Lily S.

Super cool restaurant at a super cool location, it was inside an art gallery called the Compound that has rotating art exhibits. Came here for Father's Day and there was a live dj music that was perfect for the vibe, this is what I expect Sunday brunch to feel like as opposed to a pre party to a main event. They encouraged us to check out the exhibit after we ordered, so it didn't feel like we waited too long for the food to arrive. We ordered the shrimp toast, tamago sando (the sweet and sour fish sauce gave it a true umami flavor), coconut fried rice, and the cassava hash with sausage (great substitute for potatoes and you can't even tell the difference!). Really nice staff that checked on us often and gave us good info if we ever want to rent this place for private events.

Steph H.

STEPH JUDGEMENT: Great place for a casual but stylish and refined hang. What a wonderful addition to the Compound! I've been several times now for happy hour and brunch and have been impressed every time. The vibe is fancy LA museum cafe, but relaxed and friendly. I guess it also helped that on all my visits the weather had been absolutely gorgeous, which played well with their indoor/outdoor openness and the beautiful patio. I also enjoyed hanging out at their beautiful bar in the back. I've tried the following items thus far: - Pancit with fried egg - Gem salad - Roasted cauliflower - Shrimp toast - Oyster mushroom skewer - Cassava hash with avocado and egg The grilled oyster mushrooms are my absolute fave but everything else has been really good too--so fresh with such great flavors! Prices are on the higher side, but I don't think it's outrageous for the quality, portions, and atmosphere. Service has also been great--friendly and personable. This is definitely one of my top spots in Long Beach!

Jennifer T.

Honestly, the five stars is for the service! We were a group of 8 on a Saturday night (which is always hard) and one of us has food allergies (me). Not easy to find Asian fusion with gluten free options (soy sauce is the bane of my existence- thank god for Tamari). But Alaina (sp?), our server, handled our table beautifully. We basically ordered the whole menu! People loved the gnocchi, the galbi, and the oyster mushroom. I was able to have the oyster mushroom (so flavorful!), the cauliflower and the crispy rice salad. The latter two were fine but not filling so I ordered the burger with lettuce wrap sub. That was tasty when you add the carmelized onions but bland without. The pork buns were good on the inside, I heard, but the bread was hard and tasteless. (Usually these buns have a soft, fluffy bread which has a touch of sweetness. This is what happens when you have a table full of the SE Asian and Asian diaspora!) We LOVED the space and appreciated the mocktails for sober folks. I definitely will be back! And their gift shop is fun, too! Go visit!

Barb B.

I'm in love with the space! It's like a large art gallery turned restaurant... and decor is exquisite! Ordered tamago Sando , brunch toast, and coconut fried rice + bacon. Excellent umami flavors for a weekend brunch setting. It wasn't crowded, so we had excellent service. I'd love to come back to try their happy hour or Dinner menu!

Criss N.

