A friend had pointed Ekiben out to me as we were taking a drive around Baltimore and the next day someone suggested we go! I got a tofu bun and it was LOADED with crispy fried tofu and veggies on a light and flavorful. My companions got the garlic noodles and something shrimpy. We were all very happy with our meals (which we ate outside on shared picnic tables. Our meals were very savory which meant that after we finished, we sauntered across the street to the divine little French pastry shop! read more

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Came in during weekday lunchtime and ordered the spicy neighborhood bird bun and the tempura broccoli. Both were really good and it was a lot of food that I couldn't finish in one sitting. The bun option can be a little messy so if you don't want it to be as messy, you can get the bowl version. Since we came during lunchtime, there was a little bit of wait between ordering and getting food. I'd say approximately a 40 min wait. If you're strapped for time, you can order online and pick up. There is limited seating inside and outside if you choose to sit inside or outside the store. read more

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

If you're in Baltimore and don't stop by Ekiben... honestly, that's on you. This small, vibrant spot is one of the city's true hidden gems. The restaurant may be tiny, but the energy is huge--the staff is friendly, fun, and somehow keeps the place running smoothly even when it's absolutely packed (which it was every night we visited). We tried the Mild Neighborhood Bird Bowl, the Spicy Neighborhood Bird Bowl, and the Ancho Chile Pork Bowl--and every single one was a knockout. The flavors are bold, addictive, and just downright delicious. Even with the constant crowd, we got our food surprisingly fast, and it came out hot, fresh, and perfectly prepared. Ekiben proves that great things come in small packages. If you're anywhere near Baltimore, don't miss out. Your taste buds will never forgive you. read more

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

Drove to this location to try the crab cake sandwich while it was available. I had the Maryland Softie and it did not disappoint! It's a huge amount of food. A large soft shell crab with a large crab cake on top smothered in cheese and sauce. So delicious! And of course you can't go to Ekiben without getting the tempura broccoli which is always so amazing. Get the Softie while it's still in season, it's worth it! read more

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

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Ah, FINALLY!!! I've only had Ekiben through Yelp events and I was finally FINALLY able to go to one of the locations on my own. It's parallel parking as far as the eye can see, and it was mostly full. Somehow I got lucky and was able to park like 100 feet away though. I brought my friend with me, and we placed our order online ahead so we wouldn't have to wait long. We entered and there's a few chairs and a long table that runs along the wall, so it's definitely more of a takeout spot. We sat in a chair and waited a few minutes for our order to be ready and I told her she had to have the bao bun (neighborhood bird) fresh. She was oh so pleased... so it was ALL worth it to me XD. It was not a letdown at all, and tasted as wonderful as always. My friend also got the broccoli and a drink. The broccoli was good, though a little saltier than I would prefer. I saw a sign for ribs, so hopefully I can try those when I return! Oh I should mention... the staff were like really really friendly. Truly sweet people, it's always nice seeing that. Perhaps there was as happy as I was that it was Friday XD. read more

My mom went here with my cousins over the summer and she could not stop talking about the FOOD! All she could talk about was how yummy everything was and the crunch was SOOOOO CRUNCHY! She was right and the food did not disappoint. I'm glad I actually got to join in this time haha! I'm so glad we had a group so we could try several dishes. The service was great- you order at the counter and he was amazing- super patient and gave some good tips! It's a pretty small spot though, only room at a couple side counters otherwise standing only although in the warmer months, you can enjoy eating in the outside seating in front of the establishment. Street parking only as far as we saw. Back to the food. From best to worst and there really is not a worst btw. (Tied for first!! ) 1. Neighborhood bird bowl AND crispy shrimp bowl 2. Tempura broccoli 3. Chile ancho pork bowl 4. Tofu nuggets 5. Crab Rangoon egg roll They really have their recipe on point- everything was still crunchy during the middle of the meal and their servings are large enough that you will have leftovers for at least another meal. One thing I would change is to make the crab Rangoon egg roll with more crab and less other filler- I couldn't taste much crab and would prefer if it could be easier to share like a split up into minis versus 1 humungous egg roll. I'll definitely be visiting this spot when I'm in Baltimore in the future and am interested to check out their other location! read more

