Ekiben is still the one. I'm keeping that original bowl in business, but when I'm in the mood to throw down, the fried chicken bowl is everything. I placed an online order while I was in whole foods, and the order was ready by the time I finished shopping (yes, I went to the grocery store and ordered take-out directly after)! They have a small seating area in the front of the shop, but that's okay because I need the privacy of my home to enjoy the bowl the way I need to! Also, a Special s/o to whoever was on the aux cord playing the new Megan Thee Stallion album! read more

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Ordered from here on a Friday evening; would definitely recommend ordering online bc the wait time can be pretty long (ours was 45 min). Not too much indoor or outdoor seating, so we ate outside Broadway Market. The Neighborhood Bird Bun, Tofu Brah Bowl, and Tempura Broccoli were all delicious. The highlights for me were the tofu nuggets in the bowl and the bao bun of the chicken sandwich! read more

Went around 1pm on a Monday. There was a line which moved quickly and a wait. Wait was quite long - probably around 30 minutes. Despite the crowd we were able to get a seat. We got the neighborhood bird on a bao bun and it was absolutely delicious. read more

Consistently great food and great service. A Baltimore staple. If I ever have someone visiting Baltimore, this is one of the places I have them try. read more

I tried Ekiben after hearing so many good things and it definitely lived up to the hype. The food was bold, flavorful, and really unique, especially the chicken bun -- messy in the best way. It's more of a quick, casual spot with limited seating, but absolutely worth it for the food alone. read more

If you live in Baltimore, you've probably heard of Ekiben. I've been trying to get here since I tasted one of their sandwiches at a YELP event! So, on a sunny day, my partner and I made a detour and picked up some food. The best part of the sandwich, IMO, is the bao bun on which it is served! We both got the neighborhood bird. I've gotta tell you, that chicken is fried! It was nice & crunchy on the outside, but moist on the inside. The combination of the crunchy fried chicken and the soft, warm bao bun is tantalizing! Then you've got that sauce and the pickle to make everything right. We also ordered the red beans. When our order was ready we discovered they had only gave us one when we thought we ordered two. They were nice enough to give us the second order. My partner also ordered the tempura broccoli (which I didn't think was much tempura'd, but she was cool with it). I got the pho spiced cheesecake eggroll. I was so full from the sandwich that I only ate half. It was good though. We'll definitely be back for more. read more

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I mean 10/10 crispy chicken full of spices, amazing sauce, and soft bao bun that isn't dry. Probably the best sandwich I've had in Baltimore. The people behind the counter were very nice as my friends and I took our time looking at the menu and gave us recommendations based on what we were looking for. The place is kind of small but they do have places outside to sit down and eat which we did. read more

Ekiben - Spicy neighbourhood bird bun - Asian Fusion Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Finally found it. Fast service, smaller than expected but appreciated indoor space and a restroom to use. Pickled items are really delicious! The chicken was light but 3 orders showed that the chicken was undercooked. That affected the experience of the bowl. The buns are yummy! read more

The best Asian fusion food I've had in a long time. Everything tasted amazing and this is an easy 5/5 star. Tempera broccoli was crispy and light. So flavorful. The toppings on top tasted very fresh. read more

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Still love this place! Guess it wouldn't be considered "cheap" anymore, but still worth it. I still love the neighborhood bird, and usually get a side of the tempura broccoli with it. I went today around 12pm (on a Saturday) and although they don't have much seating, I was able to secure a spot. Recommend to order online ahead of time! read more

Ekiben - Asian Fusion Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Food is still really good. Amazing steamed buns. Tofu Brah was excellent as usual. We also got the Ancho Chili Pork, and that was excellent as well. The sauce went really well with the bun and was able to soak a lot of it up. It was a great fusion combination! My first experience eating here a few years ago was not great as I did not realize this place wasn't a family friendly spot (crowded, limiting bench seating, small, and very loud and explicit music). This time, we went early on a weekday, and the wait wasn't bad and it was easy to get a seat. Did not bring my kids, and it was much more enjoyable experience. read more

