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Ekiben

4.7 (155 reviews)
Closed 11:00 am - 3:30 pm, 4:30 PM - 10:00 PM

Ekiben Photos

Business Info

EKIBEN ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Hipster
Casual
Dogs allowed

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Recommended Reviews - Ekiben

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Brittney S.

This place has been on my list for a long time and it was so good! I wanted to try the beans and rice , so instead of getting a bowl, I went with a side of rice and beans and a side (1 piece) of chicken. It was pretty pricey at around $22 total, but based on how much I enjoyed it. I'd probably go again. Service was amazing and even though we sat at a bench ourside , a few staff periodically came out to check on us and make sure we were good.

Signage
Curtis J.

The staff are sweethearts, the music is awesome and ot has a really cool vibe. The only downsize is that it's a small location that is really popular so it can get quite crowded and there aren't many seats and tables, but they do have carry-out. That said, the portion sizes are great and the food is ridiculously good! Holy smokes! The neighborhood bird is crisp, juicy, and the pickled sides are a perfect accent. I'm pretty sure I went to this place because I read someone else's review in which he used bruh twice, LOL. Bro spot on!

Dave K.

Huge fan of Ekiben, but the SoBo location needs a little work. They are busy, and I get that, but my recent tofu bowl was full of little sausages... not really what I was looking for.

Very-lightly tempura-ed broccoli, and tender lightly-battered shrimp with pickled veggies and sweet mango/papaya/carrot slaw
Rich S.

We got delicious takeout from Ekiben SoBo in Fed Hill. The $18 tofu BRAH "bowl" (in our case in a to-go box) was generous and flavorful, with soft baked (I think) tofu cubes in a lightly-spicy chopped-peanut sauce with fresh chopped herbs and lightly charred spices, and with a bright lightly sweet mango/papaya/crunchy-shredded-carrot slaw. (They also,have a $10 size serving.) The also-generous $10 tempura broccoli was fried in a very-light crispy batter, and brightly flavored with caramelized diced white onions and herbs, dashed lightly with a house-made vinegar sauce. They offer several $20-$23 fried shrimp dishes. We got the savory lightly-battered crispy shrimp "bowl", flavored with fresh and roasted garlic and shallots and dry-rub, garnished with sliced red onions and pickled cucumbers over tender fluffy jasmine rice, with some of that bright lightly sweet mango/papaya/crunchy-shredded-carrot slaw. Quite delicious. We got a pair of that day's huge stuffed $10 fried egg rolls, a dense creation smothered in a sweet thick red sauce, garnished with green, onions, and chopped peanuts. Rich and delicious, and occasionally changed with different recipes. We are always happy with the friendly efficient staff and generous flavorful creative take-out from this Ekiben location. (There are at least two other locations around town.) Parking was a little tight on a Monday around 5:45pm (Nov 2025), but no one driving on East Fort Av seemed to mind when we double-parked for a few minutes to pick up our online-order.

Ritesh S.

Solid spot and we liked the veggie options available! There's a few of these throughout the city - so you have a good chance to to get to some food that slaps! The establishment is small and mainly it's to-go/pick up options. There is a small bench to sit and eat in person if you happen snag a seat. We ordered their tofu brah on rice and the chili garlic noodles. They both are vegan and were delicious! We could only eat through the tofu brah as the portion is HUGE but I'm not complaining about leftovers haha. Solid all around and look forward to another visit!

Neighborhood Bird bao
Ren H.

Ekiben has the best and most flavorful fried chicken in the city. It always hits the spot and it's massive! I usually go to the Fells Point location but have come out to the Riverside one a couple times now. The inside is small of course and staff are great. I ordered the Neiborhood Bird bao recently and it was delicious (nothing new there lol). The sandwich is huge, full of flavor, and is always filling. Such a great spot for delicious food.

Amanda Z.

Ekiben is one of those rare birds (see what I did there??) where every location hits. Doesnt matter which Ekiben you walk into the food is consistently delicious. I love this location because you can more often get their specialty items like the soft shell crab bun (please please please put the crab cake egg foo young you have been teasing on the menu!) This place is a slightly bigger than their Hampden location and they have outdoor seating so on a nice night you can definitely hang out and eat your food. Everyone there is always super nice and helpful just all around a good restaraunt with good food every single time.

Spicy bird bun, tofu nuggets, and sparkling yuzuade
Jinny K.

I am new to Baltimore but Ekiben is a Baltimore staple! At first, I thought wow, super good reviews--they better be good. Though I went in a little skeptical of how good it could possibly be, they exceeded my expectations! The staff are always so friendly, the food is so fresh and yummy, and they always have fun hole in the wall decor interior! My favorite is their crispy tofu nuggets and their fun original drinks! I would highly recommend ordering online though because they make everything to order, it does take a while to come out. But it's worth the wait for sure! Ekiben is the place I take all Baltimore visitors to now! Highly recommend!

