A large quantity of literature highlights the interaction between tumor cells and the surrounding microenvironment which is a very important modulator of the processes in hepatocarcinogenesis. The microenvironment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) can be obviously classified into cellular and produced non-cellular components, including hepatic stellate cells, tumor associated fibroblasts, immune cells and sinusoidal endothelial cells, extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, growth factors and inflammatory cytokines which play an important role in the development and metastasis of HCC. In this review, we discuss the current cross-talk about the tumor microenvironment and tumor cells in pathogenesis of HCC.