Hole in the wall feel, but gigantic flavors! Neighborhood chicken bowl (mild): 5/5, A unique concoction of juicy fried chicken and a sauce to die for. Neighborhood chicken bun (spicy): 5/5, Just when you think that nothing can top the bowl, the bun kicks you into outerspace. It can basically be described as a bao burger with that crispy curry chicken and sauce in between pillowy rice buns. Crispy Shrimp bowl: 5/5. The price is hefty but this dish rises to the challenge. Spicy Walnut Shrimp bowl: 5/5, this was my favorite of the 4 dishes. The prawns are large and absolutely delicious. Price: 4/5 Service:5/5 Ambiance: 2/5. This is not a kid friendly environment as there was very loud music playing with very lewd content and vulgar language. So beware. read more

I knew this place was going to be good when my friend's meat-loving husband recommended I order the tofu and ramen broccoli. I had never seen this man order a vegetarian dish in his life, never mind two! He had the right idea though. This was arguably the best tofu I've had in my life. There was so much food that I'm glad I only ordered this. I will be back to order the ramen broccoli and some of the buns off their menu. My partner had a chicken bun that was also delicious. Also special thanks to the manager(?) or owner who gave me some recommendations about where to stay in the area. The place is also super funky and the staff were extremely hard working and attentive. I now understand why this is a Baltimore staple! read more

I've come here once a year for the last 7 years. Good every time. I have family in Baltimore and we would visit family there. We always go to Ekiben together... how can they keep up the consistency of being this good? Kudos to them. I try something new every time too. Neighborhood Bird. Solid. Tempura Broccoli. Solid. Soft-shell Crab Bun. Solid. Solid! Solid! Solid! Long live Ekiben!!!! read more

I've stopped by here many times when I was in the area. I brought a couple of friends from out of state to introduce them to Ekiben. This place has never disappointed me with its food and service. The only downside is that it's small, so finding a place to sit depends on luck. If it's crowded, you can always get the food to carry out and walk to the Inner Harbor to enjoy it there (though it is a bit of a walk from this place to the Inner Harbor). Anyway, the food is always as good as it gets. Highly recommended! read more

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

Tl;dr amazing fusion chicken sandwich Came here for lunch and had a great chicken sandwich. The chicken is fried excellently. It's not too heavy and has a subtle curry flavor that pairs well with the sambal mayo. The cucumbers and mint keep it feeling fresh and not too heavy. read more

The food here is a must try!! Great Service, Excellent Food and great vibe! WISH THEY HAD ONE IN LAS VEGAS NV. Every time I travel for business out here, it's a must stop. To the owners, if you guys had one in Vegas it would be packed non-stop, just saying read more

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**always amazing food, friendly service I've gone to Ekiben no less than 10 times! I first went 5 years ago, but have been going more regularly in the last year. I'm always so happy when I come! My favorite is the neighborhood bird. The curry flavor is strong and the chicken is SO juicy. It's super messy to eat because of the large amount of delicious sauce, but I don't mind at all! The bun is also pillowy soft. I also love how Ekiben releases seasonal items to try. They partner with local chefs sometimes. The only seasonal item I did not like was the beef noodles (I felt the fusion was not done well because the ratio of cilantro to noodles was way too high). Staff are always nice and friendly. Food comes out really fast! The stores are all small, so be prepared to either take out or wait a long time for a seat. It's pretty lively in there! Overall, highly recommend!! read more

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Amazing! You have got to try this place for yourself bc it's a party in your mouth! The chicken is moist and flavorful, and this is enough for two people and a very hungry one! Can't wait to try more of their menu! read more

