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

See all

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

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

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

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

See all

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

See all

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

See all

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

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

See all

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

See all

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

See all

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

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

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

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

See all

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

See all

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

See all

A destination worth visiting-even if it is just the fried tofu or bird in a bun. Order at a fast food counter. Not many seats. Just two picnic tables and benches. Menu has like 8 items on it and there is a special or two and Thai ice tea and a black tea option. read more

See all

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

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

See all

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

See all

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

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

See all

I got takeout of the Neighborhood Bird Bowl. I placed my order in the restaurant and had to wait about 15 minutes for my order which was longer than expected so I recommend placing your order ahead of time. My only complaint with the food was it was very hard to eat/cut with a plastic fork and knife. I had to wait till I got home to use metal cutlery to actually eat it but once I did it was amazing. read more

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

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

I tried the Peking rib bowl and got it with an order of the Knife cut chili noodle and all of it was outstanding. I want to thank Carla and the entire staff at this location for their warm and professional service. read more

I had been looking forward to this for so long. This was the freshest I've ever had Ekiben because I have never dined at the location. I appreciated the seating and very kind attentive service! I was super excited for the release of the vegan option for my bestie - also, the tempura broccoli is vegan! I always forget how BIG the neighborhood bird is hehe. I prefer the bun to the bowl for sure. The chicken is always super flavorful and moist; I love how perfectly sauced it is and the complementary flavor of the pickle. It's so filling to have the bun, I had to save the rest of my broccoli for later but it remained crisp and delicious. I need to come back to eat more! I want to try the garlic chili noodles with beef, the tackle box, and the chicken wings next! read more

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

See all

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

See all

This past weekend I was able to visit Ekiben for a tasting. I have tried Ekiben before on my own and was super surprised with the flavorfulness of their items. Everything was cooked to perfect and I think their sauces out shine any sauces I have ever tried in my entire life. I really appreciate how kind and caring the staff is at this location and very much enjoyed my time this past weekend. I wish their location was a little bigger inside but the cozy and communal vibe it gives right now makes total sense. I would recommend everyone coming here and bringing a friend because the staff will 100% take care of you and help you decide the best choices in food to get here. I will be back 100% read more

I always eat at the fells point location but I decided to try this location today. It was just as awesome. I got the garlic noodles with tofu. Soooooo delicious. It was very flavorful and saucey. I'm hooked. This location is in a residential neighborhood so parking can be tight. It's fairly small inside (I think only about 4 people can sit in) so luckily I was able to find a quick spot to run in and grab my food. Overall, the location was clean and neat. My order was ready fairly quickly and the employee was very friendly. read more

Ekiben - Garlic noodles with tofu - Asian Fusion Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

I've been in the Baltimore area for this long and had never been to Ekiben!? I stopped by a little after lunch and was greeted with a smile and friendly hello from Lord Joe A (name on the receipt), who was working the register. He had such a warm and friendly demeanor. I let him know it was my first time and he gave me a run down of the menu. I ordered the two most popular items, the Neighborhood Bird (spicy) and the Broccoli Tempura. I decided to stay and eat because I had to answer some emails. There is small L-Shaped table area with four stools to eat, but most people were carrying out. The playlist was creating vibe while I waited for my food! My order came out quickly and first I tried the broccoli. When I tell you this is the best broccoli I've ever had. So fresh and so much flavor! If I wasn't greedy, I would have had broccoli to take home. I was impressed on the size of all items! The Neighborhood Bird was so big that I only could eat half of the sandwich. It was delicious, crisp, spicy and the bun was soft. Chef's Kiss! I can't wait to come back to try more things. I need to make up for lost time.. For inquiring minds, the leftover bird heated up nicely in the air fryer! These are leftovers that you definitely want to guard with your life! read more

See all

Ok SO I have been to this spot twice now, albeit a different location-it's just as Poppin. The spot is small and really only enough seating for four at this particular location but that's what's kinda dope about it. Grab ya food and GO... or stay if there is room. The spicy shrimp snack is absolutely incredible - they're so good and a must get. We also ordered the neighborhood bird which was delish! Packed with flavors - a kick cause of the curry and sweet because of the pickles, top it off with diced mint and a fluff bun and you surely have a banger! The 45 min drive to get there is well worth it! read more

