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    Ekiben

    4.7 (358 reviews)
    Open • 11:00 am - 3:30 pm, 4:30 PM - 11:00 PM
    Updated 3 months ago

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    EKIBEN ATMOSPHERE

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    Hipster
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    Recommended Reviews - Ekiben

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    Spicy Neighborhood Bird Bun
    Tiffany L.

    I get the hyped. The chicken is unmatched. It came out so hot, so flavorful, and so crispy!! The only thing that I know for me for next time is to ask for the sauce on the side. I asked for light sauce and it was still a generous amount for me and it was kind of sweet, so it pushed it over the top for me personally in additional to the semi sweet bao bun. But overall it was delicious and everyone working there was nice.

    Maria W.

    The vibe , let's start with that, the vibe was everything. The energy was giving very much small party with food. They had an awesome playlist while waiting in your food. A wall full of pictures of various people, artist etc, they also had Naruto (anime) on the other wall. There was a small area to dine in which comprised of stools, kinda tight if it's too many people, but just right if it's only a few people. There is a parking lot nearby that you have to pay to park, but it's in close proximity of the establishment. Now on to the FOOD of which was DELICIOUS! I ordered chicken and fried rice. The chicken was super juicy, golden brown , flavored perfectly with some type of sauce on top , I can't tell you what the sauce was but it was super good! The portion was big as well. This onion /cabbage mix I wanna say that had was amazing as well and the rice was good, everything was GOOD! The staff were super nice, they were very organized in called orders, the food was fresh and hot! The establishment itself was clean and tidy!

    Tofu
    Aarti M.

    One of my fave takeout spots in Bmore! I love the fried chicken bowls as well as the tofu and broccoli. On the fried chicken bowl- you can regular or spicy (and the spicy is legit high spice). I love the coating and seasoning on the chicken. Make sure to get Chinese sausage on the side with the broccoli- it's so delicious! We usually grab the food to go but the service is quick and the ambiance is cozy and reflective of a cute hole in the wall spot. They have three locations in bmore and one opening in Frederick that I will try as soon as they open their online ordering. Don't miss this spot- it's a gem!

    Tempura Broccoli, Tofo Brah

    Every time I tell people I live in Bmore, the first thing they ask is 'Have you tried Ekiben yet!' And for good reason too, it's just that good! I've been to both the Fells and Hampden locations, but I prefer the Hampden one so I can walk over to get some dessert at the Charmery. The entrance is a little sketchy, but once you get in, the ambiance is relaxed. The decor with the anime panels is also so cute! Also, their ekiben logo stickers are free! I highly recommend the tofu brah with the tempura broccoli to share with some friends. The vinaigrette on the broccoli and the pickled vegetables are perfect to cut through the fried heaviness of the tofu, so the entire meal really complements each other. Everything also reheats really well, which is perfect since the portions are so large. I don't really care for the Yuzu drinks that they have, so I would recommend skipping that. I'll be back Ekiben!

    Tofu Nuggets
    Emily W.

    Ekiben is a must go in Baltimore! The Hampden one is my personal favorite since I find myself in that area more frequently (shoutout to Charm City Skin!) but all locations are excellent. Address is on 36th but the entrance is on the backside down the alley. You order at the counter when you first come in - there is a seating area off to the left. It's a small space but doesn't feel cramped. The food is top notch - the tofu nuggets are my current hyper fixation. The peanut sauce, the fresh herbs, the crispy tofu bites, it is just incredible. Other faves include the shrimp and the neighborhood bird. The staff at Hampden in particular is so friendly and welcoming - no matter how busy they are. Even when packed and tickets rolling in nonstop, everyone there is friendly and upbeat. They go out of their way to be helpful and accommodating and they move quick!

    Assorted
    Anna C.