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

Wow! Did you see this place on the Yelp top 100? Small place with two stand up tables for 2 and about 6 seats. A lot of carry out. The food is full of flavor. First everything seems made to order so you do need to wait about 20 minutes for the food. First there's a fountain soda machine or three bottles drinks (non carbonated). Thai tea. Grapefruit. Yuzu lemonade. The Grapefruit was great. Got the tempura broccoli. Amazing. Lightly breaded so you barely notice. Just enough for the crunch. It also had onions and garlic. Extremely flavorful. Cheesesteak egg rolls! Not greasy. Very tasty. Cursory. Recommend. The neighborhood bird. The bread bun was so soft and delish. The fried chicken was crispy and tasty. The curry was good and the veggies completed it. I got the mild. I'm sure the hot had even more flavor. Highly recommend. Know ahead of time there may not be seats or room to eat in the restaurant. read more

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Popped in for a bite after a flight. Great options. Small restaurant with limited seating but most people seemed to take theirs to go or they ate and went. read more

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Completely understand the hype. Food was so fresh and flavorful!! Small establishment so definitely not a sit down experience but it's so close to fells point; easy to walk over to enjoy your meal by the water. Tried the tofu Brah and tempura broccoli, both of which were perfect. It was very busy, don't be surprised if you are quoted a 25-30 minute wait time. read more

Been a while since my last review, but this hits every time. The braised beef box was a new try and WOW this was a winner. Highly recommend this one, although the neighborhood bird on a bun is never a bad pick. The service is fast, friendly, def be ready to wait shortly and take to go. But definitely stop by! read more

Ekiben consistently bangs out the most incredible, flavorful food in Baltimore! The tofu brah will always be my favorite item on the menu in both the bowl and bun form. The chili noodles were so yummy as well. I am always amazed at the quick service and the good vibes! 10/10 as always. read more

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Delicious sandwiches and bowls. I tried the soft shell crab bao bun and it was great. It was my first time having soft-shell crab so I wasn't sure what to expect but I would definitely get it again, read more

Ekiben - Soft shell crab - Asian Fusion Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Never disappoints. The neighborhood bird is easily my favorite sandwich of all time. Grabbed this order to go, as it was Saturday and quite packed, walked a few blocks to have them in the square. Lovely lunch. Overall, their menu is incredible. It's especially great if you have vegetarians in your group, lots of options. Sadly, I love a classic fountain soda which they don't sell. read more

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

One of my favorite restaurants in Baltimore. Their chicken sandwiches are incredible, shrimp snacks are delightful, tofu nuggets and crunchy and savory, and broccoli tempura are crispy and sweet! They also have an insane garlic noodle dish! Definitely come here if you are in the area. read more

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I've been recommended this place by several people over the past few months but only made the trip with some coworkers earlier this week. Even though we came after lunchtime there were still many customers, the food came out relatively quick (~20 mins). Thai milk tea drink 5/5, not overly sweet and flavored properly, I would get this again Tempura Broccoli 5/5, since my visit I have daydreamed of eating this again. It's not coated entirely in bread/panko flakes (see photo below) like I had previously imagined but instead it's grilled and fried to have a crunchy exterior and a soft interior. The seasoning it comes with only adds to the flavor profile, this was so delicious. The Original Bun 4/5, I opted for the bun over the bowl as I wasn't super hungry and wanted to try out the bread they use. The meatballs inside were juicy and well seasoned and the veggies were super fresh with flavors that burst on your tongue. However, I wasn't a big fan of the bread they used for the bun. What I can only describe as a bread version of just a plain bao bun; I didn't feel like it complimented the inside of the sandwich and it just tasted a little overly chewy and unseasoned. I think if they wanted to stick w/ this choice of bread maybe they could try coating it with egg wash and toasting it a bit? Otherwise; I ended up using a fork to eat most of my sandwich and the rest within the bun itself. I would definitely come here again (and plan to!) as well as recommend the place. read more

Ekiben - The Original Bun (4/5) - Asian Fusion Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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Great food. I had the spicy chicken with the rice and veggies. Wow! The broccoli appetizer was amazing too. So crunchy.

