•MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have critical roles in regulation of several aspects of gastric carcinogenesis.•MiRNAs can modulate sensitivity to chemotherapeutic agents via regulation of autophagy or efflux of these agents.•Serum or tissue levels of miRNAs can discriminate cancer patients from healthy subjects.•MiRNAs alter the function of several cancer-associated pathways such as PTEN/PI3K/AKT. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a group of non-coding RNAs that have critical roles in regulation of expression of genes. They can inhibit or decrease expression of target genes mostly via interaction with 3′ untranslated region of their targets. Their crucial roles in the regulation of expression of tumor suppressor genes and oncogenes have potentiated them as contributors in tumorigenesis. Moreover, their stability in body fluids has enhanced their potential as cancer biomarkers. In the present review article, we describe the role of miRNAs in the pathogenesis of gastric cancer and advances in application of miRNAs as biomarkers and therapeutic targets in this kind of malignancy.