Ekiben

Consistently great food and service. Tried almost everything on the menu and it’s all SO good. My favorites are the spicy neighborhood bird, tofu brah, shrimp snacks, the bun, and the ramen broccoli is to die for! pretty much the whole menu. We always have leftovers and that makes me so happy.

I have been wanting to try Ekiben for so long, and I finally got the chance to this weekend. The young lady at the register was patient with me as I looked over the menu, and was nice with making notes for the kitchen about my allergy. The food was what I expected and then some, I have never had such delicious shrimp before, and with the size it was definitely worth the price in my opinion. The neighborhood bird bowl was amazing too, I had enough for lunch and dinner the next day. The pickled veggies were refreshing, the chicken juicy and crispy, and the sauce on top is amazing. I cannot wait to come back (please open a location in the washington dc area!)

Ekiben has been on my Baltimore dining list for a long time, and it absolutely lived up to the hype. After seeing the never-ending lines at their Night Market pop-up in Fells Point, I finally made my way to their South Baltimore restaurant to try the famous Softie sandwich before it disappeared from the menu. The Softie is a masterpiece and one of the most creative sandwiches in Baltimore: a crispy soft shell crab paired with a jumbo lump crab cake, tucked into a pillowy bao bun with melted cheddar and bold sauces. I ordered the Ekiben Softie, seasoned with a Cantonese dry rub that delivers incredible flavor. The Maryland Softie, with Chesapeake remoulade and Old Bay, is next on my list. Both are indulgent, inventive, and uniquely Baltimore. This location is the only one offering the Softies, but the regular menu at Ekiben Baltimore is just as impressive. Their Asian fried chicken sandwich on bao is a local favorite, and the fried broccoli has a cult following. Other standouts include garlic oil noodles, sticky ribs, and crispy shrimp bowls. It’s the type of menu that makes you want to return with friends and order everything to share. The space is casual with limited seating inside and picnic tables outside, but the vibe is vibrant and welcoming. The staff was warm and attentive, and the music gave the restaurant an energy that made waiting enjoyable. With three locations across the city, Ekiben has earned its reputation as one of the best restaurants in Baltimore. It’s inventive without being gimmicky, crave-worthy without being overdone, and absolutely worth the line. I can see why food lovers consistently rank Ekiben among the top Baltimore spots. I’m already planning my next visit.

First time visiting this establishment and I was very impressed. Minor issues with my order being overlooked but the young man at the register made sure I was taken care of and showed great customer service skills. Ordered the fried chicken bao bun, fried chicken rice bowl and was given the strawberry matcha and red apple sparkling water. All amazing!

How can you not love Ekiben? Likeee huh? Amazing food. I love the Todu brah bowl. This location is super tight inside. Since most people do grab and go, it’s fine. It feels a little claustrophobic sometimes, though.

All of their food is delicious but the broccoli tempura is otherworldly. Honest, never had broccoli with such amazing flavor. If you're a broccoli lover, try this! Crisp, yet soft, and so many flavors that all roll up it to this amazing little dish. A million out of 10. Not to be beat, do not miss!

Believe the hype. Food is so good and flavorful. I got the spicy chicken bun and my girlfriend got the pork bun. The pork bun didn’t have the flavor profile like what I expected, but it was still good! And the chicken one was great!! The broccoli was really good too. The vibe in there was nice and welcoming, the music was a little loud but it wasn’t overbearing. Will definitely be coming back!