I placed my order online and they automatically give you a pickup time for an hour out- which I understood bc it's popular, however my food had BEEN ready when I picked it up (30mins or less) so it was no longer fresh. I got the tempura broccoli which was good but became a little chewy from sitting in a steamy box. The red beans and rice was my favorite, this I would go back for. I got the chicken sandwich as well- curry flavor was good and I loved the bun, but the chicken was HUGE and a little chewy. read more

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This place ROCKS!!! Amazing food - spicy neighborhood bird bowl (chicken) is my favorite. Huge portions - basically an entire rotisserie chicken in there. Will last you 2-3 meals with leftovers. Just so delicious and unique. Pickled cucumbers, pickled onions, sticky white rice, perfect sauce. Highly recommend Ekiben!!! To-go is equally as tasty. read more

Ekiben - Spicy Neighborhood Bird Bowl - Asian Fusion Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Ekiben is a Baltimore staple for a reason! If you ask anyone where to eat on a trip to Baltimore, they will definitely recommend Ekiben. Ekiben is tiny. There are less than 10 seats inside, and there are some standing tables and outdoor seating. Even on a weeknight, it's busy. Ordering online in advance seems like the move, but you can order in person at the counter in the back. Service was great! There were just a few employees back there cranking out food as fast as they could. The Neighborhood Bird bun was fantastic. It's big enough that you can hardly pick it up to fit it in your mouth. Definitely shareable in bowl or bun form, but I devoured the whole thing. Crispy and juicy and flavorful! The tempura broccoli was also delicious! Perfectly crisp batter and well cooked broccoli. I recommend eating the tempura broccoli immediately since they sit in their pickling liquid and get a little soggy. I was able to squeeze into the one empty seat at the counter to enjoy in person! Great experience! Highly recommend to anyone looking for something tasty in Baltimore. read more

Ekiben - Neighborhood Bird bun & tempura broccoli - Asian Fusion Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

I love their softie! Its just a bit expensive but def worth it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! read more

Ekiben - SOFTIE - Asian Fusion Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Food was incredible !! Tempura broccoli was the real deal and huge portion!! Could be shared with four people !!! The portions for the prices are legit- when you get a bowl versus a bun- lucky you, as you get leftovers for your next meal. Bao buns are soft and some of the best I have ever had. Service was attentive and friendly- it takes a little bit to get your order but only because it is all fresh made and everyone is greeting take out and eating there, because they know the real deal. This is the original location and although not alot of seats to eat in and one outdoor table- the feel of the original OG location is spot on. The assembly of food is cool to watch. The workers are machines and do great job. Tip them well, they have and put a lot of pride into their food for you read more

Ekiben - Tempura broccoli - Asian Fusion Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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Say it w me folks... I love THIS PLACE!! All locations, food trucks, etc!! Any and every time I get a chance, I'm here!! I love their Neighborhood Bird. Spicy and Mild. I love their broccoli tempura, jasmine rice, and I'm fond of their catfish. Everything is prepared fresh, and tastes amazing. Their customer service is top tier! I've ordered from them online, and in person. My order is always ready before time quoted. They're reasonably priced. The restaurant has retro ambiance, w a few seating options. This place is a neighborhood gem, and they have a food truck. I've had this greatness at local food festivals, as well as farmers markets. It's always a pleasant delicious surprise. If you haven't visited, what are you waiting for? read more

Ekiben - 7'31'2025 SINGLE PIECE OF NEIGHBORHOOD BIRD CHICKEN & SIDE OF RICE. - Asian Fusion Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Fantastic service. Amazing, memorable food. Pitch perfect ambience. Extremely well run and thought through. A wonderful meal and dining experience, through and through. read more

Ekiben was voted as one of the 2025 top Fried Chicken spots in the country based on reviews and volume from Yelp. I can agree that this Baltimore favorite is definitely a hot spot if you're in the mood for some delicious chicken. I stopped in after a lunch at Golden West Cafe which is also a favorite of mine. Ekiben was on the back alley of the main street in Hampden and was not very busy. I ordered the Neighborhood Bird Bun which includes Taiwanese curry fried chicken on a steamed bun. It was a huge portion for the $13. I didn't eat it until later on in the day when I got home and wish that I'd eaten it fresh. I didn't really love the steamed bun later on but could tell the chicken was made with love. I'm excited to check out their bowls and sides like the tempura broccoli and spicy walnut shrimp. I can definitely tell why this Baltimore hot spot has grown from one location to now 3 over the past years. Big congrats to the Ekiben team! read more

