Rarely do I visit a restaurant where the food looks exactly like the picture before you even take a bite and then tastes even better than it looks. Ekiben did that. I had been here once before, before moving to the area, and thought it was great then. This time? Extraordinary. I came in about an hour before closing, and anyone who eats out knows food can sometimes feel different that close to closing time. Not here. Everything tasted fresh, flavorful, and just as good as if I had walked in at peak dinner time. On top of that, I had an issue with my online order/payment. It looked like the charge was processing through my account, but they had no record of the order. Instead of making me feel like a problem, the person helping me was patient, kind, and genuinely tried to figure it out. I felt treated like a hungry customer who needed help not like someone trying to get over. The food looked good, tasted amazing, and the people were helpful, welcoming, and kind even near closing. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The space was welcoming as well. The corner store ..... come on in. Come on in. Come on in.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Top-notch all around read more

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Heard great things about the Maryland softies and decided to give it a try. We came on Saturday during 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. read more

Ekiben - Maryland softies ($39) - Asian Fusion Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

I've been wanting to come here to try "The Maryland Softie" for a while, and I finally made it. The restaurant was located in a nice area in Baltimore, and I was able to find street parking pretty simply about a block away. "The Maryland Softie" crab sandwich is only at the Locust Point location, so I drove a little further to try it. It cost ~$41+ including tax, however I decided to go ahead and try it since I was already there. I waited ~15-20 minutes to receive a text that it was ready. When I went to the front to pick it up, they said they were boxing it up still. I waited a few more minutes and they said it was ready. I noticed that they handed everyone their order in a reusable to go bag automatically, however they asked me if I wanted a bag right before they handed me the box. I said yes and they put it in a reusable bag. The crab sandwich was tasty! The actual crab cake on it and the sauce was 1 of the best I've had! The sandwich included: a crispy soft shell crab, jumbo lump crab cake, old bay, melted cheddar and chesapeake remoulade sauce. The legs were a bit tough to chewy, due to the soft shell. I got a bit tired of chewying the legs and a bit on the bottom of the shell. This was my 1st time having a soft shell crab- definitely advise you to chew well. The bun was very soft, however there wasn't really a flavor to it. Which seemed to pair well since the crab cake was the star of the sandwich. read more

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A little underwhelming but tasty to say the least. I was not able to get the soft crab sandwich so I decided to try other items. The fried chicken sandwich wasn't cooked 100% so from what I could eat it was decent nothing really stands out maybe they should offer a spicy version. The shrimp were cooked very well I did enjoy the spicy version alot better. The pork overall missed completely I did not enjoy it. Maybe next time I will eat in store instead of carryout. Chicken 5/10 Shrimp 7/10 Pork 3/10 read more

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I considered ordering online, but walked up. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Given the suffocating heat on the day and the fact that this tiny shop had a line out the door, the online order would have been the right choice.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] So I just walked away and ordered online, which was a struggle due to the app not taking the order for a bit, but eventually I got through. It was ready quickly enough. Ekiben, classically a sandwich spot, has broken into the noodle business. I sampled their knife cut noodles, which have a wonderfully springy texture and fullness about them. They are available with tofu. This was a small box and had too many cucumbers for my liking. In substance, however, the flavor bomb you expect from Ekiben is still there, from a chili crisp that will elevate your heart rate to a delightful mix of aromatic greens and crunchy onions on top. Ordering a Thai tea yielded a small beverage which was on the sweeter side. I'd probably order something different next time, but for those that haven't tried the knife cut style noodles, I'm glad this neighborhood in Baltimore now has an Ekiben. read more

Ekiben - Thai tea - Asian Fusion Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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One of my favorite foods in Baltimore! Highly recommend. Minimal seating, so recommend takeout. Love the spicy neighborhood bird bowl (can get 2 meals out of it), the spicy chili noodles with crispy tofu, and the tempura broccoli. Closed on Sunday. read more