    Every time I make my to Baltimore or if someone asks me for a recommendation in this area, my go to spot it hands down Ekiben. When I say I order the menu and take some to go, I am not kidding! The food is exceptional; a flavor bomb every time. Honestly, everything has star power on this menu. If you are lucky enough to go during the summer, the highlight is the Maryland Softie. A soft shell crab, crab cake, and cheese inside a fluffy Bao Bun. Absolutely incredible. The ramen broccoli is to die for. But my absolute favorite is always the hand pulled noodles with tofu . The tofu does contain peanuts but is a perfect combo with the garlic chili noodles. The seating is limited but they have a couple tables outside. The staff is always fantastic and the service is always Great as well! Must gets: - shrimp snack - garlic chili noodles with tofu - tofu brah - crab softie ( summer time) - broccoli

    Samantha L.

    Tucked back in an alleyway, took a bit to find it. Cute little spot and the cashier was nice. There's a little area to sit down and eat, if you can find a seat. First time trying it out and wasn't blown away. The couple of bites that I had of the chicken sandwich were good, but I couldn't eat it all. It wasn't cooked all the way through. Loved the bread. Would go back, but will try another meat instead.

    Neighborhood Bird Bun
    Shayla M.

    I saw a video of the chicken sandwich and had to try it out. My GPS told me that I had arrived at the restaurant but it is actually located in a back alley. There is paid parking right behind the restaurant as well. The inside is not that big but I noticed that there was a small section of counter seating. When you walk in the music is blasting, still able to hear but sets the vibe for the space. I ordered two sandwiches and two drinks. They take your number and will text you when your order is ready. I must have missed it, but I wasn't sure how to tell the two sandwiches apart. There was no labels on the take out boxes, so I made a guess as to which one was the one I ordered. The chicken was coated perfectly and there was a generous amount of sauce. The bun was light and airy which made the sandwich not feel so heavy. I wish I also had tried the bowl version of the sandwich which looked pretty tasty based on the picture.

    Neighborhood Bird Bun
    LaVonn T.

    I recently visited Ekiben for my 1st time & the Neighborhood Bird sandwich was delicious.. The bun was soft & fresh. Fresh & hot chicken.. The Tempura Broccoli was amazing.. I wasn't quite sure if I would like it but truly enjoyed the delicious taste.. When I first walked in they were extremely busy, but the young at the register still greeted me.. I dined in & enjoyed my food.. I had to take some to go bcuz they provided so much that I could not eat it all.. There were a few people dinning in not too many.. I would like to give Ekiben a Huge Thank You for the support of us Furloughed Federal Workers.. We Appreciate Your Support.. Thank you for the Amazing food.. I will be back to visit

    Spicy Neighborhood Bird Bowl
    audie m.

    My experience at Ekiben was nothing short of stellar. I stopped by the Hampden location and ordered two dishes: the Peking Ribs Bowl and the Spicy Neighborhood Bird Bowl. Both were packed with bold, layered flavors that highlight the creative mix of Ethiopian and Japanese influences. Every bite felt thoughtful and well-executed. The staff was welcoming and quick on their feet, offering great recommendations and keeping the energy upbeat. The atmosphere has that lively ramen shop feel you'd find in Japan, yet it still feels cozy and neighborhood-friendly. If you can, go during the day. It's busy but not overwhelming, and you really get to enjoy the food without a long wait. Ekiben lives up to the hype and then some.

    Maggie H.

    Heard a lot about Ekiben for a good casual place to eat out! I'd definitely recommend ordering ahead because this place gets lots of orders and is very busy. After we ordered, he said it would be about 25 minutes but it took around 18 min for the food to be made! The tofu brah was highly recommended to me by a few friends. Tofu Brah Bun: The tofu is fried and coated in a delicious sauce. It has a good crispness and crunch to it. Super delicious and fresh with its vegetable toppings. It definitely falls apart tho after the first bite so I'd say maybe just eat it with utensils? Spicy Neighborhood Chicken Bun: It's a Taiwanese curry fried chicken thigh that is so big that it makes the bun it's on look so small. It comes super saucy and with some cucumbers. Very delicious. The chicken was juicy. I'd get this again next time. It's not spicy at all, just saucy and flavorful. Ngl idk how to eat these buns because they are so huge, but it worked for us to use a knife and fork. It's located at the back of the building so there's an alleyway where you could park your car and pick up. The pathway is very walkable, and there is a paid parking lot right across. There's several stools inside where you could dine in (less than 10 seats). Lots of flyers and events posted if you're interested. There is not a crazy number of items on the menu, but just enough that there's several good choices to pick from. Lots of sides. The bowl option is about $3 more than the bun choice. Overall, well worth the wait (which you could save yourself by ordering ahead). They have a couple of cute sticker designs to take as a keepsake and reminder to come back again!

