Great atmosphere. Great drinks. Great Asian fusion food.

Whenever I'm craving for good comfort food I can always cone to the UNION. Love the whole menu.

Recently I took some girlfriends here to get some chicken wings. We ended up ordering way too much good but it was worth it. We ordered: som tum (papaya salad), lemongrass chicken bun vermicelli bowls, Korean veggie bibimbap, & hawker Thai... more

We came here for desserts and cocktails and were blown away by the creativity put in the Asian fusion flavours and textures. The service is amazing. We're definitely coming back to try their food menu!

Ive been here dozens of times and I still don't really know why I keep going. It's not bad...its just pricey and does a less than great rendition of all the things you like from various ethnic foods all in one bowl.

It's like a grade 8 highschool party at the cool older guys house, with the popular crowd standing around the ultra cool smorgasbord his mom bought of sushi, kalbi, some Viet... more

11pm on a Thursday night seems like a good a time as any to get a quick snack after some extensive bar hopping!

Enter, the Union.

I have been craving a good Banh Mi for quite some time now and was floored by how amazing these meat filled sandwiches of joy were. My friend and I ordered the Tofu and also the Pork Belly Banh Mi. Both were out of this world delicious and made with simple, fresh... more

Pho bowl, cha kaHanoi, bahn mi, can't go wrong. The union is stellar. The cocktails are amazing. I go here once a week when I'm too busy to cook and they nail everything.

This is one of my favourite places. The service is always pretty good. There is one server, she has blonde hair in a mohawk - I like to call her a beautiful unicorn, because she is. She's so attentive and knowledgable about the menu, she really makes the experience for me every time.

Ok the things I've tried and the commentary to go with it:

Vegetarian Spring Rolls - yummy, amazing, nice lil... more

We came here for dinner since it was conveniently located near us and had good reviews. We had a large group of about 10 and the place was packed, great indicator, and put our name on the list. We grabbed a drink at a bar around the corner since there wasn't much seating at their bar and returned after a 25-30 min wait which turned out to be well worth it.
- Make sure to try one of the "Banga... more

Asian fusion, ate here about a half dozen times.

The cocktails are very nice, and the place is usually hopping with activity at all hours. Had most of the dinner otions, all were good, and a few of the breakfast options.

The beef stir fry with noodles, of which I'm forgetting the name was excellent. The one dish I wasn't a huge fan of was TheUnion's version of Pho. The soup base and... more

i am a frequent traveller to vancouver bc and never really noticed this place till the other day so i figured me and a few girlfriends should try it out. we went in for brunch and must say the atmosphere is strange, really open, not much private tables, bench and table type but the sun brightens the 1 big room quite well and it seemed pretty clean. we all pretty much ordered everything on the... more

meh what can i say about this place... atmosphere is dull and food isn't spectacular. gotta weird vibe from the service staff, everyone who works there seem zombie like. couldn't really see the cooks but can only imagine its the same back there. i usually don't write reviews unless my experience was really awful. food was meh, drinks were a step above meh, service was a step below meh only for... more

Great food & concept... Good choice of Far Eastern dishes on offer... Staff attentive & very polite... Great idea of sharing a table as well... more

I was really excited to go to the The Union as I have wanted to go for a long time. When I first walked in, the place was packed with a line up going out the door. It seemed like a really cool place to get together with friends and just chill. It's great how they can accommodate bigger parties too.

The Indonesian Peanut Noodles were very peanut-y, but besides that they tasted a little bland,... more

I came here for brunch on a Saturday. The food was alright, they have some really interesting things in the menu. It's definitely an asian fusion restaurant, being a huge fan of asian fusion I have to say that some flavours just didn't work for me. The pandesal, did not taste like what a pandesal should taste like. I had a the Rosa Milk, and it was just alright.

If your looking for a place to... more

Great place to have a brunch on the weekend.

