What Is the Difference Between Vegan and Vegetarian Food in Ottawa?

Mongolian Village West November Thumbnail What Is The Difference Between Vegan And Vegetarian In Ottawa

Finding a restaurant that meets the dietary needs of many people can be difficult. You may have guests who can’t eat dairy products or who are on a keto diet. With more and more individuals preferring to regularly adopt plant-based diets, you may be eating with vegetarians or vegans. Looking for vegetarian restaurants in Ottawa? The Mongolian Village Grill West can meet the demands of many different diets.

Here’s what to know about vegan and vegetarian diets.

What Do Vegans Eat?

The vegan diet consists of plant-based foods only. Vegans do not eat any animal product or by-product, such as eggs, dairy, or honey. Many vegans have a lifestyle that extends beyond consumption of food products and do not use anything made from leather, fur, or wool. When dining out, it can be difficult to find vegan restaurants in Ottawa, because animal products are so common in most recipes. Mongolian Village features vegan food that vegans can be assured is made to their needs. You make your own bowl from the buffet of fresh ingredients and then watch our chef cook it on the grill.

How Is Vegetarianism Different?

The vegetarian diet is a little different from the vegan diet. Vegetarians usually don’t eat any meat, poultry, or fish, but they may eat eggs and dairy. A lacto-vegetarian consumes milk, but not eggs. An ovo-vegetarian consumes eggs, but not dairy products. Some vegetarians do eat fish or poultry. The main thing to know about a vegetarian diet is that it relies on plant-based foods, but each person may take a different stance on using animal products as ingredients in their vegetarian meals.

Ottawa Restaurants with Great Food for All Types of Diets

Being a good host means that you try to accommodate the needs of your guests. The Mongolian Village Grill West is the place to bring your family and friends for great Mongolian grill and BBQ food in Ottawa without worrying about meeting their dietary restrictions. Our buffet includes a wide variety of fresh ingredients, with a huge selection of vegetables and noodles, that will satisfy everyone in your party. Make a reservation tonight for a nice meal.

30th November 2021

Tags: vegan restaurants, vegetarian diet

Category: Mongolian Food, Restaurant

Mongolian Village

4.1

Based on 623 reviews

review us on

Linda Wilson

23:16 07 Apr 21

We had a lovely time. The food was perfect and they still have the one bowl option, which is fixed price and comes with soup & rice. The waitress was very pleasant and kind, helped us with all our questions. The staff was very knowledgeable about what sauce went with what meat etc. Will definitely return.

Kris Cannon

22:58 07 Apr 21

I haven't been anywhere since lockdown, (my own work which is a 10) and I also give the Mongolian Village the same status, I have been there a few times this week and I feel safe... they are totally following the rules and sanitizing everything.. Great job guys!! And thank you!!

Ivan De Dios

03:15 02 Apr 21

The food has no taste, quality was acceptable . (2) two stars because the staff is really friendly. Value price ratio is too high. Yes, a lot of food but experience wise... is too too expensive for the taste and quality.

Jessica Williams-Bilder

17:24 15 Mar 21

I ordered from Mongolian Village this past weekend and I was very pleased with the delicious food and friendly staff. The atmosphere in the restaurant was inviting and friendly. I got the pad Thai and the shrimp fajitas and they were both very good! I was pleasantly surprised how much variety the menu has! This is a restaurant you could bring your whole family and everyone would find something they love on the menu.

Ferdous Faridi

02:03 28 Feb 21

The food was really tasty and the staff was super friendly. Highly recommended

Arwa Chavda

23:55 26 Feb 21

Delicious food specially the chicken teriyaki sizzler and the brownie sizzlers. Would definitely try the sizzlers again.

Riley Conley

02:04 11 Feb 21

Amazing food! I had the Chicken Sizzler and it was as good as any I’ve had in Ottawa. My son had the Kids Chicken Fingers and he loved them. Will definitely take out again and look forward to eating in when we are able.

Pamela Carter

00:14 03 Feb 21

Amazing food, amazing service. The way that they’ve adjusted their menu due to covid is actually really nice. They were very accommodating when I requested something not on the menu as well. Will definitely be returning.

Sandra Redmond

00:03 03 Feb 21

We order take-out at least 3 times a month in these trying times. The hot and sour soup is consistent and as good as I have had anywhere! Plenty of variety to choose from, always fresh and tasty! Would highly recommend!

