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    Ekiben

    4.7 (2.1k reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 3:30 pm, 4:30 PM - 10:00 PM
    Updated 1 week ago

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    EKIBEN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Hipster
    Casual
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Ekiben

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    Lana S.

    Review is for takeout only! I ordered the FAMOUS Maryland softie sandwich a few days in advance! I'm so glad I did because I heard it sells out fast. This sandwich is pricey at ~$40. My friend and I split the cost since we were planning on having a second lunch after this lol. The sandwich is a crab cake + softshell crab on a very soft bao bun. It was pretty good but it was alittle lukewarm since we were late for our pick up (so our bad). Very good sandwich with delectable flavors with the crab cake full of meat and the crunchiness of the softshell crab. Pretty solid sandwich! Im not sure if its worth the price point but I appreciated as is.

    Rice and beans side
    Shivani G.

    Everyone has told me that Ekiben is a must-try in Baltimore and now I understand why. My mom and I got to Ekiben a little after 5pm on Saturday and it was packed. While we waited for our food, many continuously piled in to order or pick up their food. I'd recommend calling in your order a head of time because they get pretty backed up, but the food is well worth the wait. I got the Tofu Brah bun and my mom got the chili noodles with pork and a side of rice and beans. All of the food was so flavorful and the portions were generous. The bun itself was so light and fluffy, and the tofu was crispy. They didn't skimp on the pork in the chili noodles - about half the dish was really tender pork. The rice and beans were nice and spicy too and my mom loved them! This is more of a grab and go kind of place, but there are two outdoor benches and some countertop seating inside

    Spicy neighborhood bird bun
    David P.

    I was obligated to pay them a visit during my visit by everyone who has ever lived in or visited Baltimore. Locations are off the beaten path. Flavors were all there and I appreciated the bao bun to some extent. Though it took me a while to figure out how I was supposed to eat it. Eventually figured it out but wasn't keen on getting the top and bottom in my mouth at the same time. I ended up mostly just having the thin bottom half with the sauce and pickle. That on its own was plenty filling. Having lived many years in Japan, I found it difficult to wrap my head around the name which translates as the bento one buys at train stations ahead of long trips. Nothing on the menu resembles anything remotely similar.

    Neighborhood Bird
    Frankie L.

    Ekiben! The one place I enjoy coming back to. I got the usual chicken sandwich. The chicken was super crispy and the sauce was divine. It was very crowded when I went on Saturday. There was loud music playing within the small location, which made it a little overwhelming waiting for our food. The food was made very quickly which was good. You can order online for a quicker pick up.

    Entrance
    Izzy F.

    Ekiben is definitely on of those places you hear being talked about all the time in Baltimore so id figure to give it a try! I ordered two main dishes and was originally told it would take about 15 minutes, but it ended up taking double that, so just keep that in mind if you're in a rush like we were. The space itself is pretty small too, so it's more of a grab and go place. The Neighborhood Bird bowl was a HUGE portion. It was kind of spicy but the pickled onions helped even it out. I also tried the ancho chile pork bun. The bun itself tasted amazing,but it was a bit difficult to eat. The bottom got pretty soggy while the top bun was thick and tall, so it kind of fell apart while eating.

    Neighborhood bird bun and bowl
    Cynthia C.

    Amazing food, reasonably priced, and absolutely massive portions. I'd highly recommend any of their chicken dishes, it's just marinated well. Whether you get it in bowl form or on a bun, it's going to be a gigantic portion. Seating is fairly limited inside, so I'd recommend doing take out. I'd especially recommend takeout in the summer just with the open-concept kitchen and the heat from outside, it's pretty tough to stay cool inside and the music can be a bit loud. Also, shoutout to the staff here! Since I dined in, I watched them crank out order after order with a smile on their faces the whole time.

    Neighborhood chicken bowl
    Theresa S.

    Wow! You must get the neighborhood chicken no matter what, everything else is still good but that chicken is bomb! Neighborhood chicken bowl mild: delicious the chicken breading is crispy and has the perfect curry taste without being overpowering. The pickled veggies with it is a great palate cleanser and balances all the flavors. I got it mild and while I was nervous of the spice level being too much for me (I'm a weenie) it was perfect, the kind of spice that actually adds to the dish instead of hurting you. Tempura broccoli: So good! Crunchy without being oily, it had a bunch of herbs on it the brightened the whole dish. Ancho chile pork bun: perfectly smokey and meaty without being fatty. This one we really struggled to eat as an actually sandwich because the pork is cubed so it just falls out the sides. The buns are a fun addition and have good texture so I'm happy we tried it, but if I went back I would be fine without it. Crab Rangoon: I was a bit skeptical about 1 crab Rangoon being $10 but that is because o was thinking of my midwestern type of crab rangoons. This was PACKED with actual crab and not a whole lot of cream cheese so the price made more sense when I figured that out. Still very good, but did not stand out amongst the rest. The place was so cool inside, they had about 7-10 bar seats inside with 2 tables outside, I recommend taking this to go. The service was nice and quick, you can tell they have a very efficient process. My only suggestion would be to turn the music down a little bit because it was hard for me and my husband to just talk to each other about plans that we had for the rest of the day. So happy this was featured on the yelp top 100 places so that we could try it!

