My very first experience here was horrible! The staff that I interacted with was rude and had an attitude as soon as I walked in.. I had questions because it was my first time getting actual food there and most of the people at the register seemed irritated and upset about me inquiring. But something was different when I went in the other day because all that completely changed. Thanks to Chi Chi and Rell (there was also another guy there with glasses whose name I didn't get)! But they were the BEST! The best customer service I've had there since I started going. First off as soon as I walked in Chi Chi greeted me with the biggest smile and positive welcomed energy! I was shocked because no one EVER speaks when I go in, so that was really refreshing! She's was so nice and sweet and patient with me and all the other guest! I placed my order and Rell took care of it. I usually have a few modifications with my sandwich and for most of the other employees that seems to be a problem or bring extreme frustration. Rell didn't have a problem at all! Usually it's a lot of eye rolling and deep breaths, and it'll be over something small like asking for sub roll instead of regular bread. So it was nice to order my food and not get attitude from staff for how I want to eat my food. I feel like as long as Rell and Chi Chi are there the vibes are going to VIBE!! The food was moving out quick. The place felt and looked clean. They had no problem answering the questions I had about the shop and what they sold. Shout out to them forreal because I was prepared to leave a not so pleasant review about my experience but I'm glad they changed that because I'll definitely be back more often than not! Thanks Chi Chi and Rell, not only providing great customer service but just for being a vibe! read more

been coming here since i moved in the area in 2022 never had an issue. Now that yt men are in the store for whatever reason they wanna card me for sheets but just wasn't carded over the weekend for sheets. It's ridiculous how quick black ppl switch up when the yt man around then act so oblivious and clueoess to anything. I will not be returning and I will make sure any of my company goes to that store as well. read more

My go to spot for my morning latte, the service is always great & it is usually pretty quick ! Lots of flavor variety

Such friendly staff! Excellent selection of snax and bevvies. Teeo was so sweet checking us out :)

Great hospitality got everything I wanted with no problems thanks to Myah.vvvgvddweyhhhhdey

Fresh, Delicious, and Friendly! I stopped by Union Kitchen and tried the Turkey Avocado Sandwich and wow, it was fantastic! Everything tasted incredibly fresh, from the perfectly toasted bread to the creamy avocado and flavorful turkey. You can tell they care about quality. The experience was made even better by the staff. Tyrone and Austin were super friendly and welcoming, creating a great atmosphere from the moment I walked in. It's not every day you find great food and great service in one place highly recommend! Bella read more

I visited this past week and bought two sandwiches. They messed up my order and one of the sandwiches was a ripoff, but the other sandwich was good. I ordered the Italian Hoagie ($15) and Chicken Pesto Sub ($14). The hoagie was described as "ham, salami, pepperoni, provolone, lettuce, tomato, onions, banana peppers with balsamic vinaigrette, pesto mayo, and Italian seasoning on sub roll." The sub was described as "roasted chicken, mozzarella, parmesan, onion, grape tomato, arugula, pesto mayo, and Italian seasoning on sub roll." I'm no expert on Italian hoagies but I thought it was pretty good. It was large like a hoagie/sub should be, it had lots of meat and fillings, I liked the balsamic, and the meat quality was better than what I would get at a Subway or Potbelly's. I was okay paying $15 for this. I took the sandwiches home and found out that instead of the Chicken Pesto Sub, they gave me the Chickpea Salad Sub -- very different. My receipt and the order label attached to the sandwich both said Chicken Pesto. The same staff member who took my order made the sandwiches and verbally said "here's your Italian and Chicken Pesto" when I picked up the food. Somehow, she got confused and I got the wrong sandwich. I went back to UKG and they helpfully remade my other sandwich when I showed them their mistake. The Chicken Pesto Sub barely had any chicken or other ingredients in it. It was flat and lightweight, pathetic compared to the Italian Hoagie, and a ripoff at $14. If you sell two sandwiches for almost the same price on the same bread, you would expect them to be the same size. I would rather have the grilled chicken from Potbelly's ($9) which coincidentally is only a 10 minute walk south of UKG. I attached a photo so you can judge for yourself (photo shows 1/2 the sandwich). As a side note, I would never go here for groceries. Everything is crazy expensive. If you're really in a pinch, fine. But you're better off walking a few blocks south to Harris Teeter. read more

Union Kitchen Grocery - Half of the Chicken Pesto Sub. Flat and pathetic size for $14 sandwich. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Rosemary bread, smoked turkey and Parmesan toasted sandwich was quite tasty! The customer service and the music vibe was on point! My quick turnaround trip was worth it! read more

Starting out as a food incubator for local makers out of Ivy City, Union Kitchen now runs six small grocery stores across the area. The Eckington location is the newest one, which opened on October 19, 2021. Here's what you should know: 1) Products: Many of the its products are from local makers from D.C., Virginia, Maryland and a few other nearby states. However, you can still find goods from big brands as displayed in their candy bar selection (Snickers, Mars, etc.). They have a long row of wines, a fridge full of beer, cider, etc. and lots of ice cream in the back. For most munchies, it has it all! 2) Cafe: There's a cafe inside that brews Compass Coffee (a local brand) and breakfast, lunch and dinner. Their sausage and egg sandwich is very flavorful and filling. 3) Space: It's laid out well and has an industrial feel to it. There's a mural inside from a local artist. 4) Parking: In the mornings, there's usually paid parking spots open out front or just down the road. I've never had a problem finding a spot! read more