Crystal Tessier

23:53 02 Feb 21

One of the best Vegan places in Ottawa! Not overpriced unlike other vegan restaurants in Ottawa and it is damn delicious. I remember the person serving me helped me so patiently to make a choice. P.S. Perfect for Pregnancy cravings!

Anna Percival

22:55 31 Jan 21

It is good food that is reasonably priced. The service is great. I have been a few times and have always been pleased.

Evelyn Botero

22:33 31 Jan 21

Ordered for takeout, everything was fresh and delicious. Quick and friendly. Very good curbside pickup. Can’t wait for the leftovers.

Stephanie Hayes

19:29 31 Jan 21

Always a great meal and a perfect place to bring the kids. Also great for kids/people with peanut allergies. Our son has a nut allergy and there's never been an issue with accommodating his allergy.

Jodi Fouillard

19:17 31 Jan 21

It's been a few years since I've been to Mongolian Village but supported local and picked up dinner from them last night. It did not disappoint and my family loved it. We'll be back!!

Louise Creese

02:18 31 Jan 21

We found this spot looking at the recommended restaurants of ottawa. It's located in a small strip mall in the west end beside TD bank. We walked in and were greeted promptly by the server. We had the vegetables springs rolls and the pad thai for takeout and it hit the spot. The noodles were delicious and the seasoning was just right. I definitely recommend!

Michelle Lefleur

02:05 31 Jan 21

The food is sooo freakin good, you will soon start to hit yourself because you didn't find this spot sooner! The staff are quick and friendly, and the eating environment is clean. Your food comes out super fast, and is hot and ready to eat, and always tastes delicious! The portion sizes are great, and its nice to bring home a container of soup and rice with you for leftovers. The dining experience here is like no other, and the food is the best in the area. I am happy to drive roughly 30minutes each way to be able to enjoy an awesome bowl of their hot n sour. Great prices too!

Mahbubur Rahman

19:01 30 Jan 21

Tried the sizzler that is on BOGO promo this afternoon. Took out. Liked the soup and sizzler plate as the plate comes itself. But however the criticism is what’s the rice for? Seems redundant and has no place on the plate since there is already chowmein/fries as default side. Hope they fix the menu. Would give a 4 and 1/2 star if could.

Denise Verdon

18:28 30 Jan 21

This place has been our go too during Covid for take out. Support local!Always fast delivery. Fresh hot food.Great customer service and easy online ordering!Great prices and awesome serving sizes!!

Angelica Simard

18:17 30 Jan 21

A fantastic experience! Staff was very helpful and friendly, the restaurant was clean and the options were endless. I built my meal and took it to go, and by the time I ate it a half hour later at home it was still delicious ! Looking forward to going and dining in. Highly recommended to anyone looking for a great date night or family restaurant

Amit K Tamang

00:41 30 Jan 21

Worst! Ordered sizzler - and it looked like a pho. Who serves sizzlers with gravy. The packaging was so worst, they squeezed everything and all of it coming out of box. And food was soooo tasteless.

Jenn Lowrey

20:26 29 Jan 21

We've been coming here for several years now. We love the idea of creating your own stir fry and watching the food being cooked right in front of you. Price is reasonable given the quantity of food.

Cindy Jamais

19:34 29 Jan 21

Amazing place much recommended. Family friendly with options for all. Nice and spacious with bar and halal options making this a spot for all. They do birthdays as well. Foods delicious too with live cooking options.

Irina McIntyre

18:55 29 Jan 21

This place is great!!! I love the concept that you make your own stir fry. SUPER HEALTHY AND TASTY. Mongolian Village has an excellent selection of sauces, noodles, veggies, meats & even vegetarian meats also the portion served were delicious and reasonably priced! I'll definitely be coming back.

A Google User

18:38 29 Jan 21

We ordered takeout for our family. The food was perfect and they still have the one bowl option, albeit done differently. The waitress was very pleasant and kind, helped us with all our questions. Prices are convenient. This has been one of my favourite spots in Bells Corner for YEARS!

alina waito

18:21 29 Jan 21

EXCELLENT!! Highly recommended this place. Even with covid still looming around the staff took precautions to ensure the safety of everyone. The food was great, the atmosphere was pleasant and lively, and the staff was fantastic and friendly. So if you are looking to go out for a nice dinner with the family or on a date, I recommended this place and it won't break the bank.

Jasmine Martinez

23:36 31 Dec 20

Service is really great, great packaging , however the food was very bland had no taste and didn’t put enough meat .

