Japanese street-food energy, colourful interiors and Milan’s most distinctive rice sandwiches near Corso Como.
Intro
Tucked into Via Gaspare Rosales just off the Corso Como, Porta Nuova buzz, matanē XXV Aprile is one of those places you almost walk past and then never forget. It trades the all-you-can-eat sushi circus for something tighter and more intentional: Japanese urban food done fast, fresh, and without the markup that usually comes with this postcode. The queue outside at peak lunch tells you the neighborhood already knows.
The name means “see you later,” and that turns out to be the whole personality. The onigirazu is essentially a Japanese rice sandwich: layers of rice and fillings wrapped in nori, then cut into a satisfyingly geometric package. It is practical, filling and extremely photogenic, because apparently even lunch now needs approval from Instagram. Matanē has made this lesser-known Japanese staple the centre of its identity, first at its XXV Aprile location and later at its second Milan restaurant in Piazza Wagner 6, which brings the same Japanese street-food concept to the western side of the city.
The Vibe
The restaurant feels compact, bright and intentionally playful. Colourful graphics, manga-inspired details and warm wooden surfaces give the space a contemporary Tokyo-street-food mood. The open kitchen adds movement, while the large windows prevent the interior from feeling too enclosed. It is casual but curated, designed for a quick lunch as easily as an informal dinner.
Service is the quiet MVP. The staff run young, warm, and genuinely happy to help you decode the menu if you freeze up at the counter — and with this many options, that’s a real possibility. That mix of open kitchen, friendly faces, and zero pretension gives matanē a neighborhood energy that most Japanese spots in the centre would kill for. You feel like a regular by your second visit.
The Food
The headliner is the onigirazu. The tonkatsu version combines fried pork, crunchy cabbage, Japanese mayonnaise and tonkatsu sauce, delivering plenty of texture and a comforting sweet-savoury balance. The negitoro onigirazu, filled with tuna tartare, avocado, sesame and teriyaki sauce, is fresher and lighter. There are also options with teriyaki chicken, fried prawns, salmon or tofu, making the format surprisingly versatile. The set menus (around €14, bundling edamame, a taste of tofu, and a couple of sides) are the smart order for a first visit, giving you a proper cross-section without overthinking it.
Beyond that, the menu spreads across ramen, don bowls, maki, korokke, miso soup, and a properly considered vegan lineup — the vegan onigirazu and vegan ramen both genuinely pull their weight rather than feeling like afterthoughts. It isn’t flawless: noodles can land overcooked on an off night and the tamago sometimes leans salty. But with mains mostly in the €10–20 range and portions that actually match the price, the value is hard to argue with!
The Verdict
matanē XXV Aprile isn’t trying to be a destination blowout, and that’s exactly why it works. It’s a reliable, fairly priced Japanese street-food stop with a signature dish worth crossing town for and a room that feels like it actually likes you. Manage your expectations on the tight space and the occasional inconsistent plate, and you’ll walk out planning your next order before you’ve finished this one.
Go for the onigirazu, stay for the vibe, and either book ahead or time it slightly off-peak so the tiny footprint doesn’t work against you. For a fast, honest, genuinely tasty Japanese fix near Corso Como — one that won’t wreck your wallet — this one more than earns its “see you later.”
matanē XXV Aprile – Japanese Urban Food
📍 Address: Via Gaspare Rosales 1, Milano
🌐 Website: matanelovers.com · Instagram: @matanelovers
Have you tried matanē XXV Aprile or Wagner yet? Let us know your opinion, and do not forget to bookmark chinatownmilano.it for more Japanese eats around the city and follow us on social media @chinatownmilano.it.