I'm back! Please read my previous review about Union's lack of community collaboration in Long Beach. I'm here to support Chef Eugene's good menu! Again, I hope that Chef Eugene is able to take his talents elsewhere and be able to bring his Asian-inspired menu to community members of Long Beach. Service was amazing. Our server made excellent recommendations on what paired well together, and gave a good rundown of the new seasonal menu. Service was a bit slow, but it looked like they were understaffed for how large the restaurant is. Here's what I got: Heirloom Tomatoes & Ricotta - this was really good. I liked the combination of fresh tomatoes, creamy ricotta, smoky salsa macha, and the crunch of the pepitas. I do wish that they served bread with it or had an option to add bread. Hamachi Crudo - the slices of fish are thick, and the dish is super fresh with flavors like passion fruit and cucumber. Summer Corn Fritters - a must order! These fritters have a light, crispy batter and have a really nice curry flavor. The batter is almost a little chewy, and the sweetness of the corn complements everything very well. Pork Asado Bao Buns - soft and pillowy. I'd say that this is a very straightforward approach to braised pork belly buns, and it is a good starter for the table. We got one for everybody. Swordfish Katsu - surprisingly very delicious! The swordfish was perfectly cooked with a nice panko coating. What makes it really stand out is the addition of the creamy dill sauce, calamansi aioli, peaches, kale sprouts. Wagyu Hangar Steak - Very nicely cooked steak. Citrus Grove Mojito - The table's favorite. It's very fruity and refreshing with flavors from the passion fruit, lime, and mint. Heirloom Gin & Tonic - I personally love cocktails with a bit of savoriness or umami, so I liked this tomato-y rendition of the gin and tonic. It's very well balanced with the strawberry and rhubarb flavors as well. I'm back! Please read my previous review about Union's lack of community collaboration in Long Beach. I'm here to support Chef Eugene's good menu! Again, I hope that Chef Eugene is able to take his talents elsewhere and be able to bring his Asian-inspired menu to community members of Long Beach. Service was amazing. Our server made excellent recommendations on what paired well together, and gave a good rundown of the new seasonal menu. Service was a bit slow, but it looked like they were understaffed for how large the restaurant is. Here's what I got: Heirloom Tomatoes & Ricotta - this was really good. I liked the combination of fresh tomatoes, creamy ricotta, smoky salsa macha, and the crunch of the pepitas. I do wish that they served bread with it or had an option to add bread. Hamachi Crudo - the slices of fish are thick, and the dish is super fresh with flavors like passion fruit and cucumber. Summer Corn Fritters - a must order! These fritters have a light, crispy batter and have a really nice curry flavor. The batter is almost a little chewy, and the sweetness of the corn complements everything very well. Pork Asado Bao Buns - soft and pillowy. I'd say that this is a very straightforward approach to braised pork belly buns, and it is a good starter for the table. We got one for everybody. Swordfish Katsu - surprisingly very delicious! The swordfish was perfectly cooked with a nice panko coating. What makes it really stand out is the addition of the creamy dill sauce, calamansi aioli, peaches, kale sprouts. Wagyu Hangar Steak - Very nicely cooked steak. Citrus Grove Mojito - The table's favorite. It's very fruity and refreshing with flavors from the passion fruit, lime, and mint. Heirloom Gin & Tonic - I personally love cocktails with a bit of savoriness or umami, so I liked this tomato-y rendition of the gin and tonic. It's very well balanced with the strawberry and rhubarb flavors as well.

DeAndra J.

I have soooo much to say (good things) about my first experience at Union, but here are the highlights. 1. Immediately greeted by extremely kind and thoughtful staff upon entry to the courtyard, and that kindness and attentiveness lasted the entire few hours we were at Union and enjoying Compound overall. Literally every single staff person we interacted with was great. It felt like they all enjoy working there, and I love when I get to experience that. Sarah, in particular, was amazing to say the least! 2. The space itself was as lovely as I expected. A multifunctional art, restaurant, and community space. What a dream! 3. We arrived right as the kitchen was transitioning from brunch to dinner and were invited to grab a drink and enjoy the exhibits until dinner started which wasn't a problem at all. What we ordered: Summer Corn Fritters, Roasted Cauliflower, Pancit and Swordfish Katsu for food. The Swordfish Katsu was one of a kind. With peaches, a dill sauce and kale... loved it! We visited during Long Beach Food Scene Week which allowed us the opportunity to try a limited time dessert - Boozy Shaved Ice. So good! For drinks we tried Grain & Smoke Paloma, Blush Crush, Electric Daisy and the Heirloom Gin & Tonic. All amazing and I'm not even exaggerating. We took recommendations from Sarah and she walked us through all of the unique and house made ingredients included. Overall, my expectations were exceeded. I'm glad I didn't delay visiting any further!

Ryna D.

Union has been on my radar for some time now, what with it being a modern Filipino restaurant helmed by a promising chef and housed inside Compound, a community arts and wellness space in Long Beach. So when friends asked us to brunch I suggested we check out Union. On the weekend we came, the weather was still warm enough to eat outdoors and brunch was served in the courtyard space. We ordered several dishes to share and I got myself a matcha latte. The shrimp toast, tamago sando, and cassava hash were our favorites. Service was friendly and unhurried and we had a great time. After brunch we spent a bit of time checking out the art they had on display inside. Definitely want to come back for dinner or happy hour next time.