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

Wow wow wow. This might as well be the best fried chicken I've ever had. It was so good I had to get it twice! I was visiting some friends down in B-more and they highly suggested we come down and try Ekiben. At first I was curious given it was a fast casual Asian fusion restaurant but boy am I glad I listened. I ended up ordering the Traditional Chicken bowl the first time and the spicy chicken bowl the second time. I'm not sure how they're breading their chicken but whatever they're doing, it's working. Not to mention there's some sort of paste between the chicken and the breading that's adds an additional flavor punch. The bowl is also huge (probably 2 serving portions) and for the price point is fantastic! I ordered both beforehand and it was pretty much ready when I arrived so speedy as well! Anyways my point is, you have to try this place when you're in Baltimore. It's an absolute staple!!! read more

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

Pricey but delicious fusion food with a great depth of flavor. They have a limited menu with bao sandwiches and bowls that come with a variety of proteins. They do have vegetarian options including tofu. Their tempura broccoli and red beans and rice is always a hit. There is no room to sit inside but there are tables outside. They also have a variety of in house bottled yuzu and other drinks. The service is slow because this place is ALWAYS busy. Definitely recommended ordering online read more

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

Ekiben isn't too much from the outside or the inside- there's almost no seating inside and it blends into the neighborhood very well. I went with the garlic chili oil noodles which were phenomenal! They offer a tofu and a beef option- my friend got the beef and I got the tofu. Both were great! Ekiben makes some really delicious and well seasoned food- it's quite heavy though so come with an empty stomach. read more

Ekiben - Tofu Garlic Chili Oil Noodles - Asian Fusion Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

You can't go wrong with Ekiben in the city. Each of their locations is just as good as the next. I'm a big fan of their spicy neighborhood bird on a bao bun and their tempura broccoli slapppppsss. Staff are friendly and the food is the best! read more

Portions are massive and I love that the food can be 2 meals South Baltimore location has the soft shell crab buns. Ekiben Softie 5/5 huge portion of crab in addition to the massive soft shell crab wrapped in a perfectly textured bun Peking rib snack 4/5 lots of sauce, tasty though it was a lot of bone Neighborhood bird bowl 5/5 could be 2 meals Tofu brah bowl 5/5 could be 2 meals read more

So excited I finally got to try the soft shell crab sandwiches!! We ordered online and came in store for pickup - it took about 30 min. Both sandwiches were delicious and super filling!! The crabs were HUGE. You could taste the crab more in the Ekiben softie, but the Maryland softie as a whole was more flavorful from the sauce. We both liked the Maryland softie more. Definitely recommend trying it out while they're still available! read more

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Some of the absolute best food I've ever had - not even exaggerating. Run, do not walk, to this Baltimore institution. The neighborhood bird is iconic, the most tender, juicy chicken you'll ever have, fried like no other. The bun is addictive and I can't find it anywhere else but the bowl has 2 pieces of chicken and can be 3 meals for me. My recommendation is to get the bowl w/ a bun on the side. The tofu is dynamite and the broccoli is a must get. Not a bad thing on the menu and make sure to follow their Instagram to see what limited time foods they're dropping. Easy to order online. Note that it's very small inside and there only 2 outdoors tables so it's pretty much takeout only. Make sure to eat it while it's HOT if you can! Ekiben is what all restaurants should strive to be, incredible quality, always trying to create new dishes while offering classics, and having fun while doing it. read more

Great food and friendly staff and always consistent. Everything I've tried so far has been really good.