If you haven't been to Ekiben, what are you waiting for? This place was absolutely delicious!!!! I ordered the neighborhood bird bun and tempura broccoli. They provide big food portions for the price. The sandwich was so big I couldn't even finish it. Everything was hot, fresh, and flavorful. The staff were very friendly and provided great customer service. Highly recommend to check them out. You will not be disappointed. read more

Ekiben - Neighborhood Bird and Tempura Broccoli - Asian Fusion Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Fantastic food once again, I ordered a chicken bowl and the Maryland softie. The chicken is always 10/10 and worth it. It was delicious, flavorful, crispy, and easily worth the price. Now for the Maryland softie, my first bite was heavenly (full of the crab-cake and remoulade), but as I kept eating it, I realized I would've just preferred it with just crab cake, not the soft shell too. Was it worth the hype? kind of. It's pricey so maybe one and done for me. Now the crab Rangoon egg roll, that was a miss for me. It is cheesy and filled with imitation crab, but too small for me at the price point. And I didn't find it super tasty personally. My sister who is also a yelp elite had a totally different take and loves it, so maybe it's subjective. I did have it 4 hours (put it in air-fryer) after I got it so maybe eating it super fresh is the difference. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Space is limited so better for carryout, and the person taking my order was friendly.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] It'll probably take 20-30 mins for your order to come out, depending on how many people there are and pickup orders they have to complete. Overall, this place is a Maryland staple at this point and anyone who visits MD should 100% try and check out their famous fried chicken, whether as a bao sandwich or a rice bowl. read more

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YES. F YESSSSSS. Nothing else needs to be said about Ekiben (but I will elaborate anyways). My friend was able to preorder the Maryland Softie crab sandwich the day before and they still sold out within 10 minutes. Luckily he secured two for us, and we went and picked them up at opening the next day. The crab sandwich was extremely affordable and so delicious. A must try. All of the other dishes were fantastic as well. We definitely got more than our stomachs could handle, but honestly no regrets at all. Would gladly come back here again next time I'm in the area to try out the rest of the menu. read more

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Came for the Softee and was not disappointed. Was very surprised the cost was like $41 with tax but I definitely got my money's worth. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The only drawback is seating was very limited so I had to eat my sandwich in my car.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

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

I came here many times, all in an attempt to try the Bmore Softie. After three failed attempts, a worker told me the strat is to schedule an order on days they restock and that worked beautifully so ty to that cashier! I was afraid the soft shell bun was overhyped or not, but after spending $40 on a sandwich, I wasn't even upset about it. In fact, I would easily buy one every season because it was that damn good. That being said, the spicy bird bun is a classic for a reason and remains my go-to order. read more

Ekiben - Soft Shell Crab Sandwich - Asian Fusion Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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Heard this was a must have if you're in Baltimore and it did not disappoint,.. the spicy was hotter than I was expecting... they're serious when they say a 7; it's not like American spice it's actual heat and delicious! We ordered ahead for pickup and I heard it was tiny inside so not lots of seating and parking is terrible so make this pickup a two person job... one to run in and one to double park haha read more

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 [[HIGHLIGHT]]even though we sat at a bench ourside[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] , a few staff periodically came out to check on us and make sure we were good. read more

Ekiben - Asian Fusion Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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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! [[HIGHLIGHT]]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.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] 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! read more

Ekiben - Asian Fusion Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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[[HIGHLIGHT]]The staff are sweethearts, the music is awesome and ot has a really cool vibe.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]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[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]. 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! read more

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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. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The inside is small of course and staff are great.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] 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. read more

Ekiben - Neighborhood Bird bao - Asian Fusion Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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. read more

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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. read more

