Ekiben is bringing its outdoor food festival back to the Fells Point waterfront this weekend—and we’re resisting the urge to type in all caps (mimicking the hype of the beloved Korean-fusion restaurant’s social media platforms.)
For Ekiben co-founders Steve Chu and Ephrem Abebe, the Ekiben Night Market (Aug. 29 and 30) is an opportunity to bring their “homies” from other East Coast eateries to Charm City.
“It’s really great exposure for these up and coming chefs,” Chu says. “Baltimoreans get to meet these New York chefs who rarely get the opportunity to come down.”
In an effort to streamline check-in and reduce wait times in the market’s third year, organizers have expanded it across two days, while also introducing an additional bar tent. But the heart of the fest remains rooted in the open-air spirit of Taiwanese Night Markets.
Chu personally curated the lineup of 40 purveyors, which will fuse chefs from Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, and New York with local names like Ten Vong of Ejji Ramen; Jasmine Norton of The Urban Oyster; Marvin Rodriguez of Aru Aru; Carlos Raba of Clavel; and Charles and Sunny Lee and Min Kim of Cafe Dear Leon.
Of course, Ekiben itself will be a highlight for hungry attendees, bringing back its crispy crab rangoon eggrolls that were a hit when they debuted at the event last year. And with a big batch of soft shells coming in, the team will also fry up their Maryland Softie sando (deep-fried soft shells topped with a crab cake, Old Bay, and melted cheddar on a soft bao bun), which is typically only available at their Locust Point location.
With so much regional talent in one place, you really can’t go wrong with anything you taste. But here are a few tents to look out for:
Èdo Cheesecake: This Basque-inspired Asian-fusion cheesecake has gone viral for its torched top and silky center. (Founder Shawn Zhu’s funny Inception remix reel gets us every time.) The treat is typically only available for pre-order and pick-up near Little Italy, but at the Night Market, you can meet Zhu IRL and taste his creamy creation.
Kong Pocha: Making its Night Market debut is this Station North spot, which has a second location in Columbia and is known for serving late-night Korean bar bites. While husband-and-wife duo Dae Han Wi and Sobin Kang have yet to lock down their menu, expect to sample their signature street foods. Pocha is shorthand for pojang-macha—Korean food tents that serve comfort food like tteokboki (spicy rice cakes), seafood, and kimchi pancakes.
Barkada Breads: Setting up on Sunday only, this small-batch Filipino bakery from founder Mona Poblete is known for its pandesal (translating to salt bread, but not to be confused with the viral Korean salt bread or Japanese Shio Pan). The Filipino pandesal is a yeasty sweet dough, almost like a dinner roll, coated with fine breadcrumbs.
Rose Ave Bakery: A Night Market OG, this Washington, D.C. favorite from chef/founder Rose Nguyen—who recently took home the RAMMY for Pastry Chef of the Year—will be back with its playful, cross-cultural pastries on Saturday only. Look out for doenjang (Korean fermented soybean paste) chocolate chip cookies and passionfruit-filled donuts.
Xing Fu Tang: Cool down with this New York City boba brand famous for its hand-rolled boba pearls. The team will be slinging its signature brown sugar boba tea, as well as a peach lychee fruit drink, winter melon oolong tea with white pearls, and a strawberry Earl Grey milk tea.
Ho Foods: Coming back for another visit after a sold-out collab with Ekiben in March, this New York City restaurant will serve up its Fan Tuan, a Taiwanese sticky rice roll filled with pork floss and pickles, on Sunday only.
Know Before You Go: Tickets for the fest (4-10 p.m. Sat; 12-4 p.m. Sun) at 1500 Thames Street (near the Frederick Douglass-Isaac Myers Maritime Park) start at $25 for General Admission and include one drink. VIP tickets for both days include early entry, two drinks, and free swag. Kids under 12 get in free.