Cameron Richardson

My wife and I went to Ekiben after being at a nearby brewery. This was our first time to one of their locations and it did not disappoint at all. We both got the spicy neighborhood bird bun and it was the greatest spicy chicken sandwich we have ever had. The chicken was flavorful and and crispy, the bun was soft and pillowy, and the sauce had the perfect amount of heat without drowning out the flavor of the sauce. I would recommend this place every single time and we will be going back very soon.

Brian Yutzy

The Neighborhood Bird Bowl was fantastic and way more than I could eat in a single meal. I got the spicy variant and was not disappointed. The pickled vegetables on the side go very well with the Taiwanese curry fried chicken. As I believe has been mentioned in other reviews, there is not a lot of seating space. Just a few bar stools. I was lucky and happened to hit it right in-between busy periods, so I didn't have a problem finding a sera but something to be aware of.

Ernie Lovelace

Super good food, service was nice, quick, and helps you understand how everything works. Music was great too 10/10!

+2

Maddie Moyer

Ekiben is one of the best spots in Baltimore! The food is amazing.. fresh, flavorful, and always delicious. The service is super fast and friendly, which makes the whole experience even better. On top of that, they’re giving free meals to government employees during the shutdown. Such an incredible gesture that shows how much they value their community. Ekiben is the kind of place that makes you proud to support a local business. Highly recommend!

Lucy Nothing

Yup. It is true. It was packed and for good reason. I had the neighborhood bird (not spicy) on a bun and it was very perfect 😊 the bun did get a bit soggy because it took me 30mins to get home, so the bottom part was a bit softer and squeezy, but it was delicious. The chicken is super juicy and tender, the outside is light and crispy, the sauce was like a honey bbq creamy thing with a bit of tang. The herbs complement it beautifully (i dont like cilantro but i always order things the way they were design and i tweak them, so i left some cilantro and it was great. Totally recommend. The rice bowl is probably great with that sauce 🤤 it was almost sweet, i will try the spicy next time

ThePracticalHow

Health: While fried food doesn’t lend itself to the most healthy diet, the blend of white rice, kimchi, and legitimate Asian/American fusion veggies tossed in soy sauce and not grilled in oil balances it out. Price: For this taste and portion size? Excellent. Though not particularly “low”. Definitely satisfying though. Experience: The most “alive” and “trendy” food scene in Baltimore. Small restaurant, big heart. I got my second meal there for free due to being a government medical researcher during furlough. But regardless, clean, convenient, and speedy. Great on all accounts. Taste: A genuinely unique Asian/American fusion. Where other locations will rehash food drowned in oil, this place takes the best American and East Asian food elements and balances them excellently. Asian sauces over fried chicken. White rice with kimchi. Large protein and veggie portions with rice accompaniment (that’s the actual way real Asian food is served by the way). Honestly unique and Amazing. Yeah I’m coming back here again. And I already have. So is everyone else in town. A core port of Baltimore’s food scene. A cornerstone of Asian/American fusion in general. Food and culture wise.

Anne S

Stop scrolling and stop in. It’s one of the best places I’ve ever ate! Flavorful and unexpected pairings. I sure love this spot. Good came quick for how busy they were. 1000/10.

Kirti Agarwal

Been here several times and I absolutely love Ekiben! As someone who usually sticks to vegetarian options, I was blown away by how flavorful and satisfying their food is. The Tofu Brah is hands down one of the best tofu dishes I’ve ever had – perfectly seasoned, crispy on the outside, and packed with flavor that makes you forget you’re even eating tofu. It’s comforting yet exciting at the same time.

Jonathan Schisler

So happy I made it here for lunch during my visit. Spicy chicken roll, probably the best one I've had. The curry brine (I think that's how they get that flavor) on the chicken thigh was so damn tasty. The roll was the sneaky star, cause that streamed bun was up for the task to contain the mighty bird. And the pickles, the secret to the chicken sandwich and again, tip top. If I come back to this Earth as a chicken, I would be happy to go out with team Ekiben, but only spicy 🔥. Broccoli ramen was amazing as well. The soy aoli was the perfect pairing. Would eat both again. Maybe today 🤪. They were slammed on a lunch rush, but the staff were cheerful and chatty and were working hard... It was appreciated. Not a lot of space to eat in, so plan accordingly.

