First stop on my Baltimore trip is at the legendary @ekibenbaltimore. 🫶🏻

Stevie Chu and Ephrem Abebe met as students at UMBC and started Ekiben in 2014 with a hot dog cart at the Fells Point Farmers Market, slinging chicken meatballs and bao buns to a city that had never seen anything like it. That scrappy cart turned into a brick and mortar in 2016, then more locations across Baltimore and beyond.

Stevie and Ephrem are two of the kindest guys in this industry, and their Taiwanese and Ethiopian roots show up in every dish. Every bite is packed with flavor, and it’s the kind of cooking that makes you understand why this city loves them so much.

If you’re in Baltimore, Ekiben needs to be on your list. I’ll be sharing more from this incredible city all this week! 🧡

#visitbaltimore #ekibenbaltimore
🤝 @visitbmore

Neighborhood bird - Taiwanese curry fried chicken thigh top with spicy sambal mayo, pickles, and fresh herbs

Ramen broccoli - crispy broccoli that taste like Shin Ramen and hot Cheetos had a baby

The Crispy Shrimp Bowl - crispy shrimp season with Cantonese dry rub, topped with fresh herbs and roasted aromatics and red onion. Served over steamed jasmine rice with sesame sauce and Housemade pickled vegetables

Red beans and rice - jasmine rice topped with spicy Ethiopian lentils and tomato salad

Tofu nuggets - crispy tofu nuggets topped with spicy peanut sauce, roasted aromatic, herbs, and onions

Spicy walnut shrimp - crispy shrimp tossed in shichimi tagarashi and spicy walnut shrimp sauce

Garlic chili oil noodles - knife cut noodles, garlic chili oil, herb slaw, pickles, and ancho chili pork