Imports Japanese streetwear, outerwear, and footwear with flair
"The patio at Union has all the charm of a sculpture garden—if a sculpture garden hosted weekly DJ sets. That’s precisely why this fusion restaurant inside the art gallery Compound is our favorite outdoor dining space in Long Beach. The menu riffs on Filipino entrees like garlicky pancit and pork kare kare, but other dishes pull inspiration from all over the map (branzino with nam jim, or cumin-spiced, dry-aged ribeye with golden raisin chili paste). The best approach is to snack and drink with friends in the courtyard, especially before strolling the art installations and ordering a nightcap at the bar inside the gallery." - nikko duren, brant cox, sylvio martins
"Between the truffled mushrooms and polenta, briny squid ink lumache, and torchetti with fried rosemary on top, Union serves the kind of bold and delicious Italian food that you’d be thrilled to find anywhere in the city, let alone the chain-store hub that is Old Town Pasadena. If you’re looking for a fancy, impress-the-hell-out-of-somebody kind of dinner on this side of town, there are few options better than Union." - jess basser sanders, brant cox, sylvio martins, arden shore
"You can call it a “destination restaurant,” because Union is so good it makes people who don’t go east of the 405 drive all the way to Pasadena. This Italian spot makes everything from scratch—the bread, the butter, the pasta—and the quality shows. The pasta is what shines brightest here, like the squid ink lumache with Maine lobster and butter, and the torchetti with pork ragu. You also can’t leave without getting the wild mushrooms and polenta. If you’re looking for a place to have a fantastic blowout meal right in Old Town, this is it." - brant cox, sylvio martins, andrew ryce
"We feel confident calling Union the best restaurant in Pasadena, which means it’s also the best date-night spot, and absolutely worth the drive, even if you live all the way in the South Bay. It’s intimate but not stuffy, with a menu that features incredible pastas - like torchetti with pork ragu and fried rosemary, and squid ink lumache with lobster and truffle butter - and a staff that’s more than willing to let you sample several glasses of wine. Also, if they have the porchetta, order it… devouring a massive cut of crispy, tender pork together is half the fun of being married." - jess basser sanders, brett keating, james montgomery
"You know what old(er) people like? Pasadena. And also Italian food. Union actually feels like it should be in a different part of town, one where people go to bed after 9pm and don’t have 3 kids. Once you’ve ordered, say sorry to Pasadena for being so mean. We’re sorry Pasadena." - jess basser sanders