A recent, much-discussed Statistics Canada report about the number of visible minorities in the country’s largest city was music to local diners’ ears (to say nothing of the Pavlovian watering of their maws).

Sure, visible minorities could make up more than 60 per cent of the population in the next 21 years, but Toronto has been a multicultural stew for decades, with a planet’s worth of restaurants dribbled liberally across an urban grid, accommodating newcomers of all stripes.

From the first wave of Europeans, to the current influx from the Middle East, India and other parts of Asia, lucky locals and tourists can visit the world with their taste buds. Exploring the various neighbourhoods—Indian Bazaar, Little Italy, Koreatown, Chinatown—delivers sights, sounds, smells and tastes that transport the curious food-lover many time zones away without having to reset their watch.

Ethiopian

Ethiopian House

Must-Have Dish: Bayaaynatu ($13.55), also known as “one of each kind” is a way to sample as much ethnic cuisine as you can in a single visit.

Nota Bene: If you don’t want to stuff up on the delicious injera—the traditional bread used as cutlery—smuggle in your own spoon.

Cambodian & Thai

Khmer Thai

Must-Have Dish: The spicy shrimp with garlic appetizer ($9) is pleasure and pain—handfuls of killer green chilies mingle with caramelized shallot and garlic.

Nota Bene: It’s both authentic and fiery—chilies are tossed about with abandon.

Indian

Udupi Palace

Must-Have Dish: The Masala dosa ($6.19) is what this place is all about. A folded, crisp crepe of rice and split pea flour is stuffed with potato curry and served with coconut chutney and sambhar for dipping.

Nota Bene: Need to put out that fire? Order a soothing mango lassi.

Jamaican

The Real Jerk

Must-Have Dish: Oxtail and fried chicken combo ($12.50). It’s bone-sucking, finger-licking good.

Nota Bene: Ting, an island grapefruit soda mixed with rum is the drink here. For the purpose of your visit, drop the “g” from most words that end with the letter.

Vietnamese

Hanoi 3 Seasons

Must-Have Dish: Cha Ca, grilled fish with dill and shrimp paste, served with rice vermicelli or in a soup ($12).

Nota Bene: Here, the decor of this Vietnamese restaurant brings out the elegant days of French Indo-China.

Sri Lankan

Rashnaa

Must-Have Dish: String hopper kothu—steamed and chopped rice flour dough—is a staple, eaten at both breakfast and dinner. In the morning, an egg is steamed on top and in the evening, it’s mixed in with fish or mutton curry (all dishes $7 - $10).

Nota Bene: This is some serious hot stuff!

Chinese

Pearl Court

Must-Have Dish: It’s all good, but come for the dim sum; tender steamed pork and chive dumplings and wide rice noodles folded over whole shrimp ($2 per piece).

Nota Bene: Although it isn’t printed on the menu, ask for the squid in black bean sauce ($9), or Chinese long bean with garlic ($7.35).

Hakka

Danforth Dragon

Must-Have Dish: Crispy ginger beef ($8.50) is decadently sweet and crunchy, with fine long strings of ginger.

Nota Bene: Hakka is the cuisine of Chinese immigrants to India, and it embraces the tastiest elements of both cultures: sweet, spicy and full of tandoori, cumin and ginger.

Chilean

Jumbo Empanadas

Must-Have Dish: The traditional Chilean empanada ($4) is filled with beef, black olives, raisins and a hard-boiled egg.

Nota Bene: The tiny shop is tucked away among the 50 or so restaurants and food shops that fill the city block of laid-back Kensington Market.

The City in One Restaurant

Eating the planet in one city is handy, but not as convenient as doing so in one restaurant. Chef David Chrystian of Victor restaurant (part of Hotel le Germain) has launched Social 52, a week’s worth of four-course prix-fixe dinners ($45), with a different Toronto neighbourhood spotlighted each day of the week.