In the title compound, C14H15N5O4, the central –C=N—N—C(=O)—C– bridge is nearly planar [maximum deviation = 0.037 (1) Å] and forms dihedral angles of 7.37 (9) and 73.33 (5)°, respectively, with the benzene and imidazole rings. The dihedral angle between the benzene and imidazole rings is 66.08 (9)°. The meth­oxy and nitro groups are nearly coplanar with the benzene and imidazole rings, respectively, with a C—O—C—C torsion angle of 5.9 (2)° and an O—N—C—C angle of −0.2 (2)°. In the crystal, mol­ecules are linked by a pair of N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds with an R 2 2(8) ring motif, forming an inversion dimer. The dimers are further inter­connected by C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds into a sheet parallel to the (111) plane. A C—H⋯π inter­action is also observed between the sheets.