Eating street food in Milan is one of the best ways to experience the city.
Every destination has its own unique street food, from hole-in-the-wall joints to open-air markets. Indulging in the delicious (and often inexpensive) street food is a great way to get a taste of the local culture.
Milan doesn’t lack street food joints, and there are plenty of fun dishes you can try.
Of course, one of the downsides of this type of cuisine is that it can be too good. It’s easy to scarf down an entire meal before you even realize it.
But vacation calories don’t count, so go ahead and enjoy it guilt-free.
Also read: Hunting for the Best Burger in Milan? Look No Further
Here is a list of our favorite places to eat amazing street food in Milan
Tiello Cuzzetiello a Milano
The flavorful street food from Naples has finally made its way to Milan
Via dei Piatti, 4 (Duomo)
The Neapolitan Cuzzetiello is a culinary wonder; it’s not just a sandwich, but a full meal packed into a half loaf of bread.
This meal originated from humble beginnings. It used to be a rich snack for workers, but now it’s one of Naples’s best things to eat on the street. It very quickly also became the best street food in Milan when Tiello opened its doors.
Once the loaf of bread has been cut in half, it becomes a perfect container for the fantastic ingredients that are signature to Neapolitan cuisine. Though it has evolved into many forms over time, the classic Cuzzetiello is packed with tomato sauce and meatballs.
But you will find many variations here: eggplant parmigiana, the rich 6-hours-cooken neapolitan ragu, sausage with broccoli, and many more – all available in regular and maxi sizes.
Dessert variations of the cuzzetiello, filled with pistachio cream or Nutella, join the savory original.
Prices for cuzzetiellos typically fall between €5.90 and €7.90.
Also read: Best Gelato in Milan: Artisanal Italian Gelaterie You Must Try
Trapizzino
Combining the best of pizza and sandwiches into the ultimate grab-and-go snack
Multiple locations, see below
The restaurant’s namesake dish, the Trappizzino, is the brainchild of the owners and is a flavorful combination of pizza and sandwiches.
To be more precise, it is a white roman pizza base (also known as focaccia) topped with ingredients of your choice. The classics include chicken cacciatora, meatballs in red sauce, eggplant parmigiana, beef tongue in green sauce, and double cream cheese (burrata stracciatella with anchovies).
And every day, on top of that, you can choose from 3 new flavors, picked from a rotating selection of over thirty different recipes.
Besides trapizzini, you will also find supplì—one of the greatest Roman street foods: a fried ball of rice filled with ingredients like tomato sauce and cheese (supplì al telefono), or carbonara and amatriciana.
Any trapizzino on the menu costs 5€
Where to find them:
- Trapizzino Porta Romana – Corso Lodi 1
- Trapizzino Navigli – Ripa di Porta Ticinese, 2
- Trapizzino Wagner (Metro Red Line) – Via Marghera, 12
InTasca
Don’t leave the city without trying Milan’s top street food pizza while out and about
Corso Garibaldi, 34 (Brera)
InTasca is a genuine traditional Neapolitan pizzeria, but it stands out from the crowd by providing all of its creations in a takeout edition and as “elevated” or gourmet variants.
Let’s begin with the classic pizza, which comes in two formats: the traditional round (called “open” pizza), or the “a portafoglio” version, which is folded and ideal for eating on the go. Fried pizza, with all the guilt that comes with it, is also available.
Here you’ll find every type of Neapolitan fried appetizers that are commonly served before pizza. If you’re looking for the best, try montanara: friarielli (Italian broccoli), sausage, buffalo provola (a soft Italian cow’s milk cheese), and ricotta mousse on top of a deep-fried pizza dough ball, served piping hot.
The frittatine di pasta at inTasca are a must-order as well. Bucatini pasta is drenched in béchamel sauce, guanciale, and Parmigiano reggiano, then rolled in breadcrumbs and deep-fried till golden.
Pizza at InTasca cost no more than €8.50, and the fried appetizers are only about €2–€3 a piece.
If you just can’t get enough pizza, here are some more great spots to grab some of the best pizza in Milan.
All’Antico Vinaio
Italian focaccia stuffed with a selection of cold cuts, cheeses and other delicacies, perfect for a quick lunch on the go
Via Lupetta, 12 (Duomo)
In the Italian food scene, All’Antico Vinaio is like a rock star: you never have to introduce it to anyone.
The now-famous shop originally opened in Florence, Tuscany, but has since expanded to other regions, the most recent being Milan.
The delicious focaccia rapidly gained a following, and ever since it arrived in Milan, lines have always been out the door.
From cold cuts, to cream cheese and savory spreads like olive paste and nduja (a spicy meat-based spread from Calabria) and many more, the focaccia at All’Antico Vinaio is loaded to the gills with toppings.
Meat-free options abound, so vegetarians should really not feel left out; focaccia may be stuffed with anything like grilled vegetables, sun-dried tomatoes, and mozzarella cheese to only mention a few and a very ample variety of spreads.
If you’re in the area, you should definitely stop by. Be prepared to wait for your turn if you’re showing up after noon – but I promise you, the wait will be well worth it.
Here you can find some other fantastic locations for indulging in some charcuterie and wine.
Matì
A savory take on the most iconic dessert in Lazio
Matì – Via Cesare Correnti, 23 (Duomo)
Matì is worth visiting for its signature maritozzo, a typical Italian sweet pastry filled with whipped cream. The dough-based bun is traditionally eaten for breakfast in Rome, but it is also popular as a hearty snack or dessert any time of day.
While there are plenty of sweet options (we recommend white chocolate and raspberries), the savory combinations are where this spot really shines.
It would be a shame to have to settle for just one of the fillings because they are all so tasty. You can choose from meat, fish, or vegetarian options.