See all

I live on the same street & Union Kitchen is really a gem for the neighborhood (as well as all the stores on Eckington Pl) . The staff is extremely nice. Their sandwiches are divine and their croissants perfect !! read more

Every time I come with an open mind given past negative experiences but they just don't disappoint. The staff is just plain rude. Ordering a coffee appears to be a personal affront to them. Like how dare I ask them to make something on the menu. I have such high hopes for a great local small grocery store but it's just awful every time. Coffee and cookie were great but never again. read more

Today I tried a breakfast sandwich and coffee that I had not had before from Union Kitchen in Eckington. I got the Ham, egg and cheddar on brioche, which was a bit overwhelmed by the spicy sauce. Vietnamese iced coffee was delicious on a warm day and not overly sweet. Staff were helpful and quick. We also tried a chocolate chip cookie, not pictured. It was standard flavor and crispy on the outside, chewy in the middle. Outdoor picnic benches are available as well as seating inside, clean and fun to peruse the unusual snacks and local brands. read more

See all

Great food and coffee - and consistently friendly and helpful staff. The Union Kitchen crew has made me feel at home since I moved into the neighborhood. Many thanks for ensuring my caffeine and ice cream sandwich needs have been met and exceeded! A special shout out to Gavin and Moses! Cannot recommend enough! read more

Fantastic new coffee shop in Eckington! Location is great -- in the heart of the neighborhood & just a minute walk from some great spots (2 dog parks, playground, bouldering gym, park & more!). The coffee is A+. They use compass coffee (a DC fave) although their options are more limited than compass. They're great for lunch with tons of sandwich options and a good pick me up for small grocery items when you're in need. The best is that they're dog friendly & offer treats for pups & fresh water, although no pups inside. read more

Union Kitchen Grocery - Dog friendly! Water bowl & treats outside. No pups allowed inside - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

They always say hi and make great food for us. The team is very nice as well. I look forward to seeing them every week.

I'm visiting from LA, California, my family and i ran into this amazing place. Staff are very welcoming, joyful, and helpful! The atmosphere is amazing, don't feel like waiting until your home to eat? they have tables to comfortably sit and enjoy your food! craving BLT Sandwich?? this is the best place to get one! They have many other food options! Don't forget to grab a delicious coffee too! little secret they're chocolate chip cookie and other pastries are to drool over! read more

Union Kitchen Grocery - BLT Sandwich - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Had a great roast beef with pesto sandwich here on a Wednesday about 3pm. It was fresh and tasty. Also the decaf Americano was pretty good. Counterperson was communicative and helpful. read more

Union Kitchen Grocery - Roast beef sandwich with coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

See all

I love Eckingtons store! They are always clean and stocked with great snacks! I love how they have local and big brands to give variety. The service is friendly and fast. My favorite breakfast sandwich is the avocado egg and cheese which they really pack and it's filling. I'm from Maryland and parking in DC can be tricky but I always find a spot there, great location! read more

This has become an everyday haven, you can't go wrong from breakfast, coffee breaks, to dinner or grabbing a bottle of wine for company. Their sweets are outstanding and their giant chocolate chip cookie are outstanding. Will continue to support the business and can't wait to see what they do over the years. read more

Sylvester brown has good customer service and he is very polite thank you to him for for services

Actual grocery items are a little too expensive for me but they all seem high quality. I have been for the breakfast sandwiches multiple times and they are delicious! The few times we've had an order get mixed up they've been very accommodating about fixing their mistakes. read more

the service, food and music makes for a great time in Union Kitchen. Customer service is top notch. Thank you for making it a point to know their regulars by name. I appreciate the love each time I visit, keep up the good work! all of you that work at Union Kitchen provide a valuable service to this community. thank you! read more

Really good food but small meals. Service was good but no one called our names when the food was ready. Ambiance was nice and the merch is cute. read more

If you are selling coffee, tea and breakfast sandwiches and you are the only coffee shop in the area opening at 10am during the work week just seems like a stupid business model. read more

Food was cold in center and staff made me feel rushed. Not friendly environment. A real shame

This place is running a bait and switch operation with alcohol prices. I walked here in the rain for a pack of beer, and picked one with a price on the shelf of $12.99 (4 cans). But at the register it is over $20. I try some sake instead - shelf price of $16.99, register price over $20 again. The clerk's excuse was that "prices are changing so fast we can't change the labels." He couldn't tell me which, if any, of the prices were right. He suggested I keep bringing things to the register and hope for the best. He was nice about it, but that is total BS. Mislabeling prices on the shelf and coolers is dishonest and illegal - check DC Code section 28-3904. This market has always been obscenely expensive but I came here often because it's close to home. I've been a loyal customer but no more. Both the price hikes (way beyond actual inflation) and the hidden, deceptive prices are unacceptable. Do better! read more

Great spot to have in the Eckington neighborhood. Easy to grab essentials (pasta, drinks, snacks ,etc) and also a wonderful cafe with a bunch of good food options from breakfast to sandwiches to pizza, it's all been good so far! read more