Ekiben

My friends catered Ekiben for their engagement party with around 30 people. I really loved that everything is gluten free (at least that we ordered), and the fried chicken was absolutely delicious. We had plenty leftover, too! My coworkers used to order here for pickup all the time as well, so even though I’ve never been inside the restaurant I’ve loved their food and strongly recommend you try it!

The vibe is Urban. Pretty loud hip hop music. Tupac, Kenrick Lamar, and Outcast were some of the artists played. There are only about 8 bar stools for dinning in. We've been here about 3 times, and all 3 times were amazing. They have some new stuff on the menu, including "Ramen Broccoli" and "What the Bird Eats". We ordered "Tofu Brah" for the second time, "Garlic Chil Oil Noodles" (new menue item), and "Pho Spiced Cheesstake Eggroll" (also new). The Tofu Brah is my favorite. It has a peanut sauce that is not gluten-free, but the rest of it is. Most of the menu is actually gluten-free except the peanut sauce, egg rolls, and buns. The Tofu is hands down the best tofu I've ever had! I suggest saying no to onions if they aren't your thing, even if they are not on the menu, chances are they will be on the dish. My husband said the "Neighborhood Bird" is still his favorite. He gives the "Neighborhood Bird" a 10/10. Today, he gave the eggroll a 7/10 because the cheesstake and Pho seasoning didn't quite vibe. He couldn't really taste the Pho, but thought something was kind of off. He also liked the chili noodles. The chilli noodles also got a 7/10. But he thought the braised pork in that dish was great, and gave it a 9/10. He went on to say the seasoning in the gluten-free breading on the chicken, and Tofu really stood out as a favorite. We noticed the catfish was off the menu, and that was one of our favorites. Another fav that we didn't order this time is the "Tempura Broccoli," which is also gluten-free free. All in all, this place is up there and one of our favorite places to go when we ditch the kids. One time we brought our adult kid with us. He devoured the Neighborhood Bird yet swears he doesn't like dark meat. So even if you don't like dark meat, give this one a try. Prices may seem high, but most dishes are enough to feed 2 people. You could order an extra bun with the "Neighborhood Bird" and feed two for sure!

What's not to like. The food is amazing. Our family has vegetarians and gluten free people, and the menu is ridiculously accommodating to both diets. The tofu is great. The chicken gets high marks from two people in the fam. Tempura broccoli is great. PRO TIP: order the vinegar on the side. The broccoli stays crisp that way. Side note: a family member of mine worked here, and the leadership's culture of inclusion and teamwork, of leading by example, probably has something to do with how good the food is.