Sunflower

Sunflower is a pretty large Vietnamese restaurant in North Austin, with a wall of windows that spills light to the farthest reaches and makes the space feel even bigger than it already is. Despite that, if you show up for lunch on any given day, there’s a decent chance you’ll have to wait a bit. Because what Sunflower lacks in spiced-up decor and ambiance, it more than makes up for in its menu full of mostly central Vietnamese specialties, many of which are difficult to find anywhere else in Austin, and everyone’s here to get them. 

Order the bánh xèo to try one of the dishes Sunflower is most known for. The crispy rice and turmeric flour crepe takes up half the plate, with the other half reserved for a small mountain of fresh herbs, pickled vegetables, and sheets of lettuce for building your own hand rolls. We like the pork and shrimp variety, but you can also sub out the pork for poultry or calamari. And it’s all served with a spicy fish sauce-based dip that adds a bit of brightness and heat to each savory bite. 

photo credit: Nicolai McCrary