Maria F.

We visited this resto for the first time to celebrate another year of friendship and our annual holiday get together. Since we were a large party, we emailed with the resto to secure our reservations. Joy was a great to work with. While I always prefer to schedule via a website or an app, the communication process was quite pleasant and Joy was quite responsive. We were seated outside and the day was a bit of a chilly one. The staff was quite accommodating and brought us an extra heater. They also provide lap blankets! The brunch menu was as on offer and it was difficult to choose, but we decided to order to share: Kaya toast. This is more a merienda, afternoon snack for me; but I wanted to try their version. Definitely have this with a cup of coffee. Tamago Sando. A repeat for sure! Coconut fried rice. It was very tasty! A bonus. The compound also houses a museum. Enjoy the exhibit after your meal! Enjoy!

Lynn O.

Union is a really cool, unassuming restaurant located at Compound, an art, wellness and cultural space. I came across this place when my friend invited me to see an artist panel and exhibit here. It's tucked away in the industrial, yet creative pocket off Anaheim St and Coronado Ave. Chef Eugene Santiago uses locally sourced ingredients in his New American and Asian-inspired dishes. It's rare to see a fully stocked bar in an art gallery serving craft cocktails as well as local beer and wine. I tried the Zestpresso Martini and boy was it strong! I wasn't complaining though! The espresso and orange peel gave it a smooth finish. The Roasted Cauliflower was served cold, but it was crispy and so flavorful with tamarind dressing, Thai basil, cilantro, dill, shallots, cucumber, and fried onion. I wanted to try the Mochiko Fried Chicken Sandwich, but they were out of it for the day, so I went with the Tamago (egg) Sando. There was a generous portion of creamy egg salad in lightly toasted milk bread, topped with scallion and fried onion. The tamarind sauce added a little kick to it too. Plenty of tables outside in the patio as well as inside. Service was quick and helpful. They have a parking structure on 1326 Obispo Ave for $5 with validation, but you might find street parking in the area.

Sam S.

Excellent restaurant within an art gallery with indoor/outdoor seating. The Asian fusion food is terrific and the cocktails are decent Ambiance is excellent. The service especially our waitress Sarah was outstanding. She was friendly and helpful and was spot on with her food and drinks recommendations. The Pancit and all the appetizers were wonderful. I would highly recommend. My only issue is the parking, so I would recommend using rideshare

Cindy L.

Fun restaurant in an art space. They have plenty of tables, inside and out. Unique location for a restaurant! You can explore the exhibit as you wait for your food. Food was plated beautifully. The sinigang with black cod broth was light and complimented the black cod flavor. Fried squash blossom salad is a must try. I've never had large raw pea sprouts, so good. Service was top notch. Dessert was on point. Service dog friendly.

Alfred L.

1) Service- Staff were friendly and attentive 5/5 2) Cleanliness- The venue was nice. Located in an art gallery 5/5 3) Food * Pork bao- you get 2, was ok, would pass.1/5 * Short Ribs- meat was tough and tasted like it wasn't marinated. It came with steam white rice. Rice was mushy, which was surprising, you would think you'd get this right. 1/5 * Halibut stuffed crab- fish had no seasoning and was just bland 1/5 Overall: 2/5 Would not recommend. We left disappointed. Went for birthday, but opted not to try dessert in fear of further disappointment

Abigail D.

Since my last review I am thrilled to share that I have frequented Union many times for not only brunch but dinner as well. My experiences have all been great, just like this evening! Service was so friendly and welcoming as per usual. Ambiance is always beautiful and interesting, I always choose to sit outdoors. Food and mocktails were so tasty! Tonight my friend and I shared several delicious dishes. I particularly enjoyed the Sweet Potato Gnocchi- great texture from the roasted peas, smear of pesto underneath, pillowy gnocchi pasta, and other herby goodness. The Halibut Oscar was also delicious though I wish there was more of the creamy lemongrass beurre blanc sauce. Also, no meal at Union is complete for me without a mocktail. I really enjoyed my Turning Violent. Its creamy, fruity, and bright- perfect for the spring. Always a lovely time here and I am forsure planning my next visit soon!