Boston Fusion Foods

A real taste of what it means to live in a city

By Carina McCallum

Photo by Carina McCallum

If you’re looking for food that can give you a real taste of what it means to live in a city, there’s no better way to start than with fusion cuisine.

Fusion cuisine—defined as a cuisine that combines elements of different culinary traditions that originate from different countries, regions or cultures—allows you to capture the essence of a city in just one bite. Fusion foods are about marrying different cultures and ideas; combining tastes and the legacies that come with them to create something new.

What brings a city to life is the celebration of multiculturalism. The diversity found in cities like Boston is what makes them beautiful; different people and their cultures all come together to form one community. What better unifier is there than food?

At its core, fusion cuisine is an outlet for chefs to tie together different ideas and tastes. When done the right way, they tell a story about innovation and transformation—bringing together the best of us and making something that highlights our strengths.

If you’re looking to expand your palate with fusion foods, there’s no better place than Boston. For Korean fusion, try OliToki in Allston. If you're in Fenway, drop by Time Out Market for some Japanese-inspired fusion with Gogo Ya's nori sushi tacos or bento bowls. Should you ever find yourself in the South End, you can broaden your taste buds at The Elephant Walk with their Cambodian-French fusion food. To get a taste of Korean-Mexican fusion, give Coreanos on Brighton Ave a try. If you find yourself on West Campus, Boston Halal offers Indian-Mediterranean fusion that’s sure to excite you.

Yes, fusion cuisine is a step away from the realm these foods traditionally come from. Yes, they don’t quite fall into the “authentic” category, but maybe they don’t need to. Culinary culture is constantly changing, influenced by availability and demands to adapt.

As long as fusion foods are crafted in a way that recognizes and respects parent cultures, and as long as they honor the original foods, there’s no reason to fear innovation. Fusion foods won’t replace the traditional cuisines or erase their legacies, but rather, they celebrate and unite them with others. Why limit ourselves on what we can make and try?

What is a city if not a place to bring together a diverse group of people to blend elements of their cultures together? After all, there’s nothing that brings people together quite like food.