Dinah Koo, proudly back downtown at her new “multicultural hot dog” shop (Image: Karoylne Ellacott)
Dinah Koo makes no bones about her new hot dog joint: “We’ve got a pretty upscale dog—it’s certainly no street meat!” Just around the corner from the main Queen Street drag, Fusia Dog aims a bit higher than what your average night-time reveler might go for, offering up various fusion hot dogs with more than a bit of panache. After witnessing the success of Vancouver’s Japa Dog and New York’s Asia Dog, Koo decided to follow suit, putting her own twist on the fusion dog. Her versions meld together Asian-inspired flavours with those from elsewhere: “There are so many fabulous combos from everywhere!”
Having been in the business for over a quarter of a century—and with a couple of cookbooks under her belt—Koo has now returned to her downtown roots, just around the bend from her old noodle house, Tiger Lily . “We’ve got people coming out who know us from either the neighbourhood or from Koo & Co. catering,” Koo noted. Fittingly, a couple of her signature dishes are on the menu: the Peking duck quesadilla ($8.85) and the power slaw ($4–$6).
But the main draw here is of course the gourmet dog. Available in a veggie, Kosher, gluten-free, all-beef or Rowe Farms –sourced chicken version, the dog can be dressed up in a host of ways. The most popular so far has been the Fusia Dog: stuffed full of kimchi, daikon carrot salad, wasabi mayo and coriander, the dog is wrapped up in a paratha ($6.95). Those in need of a quick(er) bite may enjoy the roasted red potato salad, with a chipotle mayo and fried onion ($2.95–$5). For now, the joint is running from 11 a.m. to about 5 p.m., but Koo hopes to keep it open later for the pre-theatre crowd once she’s sufficiently staffed up.
94382 (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) Introducing: Fusia Dog https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/fusia-dog-sweets-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/fusia-dog-sweets.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/fusia-dog-sweets.jpg 640 440 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-fusia-dog/slide/fusia-dog-sweets/ fusia-dog-sweets 0 0
94374 (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) Homemade chips Introducing: Fusia Dog https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/fusia-dog-chips-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/fusia-dog-chips.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/fusia-dog-chips.jpg 640 506 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-fusia-dog/slide/fusia-dog-chips/ fusia-dog-chips 0 0
Homemade chips
94383 (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) Veggie patties with a gluten-free thousand island dressing, sun-dried tomatoes, lettuce and tomatoes on a whole wheat bun ($6.95) Introducing: Fusia Dog https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/fusia-dog-veggie-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/fusia-dog-veggie.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/fusia-dog-veggie.jpg 640 480 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-fusia-dog/slide/fusia-dog-veggie/ fusia-dog-veggie 0 0
Veggie patties with a gluten-free thousand island dressing, sun-dried tomatoes, lettuce and tomatoes on a whole wheat bun ($6.95)
94375 (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) The Crispy Creamy Dog ($7.95): crispy fried pork belly, scallions, scallion-flavoured cream cheese, dill pickles and mustard Introducing: Fusia Dog https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/fusia-dog-crispy-creamy-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/fusia-dog-crispy-creamy.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/fusia-dog-crispy-creamy.jpg 640 483 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-fusia-dog/slide/fusia-dog-crispy-creamy/ fusia-dog-crispy-creamy 0 0
The Crispy Creamy Dog ($7.95): crispy fried pork belly, scallions, scallion-flavoured cream cheese, dill pickles and mustard
94376 (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) A diagram explaining the Fusia Dog Introducing: Fusia Dog https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/fusia-dog-diagram-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/fusia-dog-diagram.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/fusia-dog-diagram.jpg 480 640 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-fusia-dog/slide/fusia-dog-diagram/ fusia-dog-diagram 0 0
A diagram explaining the Fusia Dog
94378 (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) The Fusia Dog ($6.95): kimchi, daikon carrot salad, wasabi mayo and coriander, all wrapped in a paratha Introducing: Fusia Dog https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/fusia-dog-fusia-dog-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/fusia-dog-fusia-dog.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/fusia-dog-fusia-dog.jpg 640 456 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-fusia-dog/slide/fusia-dog-fusia-dog/ fusia-dog-fusia-dog 0 0
The Fusia Dog ($6.95): kimchi, daikon carrot salad, wasabi mayo and coriander, all wrapped in a paratha
94381 (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) A sandwich board to lure lunchers Introducing: Fusia Dog https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/fusia-dog-sandwich-board-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/fusia-dog-sandwich-board.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/fusia-dog-sandwich-board.jpg 480 640 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-fusia-dog/slide/fusia-dog-sandwich-board/ fusia-dog-sandwich-board 0 0
A sandwich board to lure lunchers
94373 (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) Koo’s cookbook: <em>The Cocktail Chef</em> Introducing: Fusia Dog https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/fusia-dog-book-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/fusia-dog-book.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/fusia-dog-book.jpg 2048 1536 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-fusia-dog/slide/fusia-dog-book/ fusia-dog-book 0 0
Koo’s cookbook: The Cocktail Chef
94379 (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) Stools along a bar Introducing: Fusia Dog https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/fusia-dog-inside-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/fusia-dog-inside.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/fusia-dog-inside.jpg 480 640 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-fusia-dog/slide/fusia-dog-inside/ fusia-dog-inside 0 0
Stools along a bar
94380 (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) Outside Koo’s new fusion hot dog shop Introducing: Fusia Dog https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/fusia-dog-outside-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/fusia-dog-outside.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/fusia-dog-outside.jpg 656 492 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-fusia-dog/slide/fusia-dog-outside/ fusia-dog-outside 0 0
Outside Koo’s new fusion hot dog shop
94384 (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) Dinah Koo, proudly back downtown Introducing: Fusia Dog https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/fusia-dog-dinah-koo-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/fusia-dog-dinah-koo.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/fusia-dog-dinah-koo.jpg 656 463 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-fusia-dog/slide/fusia-dog-dinah-koo/ fusia-dog-dinah-koo 0 0
Dinah Koo, proudly back downtown
Fusia Dog, 65 Duncan St., 647-274-7303, fusiadog.com
I am so happy to welcome Dinah to the downtown area again. I hope she will include her Korean dumplings on the menu.. and eventually expand to her cooked entrees. I really hope she will re-realize Dinah’s Cupboard. In the interim, the “dogs” are good and the duck quesadilla is wonderful, as always.