You can call me a chicken connoisseur lol and this is one of the best chicken Ive had. Rice is great, too, just enough flavoring to not overpower the chicken. A lot of people coming jn and out so you know this place is great. Friendly wait staff. Fries are costco brand lol Will definitely come back. read more

The light skin guy with long hair who works the front counter is rude and condescending. Acts sassy like a woman.

They're super welcoming. I loved the vibe. While I was ordering a man sitting at the dining area yelled "BeSt LaMb in ALL of OtTaWA" so, I got lamb. Regretted it. Get chicken. Pili pili CHICKEN, not lamb. read more

Pili Pili - a tray of food and a bottle of beer - Barbeque Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

Love their chicken, it's soooooooo good! I am also a fan of the plantain. The restaurant is pretty clean as well.

BUSSIN. Got the rice the first time but quickly realized spicy fries are the way to go. Staff were all very nice! read more

Pili Pili - Lunch special: Chicken, rice, plantain - Barbeque Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

Easily the best Pili Pili (pre curser to piri piri) place I have ever visited. Extremely popular (especially for take out). Generous portions. The plantains and spicy fries not to be missed. If you like spicy food ask for extra hot/spicy. The owners and staff are incredibly proud of their restaurant and when you walk in you immediately feel at home. Always nice to be greeted with a great and genuine smile. read more

This is the BEST Wood Charcoal Grilled Chicken I have ever had! What a tasty smokey grilled taste! Very reasonable prices too. This is a local favourite in the Ottawa area, and you Must check it out! Only Take-Out during this Covid situation. read more

Pili Pili - Some pieces from my Whole Chicken take-out ($12).... Awesome!! - Barbeque Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

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This place serves BBQ chicken that holds quite a kick. It's not spicy per say, but it definitely isn't bland. There are a couple of seating places available. Their combos are always a good choice and the portions are generous. The OG choice is obviously the chicken, BUT the plantain is actually my fav food from there! Def would come back. read more

Pili Pili - chicken and rice in a styrofoam container - Barbeque Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

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Excellent west African grill. Top notch spices, succulent chicken and overall a great feed. The chap running this very busy place still had time to chat and seemed to appreciate customer appreciation. read more

We were driving past the area and we came by this spot for lunch, amazinggg! They've got great lunch deals and it's delicious! I upgraded to the chicken breast, rice was so flavourful! Lots of parking on the street, there's a seating area as well! Small nice little spot for yummy food with amazing prices! So so good!!! read more

Great BBQ served by one of the funniest guys you will ever meet. I got the lunch special and was beyond satisfied (and full) A real hidden gem! read more

Probably the best chicken you'll get in Ottawa, and the plantain is great, too. Little bit on the pricey side, but totally worth it.

The prices increased for the lunch special, now it's around $7. I got the chicken leg (drumstick and thigh) with rice. The portion size was a little small, the chicken didn't have much meat on it and it was very dry. I did like the subtle heat from the rub as I did get medium spice. Some of the rice was a little undercooked but it was very flavourful. The restaurant doesn't have much seating during lunch and dinner cause it gets super busy. The service is fantastic! The owner (I'm assuming) was very engaging and friendly. read more

If you crave slightly charred, tasty chicken, this is the perfect place to go! They have lunch specials too. I tried the chicken and it was very flavorful, slightly charred, and smoky. It was mostly tender and not dry. The rice is also pleasantly spiced and not plain, which was perfect! My only complaint is that I wish there was a thicker layer of seasoning, it was slightly dry. But flavour was great! read more

Pili Pili - a meal in a styrofoam container - Barbeque Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

I was really looking forward to try their chicken because of the positive reviews and high ratings but little did I know that I would end up being disappointed. The chicken was mediocre - dry and no sauce on the side whatsoever. The fries were burnt and the rice was rather bland. I gave 3 stars because the chicken was made on wood charcoal which added a nice flavour to it but overall I did not enjoy the food and I will not be returning. read more

This is the plantains I got from Pili Pili, when I called a guy answered told him about the order and he hung up on me , Called back and a lady picked up told her about the previous guy hanging up on me and about my Order being overripe and burnt Her response was "and?" I'm like what do you mean by and?is this too little to complain about? I read such good reviews me and my friend ordered the other day and everything was ok even if the chicken was a little burnt it wasn't a bad experience.I drove down to pick this up despite my illness since they don't do deliveries so imagine my disappointment when I got home and opened this. Well thanks for nothing Pili Pili .Such a bad experience ! Next time you buy make sure to open every damn plate so you know what you paying for , I guess I'm too trusting. read more