Loved this restaurant. Hands down the best chicken sandwich I have ever had in my life. Every aspect was perfect. Later upon layer of flavor. Portion was very big and can easily be shared...This sandwich is mind blowing! My wife had the Spicy Walnut Shrimp Bowl and it was also very good. Very large shrimp that tasted fresh with very flavorful breading and sauce. Would highly recommend but only if you're sharing the chicken sandwich with someone. It is a must. Wish we had one of these in Raleigh. read more

Ekiben - The Spicy Neighborhood Bird Bun with top bun removed to show chicken - Asian Fusion Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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I arrived at 3:24pm not realizing they close to prepare for dinner for an hour then reopen at 4:30. Although I was coming in late the guy at the counter was smiling and super nice. I asked him about gluten free items and he had a list right there for me. Customer service is amazing here! The food came out hot and fresh! Remember I was coming in late, right before closing.. and was not given the left over items. It was all prepared when I ordered. By the way, I've never had broccoli that tasted as good as my main sandwich. I had the neighborhood bird and was not only tender and had incredible taste but the bun with it .. is about the best thing since sliced bread. The shop inside is small and a few seats if you want to grab a bite and have no where else to go to eat. But it's not meant for long term sitting and chatting with people. I see this definitely more as a take out place. I can tell you if this were closer to my house I would be in trouble! And might have to get a part time job just to support eating here everyday. There are so many yummy looking items on the menu I can't wait to come back. read more

4.5 Stars- I don't make the "trek" to Baltimore often, but when I do, Ekiben is always on my mind. I can still remember when Ekiben only had 1 location and now they have 3! This is a no-frills, good eats kinda deal. The menu is still just about the same with buns and bowls and now I see they've added a couple more items like drinks and extra sides. My family of 2 adults and 3 kiddos got tempura broccoli, crispy shrimp bowl, and neighborhood bird bowl. Thankfully, the food wasn't overly salty this time. I was a bit weary at first thinking how much I felt the prices had gone up, but these 3 items fed my family and we Still had leftovers. The yuzuade- yuzu, jasmine tea, and mint- was super refreshing. I loved that I could taste the jasmine tea and that it wasn't all sugar in a bottle. I was a bit annoyed that my food was prepared faster than the time they indicated on their online ordering platform because everything ordered is fried and really should be eaten straight away, so mine (although they kept the tempura broccoli top open) was mostly soggy by the time I got to it. This place is in the corner and there's street parking. Place is small (not really meant for anyone to really eat inside) but clean. read more

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

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GET A CHICKEN BOX BEFORE THEY GO!!!!! Listen ekiben I don't know what you all do in the kitchen with your food but you had me drive through the rain to try the chicken box and It was worth It. 3 large wings general tso flavored all around and CRUNCHY. With jasmine rice (I wish It was fried, and pickled slaw all under $20. Yall please try It it's only located at the south Baltimore location too. read more

Ekiben - Chicken box - Asian Fusion Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Ekiben is always great with the food. You can expect delicious flavors! Also, the people who take/serve your order are always so kind. The spaces for all their venues are usually pretty small. This one had seating for 5-6 with a bathroom as well. The price has gone up considerably in the last few years. The shrimp snack was $19.95 for 8 total shrimp. read more

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I've been to Ekiben so many times & have enjoyed my meal & this time was no different. We got the usuals: the Neighborhood Bird(Wife), Spicy Bird(me), Broccoli Tempura(Us), and a new edition to our order, the Pho Spiced Cheesesteak Egg roll which we LOVED. Food came out quickly. The cashier & cooks were polite, and we left satisfied. read more

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A true Baltimore staple. Ekiben does Asian fusion better than anyone, anywhere. The tempura broccoli is outstanding, the tofu brah is luxurious, any of the bun sandwiches or bowls are a must try. The flavors created by Ekiben are unparalleled. I love that they are always trying to innovate and pioneer new dishes. The service staff at any of the locations are quick and super friendly. Although the restaurants themselves are not very big, they are quaint and have an eclectic, yet fun feel. The food portions are huge. So lucky to have them in the city! Always a go-to of mine. read more

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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

