recently went there for lunch and paid $21, which is a bit much. My dinner bill was similarly costly, and although I didn't dislike the food, it didn't quite measure up to the standard set by Koreana, which is also less pricey.
Christiane
Tasty, homey meals. Great service. What more can I ask for? Yummy bibimbap and black sesame ice cream.
Sarah
Very good Korean food. My husband and I have tried all the Korean restaurants in Ottawa and we like a few of them but this is our favourite! Great service too. Must try is the seafood pancake (pajeon) and the seafood silky tofu stew (soon dubu). We always ask for the stews extra spicy and we have to convince them that we can take it but it is worth the extra spice!!
Willku
Good service and food!. Just came back from Le Kim Chi for dinner. We had the seafood pan cake for appetizer which was very tasty. For dinner I had the kim chi fried rice with tofu and fried egg and my wife had the a kim chi stew with rice and tofu. Both dishes were very good! Even the little complementary appetizer served with dinner were very tasty (kim chi, fried squash and pickled daikon). The owner (I think it was the owner) came over to talk with us and he was very nice. Apparently its his mom who makes the kim chi, I told him to thank his mom because it was probably the best we had ever had. Will definitely be going back.
CitizenO
Better than expected. My best friend is Korean but I have been avoiding eating Korean food since the last time we went out, I did not like it at all. Le Kim Chi has brought me within the realm of wanting to eat Korean again. We had dumpling appetizers (Goonmandoo), and dumpling soup. The soup was incredibly spicy, which, according to my Korean friend, should not really be the case. Nonetheless, it was quite good. Then we had the Korean BBQ ribs (Galbi), they were excellent, the rice dish with vegetables (Bibimbap), and the spicey seafood soft tofu stew. All were really tasty and worked well with each other. Finally we had the black sesame ice cream and the green tea ice cream. I think the black sesame is the way to go. It was a pleasant dining experience, and I'm glad to say that I'm definitely more open to trying Korean food again because of Le Kim Chi.
Yuminmytum
Great service and tasty food. would have liked more food in the side dishes but quite enjoyed my food!
Cj
I would classify this a Korean fusion restaurant as it certainly is not authentic. I found it extremely salty which I am not a fan.
Doris
Overpriced for average food. The only thing good about this restaurant is the decore and maybe the service. The food is overpriced and just so and so. The food is not authentic. We will not go back.
D.J
Just O.K.. It's just okay... I found that it's a bit pricey considering the variety of ban-chan (side dishes) and the quality of the food.
Yummydishes
No porkbone soup (gam ja tang). ...unfortunately, le kim chi was a miss for us. since we eat alot of korean food, we wanted our usual orders of the pork bone soup, which is one of the most popular dishes in any korean restaurant. however, the owner said due to the location of their restaurant, pork bone soup was not preferred. so for all you people who like the authentic korean food, and enjoy using your hand to eat that pork bone soup, this little nicely decorated and romantic restaurant may not be the right place for you. <br/><br/>We both ordered the Kimchi stew (kimchi jigae) at the end, and it still tasted very good :) just a warning though, if you usually order the kimchi stew and is ok with that amount of spice, tell them to tone it down a notch, cuz the spice they put there felt alot more spicy than any other kimchi stew i've ever had.<br/><br/>decor was very nice, very romantic good service too. VERY CLEAN :)
Katherine Joberty
Great food but even better service. I went to Le Kimchi a few months ago. I'm going to South Korea to teach English soon. This was my first experience with Korean food. Between my mom and I we had: <br/>-hotpot bibimbap (super yummy) <br/>-bulgogi <br/>-sesame ice cream (yummy but makes your teeth grey) <br/>-plum tea (my new favourite tea!) <br/>-lemony? tea <br/>-sesame cookie <br/><br/>Since I've never had Korean food before I don't have more to say than that. What I really want to talk about is the fabulous service. We started are service with one sister and ended with the other sister. The first one was just okay but her sister was a hoot. She made fun of the way her sister arranged the table. She answered all of our questions with enthusiasm. When she heard I will be teaching in Korea she had a lot to tell me about how to prepare and even said she would look over my packing list to make suggestions. <br/><br/>The interior was very nice but the parking was difficult. <br/><br/>I will definitely be returning to Le Kimchi!
Nichurdis
The food was phenomenal, the service was just the right amount of helpful. I will definitely go back again.
Norco806
Same vegetables?. I went with my korean girlfriends familly, and we were a little disappointed. The food was O.K. but in every single dish that we ordered (five of them), there were the 4 same vegetables in them. They were also not vegetable usually or often used in korean dishes. It was also very pricey for both proportion and quality. At least the service was good, very kind people.
Denny Lee
Kinda disappointed. Very tiny side dish totally ruined my dinner. Bibimbab was alright, interior was nice, and they even played some Korean traditional music but a bit more pricy than the other Korean restaurants in Ottawa and nothing impressive. Maybe I've heard many good things about the place before I actually tried it.
