The food is edible but not worth the price. Location is easy to find. Restaurant layout is open and spacious. Ordered the pork belly bao, brisket bao, shrimp spring rolls and pad thai- Go somewhere else. read more

We intended to stop at one of the other restaurants in the strip center, but Bun Belly caught our eye as the most authentic vietnamese restaurant nearby. We ordered the Sober Noodles, which get a 4.5 star rating (the crusted noodles caught us off guard), but the shrimp made up for it. We also ordered the Shishito peppers (4.8 stars) and the Shrimp Springrolls (3 stars). The service was a bit slow but it was 6:15ish on a Monday night. Very clean atmosphere and dishes were served well. read more

The deco is nice and cute. Although I went with a friend, it seems to be a date worthy place. I ordered the classic pho. This is my second time here and the first time I also got the classic pho. Not too sure why I repeated the order, but at least I can say the quality was the same. To me, the pho is decent. Nothing amazing, but still pretty satisfying. I do wish the broth was a bit hotter (temperature wise). My friend and I split the bun belly appetizer. It was plated to look fancy. The bun was warm and soft which was good. The bun belly seemed to be grilled but I'm not too sure. It wasn't dry though, but could be juicer. Paired with the sauce, it delivered a good balance of sweet and salty. This place seems to be what many restaurants in Austin are also doing: a small shop serving a fusion cuisine with cute deco. Parking could be troublesome during dinner, but there is street parking. read more

Bun Belly - Bun belly - Vietnamese Near Me - Austin, Texas

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It was alright, my friends and I can for lunch. We ordered pork belly and beef brisket bun, to share, and I tried the beef vermicelli noodles. The pork and beef buns were delicious, I would come back to eat them again. However, my vermicelli was a little bland. The dish was big so you get a lot for your money, but it wasn't something that I would order again. The saving grace in the dish was the beef which was tender and flavorful. Other than that the sauce and the ingredients just weren't popping with flavor. The place was nicely decorated, but as mentioned in other reviews there was a weird smell to the place. After awhile you get used to it and forget it's there, but overall not too bad. The staff was great! One of the buns for a banh mi sandwich was a little burned so they made another one for my friend. read more

Bun Belly - Vermicelli with beef - Vietnamese Near Me - Austin, Texas

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I was in town and saw the reviews so I decided to try it. I arrived at 2:15pm and they close at 2:30pm. The man at the front told me they were only taking to-go orders, and that was fine with me. I ordered the chef special which was the soft shell crab bun and then tried to order the ice cream bun. I was told the freezer was broken, so there was no ice cream. I showed the man the Yelp coupon for a free ice cream bun for checking in and he stated there was no ice cream so they would not be honoring it. I asked if there was anything they could substitute, like a drink and he stated no. I was really annoyed when he gave me the check and I was charged extra for a to-go container (WTF!) I felt cheated and extremely rushed, like he wanted me out of there, but it wasn't even 2:30pm and people were still in the dining room eating. I had already paid for my meal, but was still waiting for it to be ready. I asked him about their Vietnamese coffee. All of a sudden my order was ready. He shoved it in front of me, grabbed a to-go cup and partially filled it with some iced concoction and thanked me. I took my order and my partial cup of coffee and left. The soft shell crab was AMAZING!!! I would have loved to give them 5 stars, but the guy was really rude! read more

Good all around - good atmosphere, great service, full flavors and nice sized portions. My friends and I tried a few different buns - each of which was flavorful and clearly very fresh. I opted for a vegetarian lemongrass plate, which was also very fresh and nicely spiced. It said mushroom sauce, which actually had me concerned, but it was more like a light chili sauce. My friends ordered the crepe, which was a kinesthetic experience in addition to tasting experience! We ordered an ice cream bun (free with checkin!) and the mango dessert with sticky black rice pudding. Again, did not disappoint. The menu has a lot of variety, but isn't overwhelming with its choices. I'll be back to try more! read more

Bun Belly - Fantastic mango and sticky black rice dessert! - Vietnamese Near Me - Austin, Texas

