A Maryland restaurant was named one of the best places to eat in the country, earning the state’s only spot on the 2026 edition of Yelp’s annual Top 100 U.S. Restaurants list from earlier this year.
Ekiben, the Baltimore-based Asian fusion restaurant that expanded to Frederick earlier this year, came in at No. 30 on Yelp’s 2026 list of the Top 100 U.S. Restaurants. According to Yelp, the annual list highlights highly reviewed restaurants, diners, fast-casual spots, food halls and other dining destinations based on feedback from the Yelp community. Ekiben is the only Maryland restaurant to appear in this year’s Top 100.
The recognition continues a run of national attention for the restaurant, which has become known for its steamed buns, rice bowls and fried chicken. Yelp previously ranked Ekiben as having the fourth-best fried chicken in the United States and Canada, and the restaurant has appeared on Yelp’s Top 100 U.S. Restaurants list in multiple previous years.
Ekiben was founded in 2014 by Ephrem Abebe, Steve Chu and Nikhil Yesupriya, beginning as a hot dog cart at the Fells Point Farmers Market before growing into one of Baltimore’s most recognizable restaurant brands. Ekiben also has a Montgomery County connection. Co-founder Steve Chu is a Gaithersburg native and graduate of Quince Orchard High School. Chu has received industry recognition that includes semifinalist honors from the James Beard Foundation for Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic.
The restaurant expanded outside the Baltimore area for the first time this spring, opening at 500 N. Market Street in Frederick on April 30. The debut drew a line down the block, with Ekiben offering customers a free menu item as part of its opening-day celebration. The Frederick restaurant joined Ekiben’s locations in Fells Point, Hampden and South Baltimore.
In addition to its Yelp accolades, Ekiben was previously selected by Travel + Leisure as the best place to get a sandwich in Maryland. Yelp’s 13th annual Top 100 U.S. Restaurants list features restaurants from across the country and a wide range of styles, from fine dining and Michelin-starred restaurants to neighborhood and fast-casual spots.