    Marilyn D.

    We ordered food for a party, they thought of everything. The food was amazing and more than enough to feed with what we bought for 20 people. If anyone went hungry well they didn't go back for more. The chicken was wonderful, food ready on time, and packed for serving

    Bar
    Alicia A.

    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.

    Spencer W.

    recommended to me & definitely best spot! Very flavorful and delicious AND interesting! Small shop with counter seating. Had tempura broccoli and chicken bun sando. Looking forward to coming back to try the other items!

    Megan S.

    very very very good ethiopian x asian fusion in baltimore. the buns are so soft and just like the ones you get in asia, with unique flavoring. i really hope they can open one in orange county because i cant fly to baltimore everytime i want this!! their broccoli is also very tasty and packed with flavor. i'm not much of a veggie person but their seasoned veggies make me want to be.

    SOFTIE
    Adriane Carl S.

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

    Tempura broccoli
    Sue G.

    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

    Soft shell crab sandwich & crab Rangoon egg roll

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    Ekiben Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Ekiben

    Is this restaurant halal or kosher?

    This restaurant doesn't explicitly mark itself or any of its dishes as halal or kosher, but it is clear enough about the ingredients in each dish if you are concerned about those.

    Can I call and make a reservation?

    I don't think so. The indoor space is very small and casual. It seems like people grab a space if available or carry out.

    Are there any peanut products in the neighborhood bird bowl?

    Don't recall nuts as an ingredient, but you might want to contact them directly in case they use peanut oil. There was a note on the site saying soy is in almost everything and to contact them about allergies.

    Does this restaurant accept Venmo scan to pay?

    I'm not sure, but I don't think so.

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    Ekiben

    Ekiben

    4.7
    (169 reviews)
    1.0 mi
    $$

    Rarely do I visit a restaurant where the food looks exactly like the picture before you even take a…read morebite 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. The space was welcoming as well. The corner store ..... come on in. Come on in. Come on in. Top-notch all around

    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
    Menu/entrance
    Menu/entrance
    Chili noodles
    Chili noodles
    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!
    The Dara

    The Dara

    4.3
    (162 reviews)
    0.4 mi

    The food here was really good, but what stood out to me the most were the drinks and the overall…read morevibe of the restaurant. The Thai Arnold Palmer is a must-get. It was refreshing, unique, and easily one of my favorite things we ordered. We also tried a few drinks from the bar and everything was really good and well made. You can tell they put some thought into the drink menu instead of just having the usual cocktails. The food definitely delivered too. Everything we tried had great flavor and I'd happily come back to try more of the menu. I also really liked the atmosphere. The decorations were great and gave the restaurant a lot of personality. The ambiance was fun, comfortable, and made it feel like a place where you could hang out for a while instead of just coming in, eating, and leaving. Between the decor, lighting, music, and drinks, the whole place had a really good vibe. Overall, we had a great experience. The food was good, the atmosphere was great, and the drinks really made the place stand out. I'd definitely come back and I'm 100% ordering the Thai Arnold Palmer again.

    This place was very nice inside. Upscale, dark, woody, warm, inviting. I came in midway between…read morelunch and dinner on a Saturday, so it was not at all crowded. I ordered Nam Tok (beef salad) as an appetizer and Kao Soi as an entree. Coupled that with a Paulaner German Lager. The food was all good. The Nam Tok was a little sweeter (more Thai basil?) and less citrusy (less lemongrass?) than I expected. Had to request Nam Jim Jaew sauce to give it a little more zing. I had never had Kao Soi (chicken curry noodle dish) before, so I have no frame of reference to compare it to. It came with two chicken drumstick in it, which I was expecting. Love drumsticks, but it was more work than I had hoped for. Was more in the mood to just dig in and not to have to work for my supper so to speak. Flavors were good. No heat at all though, even at their 2 level. I will admit my tolerance is super high though, so not a good barometer to gauge off of. Service was fantastic! Thanks Samaria! Very helpful without being intrusive. The bill was $63 (with 2 beers), so not bad at all (especially for the Fells Point area). Unrelated to the restaurant, the parking here was a ridiculous $17 for 2 hours. Oof! Brutal! And the Union Wharf lot was almost empty. Street parking was non-existent. Overall: Service great! Food good, but not to die for. Decor very nice. Parking horrible!

