Ekiben

Fresh, fresh, FRESH! Everything we had was pouncing with flavor and smells. The chicken was soft, tender and flavored with Cantonese spices, though the steam bun was lacking in moisture, but the wonderful sauce made up for it. The tempura broccoli is something I'll dream of for weeks to come, sweet, savory onions, mint, and spice.

The shrimp were fresh, large and deliciously crunchy with light but flavorful seasonings and wonderful pickled onions. The homemade pickle cucumbers were legit!

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.

We moved away a couple of years ago after being loyal customers for a few years at the farmers market and the fells point store. My husband was going to be in the area tonight and offered to pick up takeout. Order was missing my tofu order and the original meatball bun looked so sad compared to in the past. We don't expect food to travel perfectly, but we do expect the order to be right. The staff even assured my husband that "this is everything", he took their word for it. This is one of our go to places to eat or get takeout when we are in the area but the last few times things have not been great. No phone number to call to report a wrong order, so I feel we have only here to report bad things and I'd rather it be handled privately than leaving a bad review, but here we are...

I updated this review from its original 1 star because we were able to contact them and they made things right. :)

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!

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.

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!

This is was first spot I went to when we visited Baltimore! There are a few tables enough for around 7-10 people to sit comfortably but the vibe is more of a pick up spot.

The fried shrimp had such a crunchy outside and big and juicy inside!
The bao/sandwiches were amazing! The fried chicken was bigger than my face drowned in sweet spicy mayo snuggled between a warm fluffy mantou/bao.

Street parking is easily assessable but you do have to pay at the Kiosk or on the app.

Ekiben has outdone itself again with its exceptional flavors, speedy preparation, and seamless pick-up service. Our recent order included the Neighborhood Bird Bun and Bowl, Spicy Neighborhood Bird Bowl, and Tempura Broccoli, and every bite was pure delight. The large portions of the crispy chicken and perfectly balanced sambal sauce were outstanding. The Broccoli Tempura with the addition of Chinese sausage was light and delicious.

The food was ready quickly and pick-up was effortless. Ekiben's dishes are a symphony of taste and texture, making it a must-visit spot for innovative, delicious Asian-inspired cuisine. A solid 5/5, highly recommend getting yourself a satisfying meal at Ekiben whenever you're in Baltimore! I believe they have about 3 locations AND catering now, so convenient!

The GARLIC CHILI OIL NOODLES are sooo good...like you will reluctantly want to share with anyone good lol. Great flavor, love the fresh veggies on top, and the Tofu has a nice fry on it.
Initially, I thought the price and portion did not match, but they PACK that container, and I was certainly full.
Ekiben service has never let me down! I placed my order before arriving, and had a minimal wait time

**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!!