Ekiben - Asian Fusion Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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My cousins who live in the Baltimore suburbs recommended this place on my most recent visit to Baltimore and I really enjoyed it. My friend on a separate trip to Baltimore went here and also said it was super good. We tried most of the menu including the tempura broccoli, both kinds of shrimp, tofu, and chicken. Personally the chicken was a bit of a skip to me, but I thought both shrimps and the tofu were so good. I am not a vegetarian but I would recommend getting the tofu anyways. Delicious. There are barely any seats in here and you just have to fight for one or wait if it's busy so not ideal for groups but yum. read more

Ekiben - Tempura broccoli - Asian Fusion Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

So here's the thing. It was a last minute idea and I didn't get a chance to read and research before I went. When I impulsively decided to surprise my daughter- I didn't know there were three locations and I picked the one with the highest rating - Eastern Ave. Got there, found street parking and walked in and it only had about 8 seats and not meant for a 3 year old. I initially wanted to leave to go to another one but wasn't sure if it was the same seating so decided to order my food and eat in my truck. But the Staff was super nice. Especially Chuck. The place was clean along with the bathroom. Now on to the food. Limited menu; store made (?) soda and an awesome playlist (sidebar) - i loved my food. I had a crispy shrimp bowl. Everything about it was delicious. The serving size was enough for lunch and dinner but you are going to pay for it. Worth the visit. read more

Ekiben is close to opening its new restaurant in Frederick. To help add to the buzz, their food truck has popped up around time. It came to Hood College for a Flying Cows basketball game. OMG: so good! The truck only had 4 things on the menu. Spousal Unit and I doubled down on The Neighborhood Bird bowl: two Taiwanese curry fried chicken thighs topped with (not really) spicy sambal mayo, pickles, and fresh herbs, served on a bed of jasmine rice and a side of three house-made pickled veggies. (It's also available on a bun with a single thigh but we went big). Excellent, crisp chicken that was moist, tender, and beautifully cooked. Might tasty! Others in our group ordered The Tofu Brah bowl (crispy tofu tossed with spicy peanut sauce, fresh herbs, roasted aromatics, and onions, served over jasmine rice with pickled vegetables on the side). They loved it too. (FYI I asked to taste the spicy peanut sauce. They gave me a container, and added some to my rice. Yummers!). If the wider restaurant menu is as good as we had last night, I will be on at the new place the second it opens. Color me wowed! read more

A unique and delicious Baltimore staple. Ekiben is outstanding. The spicy neighborhood bird bowl. 10/10. The chicken is well seasoned and moist every time. Tempura broccoli has a wonderful texture. Also 10/10. Both dishes have a thoughtful and creative flavor combination. Pricing is very reasonable (but not cheap) for quality and quantity of food received. Very limited in person seating. We usually order online ahead and do take out. Definitely a Baltimore gem. read more

You already know it's a 10 what are you waiting for? This is a certified Baltimore staple and it's delicious, crispy, could be more spicy and filling. Hurry up and spend that $20 read more

Ekiben - Spicy neighborhood bird box - Asian Fusion Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

I followed the recommendations and grabbed some food at Ekiben. The Spicy Neighborhood Bird Bun was great! The deep fried chicken thigh was tasty and crispy, perfectly textured. The sandwich was saucy with the spicy sambal mayo and pickles -- quite delicious! The bun was fine. I also got a side of ramen broccoli but it was only okay. I didn't particularly taste shin ramen or hot cheetos flavours. It mostly just tasted salty and like it was battered and fried, which was a surprise to me since the menu hadn't described it that way. I got takeout and the service was good, efficient, on time. read more

I've been going to Ekiben and recommending it to folks since 2023. Over time, the quality of their food has declined - but not enough to deter me - until it hit rock bottom a few days ago. My regulars - broccoli, tofu, and the chicken - have been eroding in flavor and texture for a while until recently when I actually regretted having gotten food there. There was ~15 min lag from food being ready, pick-up, and eating. So, not much delay at all, and shorter than previous pick-ups. The broccoli was under-seasoned and soggy (1 piece was crispy) and the coating had gotten mealy. There were almost no herbs on it. And there was no dressing on it at all. I dug to the bottom to look for some and found nothing. The tofu was also under-seasoned and soggy. The pickles were bland. The entire meal was extremely disappointing. Off-nights can happen, and Ekiben has great counter-service. Assuming, their online comments portal would be similar, I sent a message about my experience and have yet to receive a response. With lackluster food and service, unfortunately, I'm not sure there is a reason for me to return. read more

