Ekiben

Unbelievable fried tofu and chicken sandwiches on soft buns. If you get one thing in Baltimore, this should be it.

The tofu bun was the highlight. The fried crispy tofu was the crispest we have ever had while still being tender on the inside. The slaw and aromatics balanced it out really well.

The fried chicken bun was incredible -- chicken was juicy, the bun had beautiful texture, and the curry seasoning was flavorful. I ordered it spicy, but it definitely wasn't. Not sure if I somehow got the mild, but it was still incredible.

My friends and I arrived at the most busy time and they told us we would have to wait around 30 minutes which was perfectly fine. Almost exactly 30 minutes, we got our food and boy was it great! I got the Neighborhood Bird Bowl and the portion sizes were great! The rice was nicely cooked and the chicken was flavorful and well-fried—but that's not all. Something that shocked me was how good the assortment of pickled vegetables were! The pickled radish and onions were so good and added a perfect contrast of sourness to the sweet and salty flavor of the chicken. Great experience and I highly recommend Ekiben!

Absolute dynamite!

The best in Baltimore and it lives upto the hype

Went during the day and it did not disappoint.

The staff was friendly and gave great suggestions and took time to go over the menu

My wife and I both got the neighborhood bird sandwich (one spicy and one mild). The bun is the perfect compliment. The chicken is dark mean and loaded with spices and just the right amount of heat. Portion size is whopping. Breading locks in a moist profile for the chicken that cannot be beat

The broccoli has a wonderful crunch and blend of seasoning including mint. While it seems odd, the flavor pairing absolutely works and is one of the best dishes I have had in a long time

Tops: parking on 36th street can be tough. The entrance is not on the main Avenue and around the building in the back alley (can be a bit trickey to realize)

Enjoy!

Phenomenal food! The spicy neighborhood bird on a bao bun is the best chicken sandwich I’ve ever had. The tempura broccoli, walnut shrimp snacks and cheese egg roll are also fantastic!

Soooooo freakin good I’ve been dreaming of it since I’ve tried it!

Must try the tofu rice bowl and spicy neighborhood bun.

Tofu bowl has nice crunch outside but soft tofu center. Sauce is nutty and nice sweet sour ish vibe that goes perfect with a bit of rice and pickled veg.

Spicy chicken bun is wow! Perfect soft mantou like bao with nice spicy crispy chicken! Look at the size of it!

MUST!!!

Lives up to the Hype. The food is perfectly addictive and served in large portions by Happy friendly employees. I love the super chill welcoming atmosphere of the Hampden location too. I’m a fan.

A great spot for a quick, soul-warming, bite to eat! I ordered the spicy neighborhood bird bun; the chicken was nice and crisp on the outside, but juicy and tender on the inside. It was bit messy to eat, so if you’re not looking to get your hands a little saucy I recommend going for the bowl. If you enjoy Thai iced tea, you have to grab a bottle. It paired perfectly with the meal! I can’t wait to go back!!

Was told this served the best sandwiches in Baltimore…. haven’t had many, but this one would be hard to beat! When I eat out, I want a good intersection of quality, quantity, and price… along with uniqueness. This place hit the sweet spot with HIGH MARKS. To boot, they had gluten free options for my wife!

Awesome. Best hole in the wall joint you can ever imagine. Was in the area today and my buddy said “Let’s go here”. He’s been before.

Great Korean(-ish) food. Really small selection but the flavors, textures, everything tastes fantastic. They have bowls and buns. I got a bowl. It was … huge. Lots of rice on the bottom with chicken, pickles, and other stuff on top. Delicious!! And I took some of it home, which I NEVER do.

The staff was really friendly. Food came to us in just a few minutes, customized as we wanted it.

Definite 5 star place!!!!

They don't miss. Time and time again they have stayed consistent in food, quality, and service. Staff is energetic and friendly.

I've tried every single thing on the menu and each is delicious in its own right. I recommend getting the rice bowls and order a bao bun on the side as well. Make your own bao bun if needed.

Every single side is delicious as well but can feel overpriced for the portion. Specifically the egg rolls and red bean n rice.