    Tofu Brah Bowl
    Sarah M.

    Ekiben's food is flavorful, unique and consistently delicious! I can't even count how many times we've eaten here but it's a lot! Haha I love this restaurant so much and hope they continue making amazing food and doin incredible things for the community!

    Tempura Broccoli
    Angela S.

    The best fried chicken sandwich I've ever had! The chicken is marinated in a Taiwanese curry and perfectly fried. The bao bun has a perfect texture and truly makes this sandwich unique. There were two pieces of chicken in the sandwich, making it very much worth the price. The shrimp was massive and had the best crunch and flavor. Despite the name, it actually does not have walnuts in them. I would definitely come back again, and can't wait to try their soft shell crab at their other locations.

    Neighborhood Bird Bun and Tofu Nuggets

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    The food was amazing. The service was amazing! Highly recommend! The ambience was delightful. It was a great Maryland experience.

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    Ask the Community - Ekiben

    How much seating is there or is it just take out? Thanks.

    Like 10 seats in restaurants but no tables, bar stools style

    Will Ekiben meet someone just outside their door with an order? (As opposed to indoor counter pickup)?

    Yes, the Hampden location has a little back door where you can pick up your order. No one allowed inside.

    What are the hours for the hampden location?

    Monday - Thursday 11AM - 10PM… 

    View All 5 Questions

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    Ekiben - neighborhood brd (spicy)

    Ekiben

    4.7(169 reviews)
    4.3 mi•Riverside
    •$$

    We had a feast with takeout from Ekiben in Locust Point / Fed Hill…read more The huge fried egg-rolls were luscious, this time densely-packed with a luxurious minced crab mixture. Another go-to, the tempura broccoli, was fried in a very-light crispy batter, and flavored with a light house-made vinegar sauce. Our go-to spicy tofu BRAH "bowl" lit us up with soft-centered baked tofu cubes in a medium-spicy sauce with the flavors of fresh herbs, garlic, and shallots, over a bed of tender long-grain white jasmine rice and with a pretty mango/papaya shredded-carrot slaw. The long rippled-noodles were tender, smothered in a spicy savory brown sauce that also pushed the envelope of my admittedly somewhat wimpy heat tolerance :-j We got the huge lightly-battered crispy flavorful shrimp, over white rice, garnished with sliced pickled red onions and pickled cucumber circles over tender fluffy jasmine rice. We are always happy with the staff at this Ekiben location, with hot flavorful generous on-time take-out. (Aug 2026).

    Heard great things about the Maryland softies and decided to give it a try. We came on Saturday…read moreduring lunch and surprisingly only one person ahead in line. After we ordered, a lot of people came and and line was out the door. The softies was a solid choice and deliocus. It is a really big sandwich, crispy soft shell crab and very heavily seasoned with old bay. It was perfect to share between two people as we have ate a bit beforehand. Overall I would be coming back to try the neighborhood bowl and the rest of their menu. This place had a couple of seatings inside and out.

    Photos
    Ekiben - Menu/entrance

    Menu/entrance

    Ekiben - Chili noodles

    Chili noodles

    Ekiben - Neighborhood Bird Bun (sauce on side), tempura broccoli, and Yuzuade. Voted best sandwich in MD by Yelp in 2022 -- I know why!

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    Neighborhood Bird Bun (sauce on side), tempura broccoli, and Yuzuade. Voted best sandwich in MD by Yelp in 2022 -- I know why!

    Ekiben - asianfusion - Updated September 2026

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