Shawarma Palace
An iconic local shawarma spot opened in 1996, which won the blind taste test at the inaugural Shawarma Festival in 2025.
Shawarma is Ottawa's most iconic budget food, and Shawarma Palace is the name most frequently mentioned. This Rideau Street location opened in 1996, featuring a bright space and fast service, and is constantly packed. It won the blind taste test at Ottawa's first Shawarma Festival in 2025, and now has ten locations across the city. The chicken shawarma platter served with garlic potatoes is highly recommended; it is generous, affordable, and represents some of the best value in town. It is open until around 1:00 AM on weekdays and 2:00 AM on Fridays and Saturdays. It is about a 15-minute walk along Rideau Street from the ByWard Market. This location gets a lot of tourists, so locals often visit other branches to avoid the queues.
Opening hours
Open daily until late: weekdays until approx. 01:00, Fri-Sat until approx. 02:00
Nearby sights
- ByWard Market
- Rideau Hall
- Château Laurier
- Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica, Ottawa
- National War Memorial
- Major's Hill Park
- Rideau Canal & Ottawa Locks
- National Gallery of Canada