Outdoor storefront.
Keith H.

Well, i finally made it to the famous Ekiben and it was worth the wait. Holy cow is this place amazing!! The service was so nice, fast, and efficient. The inside decor is perfect for the space. The food is sooooooo well seasoned, crispy, flavorful, and just all around amazing. Have needed had anything quite like the Neighborhood Bird sandwich. wooow! The tempura broccoli was also insane. I will go back. I will wait in line. I will crave it for weeks.

Tempura broc. Light coating. Yum. .
Kevan P.

Large hearty portions. Nice service, though order at counter. So limited service. 5 seating spots at counter. Definitely a take away place. But very good. Buns were surprising but awesome. Water available in cooler.

The Ekiben Softie
Farah K.

What can one say about Ekiben that isnt already on everyone's radar? Extremely large and delicious sandwich fillings piled onto the softest pillowy bao buns? Delicious bowls? Vegan and vegetarian friendly without compromising taste! But of course with all that comes the steep price of placing your order and waiting...and waiting. I managed to snag one of the much coveted limited time/ seasonal soft shell crab sandwiches.. there are 2 varities. I placed my order for the Ekiben Softie... and then the wait for it to be ready was 30 to 40 minutes. And I had just placed my order at 11:30..they had just opened. Lines form out the door at this LP area location. Is it worth it? That's ultimately up to you. I did enjoy my sandwich a lot. Would I do it often? Not really. Its not because my sandwich was a special on the menu that it took so long..my bf got the tofu sandwich and his came out the same time as mine. But its a must try if you're in town and looking for maybe one of the best chicken sandwiches in the state.

Entryway, wall line with customer photos. Counter seating only, limited.
Celina C. N.

Yelp will never steer you wrong. Staying overnight in Baltimore on my own, came on here to find something gooood to eat. Reviews steered me to Ekiben for the chicken and the giant bao. Y'all weren't wrong. Everything on the menu looked fantastic and I had a hard time narrowing down my choices. Settled on the Spicy Neighborhood Bird Bun and the Tempura Broccoli. But I was eyeing those tofu nuggets and the rice bowls really hard too. It took several minutes for my food to arrive but not unexpected with the steady stream of customers coming in for pick-up orders. The kitchen was for sure on the hustle, in my direct view since I was seated at the counter in front of them. They were just 3, and kept it moving end to end. I KNEW i was in for a treat when the guy sitting next to me leaned into his noodle bowl and hummed and inhaled at the same time. The chicken was piping hot and crispy yet juicy inside. The broccoli had the thinnest translucent layer of crispy tempura and sat in a pool of sweet vinegar with mint and other herbs. I could eat only half of all of it and boxed the rest up to savor for later. Gotta get back to work my way through the menu.

Tofu garlic chili oil noodles
Mike L.

My first experience of Ekiben was at Camden Yards, so when I heard they had a soft shell bun, I had to try it. We came to the South Baltimore location since it's the only one that sells them. Unfortunately, they were all out. The server was really nice in helping us understand it's a seasonal sandwich. As sad as I was on missing out on the crab, the neighborhood bird is still mind blowing. I tried the chili garlic oil noodles and oh my Lord! These are a game changer. Everything on their menu sounds amazing. My next visit I'd love to try the ribs and the shrimp but living two hours away might make it a while before I'm back. Also. I love they had a bathroom inside even with the space being real small. Wall is plastered with a lot of Dragon Ball Z and other comics. Gives it a real cool vibe. This place can fill up quickly, even with a couple picnic tables outside. I suggest ordering online or get there right as soon as they open. I'll bump this rating up to 5 once I try the crab.

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Angie's Seafood - Best crab cakes in Baltimore

Angie's Seafood

(1.5k reviews)

$$$

Fells Point

Enjoyed a wonderful seafood dinner last night with a group of friends, the food was amazing…read more The Service received from Christian was spot on, top notch, very nice, polished, and attentive. It made our night out standing. Looking forward to returning very soon and requesting Christians Section.

