Authentic Donburi
in Milan.

Born in Tottori and forged under Massimo Bottura at Osteria Francescana, chef Yoji Tokuyoshi earned his own Michelin star before reinventing his restaurant as Bentōteca in 2020. The current concept — 'Japanese dining meets Italian wine' — blends horsemeat tataki in pizzaiola sauce, barbecued fish neck, and top-quality sushi in a warm, informal room.

Opened in 2017 by the Japanese Yamamoto family as Italy's first Japanese gastronomia, this Duomo-area gem presents washoku home cooking — gyudon, unadon, curry rice — prepared by Japanese chef Daisuke Seki from recipes passed down through the Yamamoto household. Beloved by Identità Golose and Milan's Japanese community alike.

Owner and chef Hiromi Arai — a Japanese national who came to Tuscany to study Italian cuisine and then opened her own Tokyo-style home kitchen in Milan in 2006 — runs J's Hiro as a warm neighbourhood restaurant where traditional family-style Japanese cooking takes precedence over trend. A member of AIRG (Association of Italian Restaurant-Goers).

One of Milan's oldest continuously operating Japanese-owned restaurants, Oasi Giapponese has been anchored by the Oshima family from Osaka since 2002 — mother runs the room, son Keita (winner of Italian TV programme 'Cuochi d'Italia') cooks. A stronghold of Japanese community dining and one of the few places in Milan to serve proper Osaka-style street food.

Born as a lockdown delivery project by Michelin-starred chef Yoji Tokuyoshi, Katsusanderia is a compact Japanese street-food counter in Isola dedicated to the art of the katsusando. Expect flawlessly fried tonkatsu or chicken katsu nestled in pillowy shokupan bread with tonkatsu sauce.