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Made it to this Ekiben location after a field trip with my son. I ordered while the field trip was finishing up via their website. The food was ready to go when I arrived. Doesn't matter the location, my order remains the same. A Tofu Bun, Tempura Broccoli, Tofu Bowl and Tofu Nuggets. The food was on point (as it always is). I was a bit saddened to see the note at the register that the Buns that are currently being served are not vegan due to a manufacturing issue. I'm not sure it mentions this when ordering online (if it doesn't, it should). Thankfully the bun is for my wife and she isn't the vegan. Love that this location offers a breakfast sandwich, something unique that the other locations don't offer. It isn't vegan or even vegetarian friendly but cool that they have their own thing happening here. [[HIGHLIGHT]]I was doing take out so seating didn't matter but this location offers a similar amount of seats as the Fells Point location (meaning super limited space).[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Definitely smaller than Hampden, the location I most frequently visit. Anyways, Ekiben is my wife and I's favorite and this location did nothing to diminish that. read more

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 [[HIGHLIGHT]]they always have fun hole in the wall decor interior![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] 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! read more

Ekiben - Spicy bird bun, tofu nuggets, and sparkling yuzuade - Asian Fusion Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The inside decor is perfect for the space.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] 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. read more

Ekiben - Outdoor storefront. - Asian Fusion Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

I got the Baltimore bird bowl with extra sauce and the tempura broccoli and it was amazing! I want to go back and get more already. Everyone who tasted some loved it. The service and portion sizes were great, [[HIGHLIGHT]]there was also a picnic table outside to eat at which was nice.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

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

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. read more

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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. read more

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

For the price of everything not worth it at all! Never will be back. My bf and I went to one location to find out they don't sell the soft shell crab item then when we arrived to another location they sold out. It took almost an hour to get our food, by the time we got it they had more soft shell crabs. We got saved because it doesn't look worth it for that price. Also the workers were eating where they were making the food which is very unsanitary. read more

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. read more

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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. read more

Ekiben - Tofu garlic chili oil noodles - Asian Fusion Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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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. read more

Ekiben - Asian Fusion Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Amazing service and the food is above top tier levels. I would go here on a full stomach because they are just that good

Someday, I'll come here and not order the Neighborhood Bird, spicy bowl.... But I can't seem to risk trying something and wishing I had ordered the bird. Yummy. Perfect mix of savory and sweet. read more

I finally got the Maryland sandwich, I was refreshing the website to make sure it was still in stock. It was VERY good. The crab cake was very meaty and the soft shell was delicious. My fiance ordered the pork but that was a bit disappointing. I think the chicken is definitely a better choice. The ribs were also good. Although I got the ribs in the Fells point location a few weeks ago and it tasted a lot better in the Fells Point location. read more

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

I have been a big fan of this restaurant group for years. I always go for their Neighborhood bird, crispy shrimp or tofu rice bowls. The food is always fresh and the portions are fair. They serve some juicy chicken thighs and the sauces are next level. The sambal or sambal mayo are always great to dip your proteins in. I'd recommend ordering ahead via the app and expect at least a 20 minute wait. [[HIGHLIGHT]]If they have room inside I would eat everything here while it's fresh or toss the proteins in the air fryer.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]The walls featured some art from local artists or pictures with some famous athletes.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I'd keep an eye out for their seasonal specials like the crab baos that are only service at specific locations. read more

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A stop at Ekiben is a must whenever in Baltimore. With this location in Fed, there's even more opportunity to enjoy when hanging around the city. Anything and everything you can order here is amazing so you can't go wrong but we love the neighborhood bird as the classic choice and the softie when in season to celebrate Maryland in all its glory with the crab cake and soft shell crab. Not just one of the top places in Baltimore but truly one of the best food spots in the entire country! read more

Ekiben - Asian Fusion Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

The best fried chicken EVER. I live in NoVa and whenever I come up to Baltimore I ALWAYS get Ekiben. If you live in Baltimore and haven't tried it yet, then you need to make plans to go there for dinner TONIGHT. If you're from out of town, make plans to go whenever you visit. Ekiben is JUST THAT GOOD. The interior of this location is very small. Seating is just a counter with 5 or 6 bar stools. But don't let that deter you. The chicken is wonderfully flavored, doesn't even need the sauce. But the sauce brings it to another level. Super juicy, super tender, chicken is HUGE. God, my mouth is watering just thinking about it. I'd go with the bowl over the sandwich. The sandwich gets SUPER messy and the three types of pickles you get from the bowl are SOOOOO good. They're doing American, Korean, and Vietnamese pickles all to perfection. Food comes out quick. It's always fresh. Plenty of staff and they're super nice. You can see the entire kitchen so you know it's being made right then and there. If you've read all that and still aren't convinced, then you're a lost cause. Just go eat some fried chicken already!! read more