Dwight Kenneth

Ekiben is one of those Baltimore spots you just have to try. We stopped in on a Friday afternoon right before the rush hit, which was perfect timing since it did get busy. I ordered the Neighborhood Bird and went for the spicy version. It took a little longer than I expected to come out, but honestly it was well worth the wait. The chicken was super juicy inside, perfectly crispy outside, with just the right amount of heat. Some people might find it overly spicy, but for me it was spot on. The herbal mayo added a rich, creamy balance that really tied it all together. The steamed bao buns themselves were excellent. Super soft and pillowy, they tasted fresh and likely made in-house or locally. Pro tip: Eat your sandwich as soon as you get it so the chicken keeps all its crunch and texture. It’s a fast-casual spot with both dine-in and takeout options. The interior was clean and inviting, and the bathrooms were well maintained. The staff was friendly and helpful even as the place got busier. Price-wise, my sandwich was about $14–$15. Sure, that might seem a bit much for a casual lunch, but the portion was solid and it definitely filled me up. All in all, Ekiben is a great spot in Baltimore for bold, flavorful food. If you’re craving a killer steamed bun sandwich, this is the place. Highly recommend checking it out. Rating: 4.5/5 stars.

+2

A G

Amazing food, perhaps the best in Baltimore. And portions are huge. Just wish they’d put slightly more sauce. But this is my go to place when in the city. I recommend that you absolutely try their bird bowl. And if you’re vegan, the “what the bird eats” is my second favorite dish. Everything I’ve tried here is amazing though.

Rahul Panchal

Amazing food, totally worth the taste. We ordered to go as we were group of 10 with 4 kids. Place is not big for group so takeout is best. Food we ordered: Appetizer Walnut shrimp (10/10) best Shrimp snacks (5/10) were very dry Pork ribs: (10/10) must try, not mentioned in the menu Entrees Neighborhood bird with buns: (10/10) Tofu rice bowls: (8/10) Ancho Chile pork: (8/10) If you are around, it's a must place to try for their buns and sauce they use.

+3

Jeremy Alfano

One of the best lunches I’ve ever had. I had the pleasure of stopping here on my way through Baltimore. My friends and I tried 3 dishes and every one was perfection. The broccoli tempura, the garlic noodles, and the spectacular neighborhood bird bowl. The seasoning and pairings of all the ingredients were well thought out and added layers of flavor to each bite. I can’t wait to go back and try more of the menu.

+1

Afnan Aqdus

Awesome Korean Chicken spot! It can get really busy and be super packed, so order ahead or be prepared to be patient for your order. This is more of a take-out spot as there is little seating. The chicken with rice was great, and I especially loved the pickled onions. Highly recommend a visit if you're in the Baltimore area.

+7

Nathan Jefferson

I ordered the chicken sandwich and tempura broccoli and both was amazing. Also the atmosphere was super compfortable and they treat their guest like real life human beings and I appreciated that. Will make this my little Saturday getaway.

Ahmad Jillani

This place was over-hyped all over TikTok and Instagram, so I had high expectations—but it was disappointing. The chicken was raw, and when I pointed it out to the server, he simply over-fried it instead of properly remaking it, which ruined the texture and taste. On the positive side, the vegetables and rice were fresh, and the sides were decent. However, that doesn’t make up for poor food handling and service. Would I go back? No. The hype doesn’t match the quality, and raw chicken is a deal-breaker.

Yiran Liu

The Neighborhood Bird Bun was legitimately one of the best things I've tasted in recent memory. It was also very unique as I have not seen this kind of combination of ingredients/flavors before. Initially I thought the price would probably not be worth it for just 1 bun but the portion was quite big and I'd be happy to pay that price if I wanted to eat this again. The big negative, at least for me was the extremely loud music with the bass turned up to 1000%. Maybe the employees like it (cannot be good for their ears) as well as their usual demographic but really was not for me. Practically speaking, the music made it difficult to hear the names when they called out the ready orders, obviously as well as engaging in conversation. Many times we couldn't tell if they said my name or not when an order was ready. If I get this again I will definitely do to go and put in an order ahead of time. Other than that, usually at these casual kind of places I don't have anything to say about the service but here the employees were noticeably very friendly. Eating the bun was very messy so be prepared for that.