Jim Covell

03:32 14 Nov 20

Drove especially to Bells Corners on numerous occasions to enjoy an awesome meal with the best service. Hope the girl from Ethiopia is still working.

Crystal Merkley

03:58 03 Oct 20

Absolutely delicious as usual. Taking many precautions during these trying times and doing it well.

dheeksha reddy

19:52 09 Sep 20

Not worth the hype atall. The service was so nagging and irritating. We had three servers coming back and fourth asking us if we are ready even when we said we need time. Coming to food it was horrible. I think they are confused what to offer us, the menu was all over , they have a mix cuisine of Mexican (tacos)Asian and i dont what others are called.We ordered egg rolls - and i all i could smell is re used oil. Then we ordered soup which was more like tamarind Juice. The noodles were disaster. They give rice as complementary which was very confusing. What do we eat the rice with? and why is it complementary when we cannot munch on!Doing a paid ad sponsor by different bloggers will not change the business. I Hope you guys will work on your service and food especially.

Jeffrey Thompson

02:20 26 Aug 20

The food was good our server was excellent.

18:39 24 Aug 20

Good food, but WAY overpriced.

Felipe Marinho

14:28 24 Aug 20

We (my family) had a custom order (each) made by one of the many chefs inside the restaurant. There's a big counter that reassembles a buffet where every option is labeled and after you choose all elements of your dish, the chef cooks'em on a huge grill. Delicious food and confortante outside area in front of the main entrance.

Srishti Batra

20:27 11 Aug 20

I love this restraunt. They have a unique concept of 'Make your own bowl'.They let you choose your ingredients ,add sauces and stir fry the flavorful ingredients.Everyone can dine in here. They have a wide variety of ingredients for vegetarians, meat lovers, halal, pescatarian.Also you get rice and soup for free with the meal....that too unlimited.I will give extra marks for their friendly service and staff. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Christopher Rigg

22:35 12 May 20

Very kind service. Thanks Joe. Great to able to see the chef cook!!! Great variety on menu including vegan and gluten free and accommodate any food alergies

Yury Putnin

18:24 06 Mar 20

While the wood was delicious and looked fresh... the cleanliness of the facility and proper cooking methods need addressing. There was human hair stuck to the table, table it self was sticky... and to top that off, there was a bunch of hair in my plate....

Bill Jackson

16:02 03 Mar 20

MONGOLIAN VILLAGEWe met another couple here for dinner on Monday evening (Mar 2/20). The four of us always loved Mongolian Village, that was until last night.We had what was without a doubt, the absolute worst waiter any of us had ever encountered. It’s started with the drink order. I asked for a Bacardi and coke, and his response was we only have Capt Morgan, but it’s the same thing. No. It. is. not! We settled on the drinks and went for our food. Upon returning to the table he approached with the drinks and lean across me, his side brushing my face in order to serve my date her drink. Very bad form!As we finished eating, I asked for the rest of my dinner “to go” He then brought a styrofoam container and dropped it in front of me and walked away. A little taken aback, I asked him how I was supposed to fill it with just a fork. Having been there many time, I knew they take your plate away and package it go. Instead, his response was to pick up my plate and scrape the food from my plate into the container with some of my food spilling onto the table. He wiped that with his hand back into the empty plate and set it back in front of me. The four us just looked at one another, incredulous. He topped it off by lean across the gentleman with us in order to retrieve his date’s plate. That’s was it, we’d had enough. We asked for the machine to pay, which he brought, and then stood over us while we used the machine. No one in our group left a tip, and none of us will be returning to the Robertson Rd location again. From now on we’ll drive across the city to the Mongolian Village at Gloucester Centre where we know we’ll get good service.

Noelle C

10:20 18 Feb 20

Very clean. And food is always fresh. Friendly staff. This place got me thru a pregnancy where I couldn't stand the smell of food. I go there make my food exactly how I want it with exact ingredients and its served. Was awesome! Been going there for over 10 years now as a go to for date night.

Sylvia D

04:38 15 Feb 20

Love going here. They are so accommodating with dietary requirements. Being vegan, I know that I can go there with family and friends and everybody will be satisfied because you pick whatever you want.

