When bars, one day soon, are allowed to reopen, Union Bar and Grill will reclaim its spot as one of the best hangouts in Yangon. Until then, the team has launched a new menu that can be enjoyed in your home—and you won’t be disappointed. Order any of the dishes via direct delivery and Yangon Door2Door. The menu also comes to Food Panda on November 15.
Let’s get straight to the star of the show, the “Smash Burger”, which follows a great American diner tradition of 80 percent freshly grounded patty and 20 percent fat. Carefully grilled, then smashed and salted to bring out the flavour, the burger is a tender, juicy affair, complemented by aged cheddar, lettuce, onion and tomatoes. It’s packed in a homemade brioche bun and comes with coleslaw and fries. Look at that photograph above, just look at it. The taste is even better—and the whole thing for 9,000 kyats. It’s probably the new best burger deal in town. Sitting beside it, and not to be overshadowed, is the “Sausage Sandwich” starring homemade spicy pork sausage, caramelised onion, grilled peppers and mustard on a sub roll. It’s even cheaper than the burger, at 7,000 kyats, and comes with fries. The menu could just stop with these two big hitters and revel in all its glorious pub food greatness. But it doesn’t.
Union has the superpower of Parami Pizza on its side, so anytime you order pizza or pasta, the result is authentic Italian fare. The pizzas now come in medium 10-inch sizes as well as their signature 12-inch servings. In fact, for the rest of November they are still buy-one-get-one-free on Yangon Door2Door and Food Panda. The Mix team recommends “Pizza Noche,” a delicious combo of spinach mozzarella, blue cheese and walnut, and “Rubato,” which will introduce you to the delight of chilli-infused honey trickled on pepperoni and mozzarella.
The new menu really does have something for everybody. For those in the mood for a light, healthy dish, try the chilled sesame ginger soba. It’s a fine blend of flavour and texture, mixing snap peas, tofu and broccoli under a sharp ginger dressing, and a perfect meal for a hotter-than-hot day.
2020 has not been the easiest year. But you can finish it on a high with Union’s turkey dinner, which is available on Thanksgiving (November 26) and Christmas Day. If you book for Christmas before December 1 and mention that you are a Myanmar Mix reader, Union will give you a free bottle of Prosecco (when booking through Facebook, write “Myanmar Mix Christmas”). Back to that dinner—the roast comes with gravy, cranberry sauce, stuffing, mashed potatoes and roasted vegetables. The turkey serves up to six people and with gravy costs 180,000 kyats. The full roast is 250,000 kyats and, as part of a three-course meal, is 320,000 kyats. Let them know if you have more people and they can arrange for a bigger turkey.
After you have devoured an appetiser (chicken satay, anyone?), see if you can tackle these slow-cooked pork ribs finished with a delicious sticky sweet glaze. The rich barbecue flavour and fragrant aroma makes this one of the most moreish plates on the menu. On the salad side, halloumi—which goes well with so many things–is the base of a colourful dish that boasts an eclectic cast of tastes, including avocado, spicy beans and slow-roast pumpkin.
If you are a fan of traditional pub food, there are two must-try dishes from Union. The first is a slow-cooked beef and red win pie with mash and peas. Succulent and slightly sweet, it’s a deliciously hearty choice that will transport you to the boozy setting of a British tavern. As will the “Bangers and Mash,” two homemade Cumberland pork sausages with mash, onion rings and a delicious onion gravy. Simple yet so tasty, it’s guaranteed to put a smile on your face.
