Ordered the fish and chips, and this was a serious plate of food. I received several substantial…read morepieces of fish with a crisp, golden batter that had a nice crunch without overwhelming the fish. Breaking one open revealed thick, flaky white fish that was moist inside. Add a basket of hand-cut fries, slaw and tartar sauce, and I had a meal that was both filling and satisfying. Server was friendly and helpful. The crab cake plate ordered at our table was also impressive, served with fingerling potatoes and a generous portion of seasonal vegetables. Between the portion sizes and the quality of what came out of the kitchen, I felt like the food was the priority here rather than elaborate presentation. The part of the menu that makes me want to return, though, is the in-house smoked fish. Ivy City isn't simply using "Smokehouse" as part of the name--they have an entire selection built around it. Salmon Candy, traditional smoked salmon, pepper salmon, rainbow trout and whitefish salad can even be ordered together on a Smokehouse Fish Board. That is probably what I'll order on my next visit. There is also a much better drink selection than I expected, with cocktails, draft beer--including D.C. selections--cider and a full wine list. It gives the restaurant more of a neighborhood tavern feel than a traditional seafood house. Overall, I left full and impressed. Big pieces of properly fried fish, generous portions, plenty of seafood choices and an entire smoked-fish menu that I still need to explore. That last part is probably the best compliment I can give a restaurant: before I even left, I already knew there were things I wanted to come back and try.

Came for the party, stayed for the burger!…read more I visited Ivy City Smokehouse for a morning party, and I loved that the restaurant was open and serving food while we were partying because priorities! I don't typically eat beef, but every now and then I see a good-looking burger and all bets are off. Ivy City Smokehouse had a double-patty cheeseburger topped with cabbage salad and Russian dressing, served with fries. I'm not usually a Russian dressing girl, so I skipped it and went with good old ketchup instead. Y'all... this burger was SO GOOD. And HUGE! The fries were hot, crispy, and really good too, but I only ate a few because I was absolutely determined to finish that entire burger. Mission accomplished. The restaurant itself is pretty large with both indoor and outdoor seating. Since there was a party happening, there weren't many tables set up for dining, but we managed to snag one. The lines were long and food took a little while since everyone had to order both drinks and food through the bar, but the staff handled the crowd really well. They remained patient and attentive, and whether we needed ketchup, salt, pepper, or extra napkins, they made it happen. Usually the camera eats first, but I was so hungry that I jumped right in before even thinking about a picture. I've lived nearby for years and somehow never made it to Ivy City Smokehouse, but after that burger? I'll definitely be back!

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.

This is my first time at Union market. As we were walking around looking for something to eat. I…read morewanted to snack on something. I ran into Bun'd up and I love bao buns. This section is self order so you walk up to the screen and order whatever you like. It's quick and easy. There is seating where you can watch the workers in the back make the items but there is only 3 seats. If you like to sit, you need to walk around to find a table. Union market is cool because there is many things to try and eat. We rated the Korean bbq beef bulgogi a 4/5. The flavors were great but the meat was was like ground beef and we were expecting the normal meat. We rated the shredded pork belly 5/5. They put small pineapple pieces on top so each bite had pineapple. The flavors were amazing. The spicy fried chicken was 5/5. The flavor was great, the spice wasn't that crazy and there were two pieces of chicken. The flavors went well with Cole slaw.

Takeout review ahead:…read more I've seen lots of reviews of this place and I've always wanted to try it. However, delivery was the fastest way for me to experience this restaurant and I'm sure glad that I did. Trio: Korean BBQ Beef- this was by far my favorite!!!! The perfect mixture of sweet, tangy, and savory. Lots of great flavor profiles and the bun was soft and sweet. Spicy Fried Chicken- second favorite. The chicken and slaw paired together well. Shredded Pork Belly- least favorite and this was mainly because of the sauce added. I did however, love the pork belly and pineapple pairings. I'm definitely planning to visit in person to try more of that delicious Korean BBQ Beef and some of the other flavors. Definitely worth the money!

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.