Sad to have give such a low score because the jumbo crab cake was very good, however I can not get…read morepast the fact that they charged me a gratuity charge (I think it was 15%) because I asked for a to go box to take home my leftovers and did it in a sneaky way without any upfront disclosure. So it cost me $10-15 to for a plastic takeout container. Had I not looked at the customer copy of the bill I would have not only not known but I would have tipped based on the total which already included the additional gratuity charge (which was not disclosed on the merchant copy). This is so unnecessary and ruined what would have been a good experience. They said it was a "sharing charge" which I have experienced and applies when u have another diner with you and u decide to split an entree. Had they disclosed I would at least had the option to finish the meal. The saying "stepping over dollars to pick up pennies " seems to apply as this left such a bad taste I doubt I will return despite the fact the crab cake was delicious and the loaded baked potato was average (hardly loaded) Beware of the hidden gratuity for take home leftovers!!! Update to above: I did follow up with Angie this morning and she was very kind and offered to credit back my card for the extra gratuity. She also explained that I was misled about the "sharing charge" but they do automatically add 15% gratuity regardless of party size or quality of service. So I would give 4 stars for the food quality and 1 star for the way in which they present and charge gratuity. Tipping should remain at the discretion of the diner based on service and food quality otherwise just get rid of tipping and raise your prices

Sal and Sons - Crab meat egg rolls

Sal and Sons

(276 reviews)

$$

Fells Point

Was looking for some affordable local flavors. This was a cool spot…read more AMBIANCE: Parking: Street parking for the most part, typical for this part of town. Seating: Indoor seating with room for about 20 people inside the market. Vibes: You're right in the heart of Old Town / Fells Point -- the touristy but charming part of Baltimore. I dig the vintage brick roads, the historic feel, and the mix of locals and visitors passing through. The space sits inside a lively market (1640 Aliceanna St) with that true Baltimore seafood vibe -- casual, approachable, and full of movement. It's not fine dining; it's flavor-first, no-nonsense, and welcoming. Great for a quick grab-and-go or to sit down for a casual meal. FOOD/DRINKS: Crab Soup (A-Ok) Simple but hearty. It reminded me of a tomato-based soup with crab mixed in -- nothing too fancy, but warm and satisfying. I appreciated the richness and good amount of crab meat. I'm more of a clam chowder fan, so next time I might go that route, but this was still solid. CUSTOMER SERVICE: Quick, friendly, and efficient. The staff clearly know what they're doing and keep things moving without losing that personal touch. TL; DR OVERALL: 4 Stars. Good prices, solid flavors, and a classic Baltimore seafood feel. Sal and Son's Seafood isn't flashy, but it's genuine -- a go-to for a comforting bowl and a true local experience. I'll be back to try their other dishes next time I'm in the area. TIPS: * Check what's on special -- they rotate and have plenty of combo options.

The food at Sal and Sons is very good. The only reason I'm giving it 4 stars instead of 5 is…read morebecause our fries were cold. It's probably because one meal was simple (crab cake sandwich, fries), and the other may have taken longer to cook to order (shrimp and chicken jambalaya). Otherwise, we were absolutely satisfied with the food. The crab cake sandwich was on point. The creamy crab soup was flavorful, creamy, and worth every bite. The shrimp and chicken jambalaya was also executed well. Also, I highly recommend trying the fresh fruit drinks. We got watermelon and pineapple, and "refreshing" doesn't begin to describe how good they were. The service was straightforward and to the point, which works for me. The establishment is located inside of a market. We went on a Sunday, so this was one of the few eateries open. I'm imagining that it is probably more jumping on other days. If I'm in Baltimore again, I'll definitely consider visiting again and exploring more of the menu.

Loch Bar - Scallop ceviche

Loch Bar

(641 reviews)

$$$

Inner Harbor

We stopped in here for happy hour on a Friday. My friends and I ordered quite a few things to share…read moreand most everything was amazing. We order the turkey club, hush puppies, cream of crab soup, the charcuterie board, fries, and fried oysters to share. The turkey club was the star of the show. It had nice layers of avocado, the chicken was cooked well, and the bacon added a nice touch. For drinks we stuck to the margaritas and they were perfect! I would say you can skip the fries, the seasoning was great the batch of fries we had seemed like they might not have been fresh. The rest of the menu was so good I would still say you could skip the fries and order a double serving of hush puppies.

The reviews are what drew us in. Beautiful day, made a reservation, and we were promptly seated in…read morea not too busy restaurant. Two diners. Sat at a two top right behind the waiter service station . Horrible seat in a not very busy space. We ordered yellowtail poke, Caesar Salad, 6 oysters, shrimp banh mi, and brussel sprouts. Poke - visually appealing, lacking flavor and the sauce provide was uninspired. Caesar- simple and delish. Way too much so I asked to take the rest home. Salad was taken and never returned. Oysters - I had 2 each of 3 different types. I love oysters. Eating those six made me lose interest in ever eating another oyster. Just not good. Not spoiled. Just not good. Shrimp banh mi - Nice tasting but not amazing. Brussels sprouts- A bit oily but really delicious. Everyone around me had cocktails with lunch. Perhaps if I were drinking I'd have not noticed how displeasing the experience was. Lastly, the place smelled like stale beer. A one and done for me.

Ekiben - asianfusion - Updated May 2026

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