okaaaaay, I understand the hype! Living in Baltimore my whole life, I've always heard people rave about how good this place is. I thought to myself, "good??! Even though the seating is limited??!" So yes, the seating is limited. Take out is the way to go. Side note: the bathroom is clean and has anime/comics as wallpaper which is a nice touch. Service took a while. My friend and I got there around 1PM and got lucky to order within 5 minutes of being there. But afterwards, I saw a line forming. It took about 25 minutes to actually get our food but I promise you IT IS WORTH THE WAIT. Crispy shrimp bowl 9/10 Food was hot and... crispy. It was delicious and even smelled that way too. All the pickled veggies + shrimp + rice were paired so well. The neighborhood bird bun (spicy) 11/10 I was worried it would be too spicy but actually it wasn't! I can see why this is a popular food item because it was cooked to perfection. You just have to try the mouthwatering crispiness + soft bun together. When I come back, I'm definitively ordering the iconic neighborhood bird bun again ! read more

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I'm shocked I haven't written a review here. I travel a lot for work and some time in 2020 I saw this establishment focused on the local news for not only having amazing food but also for being good people so I decided to walk to try it. I am truly not exaggerating when I saw their neighborhood bird bowl is probably my favorite meal ever. I look forward to any return to Baltimore strictly for knowing I'll get to eat here. Great people, easy to order ahead and grab, large portion sizes. My go to is tempura broccoli and the neighborhood bird bowl and that is more than enough food to feed me for three meals or split with my husband. Could not recommend enough. A local gem. read more

Ekiben - Neighborhood bird bowl. Huge portion sizes - Asian Fusion Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Great food, service, and atmosphere. The ancho chile pork bowl is my go to. Quality of food is always consistent.

chicken is super crispy! and the curry seasoning works so well mantou is hilariously small compared to the chicken get it spicy fsss ramen broccoli seasoning slays shrimp bowl is also rly good, the spice works so well with it the pork was not as tender as i thought but sauce was yummy read more

I visited the Ekiben at Camden Yards. I'm a sucker for a good steamed bun. But to throw a huge piece of fried chicken thigh on it doused with spicy sauce on it, sign me up and get in my belly! This sandwich was huge, but didn't feel heavy. The added cucumbers really gave a nice sweetness to balance with the spicy sauce. But honestly, I would have just came here for the broccoli tempura. Those were so ONOLICIOUS!!! I asked the servers about their other locations so I'm hoping I can visit the city again soon to check out the rest of their menu! read more

Ekiben - Asian Fusion Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

If you find yourself in Baltimore and don't stop by Ekiben in Fells Point, you're seriously missing out. I was in town for just two days while my husband was on a work trip--and we almost ate the entire menu. No regrets. This place absolutely delivers. The food? Bomb. Everything was cooked or fried to crispy, golden perfection. The fry was fresh, light, and not greasy at all--just the way you want it. And the garnishes? Every dish felt thoughtfully put together with flavor and texture that made each bite count. Don't miss: * The Shrimp Snack (Original) - Huge, colossal shrimp fried just right. Crunchy outside, tender inside, and full of flavor. Easily my favorite bite of the trip. * The Neighborhood Bird Bun - Juicy chicken, bold flavor, and that perfect steamed bun situation. * The Ancho Chile Pork Bun - Totally different flavor profile from the chicken but just as good. Deep, smoky, and a little spicy. So good we considered ordering a second round. The shop is small, with a few indoor seats, but it definitely feels like a grab-and-go or quick pit-stop kind of place. That said, the guys working there were super friendly and helpful, making the experience even better. Pricing is totally fair for the quality and portion sizes. You get exactly what you pay for--and maybe even a little more. Final Verdict: Highly recommend. Whether you're local or just visiting, Ekiben is one of those spots you'll wish you had back home. Quick, flavorful, fresh, and run by awesome people. Run, don't walk. read more

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I am a major major fan of Ekiben!! The food is so delicious, the Taiwanese curry fried chicken is perfectly cooked and seasoned and pairs perfectly with the sambal mayo, herbs, and pickled vegetables. Every component is so well thought out and well done! I used to be a neighborhood bird bun girl, but now I love the bowls too, the portion size is so great and the chicken is perfect over rice. I often get my food as takeout but the restaurant itself is cute with great natural light, and the staff are always all very friendly. Ekiben is truly a Baltimore staple for a reason, it never disappoints!! read more