I had egg benny with Chinese guacamole and I can't complain. I liked a lot the mixture of ehh benny with some asian flavors. My husband had the egg benny with pork and he approved the dish too. :)

The location is great close to the bike lanes. So It is a great place to stop by on weekend mornings if you are passing by bike in sunny days ;D

Really... more

The Union provides a laid back environment for large groups to hang out, although you'll see many groups of two here as well.

The food is definitely interesting: its a mix of mostly vietnamese-inspired fusion. The Jimi and the pulled pork bao bun bennies are great choices for their weekend brunches. They make awesome drinks too! A great non-alcoholic choice is the Lapu Lapu.

My only complaint... more

I've been to the Union twice this year and it has been a great experience both times.

The first time, I went with my boyfriend and we were given recommendations by our server and explained which dishes were spicy, and which they would recommend for our taste palette. The dishes, we got the Cha Ca and the Pork Belly Banh Mi were both very flavorful and exceeded our expectations.

The second... more

Came for Sunday brunch.

Pandesal French Toast ($11) five spice toffee sauce, sautéed Asian pears, whipped cream, rum toasted coconut
The quantity of toast you get roughly adds up to two and a half or three average slices of bread. Clearly a lot of coconut involved and even seared directly onto to the toast.
The pears didn't taste like anything at all--Probably a fluke kitchen accident or... more

I have the pleasure of visiting The Union routinely. I have become quite a fan of most types of fusion food and the Filipino-South-East-Asian menu that The Union serves are definitely some of the best in this town. The room is mighty spacious, the staff are mighty friendly and it's clear how hard they work when the place gets slammed with guests (which happens often).

Close to the Skytrain... more

There are two decent things on the menu - the chickpeas and the fish bahn mi, the rest are either drowning in sweet sauce or over-seasoned. The cocktails are awful and inconsistent - they either overpower them with ginger or they miss an ingredient (understandable, I guess, since each drink is made up of 100+ things - less is more, fellas). The only redeeming quality of this place is that the... more

You know, the food here is bad fusion and overpriced.
But it provides a great atmosphere and I do find myself here when friends insist.

I kind of hate it. But I'm not veto-ing it if my friends are hungry and they insist on drinks to go with that hunger.

So everyone who says that the portion sizes at this restaurant are small is lying to you. My friends and I all ordered their bowls and the sizes we got were ENORMOUS. I ordered the Nasi Goreng and it was delicious! I read the reviews on here and thought that I would still be hungry so I also ordered the Arugula & Asian Pear salad, and shared some Fried Pork Dumplings with my friends. Needless... more

Came last week and it was great. Saw on their website and on the menu: "Banh Mi + a Pint for $10 on Mondays"

So we came back tonight. Food was really good again, service was quick, small but good selection of beers, the space is nice, etc.

I got the pork banh mi and a Main Street Pilsner, Girlfriend got a chicken banh mi and a 33 acres of darkness, and we also got curry fried chickpeas for... more

Great vibe, communal tables and a great modern industrial feel. This place takes different styles of Asian food and morphs them into delicious things! My favorite is the bahn Mi (Vietnamese sub) green papaya salad, and the Chocolate chai dessert. I've been many times and never disappointed!

The food took really long and the music is really loud here. It's quite a surprise how busy the restaurant is. The food is average and nothing special

The most underrated brunch place in all of Vancouver is The Union. I've been here 3 times and it is always quiet at prime brunch time. It is beautifully designed, open, bright and has stellar, clean washrooms. The kitchen is open and the wait staff is friendly and fast. The atmosphere is relaxed and the food is very affordable.

I am sitting down to a "bao bun benny" which is comprised of a... more

The Union is a chill bar with tasty Asian food and drink selection where friends can get together.

Their menu has a good assortment of popular Asian food from Som Tum, Bánh Mì sandwich, Aloo Chana to Laksa. So if you like Asian food, you'll find at least one of your favorite dishes here.

