My friends and I went here for The Set, an R&B party that we all enjoyed! The party did not start…read moretil 10p that night and to start with parking, there is a garage locally that you can park at. It costs $40 for a flat rate and that was that; the walk in took maybe 4 minutes. I also wanted to highlight their parking situation because I frequently have a lot of parking issues when trying to access DC. But we walked inside, had an easy access to the event, and as the entered.. the vibes welcomed us! Great dj, great drinks, and great friends! I think I saw that these R&B events are monthly or continuously scheduled out, so if you love the vibes, go to Ivy City!

Stopped by really quick to get some wing a ivy city smokehouse. I was told that their wings are…read moreamazing and I'm here to say I agree. Hospitality was great. Highly recommend.

Right in the middle of the bustling Union Market, I decided to try PhoWheels, and I'm so glad I…read moredid. I went with the oxtail pho and was not disappointed at all. Okay...this just made sense. Like why did I not think of this combo sooner?? The oxtail was tender, flavorful, and paired perfectly with that rich, comforting broth and noodles I love. Every bite hit. Portion size was good, flavors were a hit, and overall it was giving 5 stars across the board. If you're walking through Union Market and need something that's actually going to satisfy you, this is it.

Food was everything I thought it would be. I got the pork belly banh mi added chicken pate, roti…read moretacos one chicken thigh and one pork belly. They don't skimp on the protein. Honestly half of a banh mi is filling. I can't wait to try the oxtail cheesesteak next, definitely will be returning.

I had this catered for a New Year party and ordered three buns: fried chicken, Korean bulgogi, and…read morepork belly. Unfortunately, none of them tasted authentic. The fried chicken portion was extremely small--about the size of two nuggets--and nearly half of it was just fried dough with a sweet-and-sour flavor. The pork belly was overly greasy, with about three-quarters fat and very little lean meat. The Korean BBQ was unexpectedly spicy, which was not indicated on the menu. At $12 for three buns, the quality was disappointing. Even as fusion food, the flavors were poorly executed and not enjoyable.

Stopped here while bouncing around the Union Square Market. Ordered three buns (2 bulgogi and 1…read morepork belly), as well as a water and ginger ale. The buns came out fairly quick and they were very good. Would have liked to have a better seat to enjoy them, but we just found an adjacent ledge and posted up. Would recommend as a stop while walking around the marketplace.

A nice little holiday pop up near Union Market with unique clothes, jewelry, and home goods. There…read moreare signs in front of the market announcing Brief Assembly and the address, but unless you know to look for it, you won't stumble across it. The space itself in one of the storefronts near the market is very nice--bright, modern and airy. It's very spacious and items are spread out and well merchandised. The store reminds me a lot of Salt and Sundry inside Union Market, except Brief Assembly has fewer items, but does carry clothes and leather goods like purses, satchels and backpacks. All of the items are boutique, but not all are made in DC. There are some cool clothes from a New York designer--sleek black pants made out of some sort of neoprene combination--but they're pricey. The pants were about $180. Definitely worth a stop in to browse. Nice jewelry selection, plus books and pottery to offer gifting options that aren't mass produced.

Stumbled upon this place when I came to Union Market. It's a really cute pop-up with products from…read moresmall businesses from around the country. It's definitely a pricy place, but they have some cool items. The store associate that was there was super nice and friendly. Worth checking this out before the pop-up closes in a couple months!

I really hate to give 1-star reviews, especially when all I want is to support my fellow AAPIs, but…read moreI just did not like the food here at all. Outside of the owner being nice and answering my partner's many questions, I can't find anything else positive to say. We ordered Dan Dan noodles and the 13 spice scallion oil stir fried noodles, and both were disappointing. They were SO salty from the get go and the saltiness just kept building in our mouths as we ate. The noodles were also over cooked and didn't have that chewy QQ texture. I couldn't taste any sesame flavor in the Dan Dan noodles, as it was pretty much just sitting in a bath of oil, and the minced pork was just salty too. Meanwhile, I couldn't taste a single spice in the 13 spice noodles, though I could see the peppers in the dish. Everything just tasted - you guessed it - salty. I also feel like the ratio of meat to noodles was way off LOL it's weird to complain that there was too much meat, but this dish really needed more carbs to balance out the flavor. And these prices are just outrageous. I know it's DC and it's Union Market, but if you're marketing your food as "street food" then it shouldn't cost $15-20 per dish. The shrimp wonton egg noodle soup was so jarring to me at $18.50 - even in San Francisco of all cities, this dish costs no more than $11 at Hong Kong cafes (don't get me started on how it was under $5 when I was a kid). Or at least if it's gonna be expensive, it should taste good too. I'm genuinely sad to leave such a negative review for an up and coming Chinese business. As a native Californian and someone who visited family in Taiwan every summer growing up, I love and have very high expectations for Chinese food, but this just wasn't it for me. I hope that it was an off day, but even so I probably won't be coming back.

Ordered from their place at Union Market. I only got one dish so I don't think this review can…read morereally be considered a full review. If you're trying to decide whether to order from here, check out other reviewers that tried several of their dishes. As for me, I'll have to come back to experience more from this restaurant before truly throwing my weight behind a set rating. What we got: Pork bao bun - 2.5-3* the size was really fun, the overall taste, not so much. The bun on it's own was pretty standard. The meat inside the bun was very disappointing. It was pretty dry and did not have much flavor. The best part of the dish was their dipping sauce, it is amazing! While it can't quite save the sad state of the bao, it did enhance it slightly. I would love to try dipping other items into their dipping sauce to see what else it compliments.