Really really wanted to love this place because the staff was lovely and the food portions + presentation were great, but the chicken for the Neighborhood Bird bowl was undercooked twice. 2 stars because they offered to remake it the first time and give me an alternative off the menu if I still wasn't satisfied with the second order. I took the 2nd order of chicken to go however and it was still pink when I got home. I read through some other 1 and 2-star reviews and realized this is a pattern. The chicken itself is very thick and so is the breading, so I don't think they account for that in the cook time - it is very easy for deep fried meat to be cooked on the outside and still raw on the inside. They either need to pound it out more, thinly slice it, or cut into strips to ensure doneness. read more

Food is always amazing here, definitely one of the best takeouts in Baltimore! Staff is awesome, and a cool place to get a quick bite from. They also play good music! read more

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Ekiben is a solid spot! I had the chicken sandwich, and let me tell you -- it's easily enough for two people. The chicken was delicious (and impressively thick, to say the least ). It's definitely more of a grab-and-go place than a dine-in experience, given how busy it gets, but the food makes it worth it. I'd definitely try it again. read more

Yummy! I was really excited to try this Baltimore staple, and I was not disappointed. Love the flavors and the bun! Always greeted by pleasant and kind workers. read more

Ekiben - The neighborhood bird bun - Asian Fusion Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

We made the "long" trek to Ekiben (Silver Spring to Baltimore ~45 minutes) for a pop up collaboration event with the owner of 886 (an awesome Taiwanese restaurant in NYC), so this review will focus more on the pop up event. While the pop up was scheduled from 2 to 6 pm, I'm so glad that we arrived around 1:45 because the line already was pretty long at that point. The pop up menu (Sze + Ekiben = Szekiben) included the following (in the order of my favorites): Scallion Pancake Sammich, Shrimp Dumplings, Vegetable Dumplings (vegan), Taiwanese Beef Noodle Soup, and Chili Oil Hand Pulled Noodles. I'll say that everything was absolutely delicious, and the pancake sammich tasted like heaven. OMG, the lemongrass butter sauce that was served with the dumplings and the pancake sammich was out of this world delicious. I guess butter does make everything better. While I wasn't disappointed with the noodles, they were a bit tough for my liking. However, there were a bit better in the noodle soup since the heat of the soup soften the noodles a bit. The restaurant appears to be more of a grab and go spot because there was very limited seating. However, there is a small counter inside and a couple of picnic tables outside. Fortunately, for us, we had some towels in our car, so we were able to dry off the a table and eat outside of the restaurant (#phew). *I was kind of of surprised (and happy) that no one else thought to do this because we would have had to drive back home (a 45-min trip) to eat.* Since I live a distance away, I'm not sure I will be back because of the limited dining-in options. That said, it is a great spot for local folks. read more

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One of the few if not the only place in the area where I will travel an hour to get food. Their spicy neighborhood bird, tofu nuggets and the broccoli is to die for!! read more

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

We were in Baltimore for the weekend so we knew we had to try Ekiben. I was able to try it twice, at this location and at a night market. We got the neighborhood bird and ancho chile pork. I definitely recommend the neighborhood bird: it's seasoned well, good amount of batter, and juicy. The pickled veggies are a great pairing too. The ancho chile pork was good, juicy, and easily fell apart, however the neighborhood bird was everyone's favorite! The rice is $4 more than the bun, but they give a lot of rice and it's a huge portion. One portion is good enough for 1-2 people, as I had some trouble finishing one all by myself. We also got the yuzu drink ($6?) but wished there was more yuzu flavor, but overall good and refreshing. There are four bench seats inside, and two picnic tables outside so seating is very limited; it's more of a takeout spot. There is a bathroom inside. Condiments, utensils and water are inside. We had about a 20 minute wait after ordering in person, so I suggest ordering ahead. read more

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Ekiben always hits! Wanted to try noodles but they were out (I also stopped by 9pm after game night) but settled up for the spicy chicken bowl. 10/10 always. read more

Ekiben - Asian Fusion Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Finally made it out here over the wkend! Had to try the soft shell crab. Def out of both sandwiches the one with the remoulade was ten times better than the one without! We also got broccoli which was good too and for the amount u get for the price def worth it. The soft shell crab ones are pricey but for the price it was filling but I'm not sure if I would pay that again for it. Definitely try it but I think the bird bao are tasty as well. Will come back and try those ! Oh had to wait 20-30 mins but I think it was worth it read more