I ordered the Nasi Goreng and it was delicious! The fried egg is always the cherry on top for me. Yum! A... more

I never had any intention to go to the Union because I don't have an interest in Asian fusion food. I'd often rather have a more traditional dish at cheaper price when it comes to Asian food. Then, I looked up the Union's brunch menu and the fusion brunch offerings sounded far too intriguing to pass off on.

For example, their take on french toast involves pandesal (a Filipino sweet bread) as... more

The Union has great food and outstanding drinks, but service can be slow. I think it's disorder in the kitchen rather than bad front of house staff, but when things come out can be unpredictable, it can be a long wait, and you might get your food ten minutes before your partner gets his.

That said, the food is delicious and unusual, and the cocktails are good enough to be the whole reason you... more

Had a group of friends invite me to The Union, drinks were priced average, food on the other hand was very affordable, no mains over 15. The servers were friendly and very welcoming, they even check in us every 10 mins which was a nice change of pace for most fusion restaurants. The seating and ambiance of the restaurant floor was done very nicely, efficient and tastefully for the size of the... more

The Union is terrific! I've been there 3 times now, and I've always had a great time. It's got a great buzzing atmosphere that's great for having a good catch up with a friend, or sitting at the bar soaking up the hum of other people's conversations. I like the idea of the long tables - they'd be great for a big group, or potentially making new friends!

I've always had great service here,... more

Asian fusion is their game here and if your looking for brunch with a twist, then The Union is the place to go. I had the pulled pork eggs Benny on Vietnamese buns. Certainly very filling. They even offer a Filipino inspired dish which was interesting, might try that one next time. Last time I came here was for dinner, the mussels were delicious. Union are known for their creative cocktails... more

Not much to say, but I love this place. Love the food and the drinks, which are consistently good. The service is usually pretty darn good too. I go to the Union fairly regularly and will keep on doing that.

Large Plate Brunch

Stopped in for Sunday brunch around 10:30. Not busy, took a table for two in the window. Nice spot for people watching as the Adanac bike route passes right in front and its well used. Most of the seating is long bench festival (not our favourite at all). Prompt service, good coffee, interesting brunch menu - combo of SE Asian... more

Good spicy food, good service

I went to The Union for dinner on a Monday evening. Although it was Monday the restaurant was busy (not too busy, but still busy). The service was very good, the food is a bit spicy but good as well. We had the special of the day (chicken sandwich and beer) and the kids had chicken wings. All good. Recommended.

Mix of good & bad

The Union is located on the very southern border of Chinatown. One of the hip places that are populating the neighbourhood. They have free wifi. Not cheap for meal/drinks, so you have higher expectations for quality of food and service. Atmosphere is casual and fun with an eclectic crowd. We were disappointed in the service. Took a long time to... more

Dinner on a Friday night and we arrived early to avoid any lineups. The major reason for the mediocre rating is the service was so spotty. The server was personable, but not prompt. Waited a long while for our drinks to arrive. The food came very quickly which was a pleasant surprise. The chicken wings and a rice bowl were excellent. Perhaps, somewhat overpriced though. Our drinks were... more

A fabulous find! We were recommended to a The Union by a server who we had met and we were not disappointed. The best service we have experienced in Vancouver and amazing food. My wife had the Aloo Chana Dahl and she loved it! I had the Nasi Goreng and I think it may be the best I've had (and I've eaten this dish all over SE Asia as I'm originally from Singapore). The servers are very friendly... more

What a find

My wife and I were fortunate enough to meet a woman who works there and she asked us to stop by! We had the Nasi Goreng, Aloo Chana Dahl, Pork Dumplings and Curry Fried Chickpeas! Absolutely sublime! And the servers are fabulous. Make sure you get there!

Good South East Asian Fusion

Nice vibe, good prices. Not as authentic SE Asian flavours as they could be, but pretty damned close. Definitely adjusted for the western pallet. Regardless, the food is DELICIOUS, and the prices aren't exorbitant. Generally good music, and a good friendly crowd. It's a nice toe dip into South East Asian eating.

