At first glance, Canadian cuisine can be a hard thing to define. But a little research shows that it perfectly mirrors the multicultural makeup of the country’s population. While there might only be a few distinctive ‘Canadian’ dishes, there’s an abundance of incredible local ingredients and chefs from all over the world helping shape the food scene. Fusion is at the heart of Canadian cooking, with inspiration being taken from across the globe, thanks to the dozens of international communities that have emigrated to the country over the past few centuries.
That’s never been truer in a place like Toronto, which has become famous for its fusion restaurants. Japanese burger joints, Caribbean-inspired pasta dishes, contemporary twists on Israeli cuisine with an Indian twist – all manner of combinations can be found across the city. Of course, it’s easy to mash two cuisines together, but being able to balance the flavours and create something that tastes greater than the sum of its parts takes real skill. Here are five restaurants that manage it perfectly.