Roland Axam
Excellent food and great service. Authentic Jeonju pibimbap - the chef comes from Jeonju, South Korea (I lived there for 2 years). Not as many free side dishes as I would expect, but this restaurant is pretty upscale for Korean. I had a very enjoyable experience.
Julie R
We Love This Place!. We've been to Le Kim Chi many times since moving to Ottawa. We've tried lots of Korean places in Toronto, Montreal and other parts of SW Ontario (including home-cooked Korean food).<br/><br/>This restaurant is up there with the best of them. Their jeon dishes (veggie, kimchi and seafood pancakes) are yummy beyond belief. Bulgogi is very nicely marinated and served with a few fresh, crisp veggies. Portions are a wee bit small for the price, but the quality of the food and the amazing service makes up for the portion sizes.<br/><br/>The service is incredible - for people new to Korean food, they will really take the time to make sure you understand the menu, and for people who are familar with eating Korean food, they will make you feel incredibly welcome - and will remember you on the next visit!<br/><br/>I can't recommend them highly enough.
Nugget
Lunch with Friends. A friend and I came here for lunch a couple days ago and I walked out extremely happy.<br/>Before I get to the food I first need to point out how friendly and helpful the staff were. Our waitress first came over with the menus and asked if we'd had Korean before. This was a first for my friend so she took the time to go through the menu, explain dishes and recommend options best suited for a first timer to Korean. I could not believe the time she was taking to help us out and was highly impressed. In the end this helped provide a better dining experience for both of us. All the staff were friendly and as helpful as they could be. It really felt more like I was with a group of friends, some of whom just happened to be serving me food.<br/>I kept it simple this time, no apps, just the main. I chose to go with the Galbi (short ribs), these came with the usual greens sprinkled with sesame seeds, sticky rice and 3 side dishes. Kimchi, Pork Pancakes and Sweet Pickled Turnip. The ribs were sweet and tasted great. The greens tasted just as good and went fast. The sticky rice was good but could have used a little more flavor. The Pork Pancakes got cold fast but still tasted good.<br/>Overall I'm impressed with my experience, especially the service. I look forward to going back real soon.
Neil Doody
Real Korean. Great place to try Korean. Most people probably have not tried authentic Korean food, and wouldn't know what it is if they found it. <br/><br/> Well that can all change now with Le Kim Chi. <br/>Start with a glass of their great ginger tea, and try the bibinbap or the Short ribs. They also have a great black sesames Ice Cream, which is a a great different twist on a plain Ice Cream.
Emily Mays
Food was great. Service was excellent. Staff friendly. Parking is difficult. Would definitely return.
KerriS
Good food, nice setting. Food was good (but some may find portions on the small side). <br/>Had the Mandoo as app and Hotpot Bimbimbap. BBB better than Koreana, and as good as Joy but smaller. <br/>Will be back.
Food MD
On-Ly Kim Chi?!. Although the interior is nicer than most Korean restaurants, the cuisine is quite disappointing. Unlike most Korean restaurants, I was only served kimchee as a side dish. Usually, the norm is to have at least 3 side dishes accompany one's meal. Worst of all, the soon tobu chigae (spicy tofu stew), came from a package similiar to the instant noodle variety. Come on guys, it only takes a few ingredients and minimal prep time to prepare the broth. Like I said, disappointing.
Jojo
After we placed our orders, a salad arrived. It was an interesting mix - things I have definitely eaten, but would not have put together in one dish. The flavours were bright and fresh and the perfect start to our meal. The dressing tasted mostly of pineapple and had a creamy texture that was indefinable (by me anyway). I quizzed our server and she did admit to the pineapple, but assured us that th
FoodiePrints
If you are a new initiate to Korean food, Le Kimchi is a prefect place to make an introduction.
Nooschi
My favorite Ottawa Korean joint, for non Korean BBQ dishes, is Le Kim Chi . This is our go-to place if we are craving something easy, casual, fairly healthy and something with an Asian twist that is not a pho noodle house. The wait staff at Le Kim Chi is extremely friendly, and helpful with the menu. They've made it a pleasant experience everytime we've dined here. When CK and I come here, we pretty much order the same thing everytime. I have my dish and he has his. I hmmm and hawwww everytime debating whether or not I should try something different, but why fix it if it ain't broke, right? Every meal always starts with a salad with strawberries, and the house special pineapple dressing. It's a little sweet and a little tangy, a unique taste. Salad with Pineapple Dressing Like any traditional Korean meal, you also start with a selection of small side dishes. The kim chi and pickled radish is pretty much what you see everytime but the third dish varies. This time, we had salad with corn
Rachelle
Prices at this restaurant are very reasonable. Their wine and drink list is a bit limited but good and fairly priced. Atmosphere cozy and dimly lit with really good service.
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