A great place to eat

A great friendly, busy atmosphere. Seemed like it was the place to be. The food was tremendous, I can recommend the pork belly sandwich but don't recall the Vietnamese fusion dishes we ate. The food and service really were top drawer!

A huge disappointment!
This is more of a bar where you go to grab a few drinks with some appy but not a place to go for a meal. With the main dishes ranging from $14-$17, I was hoping for much more. I left feeling ripped off and hungry. I could have spend my $35 elsewhere and feel like I had a good, healthy meal.

Food: 0.5/5
Service: 2.5/5
Vibe: 3/5

First of all, our order took a very very... more

Pretty cool spot for a nice sunny day - get the patio and enjoy one of their refreshing ginger beverages! Loved the noodle bowls, really great service! It also gets really busy inside - so come early.

Great Cocktails, Food Was Okay

I went to The Union with some friends last fall. I really enjoyed their bangas or Filipino style cocktails. Those were awesome. I think we ordered all of them several times over. I ordered the nasi goreng and I probably shouldn't have. I lived in Indonesia and I was hoping for the real deal but it was too fusion-y. It... more

Interesting menu, fun vibe

Finally went here last night for a birthday party, after thinking about going for months. It was a fun experience. Right now they are doing a Southeast Asia promotion, and each month they have a different country as a theme for their cuisine. June is Vietnam, and the dish I ordered (Cha Ca Hanoi) was delicious. What I like is... more

The appetizer was phenomenal...beer started out great...but the entrees were a bit of a let down. Pork in the pork belly vermicelli bowl was to die for, but the salad wasn't all that filling and the sauce was lacking. The Nasi Goreng was very tasty bit had very little beef and was a little disappointing. Overall we may come back but not raving about it.

Not good for people with food allergies

When I told the server I am allergic to canola oil, she went to ask the chef what to recommend. The chef sent the message that everything has canola in it. There was nothing I could order. My friends had rice noodle bowls, which did not seem to have oil except for the chicken/tofu on top. Most chefs are great... more

TERRIBLE SERVICE.

It's annoying to wait in the tiny area by the door but made worse when the servers walking by you are scoffing at being in their way. Who designed the layout of this place?

I've been there four times and every time, it takes 5-10 mins for a server to bring a menu after sitting down. Drinks are slow to come and the servers have no sense of urgency about fixing you up with... more

Quick dinner

My wife and I were in the area and decided to eat at The Union. We had the beer and sandwich special. It was very tasty and it was fun sitting outside. Loved every minute.

Ended up here because Bao Bei was closed for a private event, and it did not disappoint! The dumplings were so good. Great friendly service, okay beer specials. Really like the decor in here, dark and modern with great atmosphere. I can't recall the name of the rice bowl I shared but it was so tasty, spicy but no too hot. I will be back for sure!

Monday night sun and beer for $10 is a great deal. Cool vibe. Cheap eats. Ill be back.

Saigon Sour (apple juice, chamomile syrup, lime, gomme, ginger, lemongrass, thai basil, kaffir lime leaf, cilantro, red chili pepper, fresh lime, egg white, fresh apple) $5 4/5 - not overly sweet. Too bad it was 1/2 filled with ice. I picked this because a lot of their drinks have ginger in them.
Hawker Thai Chicken Wings (sweet & spicy nahm jim glaze) $13 4.5/5 - It was about a pound. Crispy... more

What a lovely spot! Stopped in on a Friday Night for dinner after a long day. It was JAM PACKED, but we were a dynamic duo so were seated right away. Definitely don't recommend bringing a large group here in the evening (unless you've made reservations of course!) It's a very popular place!

Amazing selection of Non-Alcoholic cocktails for us non-drinkers! We were so happy about that!

I got... more

Oh Union. Why? Why Union, Why?

Is it that you hate vegans or you just have a one trick pony in your kitchens?

