Welcome to your new favorite mini-guide on Asian restaurants in Baltimore! Charm City might be celebrated for its picturesque harbors and ridiculously tasty crab cakes, but they have a GREAT Asian food scene as well. From crispy Korean fried chicken to comforting bowls of pho, there’s so much to enjoy. We obviously can’t cover everything in a single, but this is a yum start. Here are eight spots you NEED to check out ASAP.
1. Ekiben
You can’t visit Baltimore without getting Ekiben. Seriously though. With 3 locations in the area, they’re famous for their massive buns and towering rice bowls. The Neighborhood Bird’s iconic (I recommend getting it spicy), but other must tries include their pho spiced cheesesteak egg roll, tempura broccoli and garlic chili oil noodles. 11/10 Nomsters.
Their Locust Point spot in South Baltimore is the newest, and I went deep on the full menu, so check out my Ekiben South Baltimore review for all the details.
2. Kong Pocha
Get ready to devour the crunchiest, juiciest Korean fried chicken EVER. This gem has cracked the code on nom KFC, and no one even comes close. And this is coming from someone who’s enjoyed this style of chicken IN Korea many, many times. Trust me when I say the KFC alone is worth the drive, but the vibe’s dope (it’s a great place to hang out with friends), and they have lots of other street food to choose from as well.
3. Pho Bac
Pho Bac’s my go-to spot for pho + other yum Vietnamese dishes in Baltimore. This restaurant’s very cozy, and the customer service is elite. In addition to noodz, give their spicy lemongrass stir fry, combination stir fry platter, and summer rolls a try!
For a deeper dive into Pho Bac, including the Bun Cha Hanoi and pork lemongrass rolls you won’t want to miss, check out my full review of Pho Bac in Canton.
4. NiHao
This is easily the best Chinese restaurant in Baltimore. Located in Canton, NiHao’s a Peter Chang restaurant to expect to see his most famous dishes there – think his scallion bubble pancake (yum), peking duck (YUM), dragon eggplant and lots more.
I did see some new dishes listed though? Their Puffy Beef Country Steak was made to order and was probably one of the yummiest dishes I’ve had in a minute. Def make sure you also try their flaming cumin spicy lamb chop and spicy prawn & scallop dry pot. You can thank me later!
For the deep dive on Nihao, including their weekend all-you-can-eat dim sum brunch for $32, I’ve got a full review up now.
5. Ejji
Looking for the perfect bowl of noodz? Head to Ejji stat! Their team is SO kind and welcoming, and they offer the yummiest Malaysian style noodles. And yes, they’re hand pulled!
My fave bowl was probably their Fiery Shrimp Noodz (topped with poached shrimp in a delish spicy sesame sauce), but their secret menu item was a close second. If you want to give that a try, tell them Nomtastic Baltimore sent you =P This features biang biang noodles with garlic, ginger, chili, soy, Chinese black vinegar and scorching hot oil. Pro tip: get an order of their veggie dumplings as well!
6. Mayuree Thai Tavern
If you’re craving Thai food, Mayuree’s a must. I have yet to try a dish I haven’t enjoyed here. The tofu green curry is phenomenal, the pad thai’s next level, and the drunken noodz are slammin’ as well. PS. they offer some fantastic drinks here as well so def make sure to dine and imbibe when you stop by!
7. Charming Elephant
Charming Elephant is Baltimore’s FIRST Lao restaurant! Located in Canton, they opened their doors back in 2020 to celebrate their culture. The restaurant itself is super aesthetic – it’s a cute spot with great service and delicious eats.
People often compare Lao food to Thai cuisime, but the flavors are definitely different. If you try their take on Pad Thai, you’ll see what I mean. It’s honestly some of the best Pad Thai I’ve ever had though so highly recommend gettig it, lol. And make sure you save room for dessert because they do a mean mango sticky rice as well.
8. Chiyo Sushi
Chiyo Sushi’s my go-to spot for sushi in Baltimore! The owners are really nice, and literally everything on their menu’s tasty. They have some more inventive items on their menu as well like sushi pizza, lol. And no I haven’t tried it yet, but I would be lying if I said I wasn’t intrigued. Let me know if you get it before I do, haha!
There you have it, Nomsters – 8 must try Asian restaurants in Baltimore, just waiting to be explored. Each of these spots offers not just meals, but journeys loaded with stories, culture, and passion. SO, what are you waiting for? Make sure to stop by all of these gems and circle back with your thoughts ASAP.
And when you’re ready to explore beyond the plate, The Sound Garden in Fells Point is one of Baltimore’s most beloved record stores and a great stop to add to any Baltimore day out.
PS. Don’t forget to comment with your fave spots below – I’m always on the lookout for good eats so please feel free to drop your recs. Until next time!
PPS. make sure you check out my latest posts! Click to read about my latest trip to Shenandoah County and part 1 of the BEST cheap eats in Maryland.