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

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With the popularity, comes a great responsibility to stay consistent on the quality and delivery of the food items. My last few visits haven't been very pleasant. If it's a to go order which is mostly the case given they don't have enough seating, you really need to check the order. Last time, when I ordered tofu nuggets, they completely forgot to add the sauce to it. And there no point to that dish without the sauce, had to let it go. Since we were already back home when we noticed it, there was no way to get it fixed. One another time it was little larger order for 4 people and they missed one entree completely. Today, the food was gonna take 40 minutes to arrive, they took my phone number to let me know when the food is ready. But they didn't confirm the phone number and when I saw the receipt, I noticed the number was wrong, requested them to update it but they couldn't update the phone number so they asked to call us after 40 mins to keep checking on the order. Maybe it was because of the loud music, but it is important to make sure that you have the number correct it. Unfortunately won't be coming here as much anymore. read more

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Restaurant offered meals for employees. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The restaurant was clean quick service.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The cashier provided details about the menu and specials. The waiting area is small a few chairs to sit. [[HIGHLIGHT]]You can see your food being made from the waiting area.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The cooks were fast and the food was well seasoned. read more

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So hear me out.... this was DELICIOUS. However, I did not enjoy it as much. Not to any fault of their own, but it was my own fault for ordering the wrong thing. I meant to oder the chicken bowl which I had over a year ago. I forgot which one it was an assumed it was pork because WHO doesn't love pork? It tends to be juicer and more flavorful. Anyway, the bowl I did have was great. Still packed with flavor. I definitely would go again and again.... and again... and again. I love Ekiben! Service was nice and quick. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Ambiance was pretty much take and go since they don't have seating available.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

Ekiben - Ancho Chile Pork Bowl - Asian Fusion Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Ekiben is always, always, always a delicious meal. [[HIGHLIGHT]]They've got a hip vibe, fast service, and the best chicken in town... as well as the best broccoli![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Their reputation for excellent food preceded their location here, and I actually originally heard about them because of the owner's above-and-beyond answer to a former customer's dying request. (Look the story up if you haven't heard it.) The Baltimore Bird sandwich is hard to beat and what I order pretty much every time. It's large for a single meal (so you might want to do the plate if you'd rather save some for later), and make sure you've got plenty of napkins! The chicken is incredibly moist and cooked to perfection, and really well flavored. The bun and the sauce and the toppings are perfect compliments and perfectly proportioned. I love getting the broccoli, too, but plan to start eating this in the car on your way to your actual destination, as they really are best consumed immediately! [[HIGHLIGHT]]There is a small area to perch inside (mostly for waiting customers rather than eating, but you could certainly grab a stool I think if you were inclined to eat quickly on site).[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Otherwise, it's all takeout! read more

Always a 5-star experience -- no doubt! Tried a few new items this time -- the garlic spicy noodles with tofu, broccoli ramen side, and crab Rangoon -- and none of them disappointed! Every bite was packed with flavor and freshness. Of course, the Neighborhood Bird remains my all-time favorite. Hands down, Ekiben is the best in Baltimore -- consistently amazing food, great service, and love that they have delicious vegetarian options too! read more

Still one of the best spots in Baltimore. Food here is amazing, the options for vegetarians/vegans are solid too. The location is small but it's mostly take out. Street parking on site. The service here is welcoming and friendly, the food is made to order so keep that in mind if it takes some time but you get super hot and fresh food. The neighborhood bird Sando is a must try, crispy juicy and just loaded with flavor on a pillowy bun. The tempura broccoli is also a must, the best way to have broccoli, it's light and crispy and the sauce is sweet and tangy. One of my favorites in Baltimore and IMO one of the best chicken sandwiches in the country read more

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