We had a work dinner here last week, based on my recommendation. I was disappointed to hear that the recipe for their once delicious crispy fried tofu has been changed. This with a side of jasmine rice use to be my go-to meal at Union. Now, it includes traces of shrimp. How silly.... more

I went with my friends on a Saturday night last minute to The Union and it was great. The drinks are delicious! We got each a different bowl and all of them tasted so good. And they are big. I usually eat a lot and I couldn't finish mine. Our server was really nice and the restaurant as an great flair. All in one... We had a great dinner and I will be back for sure. 5 Stars for The Union!

I just keep coming back here - from the first time I tried it a year ago, I've had cravings for their bun vermicelli bowls (with the sweet and sour fish). Their nuoc cham has been inconsistent at times, but the food always tastes fresh, and the quality is always superb. The bangas are a delight for the palate, with their unconventional mixes (though a little pricey for what you get), but again,... more

Another solid joint in the neighbourhood.

I used to come here for the excellent banh mi. Sure, they'll cost you $6.50 more than the ones I grew up with -- but then again, sometimes (sometimes!) you want a fancy banh mi. One with a consistently fresh baguette, meat that isn't reconstituted and pressed (I liked the pork best), and boasts a delicate balance of sweet vinegar on your veggie... more

Fantastic menu, vibe & value

This neighbourhood stop is a recent find...love the Malaysian/Vietnamese style menu, fresh drinks, urban decor and bench-style seating. It's always hopping and worth the wait. The Nasi Goreng is going to make me a regular!

Random find on a Saturday night.

We had dinner plans with a couple of friends wanting to check out another restaurant in the area but had a long wait and since we were all starving, we all decided to go somewhere else. Not really familiar with this area we drove around the block and found The Union, and we were all glad we did.

Cool atmosphere, with long wooden communal tables. Best part no... more

Wow! I had heard about the Union, but it far exceeded my expectations. The ambiance is awesome and chill with big communal tables, high cielings, but warm atmosphere, really cool bar area. Great place to come with group of friends so you can try more of the amazing food! We had the peanut noodles with charred eggplant- amazing!! and the Bon with sweet and sour fish. We were told that all the... more

Thai inspired

Great selection of unusual drinks with daily specials. Drinks and food are Thai inspired and looked good.

Exceptional food and value

Had yet another amazing meal for four at The Union including drinks and enough left-overs for two lunches and all for $100. We had guests from London and they were very impressed with the flavour and variety of food we all shared. Only complaint was very slow drink service.

My Local

I live close to the Union and I frequent the place. I dont know the owners or staff so this is an unbiased review. They have awesome food and unique and tasty drinks. You have to go here just to check out the drinks! Its has a loungy, main st funky atmosphere with long table bench seating. It can get... more

Innovative, fabulous drinks and tasty food

A wonderful place, alas only open for dinner, with share appetizer plates, noodles and bowls, most with an Asian twist. Our favourites were the mussels and the butter chicken with crispy tofu and blistered beans for appetizers. Lots of options for gluten free food. I found the drinks - innovative -alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks-especially the drinking vinegars with in-house soda... more

A nice time in Chinatown

A group of 3 ladies came to this place on a Friday night after visiting Dr. Sun Yat Sen & Chinatown a bit. Urban spoon suggested it as we wandered and it looked inviting. THe benchstyle seating invited visiting and also some interaction between clients, so I think it'd be a good place to meet people as well - to... more

Good food, Interesting drinks

The drinks are different and interesting. Food is good. Nice atmosphere and attentive staff.
We have been there a few times for Nasi goring bowl.
Will come back with friends for drinks!

Another exciting room with so-so food

There's a slew of new Vancouver restaurants that concentrate on making the atmosphere the focus of your experience. The food is OK (sounds good on the menu), but it's not the main ingredient. Think of Bao Bei, Mai Nam or Fat Dragon.
The Union is another one like these.
The room is modern, loud, comfortable, with communal seating. The service... more