A hidden gem. Without a local’s guide, its difficult to locate.
We had teatime snacks around 3pm
Waited 10 mins for our order to be delivered to us by their friendly staff.
The hot just out from frier tofu nuggets was a blast ! Crunchy outside and soft tender inside ! With their secret sauce its a must try for vegan.
We also order their Signature bun and it was really really good and tender Friend Chicken breast with its curry spiced batter that fully coated and fried to perfections !

I was shocked by how good this was. It's hidden in an alley so it took me a second to find. I had the spicy chicken bun and it was SO GOOD. Pretty cheap for how much food you get and the quality! (About $12) The staff was also super nice and I liked their comic book wall.

Food:
The food here is AMAZING. I've tried several of their dishes, and I've loved all of them. They also have Thai iced tea and yuzu lemonade to drink.

Service:
The cashier was super friendly, and they brought the food to us. It took a little while, but they were busy, and it was worth the wait.

Atmosphere:
It's a bit loud, and there aren't a lot of seats. But it's pretty nice otherwise. It gets busy, so it's a good idea to get up as soon as you finish eating so new customers can have a place to sit.

What did I do before Ekiben? This place has become a weekly stop for me. The food is packed with flavor and consistently delivers time after time. My favorite items are the ancho chile pork bowl, the tempura broccoli and the spicy walnut shrimp. If this place delivered it would be game over for me, I'd be eating it every day!

The neighborhood bird is the best chicken sandwich I’ve ever eaten in my life. No exaggeration, I travelled 3 hours by train and another hour by car to eat this sandwich again. I got the spicy version with the spicy sambal mayo on the side. It’s so beautifully spiced and getting to dollop my own sauce on each bite makes it extra delicious. Also the idea of putting mint on a savory sandwich is new to me, but dang it was soo good. I took it to a food hall to eat and somebody wanted to know where I got the amazing looking bao bun sandwich. She was sad that she couldn’t get it at the food hall, but not surprised that it was from Ekiben. I also got the tempura broccoli. It was very good with the rice vinegar. If Ekiben opens a location in NYC, I’ll be their first customer!

I was told by my brother that Ekiben was a must-go during my last visit to Baltimore, and I'm glad I followed that advice. They have some unique and delicious options and I'm looking forward to going back.

I got the spicy bird chicken sandwich. It was very good -- the mantou is very fluffy and soft and the chicken is perfectly tender, crispy with great spice and curry seasoning. The sambal sauce is quite sweet and I would recommend getting it on the side if you don't like that. This was definitely worth the money.

The crispy shrimp bowl was a lot of food, with 8 big battered shrimp over rice. It was pretty pricey but understandable considering the shrimp. The topping seasoning of garlic, cilantro, and shallot (?) is very very tasty and addictive. The shrimp is lightly seasoned. The crust is a bit thick but definitely crispy. The pickled vegetables are a bit sweet but still good. The shrimp, rice, and topping make a delicious bite. Overall this is a very solid dish -- not a must get, but nice to have.

Overall I would definitely come back for the spicy bird with or without the sandwich -- very well crafted chicken with delicious flavors. Also, the staff were super sweet when I picked up my order!

Nice small place. Met with one of the owners and he is very nice, pleasant and accomodating. They carry halal chicken so that is why i had to try it out. We ordered the chicken sandwich - spicy. The chicken was nice and crispy and the steam bun was a nice addition. The sandwich is basic but very tasty. The sweet and tangy sauce is also very nice. Nice place and would definatelt be back again.

The atmosphere is great inside! Feels like a party and smells amazing. This is the only restaurant I’ve been to that has prepackaged thai iced tea! The menu has great options and the presentation of the food looks super clean and pretty. This place makes me realize why I love being a Baltimorean. We got the catfish bowl and the neighborhood bird bun. It was super crowded and now we know why. Keep up the great customer service and food!

This is by far one of my favorite food spots in Baltimore. This is an interesting and delicious Asian fusion. You can't go wrong with either the bun or the bowl and either the chicken or the adobo pork. Besides the delicious food, staff is very nice. This place is a must in Baltimore!

Welcoming place. The food is outstanding. It a lot on menu which is super cool as they have perfected the dishes. Fresh. Fun vibe here. We went back the next week. We will return soon. You get a lot of food!!!!