When I first arrived at Hopkins, one thing I kept hearing was that Baltimore had an incredible food scene. Throughout freshman year, I made it my goal to discover new restaurants, but what I remember just as much as the food is my experience at each place. So instead of simply recommending must-try restaurants in Baltimore, here’s my guide of the best places to go for all the different moments of your freshman year.
For your first meal off campus: Ekiben
Cuisine: Asian Fusion
Recommended dishes: neighborhood bird, tempura broccoli
Ekiben is a Baltimore staple for a reason, and was ranked #30 on Yelp’s Top 100 U.S. Restaurants list in 2026. During your first few weeks at Hopkins, when you’re still adjusting to living away from home, Ekiben is the perfect place to go when you inevitably get tired of Hopkins Cafe and want to understand why everyone says Baltimore’s food scene is so good.
Ekiben serves bao and rice bowls with fried chicken, pork or shrimp topped with fresh vegetables. While it may seem like just another fast food place, the unique flavor of the food truly makes it stand out. However, Ekiben’s indoor seating area is extremely small, so I’d recommend taking your food somewhere else to eat.
For an early morning cafe study session: La Maison by Café Dear Leon
Cuisine: bakery, cafe, sandwiches
Recommended dishes: crab dip bagel
Open 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., La Maison is the Remington location of Cafe Dear Leon in Canton. If you’re studying for finals or simply want to go somewhere that’s not Brody, La Maison is a great place to study off campus. It has plenty of seating, large tables, natural light and is within walking distance of Hopkins, although it can get very busy on the weekends.
While La Maison is a wonderful study spot, the real reason you should go here is the food. La Maison’s pastries are baked fresh daily, and they even have a bake schedule on their website that outlines the exact times that menu items will drop. Although the croissants and sandwiches are all delicious, their stand-out pastry is the crab dip bagel. Crab and bagel may seem like an odd combination, but they complement each other surprisingly well (and are a fun tribute to Baltimore's seafood roots).
For a nice dinner with friends: Grano Pasta Bar
Cuisine: Italian
Recommended dishes: cacio e pepe, mushroom ravioli
Grano Pasta Bar in Hampden is a cozy and inviting spot for a nice dinner with friends. Whether you’re going out for a birthday, celebrating a special occasion or just looking to have a nice dinner off campus, Grano is the place to go.
The menu has a wide selection of pastas, salads and other classic Italian dishes. You really can’t go wrong with any of the pastas, but my personal favorite is the cacio e pepe, which I ordered when I visited my freshman year with a group of friends. Between the comforting food and the warm, ambient atmosphere, Grano is the kind of restaurant where you’ll remember both the experience and the pasta.
For a friend (or first) date: Clavel
Cuisine: Mexican
Recommended dishes: any of the tacos, tostada de jaiba (crab cake)
Whenever anyone asks me for a restaurant recommendation, my answer is always Clavel. Located in Remington, Clavel has a charming, intimate atmosphere with fairy lights and warm lighting that makes it the perfect taquería for a dinner date.
While Clavel’s tacos are delicious, they offer a much wider variety of Mexican dishes, such as ceviche (citrus-marinated seafood), tostadas (crispy tortillas with toppings) and al sartén (hot skillet dishes). The food feels like an elevated dining experience while still being affordable, making it the perfect place to try something new and spend quality time with someone.
For when your family comes to visit: Hana
Cuisine: Japanese
Recommended dishes: Sake tacos, volcano roll
This past year, I visited Hana with my parents when they came to help me move out at the end of the school year. Whether it’s move-in, move-out or Family Weekend, Hana is a relaxed yet elegant restaurant with a beautiful interior that you’ll be excited to share with your family. Its location in Hampden also makes it easy to explore nearby shops and boutiques after your meal.
My parents and I especially loved Hana’s sushi (we ordered the volcano roll and Baltimore roll), but Hana also offers more creative dishes that you might not find at just any Japanese restaurant. For instance, the sake tacos stood out for incorporating fresh sushi flavors into a unique presentation, making them another example of the creative dishes you’ll find throughout Baltimore.
Overall, dining out is about more than the food; it’s about the experience and the people you’re with. These are just a few of the restaurants that made my freshman year memorable, and I hope you’ll enjoy them as much as I did.
Katherine Zhu is a sophomore majoring in Political Science and Economics from Princeton, N.J. She is a News & Features Editor for The News-Letter.