El Cielo made quite the impression for DC Restaurant Week. First, they served full portion in both…read morefood and wine pairings; and quality across the board from what one might expect from a Michelin starred place. The service was equally appreciated. Everyone was well versed in the menu, ingredients, and preparation. Lastly, the cool interior was open, inviting, and classy. This is by far the best offering from a restaurant I have had recently in restaurant weeks. I would feel just as welcome any other time and will definitely come back. Great for any occasion, El Cielo was impressive.

I'm glad I tried Elcielo, and overall I enjoyed the food and the creativity of the tasting menu,…read morebut unfortunately the service and atmosphere fell well short of what I expected from a Michelin-starred restaurant at this price point. I came for my birthday with friends. Our reservation was at 8:00. I arrived a few minutes early and was greeted and given water, but after the rest of my party arrived, no server returned to our table for another 20-30 minutes. It was then another significant wait before anyone came to take our drink orders. Throughout the dinner, it was also surprisingly difficult to get a server's attention, and I had to try to flag someone down several times just to have my water refilled. The explanations accompanying the courses were also often difficult to understand, which another person in my party commented on as well. Since the storytelling and explanation of each dish are such a major part of this type of tasting-menu experience, I wish the presentations had been delivered more clearly. I also paid an additional $50 for the Birthday Experience and would not recommend it. It included an edible candle and a birthday cocktail. I had already told the staff that I don't drink alcohol and had ordered a mocktail during dinner, but they still brought me an alcoholic birthday cocktail. After I reminded them, they replaced it with a mocktail, but unfortunately it tasted very medicinal and I didn't enjoy it. For a paid birthday add-on, I expected considerably more attention to that detail. The atmosphere was another disappointment. The dining room was very quiet and fairly empty during our meal, so it didn't have the special-occasion energy I was hoping for on my birthday. The positive is that the food itself was good, creative, and enjoyable, and there were definitely memorable parts of the experience. I'm glad I tried Elcielo once, but considering the price and the level of service I experienced, I wouldn't return.

Okay... I'm just gonna say it: Aloha Crew Kitchen is dangerous…read more The Kalua Pork is LEGIT. Tender, flavorful, smoky, and the kind of pork that makes you question every life decision that led you to eating anything else. You take one bite and your toes gonna curl. Big toe and all.. And the Kalbi short ribs?! Bruh. These things taste like somebody grabbed the islands, put them on a grill, and said, "Yes." Absolutely incredible flavor. But honestly, the food isn't the only thing that makes this place special. The crew is TIGHT. You can tell these folks genuinely enjoy working together, and that energy comes through in the customer service. Everyone is welcoming, friendly, and actually seems happy to see you. That's becoming a rare thing these days. And let's talk about the real impact of this food... Aloha Crew Kitchen saved my marriage. I'm not saying my wife was considering divorce... I'm just saying that after I brought home that Kalua Pork and she forgot I was a middle aged man with a receding hairline. Seriously though, if you're anywhere around the Earth and you're looking for Hawaiian food that actually feels like it has ALOHA behind it, go check these guys out. Great food. Great people. Huge portions. Island flavors. Good vibes. 10/10. Would absolutely destroy another plate. If you enjoy breathing on a daily basis... man. Eat this.

The food was delicious and beautifully presented, with great flavor in every dish. The service was…read morefriendly, attentive, and professional, which made the overall dining experience very enjoyable. The staff were welcoming and made sure everything was taken care of. Overall, a wonderful experience. I would definitely recommend this place and look forward to coming back!

The ambiance was beautiful, amazing photos. The Food even better, full of flavor with every bite…read moreand the presentation is beautiful. The experience was unreal thanks to Lark, she was such an amazing server. If you want to be assured of an AMAZING dinner ask for her, Lark. Thankyou so much Lark

Beautiful sushi restaurant in Union Market, perfect for celebrations or a night night out. I came…read moreduring happy hour for my anniversary and had such a memorable experience! Our server was attentive and helped us keep track of the time so we can put in any last minute orders for happy hour. The sugar and spice cocktail is one of my favorites in the DC area, it's perfect if you like a spicy margarita flavor. The snow king roll was my favorite (included in HH) but the surf and turf one was delicious as well. Definitely recommend the broccolini and rock shrimp to supplement your experience! I can't wait to come back.