International Cuisine in Milan: street food to try, from Tacos to Falafel and Chinese Dumplings

The variety of international cuisine in Milan is unparalleled. Venezuelan food, Japanese sandwiches, Chinese dumplings... there's an embarrassment of riches, and taking a culinary world tour has never been easier. Here are the most delicious flavours not to be missed in street food form.

The best International street foods in Milan

Arepa’z

Venezuela comes to Milan in this simple and colourful spot in the Navigli area, where the undisputed stars are the arepas. These traditional cornmeal buns are stuffed and prepared in every home in the Latin American country. Here you can find classic arepas, like the reina pepiada (with chicken, mayonnaise, and avocado) or carne mechada (shredded beef stew), as well as local variations like the Bergamasca and Pugliese, and vegetarian and vegan versions.

Arepa’z – via Cassala, 9 - facebook.com/Arepazmilano 

Chihuahua Tacos

Mexican cuisine is one of the most varied and interesting in all of Latin America. At the two fun and informal Milan locations of Chihuahua Tacos, you'll find numerous artisanal delights (a whole different experience from industrial products). The tacos are unmissable (for the daring, there’s the "Tacos all stars," a tasting of all types), including crunchy ones. Special mention goes to the nachos and homemade guacamole, but save room for the churros at the end.

Chihuaha tacos – Piazza Ventiquattro Maggio, 7 – via Paolo Sarpi, 60 - facebook.com/chihuahuatacosmilano

Hekfanchai

Fusion cuisine is a must here, as the menu reflects the British presence in Hong Kong for over a century and a half. Amid the crowded array of Chinese offerings in the Paolo Sarpi area, you can find something less common in this small spot, such as cheung fun, dumplings reminiscent of stuffed rolls with beef, shrimp, or mushrooms, or charcoal black fried tofu. The western touch is evident in the toasts, jaffles—similar to sandwiches—and omelettes.

Hekfanchai – san Giovanni Battista Niccolini, 29 - facebook.com/hekfanchai

Katsusanderia

This venue makes Yoji Tokuyoshi's cuisine, the chef of Bentoteca, accessible to everyone. Using noble ingredients, he offers traditional Japanese takeaway classics, starting with the sando, a geometric sandwich made with shokupan (produced by the in-house bakery, Pan' Milano). The sando comes in various versions (classic, teriyaki chicken, tamago, ebi fry). There are also donburi, rice bowls with meat and vegetables richly sauced, and a small list of snacks, sides, and desserts. The restaurant is part of Sidewalk Kitchen, a collective of ever-evolving kitchens.

Katsusanderia – via Bonvesin de la Riva, 3 - katsusanderia.com/

Marcel Boum

Chef Cesare Battisti, in partnership with Gaia Trussardi, introduces the street food of the African continent, a cuisine that's little known, especially in the street food format. The intent is to create an Italy/Africa fusion, starting from foreign recipes and catering to Italian palates. These are traditional dishes from Ghana, Kenya, or Cameroon, offered in a whirlwind of tastes, all "lightened" to appeal to a wide audience.

Marcel Boum – via Savona, 13 - instagram.com/marcel_boum/

Nun Taste of Middle East

A contemporary fast food concept aiming to present a range of street foods from the Middle East (from Turkey to Lebanon, Iran to Syria, Israel to Palestine) with a touch of Italian flair. Don’t miss the classic falafel, babaganoush, and hummus. You choose the hardware (sandwich, wrap, plate), the software (fillings and sauces), possible sides, and then take it away or enjoy it in a clean and comfortable setting.

Nun Taste of Middle East – via Lazzaro Spallanzani, 36 - nunmilano.com/

La Ravioleria Sarpi

In 2015, Agie Zhou opened a tiny shop in the heart of Chinatown where you could buy Shuijiao, the typical Chinese dumplings, and Jian Biang, the Beijing crepe, made and cooked in front of customers. The brilliant idea gave rise to a Milanese dining institution, using only high-quality Italian ingredients. The initial collaboration with the historic Sirtori butcher's shop has now evolved into a small Italian-Chinese quality empire after the retirement of the owner. The stars of the show, as indicated by the name, are the dumplings, available in three versions with beef, pork, and vegetarian fillings, boiled and seasoned with soy sauce.

La Ravioleria Sarpi – via Paolo Sarpi, 27 - facebook.com/ravioleriasarpi/?locale=it_IT