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I had lunch here recently with a friend of mine. We both had the "Lunch Special" which is served everyday 11am-2pm and is $5 for a chicken leg (drumstick and thigh) with rice. (My friend had a breast instead of a leg which was $6) If you want plantains or salad instead of rice, it's also an extra $1. I also had a bottle of sorrel ($3.50) and my friend had a bottle of ginger juice (also $3.50). The chicken here is so delicious. It is perfectly seasoned and bursting with flavour. You can get it mild, medium or spicy. We both opted for medium and I felt it was the perfect amount of spice. It gives you a nice kick, but not overwhelming. The rice has mixed vegetables in it (corn, peas and carrots) and was well seasoned (but not too salty). I felt that the Lunch Special portion is a little on the small side. It's good for the price, but I was still hungry afterwards. The sorrel was delicious. It's a drink made from hibiscus flowers. It was sweet and fragrant. My friend enjoyed her ginger juice, but said it was very potent. She said it was good for sipping, and had a lot of ginger flavour, but it was definitely not a refreshing drink that would quench your thirst. We were served by Ramone who was so friendly and took the time to explain everything to us. He was pretty awesome. We will definitely be back. I want to try the plantains next time. They also have attieke (cassava)! The place is really clean with minimal decor. There is not too much seating though. Also, there's only street parking. read more

This place is amazing. I had the "medium-spicy" 1/2 chicken that was very flavorful with a good kick to it. The plantains were delicious and very filling. Rice and salad were a good bonus. I would go back to Ottawa just to eat here again. Please come to Toronto! read more

Great charcoal grilled chickenI've missing jerk chicken since I visited Cayman Islands, but this place took some craving out of me. We ordered family size dinner and it was definitely good for 3 people (2 if you are confident). Also, I love their salad dressing and sauce for the chicken. Would love to come back again to try out their lunch menu! read more

Pili Pili - Family Size Whole Chicken Dinner - Barbeque Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

Sometimes you find a gem, and Pili Pili is just that! A gastronomical treat! This restaurant has the best barbecue in town, and is not only providing high-quality, grain-fed chicken, and a clean environment. Even better, when looking for quality, their chicken is even halal". read more

Crispy skin and moist center....that's what we loved about Pili Pili's grilled chicken. We breezed through town on a two night trip and stopped in at Pili Pili twice. Great food at an incredibly affordable price makes for an irresistible pairing. We really enjoyed the food and the family that owns the place. Ask to meet mama...she's really sweet! read more

Pili Pili - Yummy yummy all the way around! - Barbeque Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

I Love Love Love Their Whole Chicken! Was introduced to the store by a friend. It's got to be the best chicken I've ever tasted in my whole life it is so juicy and succulent the price is right and the owners are very nice . I would most definitely give them 50 stars if I could read more

This is a great little find. Chicken is so good and all the sides to match. Been here a few times now and the people working are so helpful in getting the right combo for you. read more

A really busy and delicious BBQ chicken place. The lineups are quite long during lunch hours, with limited seating, but most of the people do take-out. The service is excellent - very friendly and cordial. I really like the lunch meals here, BBQ chicken with plantains and a Pepsi. So satisfying. read more

Went there after my friend roommate talk to me about it. Went there twice in the same week tried two different meals . Chicken really good and tasty spicy if you want you can ask. Rice with légumes very good. Look like it is a family business mother sons and daughters work nicely in the kitchen. Welcoming people . Tried also tilapia ( a really big fish ) with plantains and rice. Everything is good about this restaurent. Careful though when you take the fish it is very good but there is some fish bone inside. Five stars . read more

A friend highly recommended this to me and took me there for lunch today! First impressions? The owner, Ramone, exudes positivity, optimism and wants nothing more than to make his customers happy. I was very impressed with his enthusiasm. Also the smell of this place is fantastic! I ordered the quarter leg lunch special with plantains (you can choose between that, rice or salad) and it's ONLY $5. It's hard to find value like that in Ottawa. The whole wood charcoal grill is the selling point and the taste of the chicken was out of this world because of it. It was scrumptious and crispy on the outside and packed with flavour and juice on the inside. The plantains were rich with flavour, and well cooked! If I just made your mouth water a bit, it's because that's how damn good this chicken is! Go get some!! This is a gem in Ottawa and I highly recommend it. Im definitely going to go back and try more dishes. But anything chicken on the menu is amazing. read more

Great home cooked food. Portions were great. Chicken was juicy, well cooked and spiced to perfection. The staff were warm, welcoming and helpful. read more

My friend and I stumbled across this place tonight while looking for something good to eat. While we were debating whether we should stay or head somewhere else, Ramone convinced us, both with his charismatic attitude and serving platters. Nice décor and nice atmosphere - the place was also very clean. The food was decent - my friend and I shared the whole chicken platter, which comes with plantain, rice and salad. The chicken wasn't as spicy as we wanted it to be and the hot sauces we tried were decent. The in-house brewed sorrel I purchased was okay - a tad too sweet. My friend got coconut water and I grabbed a Grace sorrel and soursop to go. Overall, it was a decent experience. I really enjoyed the atmosphere and it was great being able to purchase sorrel and soursop - especially since it's hard to find those here in Ottawa. read more