I came in here by chance because Komé next door was packed. Lucky for me!! I stumbled across a gem! Since moving from California I have been craving some good Vietnamese food. I think I found my jam! I had their shrimp spring rolls and was not disappointed. The peanut sauce is amazing. I know I know, peanut sauce is peanut sauce, but you're wrong! Maybe they sprinkle a lil Crack in there... I don't know. It wasn't too expensive, maybe $9. They have bao sandwiches/tacos/buns. I don't quite know how to explain them. They use the dough for making a traditional Vietnamese dish, Bahn Bao, and have reinvented a whole new dish. They use the dough to form a taco of sorts and then you get to decide what to fill it with. It's not a huge place buy it is certainly worth a try. I recently saw that they have happy hour from 5:30-7:00 and have their bao buns on special. read more

Bun Belly - Spring rolls, shrimp with peanut sauce ($6) and a chardonnay ($10) - Vietnamese Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Delicious! The buns are to die for. Had pork belly bun and the slice of belly was nice and thick, super tender, not dry. Also thought the pho was tasty. One of my favorite places in Austin! read more

This is my new goto place for Pho. I've been looking for a decent Pho restaurant since I got to Austin and I've found it. The rest of the menu is also great after deciding to test it all. Service is great, restaurant is really nice and relaxing and the menu full of gluten free, vegan and regular choices and also vegetarian choices. We left with a to go box as the plates were big sizes. So I have tomorrow's dinner sorted as well. So yeah I'm happy I found this place and will happily come back again. read more

Amazing Buns! Definitely get: Mother & Child - Grilled chicken, fried egg, scallion, pickled carrot, cilantro The bun belly - Pork belly, scallion, pickled carrot, cilantro The salt and pepper shrimp was also tasty (I'm biased because that's my favorite dish at chinese restaurants as well). The Bun Belly Egg Noodle was less impressive - Pork belly, fried egg, crispy onion, bok choy, chives, bean sprouts. Beef broth on the side. Something about lukewarm noodles, being dipped in lukewarm soup is not great. read more

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Very cute restaurant. We came on Tuesday around 7:30 and was seated right away. Shortly after the place started to fill up and every table was occupied. Definitely lively and good atmosphere, maybe slightly loud for an intimate date. The food was delicious, but not exactly memorable. We had the pork belly sliders, Vietnamese crepe, and pad thai. Like many have said, you can go further north for cheaper and authentic Vietnamese food. But you are paying more for the atmosphere, extensive drink menu, and attentive wait staff that you don't get at those authentic places. My only real gripe is with the menu's "shareable" plates...the portion on those are a bit small and I could've finished the pad thai myself and then some. Not sure I would come again unless we were just wanting a change in scenery from the cheaper places. read more

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What a great spot. The gentlemen that waited on our table was very kind, I'm assuming he was the owner. The food was delicious and exactly what we were looking for. We will be back next time we are in town. read more

Bun Belly - Vietnamese Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Overall the environment was very quaint. However, i didn't find the seating to be very comfortable. We had 2 sandwiches ( crab and beef) the crab was spicy tempura fried, a must. The beef was very good too. We also ordered the curry chicken, shaken beef, and pad Thai. Curry chicken was boring in flavor. Pad Thai was nothing special. The shaken beef was cooked well and tasted perfect. Overall, it's nice to go and try but I wouldn't go often. read more

This might be my favorite restaurant in Austin and I almost don't want to review it for fear of it getting overrun. Perfect menu, everything is fresh and full of flavor. I can't say enough about their food. Consistently good every time we go. And Kim Is a sweetheart that treats her customers so good. We love her. Go there now if you like Viet food. If you don't , you will. read more

I love the food and the vibe of the place. Parking space is not a problem. Service is good as well. What we've tried so far is their crispy noodles, spring rolls, and beef belly bao. All good! Will be back for sure. read more

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Overall, great food but high prices. What I Had: - Bun Thit Nuong - Grilled Pork: The pork was delicious! I wish there was a little sauce to go with the noodles, but I enjoyed the pork and the veggies. - Grilled Chicken Thigh: WOW! One of the best bahn mi sandwiches I've ever had! It had a lot of wonderfully flavorful meat. I'd def get this again. It's a fair deal for the price. - Bun Belly: Delicious! The shrimp is huge and juicy, which, at this price, is the least you can get. I really enjoyed it, but I think it was too expensive to get again. - Shrimp Po-Bao: The pork belly is tender is juicy though a little fatty for my taste. I really enjoyed it, but for the price, I probs wouldn't get it again. read more

