Gastronomic Discovery of the Season:
Yan’s Restaurant in Downtown Ottawa
In the very heart of Ottawa, in the ByWard Market area at 86 Murray Street, Yan’s, a Caucasian cuisine restaurant, has opened its doors. What a wonderful gift for all of us! How long so many people have dreamed of this, believed in it, and hoped for it!
Located in the cozy, renovated premises of a former Italian pizzeria, just a five-minute walk from the National Gallery of Canada, the restaurant was given a creative name: 99% of Armenian surnames end in “yan.” An equally creative approach can be seen in the menu, which is both diverse and colourful.
The unique, spicy flavours of the Armenian and Georgian dishes offered at the new restaurant linger in your memory for a long time. And the desire to return and try something else only grows as you watch, with curiosity and delight, the smooth teamwork of the servers skillfully bringing guests a variety of dishes with unusual ingredients and fantastic aromas.
There is no accounting for taste. The variety of orders is impressive. Some guests savour khinkali, generously seasoned with pepper from a traditional tall wooden pepper mill, while others can hardly contain their appetite at the sight of enormous khachapuri.
Incidentally, khachapuri can be ordered Adjarian-style or Laz-style — and the two are noticeably different. Some guests decide to begin their meal with appetizing pkhali. Others, unable to decide in advance what exactly they would like to try, enjoy Georgian wines — dry or semi-sweet — the famous Armenian Ararat brandy, while some choose an exotic tea made from Armenian herbs. Yet everyone’s face looks contented, peaceful, and happy.
Life is good when you are happy. But it is much better when others are happy because of you. Living for others is a rule of nature. Rivers do not drink their own water; trees do not eat their own fruit. The sun does not shine for itself, and flowers do not spread their fragrance for themselves.
I believe that Yan’s has brought together a happy team of like-minded people who work together with remarkable harmony and dedication. A huge thank-you goes to the restaurant’s principal creator and inspiration, as well as its outstanding chef, Armen Dalibaldyan, and to everyone who puts a piece of their heart into every dish they prepare.
The menu may not contain the seemingly endless number of dishes found in some Chinese or Vietnamese restaurants, but it is certainly extensive, and every dish is unique in its own way, requiring an individual approach to its preparation.
Yan’s opened in December 2025 and has already won the hearts of hundreds of grateful guests. The restaurant currently operates six days a week, except Mondays, starting at 5 p.m. In the foreseeable future, daytime hours are also planned, making it possible to come for lunch. Closer to summer, the outdoor seating area — a patio for 30 guests — will open as well.
The menu is also regularly expanded with new dishes. Recently, for example, it has welcomed beef kharcho soup with generous pieces of excellent meat in every serving; chicken satsivi with walnuts; shkmeruli — chicken legs baked in a creamy garlic sauce; and rabbit chakhokhbili.
Personally, I was absolutely delighted by two popular Armenian dishes, both served in clay pots: tolma — stuffed grape leaves — and khashlama. I am writing about them now and my mouth is already watering. Oh, how delicious they are!
The tolma compares very favourably with its counterpart served in Greek restaurants. Grape leaves cooked in a covered clay pot and generously stuffed with minced meat and rice are far tastier than the Greek version. Moreover, this kind of food is exceptionally wholesome. I would even say that this is the best tolma in North America — and I am an experienced gourmet!
As for the khashlama, it is simply a masterpiece. I was literally speechless with delight! Lamb slowly simmered in a small amount of rich broth, together with potatoes that complement and enhance the flavour of the melt-in-your-mouth meat, simply cannot be compared with any treats, appetizers, or delicacies.
For true lamb lovers who really know and appreciate good lamb, this is a divine dish that simply must be tried — and not just anywhere, but specifically at Yan’s restaurant in downtown Ottawa.
Go and see for yourself how sincere my words are, inspired by such strong positive emotions and the joy of having made the right choice!
Bon appétit!
Marina Kochetova