Ekiben - Asian Fusion Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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I've been here twice-- I ordered the neighborhood bird as a bowl the first time, and the tofu brah bun the second time. I'm a big tofu fan but would go back for the neighborhood bird over the tofu. The neighborhood bird was great-- large proportion so I was able to save half for another meal. The chicken was perfectly cooked and seasoned, super crispy! I found the tofu's sauce to be too sweet, and the bun is difficult to eat and can get messy. read more

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Saw the Maryland softie on IG reels a few weeks ago and randomly thought about it on a road trip through MD, so apologies for the terrible pics but the flavor/crunch on the neighborhood bird bun was crazy! The red beans and rice also had an interesting twist on them and I liked them a lot. The lady who took my order was nice about the fact that they were sold out of so much but after tasting the food I understand why. I almost wish you could get a second bun since it's hard to keep the chicken in between the one bun. It's an hour away from me and Im already plotting on how to get back in time to try a softie bun lol read more

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I love this place but unfortunately my wife got food poisoning from here yesterday so have to dock a star. We have ordered here multiple so maybe it was a one off. But the food is great, we love the shrimp and spicy chicken bowls read more

Awesome chicken sandwich. We ate at the ballpark as the address in Yelp Led us to the wrong location.... We fixed it tho!!! read more

Hooked on The Tackle Box. This menu item stopped being served in August 2024. Spicy Walnut Shrimp comes loaded with jumbo shrimp. The shrimp are coated with rice flour that imparts a crispiness. The crunch texture of the coating fooled me. I thought I had taken a bite of shrimp with shell still on. Absolutely delicious. Lots of rice and pickled vegetables. Could feed two people. Tempura Broccoli would bring joy to kids who hate veggies. The Neighborhood Bird roams supreme. One taste and you'll have something to cluck about. No alcohol served. Limited seating. read more

Ekiben - Inside and menu - Asian Fusion Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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I have been wanting Ekiben forever and finally made it happen. I got the Tofu Brah bun and was going to eat it at home but it smelled so good just sat in my car savoring every last bite. It was so unbelievably good. Beautifully prepared and presented. The lady at the counter was so friendly greeting me and quickly got my order, which was ready well ahead of when Toast said it would be. A+. Can't wait to go back. read more

Ekiben - Tofu Brah Bun - Asian Fusion Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

This was my first time visiting this particular Ekiben location! I came specifically to try the chicken box, which was a temporary menu item. I came basically as soon as they opened, so I was the only person in the restaurant. I had a bit of a wait, but I figured it was because I was likely the first order of the day. There are a few stools inside and picnic tables outside if you want to eat in, but the space is more designed for takeout. Inside feels clean and they have really neat artwork and photos on the wall. I really really enjoyed the chicken, which is no surprise for something from Ekiben. You get three wings, but they were HUGE - a drum and a flat per "one" wing, and they were just large wings in general. Between the amount of chicken and all of the rice, I was able to get three meals out of my one order! The wings are covered in a General Tso's sauce and are perfectly sweet/savory/spicy. A bit of chicken, rice, and pickled veggies is truly the perfect bite - everything just balanced so well together. Ekiben is a staple in Baltimore and for good reason. Just writing this review and thinking about the food I ate is making me want to go back! read more

Ekiben - huge chicken wing! - Asian Fusion Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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The food here is insane and soooo worth the wait. It's delicious, it's filling, and the portions are gigantic! We came on a Saturday evening before catching a show at Illusions and it was packed. We waited a while, and they actually messed up our order - but all was well because the two rice bowls we ended up with were more than enough to feed four of us! I will live and die by the Tofu Brah bun or bowl, it is consistently fresh, delicious, and packed full of flavors. And, of course, you can never go wrong with the Neighborhood Bird, I prefer it as a bun but it is so dang good as a bowl, too! If you haven't been to Ekiben yet, you should take this as your sign! read more