Ekiben - neighborhood bird bowl - Asian Fusion Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

The food here is always good! I love the tempura broccoli and neighborhood bun (it's huge!!). I usually order online and pick it up because the inside is kind of small with limited seating but they're always playing good music. The owners are very caring people, during the gov shutdown they offered free meals for federal workers. A business that I will continue to support! read more

Ekiben - Neighborhood bun, Ancho Chile Pork bun, Crispy Shrimp Bowl, Tempura Broccoli, Ancho Chile Pork bowl - Asian Fusion Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Omg where do I begin! This place has become my favorite. Food is great the service is excellent and the ambiance is outstanding! Definitely recommend 10/10 Tried multiple items . Shrimp was the absolute best the chicken sandwich was very tasty ! I also tried the tofu with noodles 10/10. The egg roll was okay wasn't my favorite. read more

Ekiben - Peach lemonade frizz - Asian Fusion Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

I love Ekiben. Healthy serving size and options. The wait is very short if you order ahead. The space is limited if you're eating in or waiting for food. There is no parking. You'll be lucky to find street parking but this inconvenience is still worth visiting for the food. read more

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Amazing food, vegetarian option was great! Yuzu sodas were both delicious and unique as well. Service was fast and friendly. The inside of the store is a bit small, so you may prefer to take your order to go. They were also out of a few items, likely due to popularity. We will be back! read more

Ekiben - Tofu brah - Asian Fusion Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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Hands down my favorite place to grab food here in Baltimore. I have tried other dishes but I also go back to the neighborhood bird. It's always perfectly crispy and the sauce on top is perfect. Staff is always friendly and my food is on time despite it always being insanely busy. read more

WoW!!!! It's really an Asian fusion with a hip-hop Vibe once you enter the door. The food is truly amazing. I can't even make this up. A lot of times we want our food to look like the picture and taste amazing. This food not only looks exactly like the picture but taste!!!!! Better than I could even imagine. Totally 100% Maryland soft-shell crab. The flavor , taste , and aroma plus the weight. Yes I said THE WEIGHT!!!! Two Hands Please This crab sandwich is truly a big boy's dream. Lol. So if you're in the neighborhood. Pls stop by and try The Maryland Softie and enjoy . Also, this location is on Fort Avenue in Baltimore. read more

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10 years of Ekiben!! I don't need to write a crazy long review, you can read what everyone else has to say and see all the awards they've won. Ekiben always has the best service and the best food. Anytime anyone comes to visit me, I take them to get a Neighborhood Bird bowl. Here's to 10 years of Ekiben and hopefully 100 more!!! read more

Ekiben - Asian Fusion Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Okay so I've been to Ekiben quite a few times now and I'm consistently in love with their gluten free chicken bowl. It's light, refreshing, tangy and again, their fried chicken is gluten free!! read more

I traveled 3.5 hours from Jersey to stay the weekend in Baltimore and this was the #1 place I wanted to try. I saw their soft shell crab sandwich on social media and just had to try it and it did not disappoint. This beauty is an entire fried soft shell crab with a crab cake embedded into it. It comes with a special sauce and I don't even know what the sauce consisted of I just know that it was absolutely delicious. It's a bit pricey at $40 but it was worth it and I would pay that much again just to eat this. Only bad thing about this place is that they don't have a phone number so it's impossible to contact them. I found their email and sent them an email twice a few months ago and never got a reply. I just wanted to make sure they were going to have this sandwich when I stopped by because it's a seasonal menu item. Regardless I drove there anyways and got lucky! But yeah I highly recommend it, 5 stars. read more

