Milan and province: Asian guide - where to eat
It is said that the real (and best) Asian restaurants are in Milan and that outside, even a few kilometers away from the city limits, there is nothing worth trying. In fact, the Milanese choice is truly incomparable, but it is also true that over the years some restaurateurs have invested in projects that have proved to be a real salvation for those who do not live in the city.
Kokoro
Kokoro is the proof that it is worth going a few kilometers away from Milan to taste Japanese cuisine. Located in Sesto San Giovanni and open since 2002, this restaurant is run by Mrs. Mariko, originally from Tokyo, and her husband Fabio, an Italian sushi chef trained in Japan.
The atmosphere is welcoming and decorated in exquisite Japanese taste, perfect both for a family dinner and for a romantic date. The dining room staff is attentive and kind.
Kokoro's menu is very varied, the list of types of sushi certainly caters to the Italian clientele: therefore there are numerous uramaki as well as raw fish tartare. On the other hand, in my opinion, the possibility of ordering dishes based on wagyu A5, a rare delicacy, is decidedly interesting. There are also home-cooked dishes proposed in a more refined key such as, for example, kokokke stuffed with tuna.
To begin I tasted the welcome of the house (a cold salmon croquette, I would have preferred it warm) an excellent takowasa (octopus with perfectly balanced kizamiwasabi) and okonomiyaki with bacon (alternatively, you can choose it with prawns), prepared with finely chopped cabbage and no aonori seaweed. The fact that it's not too big makes it perfect as a starter to share. Mariko's gyozas, stuffed with cabbage and meat, were handcrafted and especially good.
I tried the mixed sushi, of which I particularly appreciated the nigiri (especially the fish variety) but the uramaki a little less (the rice was really too cold), while the uramaki with wagyu were in my opinion too seasoned: the presence of truffle oil totally dominated the flavor of the meat - so I promised myself that next time I will order nigiri, simply seasoned with ponzu sauce.
The highlight of the evening was the soba soup with shrimp tempura - a tasty and comforting home-cooked dish. To top it all off, the green tea tiramisu, very good because it's not particularly sweet.
My experience at Kokoro has certainly been positive: atmosphere and well-finished dishes, pleasant and smiling owners, honest and correct billing.
🌎 https://kokororistorantegiapponese.business.site/ 📍 Via Fratelli Picardi 234, Sesto San Giovanni (M) 📞 02 2247 0793 💰 $$$
Yoji
Yoji restaurant has been open for some years now in Sesto San Giovanni, and has quickly become a real point of reference in the area.
The owner and sushi chef, Yoji Iga, is Japanese and the menu he proposes is very interesting and varied: it ranges from the classic dishes of home and street cooking (such as gyoza, takoyaki, ramen, curry rice, onigiri and karaage) to classic and imaginative sushi (in fact the house special uramaki are highly appreciated).
I want to underline right away that my experience concerns the delivery service: I didn't have dinner at the restaurant, but I opted for home delivery.
Although, for obvious reasons, a meal eaten in a restaurant is always better than one eaten at home, I have to admit that the quality didn't suffer much from the trip and I quite liked all the dishes ordered.
What is certainly striking even at first glance is the abundance: although the price is medium-high, I can assure you the portions are really exaggerated.
I tried an excellent and huge okonomiyaki, the 22-piece sushi box (containing special gunkan, nigiri, maki and uramaki), the famous Rainbow roll (definitely delicious!) and the chirashi spice (the package is really heavy even to hold it in your hands, it is so abundant) composed of salmon, tuna, sea bass, cooked shrimp, squid, octopus, spicy salmon tartare, tobikko, omelette, cucumber, avocado, amadare sauce.
Here are my considerations: the fish is really very fresh and you can taste it, even if it is covered in many sauces. It is certainly not the classic Japanese restaurant where you can expect total respect for tradition, rather mouth-watering reinterpretations that satisfy the desire for exaggerated sushi. Not only in terms of portions and toppings, also in terms of proportions: I struggled to eat the individual pieces of uramaki because they are giant!
In my opinion it is a valid offer opted from time to time but in company, in order to try more dishes and above all to be able to finish them all.
🌎 https://www.ristoranteyoji.it/ 📍 Via XX Settembre 22, Sesto San Giovanni (MI) 📞 02 2441 3658 💰 $$$$
