Nomsters, if you ask me for one Baltimore restaurant to send someone to, I don’t even have to think about it, it’s Ekiben every single time. Whenever a friend hits me up for a rec, I point them straight here, and the Hampden spot tucked in an alley off West 36th Street is where Deke and I keep coming back.
This is Asian fusion done the way that ruins you for everything else: Taiwanese-style bao, loaded rice bowls, and egg rolls that have no business being this good. The Spicy Neighborhood Bird bun alone is one of the best things I’ve ever eaten, no exaggeration. If you haven’t experienced Ekiben yet, you’re genuinely missing out on one of the best restaurants in town, and I’m about to walk you through everything Deke and I ordered so you know exactly what to get.
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What Makes Ekiben a Standout Asian Spot in Hampden
Ekiben’s the kind of spot that’s earned a genuine cult following in Baltimore, and it’s easy to see why. What started as a food cart at the Fells Point Farmers Market back in 2014 has grown into a handful of locations around the city, and the food’s only gotten better with time.
The whole concept’s built around Taiwanese-style steamed bao stuffed with wild, craveable flavor combos you won’t find anywhere else, plus rice bowls and sides that borrow from all over. Nothing here plays it safe. Every item’s got this bold, layered, slightly unexpected thing going on, and somehow it all just works. That’s the magic, and it’s exactly why Ekiben’s my number-one answer whenever someone wants a Baltimore recommendation.
Asian Fusion With Taiwanese Roots
If you’re new to it, here’s the quick version: Ekiben’s Asian fusion, rooted in Taiwanese mantou (those pillowy steamed buns) but blended with flavors from pretty much everywhere, Baltimore included.
Founder Steve Chu built the whole menu around that fusion idea, so you’ll see a Taiwanese curry fried chicken bun sharing space with a pho-spiced cheesesteak egg roll like it’s the most normal thing in the world. It’s not trying to be traditional anything, and honestly that freedom’s the exact reason it’s so fun to order from. You come in for the bao and leave obsessed with something you’d never have thought to try.
What to Order at Ekiben
Okay, here’s everything Deke and I got this time around, and real talk, you can’t really go wrong here, but these are the heavy hitters.
The Spicy Neighborhood Bird Bun
The Neighborhood Bird is ICONIC, full stop. It’s a Taiwanese curry fried chicken thigh tucked into a soft steamed bun with spicy sambal mayo, pickles, and fresh herbs, and every single bite is a flavor explosion. The chicken’s juicy, the sauce’s got a real kick, and the whole thing hits sweet, spicy, and savory all at once. This is easily one of the best things I’ve ever eaten, and if you only try one item, make it this one!
Ancho Chile Pork Bowl
Ekiben’s rice bowls are nothing short of amazing, and this one was no exception. You get tender braised pork piled with what feels like ten (!!!) different herbs and spices plus all kinds of yum pickled bits on top, so every forkful tastes a little different from the last. It’s rich and comforting without being heavy, and it travels really well if you’re grabbing it to go. If pork’s not your thing, I also highly recommend the shrimp tackle box or the tofu brah, they don’t miss either!
Pho Spiced Cheesesteak Egg Roll
This one might’ve been my new favorite thing on the whole menu, no joke. It’s an egg roll stuffed with beef and an almost obscene amount of cheese plus pho spices, then topped with chipotle mayo and cabbage slaw. It was UNREAL, the kind of thing you keep thinking about days later. I’m giving it a solid 100/10, so do yourself a favor and get this!
Tempura Broccoli
Don’t sleep on the broccoli, lol. They hand you a huge tray of it tossed in a house-made vinegar dressing with fresh herbs and onions, and it’s the perfect bright, crunchy contrast to all the rich stuff you’re inhaling. If they’ve got the Chinese sausage add-on, get it, it’s SO GOOD and easily worth the little upcharge.
My Go-To Baltimore Recommendation
I don’t hand out “this is the best” lightly, but Ekiben’s the one spot I recommend without a single caveat. It’s become a real part of my Baltimore rotation, Deke and I find ourselves back here more often than I’d like to admit, and I’ve genuinely lost count of how many friends I’ve sent this way. Every time, the report back is the same: why did you not put me on to this sooner. That’s the whole reason I keep shouting about it. When a place is this consistent and this craveable, you tell everyone you know.
The Vibe and Experience
Quick heads up, the Hampden entrance is a little sneaky, it’s in the alleyway behind the building, so don’t second-guess yourself when your GPS drops you back there. Inside it’s small, casual, and counter-service, more of a grab-your-food-and-go (or snag a seat if you’re lucky) kind of place than a sit-down affair, usually with some hip-hop playing in the background. Seating’s limited, so it’s best for a quick lunch, a laid-back bite with a friend, or piling up a bunch of food to bring home. It’s low-key in the best way, the food’s the star and nobody’s pretending otherwise.
Does Ekiben Have Vegetarian Options?
Short answer, yes. Ekiben’s got solid vegetarian picks, so it’s an easy call even when not everyone in your group eats meat. There’s a vegetarian bao (the What the Bird Eats bun) plus a tofu brah bun and bowl if you want the full fusion experience without the meat, and you can round it out with tofu nuggets or that tempura broccoli on the side. Most of the menu’s noted as gluten-free too, though it’s a shared kitchen, so flag any allergy when you order and they’ll steer you right.
Good to Know
- 📍 911 West 36th Street, Baltimore, MD (Hampden). Heads up, the entrance is in the alley behind the building, not on the main strip.
- Hours: Mon to Thu 11am to 3:30pm and 4:30 to 10pm, Fri and Sat 11am to 3:30pm and 4:30 to 11pm. They’re closed Sundays, so plan around it.
- Walk-in only, no reservations. Lunch is the calmer time; expect a wait at dinner.
- Parking’s actually easy at the Hampden location compared to their other spots.
- You can order ahead online or get it delivered through Uber Eats. The full lineup lives on Ekiben’s menu page.
- Vegetarian-friendly: the What the Bird Eats bun, the tofu brah, tofu nuggets, and tempura broccoli.
- Ekiben’s grown to several locations around Baltimore now, but this review’s all about the Hampden one.
Is Ekiben Worth It?
YES!!!!!! Ekiben’s the Baltimore restaurant I recommend more than any other, and every single visit backs up the hype. Is it worth the wait at dinner? One hundred percent, that Neighborhood Bird bun and the pho-spiced egg roll are worth way more than a few minutes in line. If you’re building a proper Asian-food crawl through the city, keep the momentum going after this with a bowl at Ejji Ramen in Harbor East, another of my Baltimore go-tos.
And if you’re making a whole day of it in Hampden, Equitea over in Remington is right around the corner for a matcha latte and honey butter toast to cap things off. Or save Ekiben for before a night out and pair it with a Harbor Point date night at Josefina, my favorite modern Spanish spot in the city. Either way, do yourself a favor and go. Have you guys been to Ekiben yet, Nomsters? Let me know your go-to order in the comments, and save this so you know exactly what to grab when you finally make it in.