Ekiben

The food at Ekiben is seriously sooooo good. We had their ridiculously tasty and messy chicken sandwich. The fried chicken thigh was juicy and seasoned perfectly, and the slaw and condiments on it were really unique and flavorful. We also ordered the spicy shrimp snacks - the shrimp were HUGE, not at all greasy, and had a nice Asian mildly spicy seasoning. Really tasty. As far as atmosphere, It's a hole in the wall primarily for take out but the staff was really nice. They had us try their special red beans - which were great with very Caribbean flair. I will definitely order them next time. If you're looking for very a very casual and affordable meal that has very elevated and inventive food, Ekiben is your place.

Back again after several years. The neighborhood chicken sandwich is just as good as I remember. I ordered online and drove over to pick up at the time they emailed me. It was hot and ready to go. Delicious!I wish I lived closer and could go more often. The staff was friendly and made sure I got what I ordered.

iconic baltimore. nothing else to say. pro tip: ask for the sauce to be on the side instead of on the chicken!

3 stars? Going to get to my key points:Chicken was massive, but it was overcooked so texture was dry and rubbery, even with the sauce.Bao and chicken ratio leads to an unappetizing experience. As you can see, either you get just a chicken bite, or you attempt to get a bite of that bao overpowering the bite and a little chicken. Id rather get this on a normal sando or a less thick bao, but wider. Cool hole-in-the-wall spot, nice vibe. Order didnt take too long.

I'm cooked.You think you're ready for Ekiben? Listen to me, you don't even know what you're getting into bub. Like, let's be honest, this establishment may be too big for your britches. The moment you walk into this place, your olfactory senses will be blasted with more spices than you have had the past 20 business days. The joyous sounds of food cooking and staff vibing percolate through the air - something you may not understand. To think anyone has the AUDACITY to handle Ekiben's innovative, yet playful Asian-inspired street food is fascinating. You think you can even fathom the flavors these people have come up with? Doubt it.Alright, I'll humor you for a second. Let's say you do order The Neighborhood Bird (spicy) in a bun. I don't even think you could even appreciate the Taiwanese-style curry fried chicken thigh served with an assortment of spices, herbs, spicy sambal mayo, and pickles. Pause.Wipe yourself off right quick. Taiwanese fried chicken utilize a lighter, airier coating compared to your typical fried chicken - culminating in a less greasy but more texturally delightful experience. The usage of the thigh meat is almost gratuitous given its fattier nature but it works to deliver that moisture and juiciness that I bet you'll be slobbering over. Don't even get me started the sheer size of these cuts either - how they even fit these pieces of chicken into the bun still alludes me. But you knew all that, didn't you? Taiwanese curry fried chicken thigh topped with spicy sambal mayo, pickles, and fresh herbs. Comes spicy or mild. MAMA MIA I'm almost finished. Regardless, I can speak to even more lengths but it's better if you just experience it yourself.GET THE BROCCOLI WHAT ARE YOU THINKING. Even the most seasoned carnivore will salivate over these lightly-fried tempura-battered broccoli. COME ON. I think I'm crying. Walk in, experience it, slobber.

I've loved Ekiben for years!! My go-to order is always the Neighborhood Bird Bowl and the Broccoli Tempura with Chinese Sausage, and let me tell you--these dishes never miss!The Neighborhood Bird Bowl is perfection in every bite. The chicken is crispy, juicy, and packed with incredible flavor that somehow feels even better than the last time. The rice and toppings tie it all together, making each bite a perfect balance of textures and tastes.And the Broccoli Tempura? It's legendary. That light, crispy tempura coating paired with the smoky sweetness of the Chinese sausage is a combo I can never resist.What makes Ekiben so special is their consistency. No matter how many times I visit, the quality is always spot-on, and the flavors are just as mind-blowing as the first time I tried them. It's my ultimate comfort food, my go-to spot, and honestly, one of the best food experiences Baltimore has to offer.Ekiben will always be 5/5! I highly recommend trying it out!!

Previous review stands----The food is beyond amazing- I'm not even sure I can do a review justice describing the unique flavor profiles that keep us coming back time and time again. Hooked, addicted. We even try to expand exploring the menu, but even when we say ok let's try something new, the moment we step inside, or pull-up the to-go order & think about the drool worthy favorites, we find ourselves ordering out go-tos (often resulting in a mass over ordering haha)This order we went with our normal go-tos: Spicy Neighborhood Bird bun & Tofu Brah bun- but we changed it up with the new special ramen broccoli.Each bun again offered an amazing balance of spices-fresh and flavorful bold powerful pops! Creamy, crunchy, and loaded.I think this visit, the spicy chickens everyone got were the largest pieces of crispy chicken we've ever seen- a few friends ripped their chicken in half- still had a full bun & a decent size of chicken leftover for next days lunch! While I could have done this with the ample amount of tofu I had, I gobbled it all down- no regrets hahaBiting into buns are definitely delectable culinary experiences as the softness of the fresh fluffy but dense bao buns balances so well with the crispy on the outside, juicy moist inside proteins- then just drooling over the thought of the ample toppings falling out the side.The new ramen broccoli had a delectable spicy kick- so well seasoned- and delightfully crispy crunch- but I do enjoy the juicy moist bites from the traditional tempura onion sauce-worth the try but doesn't take my #1 fav spot haha

The food is full of flavor, crispy and memorable. I'm in dc and I make a trip for it! Lol. The shrimp was new to me and so good! The right amount of spice, crunch and the shrimp was cooked perfectly. Only downside is if you're dining solo the portions for the sides are huge. I wish there was a way to order maybe a half size. Great service even in a packed/busy day. I haven't found this food to reheat well (even with an air fryer) and prefer to eat it fresh. So if I'm not super hungry, but want to try some of the other sides/new items, I'm hesitant because I know it may go to waste.

I mean 10/10 crispy chicken full of spices, amazing sauce, and soft bao bun that isn't dry. Probably the best sandwich I've had in Baltimore. The people behind the counter were very nice as my friends and I took our time looking at the menu and gave us recommendations based on what we were looking for. The place is kind of small but they do have places outside to sit down and eat which we did.

Flavorful, filling food!My husband and I stopped at Ekiben on our visit to Baltimore based on a friend's recommendation. It was busy on a Tuesday night, mainly with takeout orders, as there's not much seating inside or out. Our order was ready within 15 minutes - they accidentally brought out the wrong spice level of chicken and a bowl instead of an appetizer for the tofu, so they ended up giving us double what we needed, which was nice but unnecessary. I would have appreciated it more if I could have taken it home (since we were just visiting)!This food is seriously some of the most flavorful I've ever had! The fried chicken and the crispy tofu were perfectly fried and so delicious. Definitely some spice to the spicy chicken and definitely super filling - we could only eat so much. Overall really good food and I recommend to anyone craving this kind of food.