For example, one of the seafood alternatives is made with octopus, chickpeas, and chicory; meat options include white ragu made with beef, mortadella, and squash.
The vegetarian version is especially delicious, packed with classic Sicilian caponata (a side dish of chopped aubergine and other vegetables, seasoned with, tomato sauce, olives, and capers, in an agrodolce sauce).
Whether you like your maritozzi sweet or savory, these are the greatest you’ll ever taste: you’ll want to keep eating them one after another because of how light and fluffy they are.
They are all offered in two sizes: the miniature, ideal for an aperitivo, and the standard one satisfying enough for a light lunch.
Their prices start at 4 Euros for the miniature version and go up to 8 or 9 Euros for the full size.
Ravioleria Sarpi
Via Paolo Sarpi, 27 (Chinatown)
Central Station (In “Mercato Centrale”)
Now, let’s talk about something different. If you’re into asian flavors, you’re gonna love this.
One delicious street food option to try in Milan, that is different than all others, is dumplings. And the best places to find dumplings in Milan is at Ravioleria Sarpi, located in Chinatown.
This hole-in-the-wall spot quickly became an institution for the extremely flavorful and juicy dumplings they make: it’s perfect for grabbing a quick bite on the go, as there are no tables to sit at.
But don’t let the simple setting fool you – Ravioleria Sarpi uses high-quality ingredients in their dumplings, such as meat from the butchery next door organic, Macelleria Sirtori, and free-range eggs.
Their dumplings come in three different varieties: beef and leek, pork and cabbage, and a third vegetarian option that changes with the seasons, made with vegetables that are rigorously minced by hand. The dumplings can be purchased ready-made or to be cooked at home.
More street food options to try in Milan
Pizza al taglio (by the slice)
When it comes to authentic Italian pizza, one variety that you should definitely try is “pizza al taglio” or “pizza by the slice.”
This type of pizza is baked in large pans and then cut into rectangular slices, making it the perfect street food option for those on the go. Not only is it convenient but it is also quite affordable.
Whether you prefer traditional toppings like mozzarella and tomato sauce or something a bit more unconventional, there’s a pizza al taglio for every taste.
If you’re looking for a quick and satisfying bite while exploring the city, pizza al taglio is a must-try.
It’s an authentic way to experience the delicious flavors of Italian pizza without having to sit down in a restaurant.
If you like the idea, check out our favorite places for pizza in Milan, all types!.
Piadina
Piadina is a traditional flatbread from Emilia Romagna, a region located in northern Italy. It is a simple, yet delicious food that makes for a perfect quick meal or snack, especially when you’re on the go.
The dough for Piadina is made with only a few basic ingredients: wheat flour and water. Once it is rolled out with a rolling pin, it is then cooked on a hot plate. However, it’s worth noting that traditionally Piadina is made with lard, which may not be suitable for vegans. But it is common to substitute it with oil, so it’s always better to check the ingredients first.
One of the best things about Piadina is the fillings; the classic version is typically filled with prosciutto crudo, squacquerone (a soft cheese) and arugula. However, the versatility of Piadina is what makes it so exciting, it can be prepared with almost anything, from cold cuts, to cheese, grilled vegetables and even sweet spreads.
Also, this type of street food is so affordable (typically costs less than 10€).
And if you’re on a budget, you should definitely check out our full list of the best cheap eats in Milan.
Best places for Piadina in Milan:
La Piadineria: Various locations
Pascoli Piadineria Artigianale – Porta Venezia
Piadineria La Caveja Duomo – Porta Romana
Tin Bòta – Duomo
Panino
Panini (that’s right, no “s”!) are the ultimate Italian street food – portable, cheap, easy to make and transport, and oh-so-satisfying.
The bread used for panini is a special type, it’s lighter than a traditional loaf but still has a great texture and a crunchy but thin crust (forget about those fluffy breads, we ain’t talking about Subway here).
The bread is sliced on the long side and stuffed with whatever your heart desires.
The most common stuffing is cold cuts, cheese (mozzarella, provola…), fresh vegetables, picked vegetables, spreads, but if you’re really hungry and want to go big, they can also contain basically an entire meal like parmigiana, frittata, cotoletta. Basically, the options are endless.
Il panino del laghetto
Via Laghetto, 7 (Duomo)
Panino del Laghetto is the real deal when it comes to panini, serving up delicious, high-quality stuff that will make your taste buds dance.
But, fair warning, choosing just one may be a bit of a struggle because they’re all freakin’ amazing.
The menu is packed with a wide variety of panini made with fresh, high-quality Italian ingredients that will make your mouth water. The bread is out of this world, and the fillings are even better. They’ve got a sandwich with Mortadella Bolognese, buffalo ricotta and chopped pistachios that is so simple, yet so damn delicious.
But don’t worry, vegetarians, they’ve got options for you too. And let me tell you, they’re not skimping on the flavor just because they’re meat-free.
The staff is friendly, and the owner is more than happy to give you recommendations on what to try. But, honestly, you can’t go wrong with anything on the menu. This place is so good, you’ll want to come back for lunch pretty much every day.
Michetta
Corso di Porta Nuova, 32 (Repubblica / Turati metro)
Michetta is the epitome of Milanese street food – the lunch that the workers used to take to work or the snack with which the young Milanese grew up.
Michetta is a type of panino made in Milan from which this place takes its name. It’s shaped like a flower (in other parts of Italy it’s called “Rosetta”, “little rose”) and is almost empty inside: perfect to be stuffed for a quick snack or lunch.
The bread they make here is deliciously crunchy and digestible, available in many variations, always using excellent ingredients. The owners are very cordial and the prices are more than honest given the high quality of the products.
Photo by Geraud Pfeiffer