Matt Wheildon

01:18 15 Feb 20

We booked via the online tool early as it was for Valentines and I was pleased to receive an email confirming the booking from Ryan, so great comms from the get-go. We were met with a big smile at the door and then looked after royally by Josee our server. As this was our first time eating there, Josee took us through the options and we chose to select our own veg, meats and sauces for cooking on the hot plate by the grill chefs. Each bowl is weighed and you are charged accordingly. As soups and rice come included as a side (as much you want) we started with a hot and sour bowl of soup each and then picked our own choices from the massive selection on offer. With lots of meat options and seafood there’s something for everyone, including soy based options, along with fresh crunchy veggies. My bowl was $17 and my wife’s about $15. It was plenty of food with the rice, rice pancakes and soup. Next time we go I’ll pick more meat as it shrinks on cooking but it’s down to personal preference of course. All in, with a dessert (we shared it as we were stuffed), beer and a cocktail for about $55 plus tip was a great price. Great job guys, we’ll be back for sure!

Laurie Bryant

01:09 08 Feb 20

We got take out. Beef with vegetables at this restaurant. Horrible! The vegetables were barely cooked, the carrots were dry like dehydrated vegetables. The rice was like a clump of glue and the soup, hot and spicy was beef consume out of a can, awful with overcooked bean sprouts. The Spring rolls wete obviously something that was thrown into a microwave and again awful. Anyone can do what they do, but as a restaurant it is like eating leftovers in a home where noone knows how to cook and serves overcooked/undercooked leftovers from takeout.Never again

Ivan Layne

08:11 10 Jan 20

Was there for supper, my thoughts: it MIGHT be better suited to lunch. Staff was nice enough, service was very good. Decor, as I say, better suited to lunch (nothing fancy). The food is, at best, mediocre. It's an interesting setup. Buffet style wherein you "assemble" your dish and they cook it. Different and that was ok but I wasn't overly impressed with the food. Not expensive but certainly not cheap. 2 stars would be unfair and 3 feels like too much.

Shannon McDonald

20:26 09 Jan 20

Really like this place, but the quality went down and prices went up. They also have a new kid's menu we decided to try for my son- ordered chicken strips and was told it's a chicken breast made into strips, but what it really is is a processed ground chicken burger cut up and served with ketchup. It was gross, and the kids menu doesn't include anything (ie: fries), you order and pay for each item individually, and is not worth the money IMHO

Anna Buhr

23:23 03 Jan 20

Our waiter, Mario, was fantastic. He was always on top of filling drinks and bringing more rice, etc. right when we needed it. The food was excellent, it’s hard to go wrong when you get to pick everything yourself. The food comes fast and the atmosphere is calm and pleasant. We will be recommending this location to all of our friends.

Rayyaan Jameel

06:22 03 Jan 20

Great staff and ambiance. Food quality and service is well worth the visit. Both a pre prepared menu and self serve, create your bowl station available. Fresh ingredients, spices, veggies, meats, noodles e.t.c. Be prepared to pay by weight if you choose the self serve option. Soup and rice served with all meals. Enjoy!

Matthew Donohue

15:03 24 Dec 19

Build your own stir fry. What more could you want?

Mike Saper

22:23 21 Dec 19

Variety is fantastic but you pay for what you get so it's not cheap for lunch however

Tim Anderson

01:48 19 Dec 19

The food is fantastic, the selection of ingredients, noodles, and sauces is great, but it's way overpriced for what's still just a stir-fry (albeit a delicious one!). Nothing to dislike about Mongolian Village except the prices. Good for an every once in a while treat.

Tracey Blomquist

04:31 06 Nov 19

Delicious and healthy. Make sure you put at least 3 scoops of your choice of sauce to your bowl. It will make sense when you eat there!

Kam Kwok

21:02 03 Nov 19

Pick your own food and sauce for dinner. Pay by weight. A good desert menu.

Roni Mathew

04:31 29 Oct 19

Great place good ambience and the server Gilly treated us well she took great care of us. The food was also very tasty

Michael Vernaleken

16:52 26 Oct 19

Always perfect when we go here, I have had this waiter a couple times now and he has always been friendly and attentive.

Suzie Mallette

13:26 23 Aug 19

It was so good! I love being able to customize my food as I want. It was well cooked and was very yummy! The service was great, very friendly.

E P

21:55 04 Aug 19

Everyone was happy with their meal. Its smaller since the Reno 2? Years ago but we actually prefer the layout now. We will go back.

