Ekiben
Asian restaurant · Baltimore
1622 Eastern Ave, Baltimore, MD 21231
Highlights
Asian fusion spot for flavorful steamed buns, bowls, and sides
Asian fusion spot for flavorful steamed buns, bowls, and sides
"Beloved co-owners Steve Chu and Ephrem Abebe diligently source flavors from Ethiopia, Taiwan, Thailand, and India at both the Fells Point, Locust Point, and Hampden locations. Diners happily wait in line for favorites like tempura broccoli, “tofu brah” with spicy peanut sauce, or Taiwanese curry chicken on pillowy steamed gluten-free buns or atop rice bowls. Follow the busy restaurant’s Instagram page to see the latest menus, the food truck’s whereabouts, and some of the best memes around." - Jess Mayhugh
"Helmed by Steve Chu and Ephrem Abebe, this Baltimore restaurant is celebrated for its inventive mashup of Asian and African street-food flavors. A standout is their Old Bay shrimp bao buns with mango-papaya slaw: Old Bay–poached shrimp tossed in a mayo–Sriracha–Old Bay sauce are nestled into steamed bao and finished with a crunchy, tropical mango–papaya–carrot slaw, producing a cold, flavorful, and refreshing bite where Sriracha-laced heat is immediately cooled by the slaw. The build-your-own-bao format fits festive crab-feast gatherings, and the dish is recommended as a perfect pairing with steamed crabs and a crisp beer. The kitchen aims to give guests a real “tour of flavor,” focusing on bold, hospitality-forward dishes that leave diners satisfied." - Jess Mayhugh
"Chef Steve Chu’s lauded Baltimore restaurant is known for bold, playful Asian-American flavors and inventive takes on street-food formats; a signature example is a shrimp salad marinated in Old Bay and Sriracha, tucked into springy bao buns with a mango-and-papaya slaw, a combination that balances spicy-sweet heat, bright fruit, and soft steamed bread to instant crowd-pleasing effect." - Nat Belkov
"Takeout comfort food done brilliantly: deep-fried tofu nuggets doused in a spicy-sweet peanut sauce and served with a heap of tangy pickles, delivering an impossibly crispy texture and addictive balance of flavors that feels impossible to replicate at home." - ByAli Francis
"A fast-casual Baltimore spot that grew out of a farmers market, focused on steamed buns and rice bowls and built around a simple mission to make local people happy one bun at a time; the small team emphasizes day-to-day production, mentoring youth, and hands-on ownership." - Eater Staff