Man, what an awesome dinner and unique experience. You walk in this place and there's this big guy, who is extremely loud and welcoming-- and he's shout-talking to customers standing two feet in front of him. The order counter is like a foot higher than the customer so this man is literally on this pedestal laughing/yelling out names of orders/chatting up customers. It's like something out of a movie. The order-guy had tons of personality so it made ordering a hilarious endeavor. I could imagine that the people working in the kitchen probably hate this man's voice, but for the half-hour I was there, I appreciated it. He makes you feel like you're a part of the community. I got the whole chicken platter with a side of salad, rice and plantains. All of it was superb. The plantains were the star of the meal. I only wished for a little dash of salt on them to elevate those flavours a little more, but whatever, still amazing. The chicken was quite good, too. Great flavouring on the rub. Only critique is the chicken portion; I ordered a whole chicken and had them cut it for us... but it didn't look or feel like a whole chicken. My girlfriend ate considerably less than me and I did not feel like I had eaten 3/4 of a chicken by myself. While I didn't leave hungry, I was a little disappointed that there was no leftovers to take home. Maybe I'm just a pig, though. Ottawa's impressing me lately. Let's keep this up! Will be back here for sure. read more

The most delicious chicken I've had. Luckily they recently moved to a more accessible location, close to centretown in Ottawa. Very friendly staff as well. read more

We were on a road trip through Canada & the USA. Despite other reviews I read, we tried this place. We ordered a combo, whole chicken dinner, Family sized portions of rice, salad and plantain for $ 28.50. OMG the food was GOOD! Everything was delicious, hot and fresh. We were absolutely beyond pleased with the food. Little place with 3/4 tables on one side and a high bar on the other side of the restaurant, so we decided to eat the food in our hotelroom. The guy behind the counter was super friendly & funny.. read more

Oh my god this place is awesome. Highly recommended. Had the $5 lunch special, spicy with only two XX's (the level of spicyness). Probably the most delicious BBQ chicken I have had in a long time. Level two spicy was a nice bite and with a slow burn. The rice was also really tasty and when combined with the chicken juices ... Woah. :) Lady in front of us was there for the 4th time this week. Considering how good my meal was, I could totally understand ... and might do the same myself! Customer service was fantastic too. Guys at the front were hilarious. (Ramone I think was his name) Only complaint was how long it took for my chicken, but I just arrived during the lunch rush so it's totally understandable. Will be going there again ... and again ... and again! read more

Amazing food and extremely friendly service. I had the whole chicken platter and enjoyed everything I ate from the plantains to the side salad with tasty balsamic dressing. The chicken was the perfect level of spice which I customized to be a medium spice when they took my order. Really fast service in what seemed like only 5 minutes or so. The guy taking orders at the front was hilarious and seemed to know everyone who came in. I liked the Caribbean vibe they had in the restaurant and the improvements to their entrance works well in keeping the wind out of the restaurant entrance way. I will definitely be going back for second as unfortunately my gf and I ate the whole chicken in one seating so I had nothing to take home to eat again. read more

Had a very inexpensive and delicious lunch here today. The decor is simple, but clean, and the service was fast, helpful, and very personable. This is a regular lunch spot for my fiancé who works near by, and I look forward to my next visit. I highly recommend the fried plantains. read more

I love this place. The wife does too. It's run by a friendly family, the kitchen staff seems well taken care of and the food is fresh and delicious. We're a family of two adults and one 4-1/2 year old, and we always order a full chicken dinner with rice, plantains and salad. The only criticism I have is that the salad dressings they offer are disappointing, they seem like the bottled variety where a simple vinaigrette of olive oil, lemon and garlic or something along those lines would be much more complimentary to the freshness of the salad. You can get your chicken in pieces and mix spicy/non-spicy to make everyone happy. I hope this business continues to prosper. read more

Chicken was outstanding!!! And I can't wait to go back and try the snapper!, great food, friendly people and warm atmosphere, thanks!

We had a chicken legs & thighs platter. It was really good. Good chicken and plantains. The lady here was very nice.

I almost don't want to write a review here because I want the place all to myself. Walked in on a Saturday for take out. Was greeted nicely. Ordered a whole chicken family meal for 2 of us. Wasn't too busy and the food came out quick. Chicken was spiced nicely with some charcoal goodness. Love those plantains and the rice; salad to round it out. Would've kept some leftovers but... Ate them before they had a chance to be left over. They're a nice family-owned business with good prices and food. This is definitely now one of my go to's when I don't feel like cooking! read more

This place was simply great! From the moment we stepped through the door, you could feel the genuine enthusiasm from Ramone, who I believe is the owner. He greeted us with high fives and gave us the details about the lunch special, which was still going on at 2:15 pm. We got the chicken leg/thigh with rice and plantains and I had the fresh ginger juice. The meat was juicy and we got it with a "whisper" of hot sauce, which was just the right amount of spice for us. The rice was pretty good but the plantains were amazing. The ginger juice had quite a kick but it was sweetened with orange and pineapple juice, which went well with the lunch. Overall, we were incredibly pleased with our meal and the experience and we are sure to come back when we are back in the area! read more

The staff is super friendly and relaxed and the chicken and portions are superb. Only thing the chicken was a bit too dry. We ordered the family meal which comes with two whole chickens, plantain, rice and salad. What was fantastic was we could choose the level of spice for each chicken. Some of us like our stuff spicy and others not so much. I'll be back but would ask for a side of sauce to help it all go down. read more