Ole reliable. You have to try the spicy bird bowl. Two massive pieces of chicken. Fresh veggies. Delicious rice. Made so quickly and by people that care about their food. Ekiben is a baltimore staple for a reason, they are amazing people that care about the community and their food. Hampdens location is tiny, but cozy! There's some bar seating so we typically take to go but you can definitely eat in! Get extra sauce. It's amazing. read more

So impressed, the chicken and sauce are without a doubt the star of the show. It is juicy with a solid church and excellently seasoned. It tasted fresh and was a decent size. I had a great experience overall here staff are friendly,food comes out in a timely manner and there is street parking near the restaurant. The restaurant is pretty small so I wouldn't expect to get seating if. Your coming around peak times but the hype and praise is well deserved, I look forward to my next visit. read more

Ekiben - Spicy chicken bun - Asian Fusion Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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The restaurant has a great vibe with good service. The food took a while so order ahead. I ordered the chicken sandwich. I didn't really like the bun. I'm more of a breast chicken sandwich guy so the thigh wasn't my favorite, although the flavor was good. read more

Ekiben - Asian Fusion Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

This place was stand out. A QSR style restaurant. Some very unique flavors that blended so nicely. The fry on everything was to a perfect crisp. The shrimp were out of this world. The noodles were thick and chewy. Very busy limited seats however lots of counter spaces. read more

Ekiben - Pork in garlic noodles. Crispy shrimp snack. - Asian Fusion Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

This place is off the chain! Amazing fried chicken on a soft bao bun with a spicy, sweet, sticky orange sauce like Chik fil A if it were gourmet, Japanese and southern fusion! The sweet pickles, the tempura battered broccoli; all of it simply delicious and satisfying. Paired with the hip hop and rap music and anime wall art, perfection. Run, don't walk to Ekiben! You won't be sorry. read more

Ah I'd forgotten how amazing Ekiben is. Visited Baltimore this past weekend for a wedding and had the luxury of having the Taiwanese chicken curry bun at the reception! Just dripping with perfection. The sauce is incredible!!! Also can't forget the delicious tempura broccoli (even friends who are particularly carnivorous love this veggie side). read more

Delicious! Tofu nuggets...yes please! They were crispy and topped with fresh cilantro and peanut sauce. The noodles with pork were divine. I wish the portions were smaller so I'd find reason to order the broccoli too. Portions are huge and very shareable. Very unique short menu perfect for take out. read more

Delicious - ordered the tofu brah bun, ancho chile pork bun and ramen broccoli to go. Food was ready early. Place was hopping on a Saturday night - you love to see it! read more

Can you imagine going to a place which serves a fusion bao? Well, we were surprised to see how amazing this place was. They had amazing interiors of beautiful service where everyone is welcoming and suggesting what to try and a great hospitality Let's talk about the food. I've always heard and experienced amazing fried chicken from Asian eateries well anything fried Asians have aced it. The fried chicken bao was out of the world. It's a must try and if you are a vegetarian or a vegan, they have options for you too. We tried tofu and it was amazing as well. They have various types of drinks to complement the food eatery, and must try. read more

Ekiben - Tofu bao - Asian Fusion Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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My sister got takeout for us before the Springsteen concert and I had never tried Ekiben before. Even though it was takeout, the spicy fried chicken was still hot and crispy and the bao bun was not soggy. Deliciousness overall - and I ate the whole sandwich no problem! The tempura broccoli side was not so crisp (i didn't realize until just now when looking at the menu that it was tempura) but still delicious since I wasn't expecting it to be crispy. Now that I know, I can see the benefit of getting it in-restaurant as opposed to takeout. I don't typically like cilantro in any of my food, but didn't mind it at all in both items. I look forward to more Ekiben when I'm next in Baltimore! read more

Ekiben lives up to the hype! Almost everything was sauced up, crispy, perfectly cooked and packed with flavor. Ironically the one item that was a little disappointing was the tempura broccoli- until we asked for some soy aioli on the side which really took it up a notch. Loved the buns themselves, the fluffy but dense texture is closer to a japanese steamed bun (nikuman) than bao bun that most people are familiar with. My friend said the spicy chicken was pretty mild despite reviews. I was surprised to find that it was a fast casual place so there's a bit of seating outside and two outdoor tables but otherwise you might need to take it to go! Will be back! read more

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