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

See all

Ekiben is quickly making a presence in the DMV/Baltimore area and I'm all for it. BLUF - the food is delicious, like everything I ordered has been great. The locations themselves don't offer the best seating for groups/accessibility, so I would probably get it to go. That being said, a lot of their food is crispy/fried, so the less you travel with it, the more delicious it'll be. My recommendation? Find a nearby spot (or a curbside) and enjoy as soon as possible for the best experience. food specifics: The chicken sandwich: I believe their neighborhood brd chicken sandwich is their staple and for good reason. It's everything you want in a spicy chicken sandwich. Their spicy sauce has a good kick for those who don't do as well with spicy foods. The sandwich comes with bao buns that complement the sandwich well. The chicken itself is super crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. Definitely recommend if you haven't tried Ekiben before. That being said, I've never had success with eating this sandwich and not getting my hands saucy (bring a napkin) crispy shrimp bowl: The sides that come in the bowl are pretty much the same sides that come in the other bowl items here (that's not a bad thing). Their pickled veggies are delicious and the rice is solid. The shrimp is definitely the main star of the entree. It's a bit pricey ($22), so it was nice to see they weren't shy about the portion size. Much like the chicken, it was deliciously crispy, the seasoning was on point, and the shrimp was tender to the bite. Great dish. broccoli tempura: Honestly wasn't expecting much with this item, but was pleasantly surprised. The tempura gives it a nice solid crisp, but the seasoning is on point. It's got a little sweetness to it without being overbearing. Excellent side item for most things on the menu. service/ambiance: The staff I've interacted with has always been super friendly and nice. They checked in on us to make sure everything was good and were friendly about everything. The decor and ambiance are cool/modern, but Ekiben tends to have smaller locations. Definitely a cool/nostalgic vibe with pictures/art about anime and 90s show which I believe is a homage to the owners' childhood. seating: As mentioned earlier, I don't know that I'd recommend necessarily eating here as a group, but it's doable. Currently there's 4 seats on the inside and 2 picnic tables on the outside (curbside). read more

See all

Ekiben never disappoints. Their flavors are so complex, balanced, and unique, the serving sizes are filling, and I always leave feeling happy. The spicy bird on a bun is a little messy to eat, but it's still worth it. I'm obsessed with the pickled veggies and all of the crunchy toppings. Their locations are small with only a few seats. It's meant for take out, which is fine but the buns sometimes don't travel well for very long. They can get a little soggy, but honestly still delicious. I enjoy the vibes, the music, and the employees there. read more

See all

Originally we were planning to dine in, but realized it's a very small area to sit inside the restaurant when we arrived. We ended up doing takeouts. The shrimps in the Crispy Shrimp Bowl are huge and tasty! The cashier at the checkout is friendly! Waiting time is a little longer than expected, it's understandable since they have lots of customers waiting to get their orders. We should do the online order before arriving next time, hopefully that will have less time waiting for the food! read more

Friend recommended this place after our workout, and wow the fried chicken is amazing here! Neighborhood Bird (Spicy) 10/10 - chicken was juicy and tender! Multiple portions of chicken given - breading was perfect (not too thick or thin), crispy, and great blend of spices - sweet and spicy sauce + cilantro on top - came w/ rice, pickled carrots, onions, and pickles The inside is very small with limited space to eat, but there's one table outside at the side of the restaurant. Staff was very welcoming and kind! He checked up on us outside to ask how our food was -- it was delicious! read more

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

See all

I've never had a bao bun so life changing. It was so freaking good. Ekiben has been on my list to try for a while, so I'm glad it was. This location is take out only and the inside is pretty small. I placed my order online and my order was ready pretty quickly (~15 min). I ordered the crispy shrimp bowl and spicy bird bun. Let's talk about the size of this bun. It's the size of a burger bun which doesn't effect the taste. I'm not a bao expert so that's all I'll say about it. The chicken was fried perfectly. The flavor, Ethiopian spices, and tenderness married well. Together it's all really good but prepare to get a little messy; the fried chicken just won't stay in between the buns. The shrimp bowl was also really good. The shrimp was fried well and flavorful. I saved the other half for the next day and after microwaving it, they still had some crunch to it! Will definitely be back. read more

Ekiben - Asian Fusion Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

One of the best spots in Baltimore, the food here is phenomenal. It's a must show in Baltimore, with amazing service and a great inside area! read more