Ottawa China Town

Ottawa China Town is a restaurant located at 717 Somerset St W in Ottawa, Ontario, within the Chinatown district that lines Somerset Street. The area is known for its concentration of Asian dining rooms, grocers, and specialty shops, and this address sits inside that stretch, reachable on foot from the surrounding streets or by a short drive from downtown. Anyone planning a visit can reach the location directly at 613-230-4707 or through the website ottawachinatown.ca for current information.

Finding the restaurant along Somerset Street

The restaurant sits on Somerset Street West, inside the stretch of Chinatown marked by its well-known decorative archway, making it easy to spot once a visitor is walking the block. Ottawa's Chinatown neighbourhood is compact and walkable, so once someone parks or steps off a bus nearby, most other addresses on the street are within a few minutes on foot.

Somerset Street West is a few minutes from downtown Ottawa and from the Civic hospital area, which makes it a convenient stop for people coming from either direction. Street parking exists along Somerset and the side streets, and side-street options tend to be less busy than the main strip itself, particularly on weekend evenings when the neighbourhood sees more foot traffic. Visitors arriving without a car can also reach the area by bus service running along Somerset and Bronson, or by bicycle using the city's downtown cycling routes. Because the block is dense with restaurants and shops sitting close together, arriving a little early to find parking or to walk the last stretch is a reasonable habit for anyone unfamiliar with the area, especially during the busier dinner hours of Friday and Saturday.

What the restaurant offers once you arrive

Ottawa China Town serves Asian cuisine in a setting shaped by the wider Chinatown district, where multiple kitchens sit close together along the same stretch of Somerset Street. Payment is accepted through various payment methods, and guests can reach the business directly by phone to ask about seating, menu items, or any other detail before heading over. Because the surrounding block includes other restaurants and Asian grocers and specialty stores, a visit here can easily be paired with a short walk through the district before or after eating.

How a visit typically unfolds

A typical visit starts with arriving on Somerset Street, finding a spot on a side street or nearby lot, and walking in past the Chinatown storefronts that line the block. From there, guests are seated and can look over the menu, ask staff any questions about dishes, and settle in for a meal that reflects the Asian culinary traditions represented throughout the neighbourhood.

Because Chinatown draws a steady flow of diners, especially in the evening and on weekends, guests may find the street itself lively even before they sit down, with pedestrians moving between restaurants and shops. Once inside, the pace of the meal depends on how busy the room is; ordering, waiting for food, and paying at the end follow the same general rhythm found at most sit-down restaurants in the area. When the meal wraps up, many visitors use the opportunity to continue exploring Somerset Street on foot, stopping at nearby markets or boutiques, since the district is built around that kind of easy, unhurried browsing after a meal. For anyone visiting Chinatown for the first time, the walk from the car or bus stop to the restaurant door is itself part of the experience, passing under the neighbourhood's decorative gateway and alongside its mix of signage and storefronts.

What draws people back to this stretch of Chinatown

Regulars return to this part of Somerset Street for the density of dining options within a short walk and for the atmosphere that the Chinatown district maintains year-round, from its street-level decoration to the steady presence of other restaurants and shops nearby. Newcomers to the area often discover that parking, while sometimes tight directly on Somerset during busy hours, is more available on side streets and comes at no cost, making a first visit less stressful than it might initially seem.

Ottawa's Chinatown carries a distinct identity within the city, built around its concentration of Asian restaurants, grocers, and specialty stores rather than any single business. For diners who value variety, being able to walk between multiple restaurants and shops in one outing is a large part of the appeal, and Ottawa China Town's location on Somerset Street places it within that walkable stretch. Seasonal changes in Ottawa also shape how people experience the visit: warmer months bring more foot traffic and outdoor activity to the street, while colder months tend to favour a straightforward drive-and-park visit followed by time spent indoors. Either way, the core reason people return is the same — a meal on a street built around Asian food and culture, with the option to extend the outing into a longer walk through the neighbourhood.

Frequently asked questions

Can I show up without planning anything in advance?

Walking in without prior arrangements is generally possible at a sit-down restaurant like this one, though calling ahead to 613-230-4707 is a simple way to confirm details before making the trip, particularly during busier evening hours when the street sees more visitors.

What other options exist in the same area if this location doesn't work out?

Somerset Street West and the surrounding Chinatown blocks host a number of other restaurants, markets, and specialty shops, so anyone unable to get in or looking for a different dish has several nearby alternatives within the same short walk.

Is this a suitable choice for a special occasion?

What should I do if something about my visit doesn't go as expected?

Raising a concern directly with the restaurant by phone at 613-230-4707 or through the contact options on ottawachinatown.ca is the most direct way to have an issue addressed, since staff on site are best placed to respond to feedback about a specific visit.