    Photos
    Warm, woody, inviting interior
    Warm, woody, inviting interior
    Dumplings
    Dumplings
    Booth Table

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    Booth Table
    NiHao

    NiHao

    4.1
    (385 reviews)
    0.6 mi

    I've been wanting to try this spot for a while. I really want to go in person, but haven't been…read moreable to make it so decided to order via Grubhub. I ordered combo lo mein, pork soup dumplings, combo fried rice, and duck spring rolls. Everything was packed well and nice and hot upon arrival. Everything was very delicious. All of the items had good flavor and the portion sizes for the lo mein and rice were good. I'd like to see maybe four soup dumplings for the price, but definitely enjoyed them as well as the spring rolls. Overall, I very much enjoyed the food, as did my bf, and will make a point to go there in person very soon to try more menu items!

    First time visiting, I made a reservation online in advance and called to add someone to the…read morereservation the next day because a friend of ours wanted to join. We arrived for Friday $35 endless dim sum brunch, and the Host did not know who we were even though I had spoken with him today before, and I remembered his voice. So not a good start. We were sat upstairs, and we sat there for probably 20 minutes easy before we were even offered a beverage. It was when they first opened, but I would expect you to have staff ready. The hits just kept coming... The ambience downstairs was beautiful, but the ambience where we were sat was just lifeless. It didn't have the same punch. After we ordered some drinks, we decided on what we wanted from the menu. Some things were hit or miss, once they arrived to the table. The soup dumplings were just OK, but I guess I have really high expectations for that coming from NYC. The chicken lo mein wasn't bad per se, the veggie dumplings were delicious, the pork buns were well sauced. Some things I didn't like included the Szechuan beef, it lacked depth, and it was just too hot for my friends to eat. They really loved the fried rice and the sesame red bean balls. The scallion pancake everyone raved about was mid at best. I loved the curry sauce it came with, but it just was a mess to eat. The braised pork belly rolls were lovely, as was the cucumber salad, and the spring rolls. The Mongolian beef and the walnut dumplings were OK but nothing to write about beyond that they were basically flavorless. The cocktails were so so, but nothing that screamed for me to order another. The one highlight I will say is that they did come back to ask as if we wanted anything else multiple times. So I'm glad that they followed up on whether we want more food because some places just leave you be once they drop off. Maybe I'd give them another chance, but the answer is probably no... who knows. It was just generic, and imagining paying the prices that they had for not a $35 dim sum brunch per person, seemed egregious to me for such utterly mediocre food. So I guess I'm glad I came out on a Friday morning.

    Photos
    NiHao
    Puffy beef country steak
    Puffy beef country steak
    Grandma Braised Pork Belly

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    Grandma Braised Pork Belly
    Azumi

    Azumi

    3.9
    (793 reviews)
    0.5 mi
    $$$

    My friend and I came in on a Saturday night around 6pm without reservations but were able to snag a…read moretable at the bar. This friend moved out of Baltimore but said this was one of her favorite places! We ordered a few things to share because everything on the menu looked so good. We started with the crispy rice with tuna, and then split the spicy tuna tataki and yellowtail jalapeño rolls. I thought all of the food was delicious, but my friend loved it so much she said she'd dream about it. Azumi is also by the waterfront and has outdoor seating which is great for when the weather is nice - it was raining when we were there though. The only thing is that all this goodness does come at a price. If you're getting sushi, things do add up pretty quickly, but the entrees seemed pretty reasonably priced for a nice restaurant

    I'm sad to write a review for a friend who personally sought me out to tell me about their…read moreexperience this weekend when the visited to celebrate her husband's birthday. I haven't dined here before and might have heard of Azumi but I'm not too sure. She mentioned the portions sizes were small and her fish entree only came with miso dipping sauce and no other sides. Their server didn't inform them of this when originally ordering so she had to order additional sides after their entrees came. They also ordered wagyu fried rice and wagyu air fried rice (what's that?) She did say the fish was good but they all left hungry. These entrées, two cocktails plus two reg bevs came to over $200. The price wasn't a problem however they felt the value when it comes to quantity and price, left them looking for more. They choose Azumi for her husband's 60th birthday celebration and had to ask the server about how they would celebrate him since the check was about to arrive and nothing had happened. Their server asked if they were ordering something from the dessert menu and my friend declined. The server then came back with a small bowl of ice cream on top of a block of ice and three spoons . . . . She said they were all surprised and basically laughed at the "birthday" treat before them and how they were supposed to share the palm sized ice cream. She said multiple times they wouldn't go back and how disappointed her husband was with his birthday dinner experience while telling me the story. SMH I felt bad and asked her why she didn't ask me for a suggestion because yall know, we know who won't disappoint. She also didn't take any pics and I scolded her about that lol. I may have to fully recruit her to the Yelp family so she can do her research first although she stated her husband seen them on Tik Tok or IG. I have learned from that as well.

    Photos
    The bar is nice here!
    The bar is nice here!
    Spicy Tuna
    Spicy Tuna
    Old fashioned

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    Old fashioned

    Ekiben - asianfusion - Updated August 2026

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