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Ekiben's been on my list for years but I'm almost never in the area. This past Saturday was finally the day to see the hype before we left Baltimore. They're known for their Taiwanese inspired fried chicken, and after trying it, the popularity is not a scam. I would recommend eating it in the restaurant so the food is fresh. We got it to-go and ate it in the car, but even then, it's not as crispy as it could have been. THE NEIGHBORHOOD BIRD BOWL - 17.68 SO, SO GOOD. This immediately put a smile to my face upon first bite. We decided to get the neighborhood bird bowl instead of the bun so it would be easier to share between the three of us. The fried chicken thigh was thick, juicy, and flavorful, with the perfect chicken to batter ratio. The sambal mayo had a honey-like glaze texture that was sweet and slightly spicy with a bit of ginger flavor. The combination of the juiciest fried chicken, sambal mayo, and pickled vegetables blew me away. I couldn't stop smiling while eating. The bed of rice soaked up the flavors nicely. I highly recommend this. It's truly worth the hype. TEMPURA BROCCOLI - 9.67 Each order comes with a good amount of broccoli that's been lightly fried with tempura batter and seasoned with some herbs, onions, and vinegar. The broccoli was good, lightly crispy since it wasn't completely covered with batter. I'm not usually a big broccoli fan, but these were delightful. SHRIMP SNACKS - 19.57 These were the thickest pieces of shrimp I've seen. Each order only comes with 6 or 7, with a crispy batter with a seasoning that reminded me of the Cantonese salt and pepper squid and topped with lots of fresh herbs. It also came with a side of sambal (?) dipping sauce that added a bit of sweet and spicy to each bite. The shrimp was juicy and fresh, and the batter was delicious. Overall good, but not the most affordable option on the menu. The food here goes hard. They don't hold back on quality and flavor. If you're worried about waiting a long time for food, you can order ahead online! Fortunately, we didn't have to wait long this time around. read more

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I got the Spicy Neighborhood Bird Bowl which was recommended by a friend. This is my 1st visit to Baltimore and checking out the culinary offerings. Knocked my socks off ! The spice was perfect and portion was very nice. I was completely satisfied in every way. I recommend take out or grub hub for more than 1 person , the establishment is very small and limited seating. read more

Fed employee here -went with office mates on lunch break to inquire about the free meal for employees working with no pay and we were blown away. They gave us pristine meals overflowing with food ( which is the norm ) no hassle just checked ids and we waited about 15 min. We appreciate you all. Thanks so much and shoutout to Matt at the register and everyone else working hard today. read more

Cool little spot, I mean little lll prob 8 spots to eat. Came here based on reviews. Wish I had gotten a bun, but it was still good! Also it made two meals for me read more

Ekiben - Spicy chicken bowl - Asian Fusion Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

The Neighborhood Bird bowl, oh my is so delicious. First time trying at the Artscape festival. What a delicious treat for a great day. My friend and enjoyed the bowl while listening to some Gospel and R&B. The cashier was pleasant and friendly. The guy that served our bowls was very nice. The Red Apple drink was a delicious complement to the bowl. Great atmosphere with it being the Artscape Festival. I will be back to one of the restaurant locations. read more

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Wow! Definitely worth the hype - we preordered our food for pick up so we did not have to wait in the long line - I think that is the move because at opening time itself they were packed with a long line. Ambiance is giving hole in the wall vibes. The food is delicious, flavorful, and huge quantities that we all had enough for two meals. The one downside was that I ordered the spicy shrimp that I requested for the sesame to not be added due to allergies yet black sesame was still added - I only realized after eating a little and had to take medicine. However, my meal was not wasted my family loved jt! I'd still go back and re order just ask for it to be removed in person instead of instructions over the web. read more

I've been wanting to try Ekiben for a while and finally made it there! My classmates and I went there for lunch to celebrate the end of finals week. The Fell's location is pretty small inside. There is some limited seating, a couple of standing tables, and two outside tables. We waited inside after ordering until a nice group let us know they were leaving their outside table so we were able to sit there. The inside was a bit loud so outside worked great to be able to converse. You order at the counter. I chose the neighborhood bird bao bun. After a short wait, our food was brought out to us. The bao sandwich was huge! It was a generous piece of crispy and tender chicken. The bao bun was nice and soft. I enjoyed the sauce as well. I chose mild to be safe, and could probably opt for spicy next time. I also tasted two types of tempura broccoli my friends ordered and both were yummy. Staff here were friendly. Overall, this is an awesome spot and I'll definitely come back! read more

Ekiben - Neighborhood bird - Asian Fusion Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Ekiben never disappoints! The Neighborhood Bird is crispy, spicy, and packed with flavor -- that steamed bao bun melts in your mouth every time. read more

Ekiben - The Maryland Softie - Asian Fusion Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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I will say I was hesitant at first to see the what the "good" fusion cuisine of Asian and American food tasted like. After the meal of kimchi, amazingly sauced chicken, and fluffy rice, I can now say it tastes great. Despite the packed interior, I can see why people line up for this place. Fast service, great food, and a great feeling after the meal. Must visit place in Baltimore. read more