Michelin Star me PLEASE!…read more I'm a foodie and when I told my friend I was one, he asked how many Michelin Star restaurants I'd been to. I chuckled, because honestly I'm not a foodie snob but perhaps I need to be. Pre Bday dinner before heading out of the country he chose El Cielo to celebrate me first! Located in Union Market, El Cielo hides in plain sight on the corner. Parking is always a win at Union Market hence why I am always there! Ambiance: dimly lit, reservations only, couples galore, and definitely an intimate atmosphere. Service: TOP NOTCH this is why you pay the big bucks! Nothing was amiss! My friend has experience with high‑end restaurants, Michelin star restaurants to be exact so his perspective added a helpful benchmark with what to order. He took the lead and ensured I tried all the top favorites! *They do offer an À la Carte Menu, or traditional Pre-Fixe menu* Let's get into it! Tree of Life - Yucca bread, Brown butter, Cilantro sauce - Such a cute presentation! Butter is amazing! Ensaladita Caliente - Grilled Romaine letuce, Parmigiano, Hearts of Palms, Kumquats - Soooooo Good! Yes to this dish! Catch of the day - SeaBass Buttermilk reduction, Green oil, Chontaduro - Perfectly cooked! Loved it! Yucca Gnocchi Pecorino cheese, Shitake mushrooms, Sweet plantain, Added Truffle - VERY YUMMY! Flan - Vanilla, Salted caramel - Fantastic! Mucholate - Rum Ice Cream - I mixed both this and the Flan! Loved it!

We came to El Cielo to celebrate my wife's birthday and chose the Journey tasting menu. It was a…read morememorable evening, though not without some reservations. El Cielo is located in the vibrant Union Market neighborhood, surrounded by restaurants, coffee shops and clothing stores. The restaurant itself is elegant without being opulent, with comfortable chairs spaced generously apart. A large garage door next to the entrance looks like it opens to the outside in warmer weather -- a nice touch we didn't get to experience. El Cielo holds the distinction of being the first Colombian restaurant in the world to earn a Michelin star. That alone makes it worth a visit for anyone who follows the culinary world. Our server Carla was excellent. She took her time explaining each dish carefully and patiently answered every question. The meal is a journey in every sense -- nine courses, each a small surprise. We began with cocktails. The Don't Give Papaya was fruit forward and satisfyingly alcohol forward. The passion fruit toddy that opened the tasting menu was not too sweet, with fresh fruit juice added to the spirit already in the glass. The truffle buñuelo was the first revelation -- a warm liquid center encased in a delicate corn vessel, eaten in one bite. The texture alone was remarkable. The caviarmañola followed, a delicate crispy croquette, beautifully presented with caviar and sauces. The Tree of Life, a pull-apart bread baked around mild melted cheese, was warm, satisfying and genuinely fun to eat. The tuna was exceptionally fresh and fatty, its sauce a perfect complement. The hiramasa, a kingfish new to me, was served with quinoa that added texture and visual beauty. The Hanami dessert closed the meal with just the right touch of sweetness. The birthday experience -- an edible white chocolate candle with a surprise filling -- was a delightful gesture. And the rose petal hand cream that ended the meal was an elegant final touch. Two caveats worth mentioning. The ambience leans pretentious -- El Cielo takes itself too seriously. And at $600 for two with service included, the price is steep even for a Michelin one-star. I've had equally memorable meals elsewhere for considerably less.

Catered a work event and did a fantastic job. There was a great spread of food and even enough to…read moretake home leftovers. My favorites were the Kahlua Pork and Spam Musubi. The guava butter mochi was also fantastic. Wish I could try their food again!

Mahalo nui loa! The entire Aloha Crew, from Warren (Exec Chef), his crew, Wendy (on-site…read morecoordinator), and Nanea (sp? The beautiful Tahitian and Hula dancer), our guests had the best time evah! We were celebrating my son's HS graduation and my daughter's 23rd b'day (born in Hawaii nei). It was such a special time of Ohana-relatives, friends, and church family and everyone is still talking about how Aloha Crew is No Ka Oi! Wendy--thank you for the gorgeous leis for grad and bday--I had to get in on the action and wear one! Hey, Yelp readers: You guys gotta have the Crew for your luau. The only thing that would make it more authentic is letting them dig Imu pit in your yard day before for kalua pig! Aloha Crew: you got some more clients (my guests!) coming your way, booking for summer! Aloha!

We came here for Valentine's Day. Managed to snag a reservation for 5 PM, right when they open, at…read morethe sushi bar. The staff were all absolutely lovely. And we even got a cute little Valentines gift. I can't say enough nice things about our server - she was so great. Sitting at the sushi bar was neat as we got to see everything being made. We also got to try some complimentary bites. Great experience! The cocktails were crazy good. Everything we ordered was delicious. The salmon usuzukuri was so good we ordered it twice. The Kobe baller was another standout. The scallops were also fantastic. Such a yummy meal! Highly recommend! We will definitely be back.

I might give them another shot given the rave reviews, but tonight I'm disappointed. At this point,…read moreI haven't even seen my check so the price is not the issue, but the service and overall flavor for the price point definitely are. My Hotote crudo app which should be served cold was served cold on a super hot plate which means by the time I ate it, it was thus weird hot/semi-luke warm temp and honestly, not appetizing. I tried the Moriawase after and told my server I wanted to add caviar if it was possible and since I didn't get any, I assume it is only an option for the nigiri/sashimi. Silly but no problem. I was still sooooo hungry I ordered a Surf&turf roll and it was less than appetizing. It had no flavor which was terribly unfortunate. I didn't make a review about the sake mixup or my server only to be polite but there are definitely low points, and those make the list. I hope it's better for everyone else!