Shiro Poporoya

Amazing experience, you have to try it! This place is buzzing during the lunch and it’s just something unique. Great sushi and yakitori.

One of the best sushi in Milan. It is real Japanese, not all you can eat. I especially liked the taste of rice.

I recommend mixed sushi plate if you want have different tastes. The quality is high, the quantity of fish is more than the classical all you can eat places. It worths to try.

Very good food. I have been there a few times and have tried Tekka Don, tempura, meat gyoza and katsu don. All were good, well above expectations but for me the katsu don really stands out.

Atmosphere is relaxed and the chef and the staff are incredibly friendly and welcoming. If you're there around closing time, you will likely get treated to a glass of sake by the chef.

Another plus point is the authenticity. From the space decoration, to the tastes and the food you feel like you're in Japan.

Don't expect fine dining, but do expect a 100% authentic izakaya experience.

Each visit is a unique trip, the chef's experience and dedication is clearly put in each plate they serve. Sashimi is really good and fresh, unaghi (eel) is something you must try once in your lifetime and the wagyu nighiri is simply... Exceptional.

Prices are not that high, given the freshness and quality, surely worth a visit for a nice lunch/dinner

Tasty food. The service is also good!

Authentic Japanese food in a street style;) waiting to get a table was a pain as they designed a difficult process: first order then be seated… it created a long chaotic queue due to its system. Plus it was a bit of a problem to maintain only one line with the Italian;)

Attentive staff and excellent dishes like Chirashi and Sukiyaki. Very busy shop but it won't put you off. The staff carefully explained and tecommended the dishes.

I visited Shiro Poporoya twice. This is definitely one of the best Japanese restaurants in Milan.

For the more authentic experience choose the smaller shop, right in front of the larger and fancier restaurant. You will be greeted by the staff and swiftly and efficiently assigned a place in the queue. The wait will vary based on the time of the day, but it will be worth it!

One of the best Japanese food i have ever tried. It tastes great, it's well presented, the portions are filling and the place is nowhere near pretentious or fancy, but warm, comfortable and totally enjoyable. The service is really friendly, but polite and scrupulous. Flawless.

Ok, here’s the quick version: pay a visit to Poporoya, when in Milan. It’s a gem. Food is great, fresh, fun and the atmosphere of the place makes it special. Go for chirashi. Also don’t be shy and explore the menu with no fear of disappointment.

The longer version: some restaurants are just something else. In places like those, not only you taste excellent food, whatever the cuisine, but also experience the unique character of the people behind it. Poporoya is one of those, a unique place.

Chef Minoru “Shiro” Hirasawa’s little Japanese kitchen - a place that opened in its first form in the early ‘70s, well ahead of the much more recent sushi craze - is tiny, down to earth, quirky, cheerful. It is not fancy in a glossy fashionable sense of the word: it’s all about good food and personality. Getting a spot is a matter of patience and strategy, especially on weekends. I ended up there on a rainy day upon recommendation of a good friend of mine, also a food rascal, during my most recent visit to Milan. By the gods of Valhalla!, it has been worth it.

Shiro is best known for his chirashi, a bowl of sushi rice covered with raw fish goodness. Imagine a huge rainbow nigiri in a bowl.

The artfully assembled slices of fish are fresh, tasty, and of a generous size without being unwieldy to your chopsticks. Rice is impeccable. Avocado punctuates the dish here and there, adding to body and texture. Ingredients are mixed with expertise. All best features of sushi are there: simple, fresh (there, I said it again), well presented. It requires modesty and skill, passion channeled by composure and exercise.

This would be enough for me to suggest you lift your weary limbs, get there and replenish yourselves with this Milanese chirashi pleasure.

But that’s not all. By far. My lust for food made me ask for grilled squid rings in a teriyaki sauce, and some nasu dengaku, broiled aubergine covered with miso glaze and sesame seeds, a classic “Japanese pub” dish. Verdict? Also really good, especially the aubergine.

At this point it’s important to mention that my dining companions and I were sat at the tiny sushi counter, with direct access to Shiro himself. I’ll tell you a super secret (that probably you and everyone else already know about): those are always the best seats in a sushi place, possibly in every restaurant. You can talk to the chefs and be nice to them. If they have the time for it and are in the right mood, the reward will be great.

So we thanked “il Capo”, the Boss, and his aide, for what they had done for us so far. Shiro didn’t shy away from the conversation and we soon found ourselves talking about his next door enterprise, a more formal restaurant bearing his name and run by his son, sporting Tokyo-inspired Japanese cuisine. And take a look at the pictures from this review, you’ll see him unashamedly posing for a silly photo along with his creations. (Thanks, dude, really.)

That’s it? End of fun? Nuh-uh: we couldn’t have left without nigiri. It would’ve been disrespectful - towards our gluttony, that is. Supple, unctuous, salty, well supported by the tiny rice bed, Shiro’s nigiri did not let us down. Neither did he: getting hold of a bottle of imo shochu, a distilled sweet potato spirit smooth as silk and packed with umami, he celebrated the end of our meal with a toast.

Straight into the “that’s why I ❤ food” list. I shall be back to Poporoya, and you should also go. Then go again. And again. And again.

I have loved the sushi here. 🍥 I recommend everyone coming in Milan to take a trip here.
In attachment some photos of what we ate, it was a dinner whith friends and it turned out we were in one of the best sushi in Milan.

Poporoi in Milan is a hidden gem in the realm of Japanese dining. Its brilliance lies in its simplicity, delivering outstanding flavors that truly impress. It’s an ideal stop for couples or groups of friends. Given the intimate size of the restaurant, it might be challenging for larger family gatherings, as they don’t accept reservations. Therefore, it’s advisable to arrive early to secure a table. A must-visit when in the city!

The King of sushi bars in Milan, by far. Do not expect a fancy atmosphere and luxury, come if you are looking for authenticity and are available to stand outside and queue for your meal! It's worth it

The most authentic Japanese restaurant in Milan.The unagi don is sprinkled with unique spices, which tastes better than some of those chain restaurants in Japan and the daifuku is also delicious that cannot be found elsewhere.Remember to avoid peak periods, or you might not even find a place to wait for paying.

Just love this place! A tiny piece of Japan in Milan.

The best sushi in Milan, period. Worth every cent, top quality ingredients. They also have a wide variety of authentic Japanese dishes.

Very good sushi. Only 50 euro for all of these, high recommend

Amazing sushi and tempura!

Real izakaya experience in Milan, always worth stopping by! Funny, good service and good quality price ratio.