Union Kitchen and Tap Gaslamp

I have been to Union Kitchen and Tap Gaslamp a couple of times now, and it has yet to disappoint. The food is fantastic across the board. The buffalo wings and meatballs were great, but the shrimp and grits were absolutely incredible. A huge bonus is their game day pricing. Getting a beer for $5 during the Padres and FIFA games is an amazing value for downtown San Diego. The energy is always spot on, the service is friendly and it is a reliable, high quality spot for sports and great meals. Tuned In Tip: Because of the prime Gaslamp location and the open-air layout, the game day crowd gets loud and high energy. If you want a front-row seat to the screens and the best acoustic balance of the game audio, try to snag a spot near the main interior bar.

We are in town visiting San Diego for the first time. We had a just “ok” experience at union kitchen. The service was very slow, granted it was Valentine’s Day weekend, but the delay on our drinks and wait staff was very delayed. The food was decent. It wasn’t very warm. They had a nice range of options for if you wanted to eat a healthier option or a more indulgent meal. A good place to watch games at. It wouldn’t be a restaurant I would feel eager to return to. Not awful but far from great.

The burger I received was very small. It didn't have any special taste to it either. I almost felt like I was eating a burger king sandwich. The service was slow and they spent a lot of time chatting up with their coworkers. That's fine but it shouldn't take 10 minutes to get more water. Definitely recommend the shrimp and grits but it is overpriced.

Union Kitchen & Tap has a lot going for it—strong flavors, good service, and an atmosphere that’s absolutely a vibe. The gumbo was the headline for me: rich, comforting, and clearly made with intention. Overall, the food landed well, and even the cornbread was close to being a win… but that’s also where the experience took a hit. The corn baked into the cornbread was unusually hard—so hard it felt like older corn was used instead of fresh. It distracted from what should’ve been a simple, satisfying side and honestly pulled focus from an otherwise excellent meal. That said, the staff was friendly and on point, and the space feels like the kind of place you actually want to hang out in—not just eat and leave. Big potential here. If the kitchen tightens up consistency on details like that cornbread, this becomes an easy repeat spot.

If you want great food and drinks and an amazing time then come to union. The entire staff made my time in San diego so much better than my previous experiences in the gaslamp. I ended up spending my last few nights here and wish it were longer. I will be back for sure. Highly recommend! The manager Dalton was awesome and the bartender i think his name was Daniel was a great time and very knowledgeable.