A Caucasian Cuisine Restaurant Has Opened in Ottawa
By Marina Kochetova
IT HAS HAPPENED! In the very heart of Ottawa, in the ByWard Market area at 86 Murray Street, a Caucasian cuisine restaurant called “Yan’s” has opened. What a wonderful gift for all of us! So many people have dreamed of this for a long time—believed in it and hoped for it. Located in a cozy, renovated space that used to be an Italian pizzeria, just a five-minute walk from the National Gallery, it received a creative name: 99% of Armenian surnames end in “-yan.” An equally creative approach can be felt in the menu. It is diverse and vibrant.
The unique, spicy flavors of Armenian and Georgian dishes offered at the new restaurant linger joyfully in your memory, and the desire to come back and try something else automatically grows—almost exponentially—when you watch with curiosity and delight the smooth teamwork of the waitstaff, deftly bringing guests a variety of dishes with unusual ingredients and fantastic aromas.
Tastes differ, of course. The range of orders is impressive. Some savor khinkali, adding pepper from a traditional oversized wooden pepper mill; others can’t take their eyes off the enormous khachapuri (by the way, you can order Acharuli or Lazuri—they are very different); some begin their meal with appetizing pkhali. Visitors who haven’t decided in advance what to try enjoy Georgian wines—dry or semi-sweet—the famous Armenian cognac “Ararat,” or choose an exotic tea made from Armenian herbs… Yet everyone’s faces look pleased, calm, and happy.
Life is good when you are happy. But it is much better when others are happy thanks to 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 fragrance for themselves… I think that at “YAN” a joyful team of like-minded people has come together—working in harmony and friendship. A huge thank-you for this to the main creator and inspirer, and also an excellent chef, Armen Dalibaldyan, and to everyone who, of course, puts a piece of their heart into each dish. The menu may not be endless, as in Chinese or Vietnamese restaurants, but it offers quite a lot—and every dish is distinctive, requiring its own individual approach.
“Yan” opened in December 2025 and has already won over hundreds of grateful guests. At the moment, the restaurant operates six days a week (closed Mondays) starting from 5 p.m. In the foreseeable future, daytime service is planned as well—so you’ll be able to stop by for lunch. Closer to summer, outdoor seating will open too (a patio for 30 people). The menu is also regularly expanded with new dishes. Recently, for example, it added beef kharcho soup (with huge, beautiful pieces of meat in every serving), chicken satsivi with walnuts, shkmeruli (chicken legs baked in a garlic-cream sauce), and rabbit chakhokhbili…
Personally, two popular Armenian dishes delighted me completely—both served in clay pots. These are tolma (stuffed grape leaves) and khashlama. I’m writing about it now and my mouth is watering… Oh, how delicious it is! Tolma compares very favorably to its Greek-restaurant counterpart: cooked in a pot under a closed lid, the grape leaves generously filled with minced meat and rice taste far better than the Greek version. And this food is exceptionally healthy. I would say it’s the BEST tolma in North America—and I’m a seasoned foodie! As for khashlama, it is simply a masterpiece. I was, so to speak, speechless with pleasure! Tender lamb slowly stewed in a small amount of rich broth, together with potatoes that complement and highlight the flavor of meat that melts in your mouth, doesn’t even come close to any snacks, delicacies, or gourmet treats. For true lovers of lamb who really know what they’re talking about, this is a divine dish that is absolutely worth trying—specifically at Yan’s in downtown Ottawa. Go and see for yourself how sincere my words are, inspired by the strong positive emotions I felt from making the right choice. Bon appétit!