Steve Irving

00:38 04 Jul 19

We've been coming here for 18 years or so, and after a brief rough patch here and there over that time, Mongolian Village Grill is on top of its game again. Your meal is largely as good as you make it, as it's a buffet of fresh raw ingerdients and sauces that you combine. You pay by weight, but we usually get enough for leftovers. Not a cheap place to eat, but worth it once you know what you like. Meat and noodles are heavy, veggies are light, so you decide what you want with that in mind regarding the price.

Joseph Arnita

18:47 01 Jul 19

Great food and great service! You grab a bunch of fresh, raw ingredients, they weigh your food and you pay by weight. It's then stir fried to perfection and served. Free soup and rice included with the meal. They also have all you can eat prices during lunch as well as special options for Mongolian Village Club members that you receive by email.

Tom Worth

03:29 24 Jun 19

Great variety of meats, seafood and veggies! Expertly cooked and balanced, hot & sour soup was good too. Good service throughout. Would have liked brown rice as an option and moderately priced.

Alex Wright

11:23 19 Jun 19

The food is excellent quality. The major problem was every time we brought a bowl to be cooked, the chef negotiated with us (it was more like an interrogation). Mongolian Village needs to simplify its menu with all you can eat ONLY like the big Mongolian grills in Toronto. Dont weigh your customers food or give them complex rules to get discounts. Everyone pay $19.95 for all you can eat, make it easy and more people will come.

Prakhar Garg

13:10 15 Jun 19

Figuring out how things work at the restaurant was a bit confusing. The food was alright. Didn't have much problem with the wait staff. It was a bit daunting making your own but the flavor was acceptable. There are tastier food options in the area.

Dan Mincu

16:13 02 Jun 19

I've been here many times and every time I go I promise that I won't return and hopefully, this time is for good! I don't like this place especially due to the way they structure their meals: the let you choose the stir fry items and that invariably leads to a poor meal that costs $20. There are many other good choices for that price range.

Chad E. Arsenault

19:04 16 May 19

I experienced Mongolian Village for the first time and love the options of meat, seafood, veg, noodle and sauce. If you are a fan of Hot and Sour soup, I suggest getting a bowl. I had 3. Plus my plate and I shared dessert. Can't go wrong here.

Suneil Dham

17:01 14 May 19

Good fresh choice for everyone (including vegetarians and vegans) and cooked fresh. On the pricey side. Great service.

Jane Stanway

00:49 27 Mar 19

We had an awesome time there at Mongolian Grill as we had come for the All-you-can -eat on the weekend for lunch at Robertson road. Food was really delicious and they have so many options for vegan and those following a Keto diet.Staff was very professional and helpful. Our server was so nice and she even brought our cake with a candle and took some pictures knowing that we had a birthday girl in our group. We'll go there again soon.

Kyler Manseau

17:47 22 Mar 19

I was surprised with how satisfied I ended up being. The food is a little expensive but you get to select everything you want and place it in a bowl. You then pay based on the weight of the bowl and then they cook it for you. It was very good and I will definitely go again

Kimberly Ginn

00:02 21 Dec 18

Great food, great staff. The thing I like the most about this place is that you can create a meal that accommodates your dietary restrictions and a portion size in line with your hunger. Definitely check them out if you've never been before

Giselle Bergeron-Raganold

19:42 21 Nov 18

It's been a while but stopped in for lunch, tasty& fresh but little pricey. Soup was delicious but arrived at the same time as our meal.

John Veitch

03:17 09 Nov 18

Healthy made to order food. Very nice atmosphere and selection. 5 stars!

gillian martin

04:58 23 Oct 18

Absolutely fantastic. It was my first time and they completely exceeded my expectations. The service was fast & friendly, the food was fresh and loved their lunch specials and the experience is something you can't get at any other restaurant! Definitely worth checking out if you haven't been in a while!

Nevin Porwal

16:38 16 Oct 18

Its an amazing place. Great sauce variety and their free soup and rice was getting my money worth. Good taste and service. Been vegetarian, i had options there. Recommend this place

Heather Calder

22:20 14 Sep 18

Food is good. You pick it all out in a bowl and they cook it fresh for you. They have some suggested sauce mixes for you to make or you can make your own. The waitress was not very attentive for the drinks.

Purazar Bhadha

16:26 21 Aug 18

It's a fun experience, where become part of the meal prep. You're shape the taste and textures of your meal. Skip the beef, it is always over cooked, and is practically shoe leather.Also, if you eat a moderate to high quantity, be ready to pay more than you would at other places for an equivalent amount of food. It's by weight and it adds up very quickly.

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