#5: DISPATCH: Milan Markets
Around the World with International Grocers in Milan
This week, instead of restaurants, we are sampling a few favorite international markets in Milan. We hope you discover a new favorite product or small business in your neighborhood!
Comment below if you would like a longer list with more of Milan’s many international food markets. Stay tuned for more dispatches which will always feature something different, in Milan and beyond!
Read on about:
Japanese soju & Korean skincare,
Our favorite Russian frozen goods,
Indian spices & snacks,
A shop where you can sample French pastries,
The market for Latin American tortillas,
And Chinese staples on Sarpi
Plus, upcoming events in Milan and beyond:
Politecnico di Milano’s design research organization and Circular Food System Lab host a presentation and panel discussion, “Future Food Habits,” on Thursday, October 30
Larg_o hosts Largoween with drinks and empanadas on Friday, October 31
Mogo listening bar offers a set menu and Halloween music experience on Friday, October 31. Reservation recommended
Rome’s open-air Halloween party, Gasometro Street Food Festival, is on Friday, October 31
In Perugia, Cascia hosts the Saffron Market Fair from October 31 - November 2
58 Station
Neighborhood: Porta Genova
Cuisine: Asian (mostly Japanese & Korean)
Opened: October 2025
Owner: Kaja Guo
Favorites: Frozen Kimbap, Korean Skincare, Fresh & Warm Bao
Let’s face it, no freezer is ever truly full without frozen dumplings. At new Asian market on the block, 58 Station, you can find a wide array of frozen dishes: gyoza, spring rolls, even kimbap! Not only frozen goods, but fresh produce like garlic and dragon fruit. And of course, ramen, soju, and every soda you could dream of. 58 Station is the sister location to Kaja Bistrot, a Korean restaurant a few streets over, so they know about hot, fresh, delicious food. One of their warm baos filled with purple potato or steak and onions is the perfect bite for someone on the go. They even have Buldak hot sauce… if you’re up for the challenge. And if you do indulge in the notoriously spicy condiment, grab a Korean beauty product for a bit of calming and cooling after the feat. We love the centella mask!
Kalinka Russian Grocery Store
Neighborhood: Porta Venezia
Cuisine: Russian
Opened: 2003
Owner: Tatiana
Favorites: Frozen Pierogi, Pickles & Sauerkraut, Quarkriegel
For two decades, this small grocer has been a staple for Eastern European immigrants, spearheaded by the Kazakhstani owner Tatiana. Two long reach-ins, stacked with a variety of frozen dumplings, always grab my attention. Frozen pierogis remind me of visiting my mother’s family in Pittsburgh, where Polish influence during the steel industry boom popularized the dumplings. I am certifiably obsessed with the German Quarkriegel, which are small, frozen, dairy-based bars in a chocolate shell that satisfy the cravings for gelato and a chocolate bar at the same time. A jar of herby dill pickles, among other sour favorites, is always a must. It is also one of the few places I have found cranberry juice and frozen lingonberries, a good cranberry substitute for your American Thanksgiving dinner.
Krishna Indian Bazaar
Neighborhood: Porta Venezia
Cuisine: Indian
Opened: 2002
Owner: Kapur
Favorites: Spice Blends, Frozen Paratha, Maggi Instant Noodles
Krishna is a busy and tightly filled corner store, packed with cases of South Asian flavor. A floor-to-ceiling wall of spices, plus dried beans, flours, and frozen breads check off all the building blocks of a classic Indian meal. I have even found whole peanuts there, something uncommon in Italy. After picking up ingredients, I go straight for Maggi instant noodles that remind me of quick travel-day meals on my latest trip to India, and always grab a new snack to try. Shelves of incense and beauty products, like hair oil, round out the complete shopping experience. Kapur, of New Delhi, has deftly managed the rotation of imported goods to keep his South Asian neighbors satiated for over twenty years.
Maison Aubry
Neighborhood: Porta Venezia
Cuisine: French
Opened: 2022
Owner: Nathalie
Favorites: Viral Le Gall Butter with Sea Salt, Pain au Chocolat, Rillettes de Canard
Spicy Dijon, bottled Bernaise, and the best of French wines adorn the walls while cappuccinos percolate and croissants crumble in the corner of this periwinkle and cream colored French market. The Porta Venezia locale has all the French products you need to stock your Paris-worthy pantry. If you’re looking to take your dinner party to the next level, gold and glittery white balsamic glaze or handmade pate en croute elevate any plate. Once only a market, Maison Aubry has recently turned part of their shop into a cafe and bakery. Led by pastry chef & chocolatier Florian Berger, you can grab a flaky, buttery pain au chocolat or mini quiche. For a saltier option, there are many baguette sandwiches. We love pate and cornichon for the full French experience or apple, walnut, goat cheese for your vegetarian friends.
Mercato Ticinese
Neighborhood: Pt Genova
Cuisine: Latin American
Opened: 2015
Owner: Multiple stalls | Rosita’s has been run by Rosita for 16 years
Favorites: Tortillas, Fresh and Dried Hot Peppers, Dried legumes
Just beside the neoclassical columns of Porta Ticinese, where the Darsena meets the Navigli canals, sits a low, green-roofed market you could easily miss. Inside, among Italian butchers and panifici, is a small cluster of Latin American grocery vendors. When I first moved to Milan, a friend sent me here for fresh nixtamalized corn tortillas—a small miracle in a city otherwise ruled by Old El Paso kits. Rosita’s stand always has them: La Morenita, made on a stone mill in Perugia. I usually cycle home with her ají amarillo peppers (if I’m lucky!) and a sack of black beans, thrilled by the finds. Many of the vendors are Peruvian—the largest Latin American community in Italy. You’ll find choclo, dried beans, fresh okra, and fridges stocked with queso fresco and Inca Kola.
Tang Market
Neighborhood: Chinatown
Cuisine: Chinese
Opened: 2000
Owner: Hu Family
Favorites: Enoki Mushrooms, Sesame Oil, Coconut Milk
Tang Market is one of the long-standing shops on Chinatown’s Via Paolo Sarpi and a cornerstone of the neighborhood. The family also runs a wholesale business and fish market on Via Farini, making Tang a key hub for chefs and restaurateurs sourcing ingredients directly from China. Inside, boxes are stacked to the ceiling as a steady stream of customers browse aisles of condiments, snacks, teas, sauces, and noodles—both dried and fresh. The produce section is particularly impressive, with durian, fresh enoki mushrooms, pea shoots, and banana leaves. Tang also sells Chef Tang–labelled frozen dumplings. Loved by the community and trusted by chefs, it remains one of Chinatown’s most enduring institutions.
I’m building a list of where I can buy gyoza in bulk in every city- thanks for the addition Julia!
Was just starting to wonder where I could find Japanese groceries in Milan 😍