Chainsmoker Urban BBQ opens in Kanata with halal slow-smoked meats and loaded sides

Chainsmoker Urban BBQ opened in early August in a Hazeldean Road strip mall in Kanata, bringing the brand's eighth and newest location to Ottawa—and the city's third halal barbecue joint.

The chain launched in the Greater Toronto Area in 2018 and has since expanded across southern Ontario and beyond; a Houston location opened this spring. At the 64-seat Kanata outpost, co-owner Zohaib Hussain explained the kitchen's approach to one of barbecue's core challenges: keeping slow-cooked meat fresh. "We try not to reheat all the time," Hussain said. "If it's sold out, we're sold out." Briskets cook overnight for eight hours in pellet smokers; other meats are cooked each morning and ready for customers at noon.

The menu branches beyond traditional barbecue—burgers and fried chicken sandwiches sit alongside beef ribs, brisket, chicken, chicken wings and lamb shanks. Sweet Heart Cafe, a halal dessert and tea franchise, shares the space, so you can order Kashmiri tea with your jerk chicken.

A reporter visited twice—once for lunch, once for dinner. The lamb shanks and beef ribs stood out, heavily sauced and deeply flavoured. Chicken wings came heavily sauced and tasted strong. Chicken legs in barbecue and jerk versions were fine but lacked juiciness. The brisket, notoriously difficult to smoke properly, was lightly peppery, lean and too dry—barbecue sauce helped.

Sides showed more consistency. Fries were crisp, served plain or topped. Slaw was heavy on dill. Mac 'n' cheese was more ordinary. Portions throughout were generous.

Chainsmoker is Ottawa's third halal barbecue joint. Moe's BBQ, an independent small business in South Keys, opened in 2017. Dickey's Barbecue Pit, an international chain, opened a halal location in Barrhaven in 2023.