Hole in the wall amazing restaurant. From the atmosphere to the older gentlemen server who is so nice it was a busy night but he was fast,responsive and genyine.the food was amazing we had the buns as apatizer and a chicken pho and sandwich dip. Truly amazing.got suggested the lotus flower tea.all and all a great spot .will definately return. read more

I had the pork belly sliders and shrimp spring roll, with a Thai iced tea for dinner, seems small but I'm stuffed. I'm 6 foot 200 lbs. The sliders were sweet and smokey with a delicious caramelized sauce on the outside of the juicy perfectly cooked pork belly. The buns were perfect, and contrasted well with the picked carrots and cilantro. The shrimp spring rolls were sliced sushi style and served with a peanut sauce. The sweet tender shrimp were tasty and the aromatic Thai basil was a perfect compliment to the carrots. Peanut sauce was a little thick but had good flavor. Thai iced tea tasted fresh and hit the spot. With yelp you get a free dessert check in... USE IT! A perfectly steamed bun with grill marks lends a smokey flavor to the blue bell buttered pecan ice cream that was inside (they use different types of ice cream, but blue bell is BACK) making for the most amazing grown up ice cream sandwhich I've ever had. All in all a very good dining experience, the owners were very polite and talked with me for a bit. The only issue I had was the tables were either a little low or the chairs were tall. read more

Bun Belly - Pork belly. Amazing. - Vietnamese Near Me - Austin, Texas

I'm halfway through my first bowl of Beef Pho, and I had to pause to write this review. The quality of meats and produce at Bun Belly is SUPERB. Also, their chicken banh mi had some of the freshest bread I've ever eaten. Along with the authentic decor and delicate ambient music, this is a truly elevated dining experience. P.S. - my girlfriend and I are very tempted to come back tonight for dinner read more

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To be honest, I was a little iffy on Asian fusion, but I'm happy to report that his place is pretty darn good. We started off with salt and pepper tofu. The dish was great, and the tofu had a nice crispiness. The lime sauce gave a nice acidic punch, and the fresh jalapenos gave a nice kick. The steamed bun belly sliders were good. The pork belly had a nice crispy crust from but was a little dry. The buns could use a tad more hoisin sauce and veggie garnish though. I tried some of the bun belly egg noodles, and I liked it. Fried egg, pork belly, and noodles. I was already sold at fried egg... I'm an easy sell with eggs. For dessert, I had the sticky rice topped with a bruleed mango and a side of cherry ice cream and some sauce. A lot of stuff on the plate and a mouthful to say but very good. You should try this! I wish they gave a big bowl of the bruleed mango because that was awesome. It kind of looked like foie gras though from the brulee which gave the mango a caramelized crust. But anyways, get it. The dessert was light and delicate. A little weird to eat because of so many components but it was delightful. read more

When I hear "contemporary Vietnamese" or "Vietnamese fusion" my guard is instantly up. I can't help it if I'm wary of manipulating authentic Vietnamese cuisine. Nevertheless, I'm always tempted to try. ;) Food: 5/5 Pricing: 4/5 Atmosphere: 5/5 Service: 5/5 I've been told to only get the sliders here and skip the vermicelli, so that's what I did. I ordered the "Mekong Slider" which is a catfish slider (the menu says 'Vietnamese basa' but I have no idea what that is). The flavor is a little peppery, but very good and reminiscent of the famous claypot catfish dish (ca kho to). My friend ordered the pork belly sliders, and they were also just as delicious. It's a good portion of the pork belly and cooked to perfection. A dash of sauce is sweeped on the side of your plate for your dipping pleasure (I believe it's hoisin sauce?). We also had the ice cream bun due to the Yelp check-in. Note that they limit one ice cream bun per table with that Yelp deal! The ice cream was unique because it's made in-house. Ours was a soft pink color with some salted pecans. I'm not sure what flavor it was, but my friend claims red bean (I'm skeptical). I'm a sucker for atmospheres and this is the perfect place to bring a date. The restaurant is a little small and there are a lot of tables available for two. The lighting fixtures are awesome, and I love how wood is so predominant in their decor. Also, I tend to check out bathrooms and if you don't need to go to the bathroom here, just go. There are two bathrooms and are both unisex although the one on the left also has a urinal. The lighting fixtures in the bathrooms are also really pretty. It's a little dim though, so everything will walk out believing they look good. :) The only negative thing I'd say is the pricing. $7 for two buns is a lot. I think you're paying for the "hipster, contemporary, classy" feel of the place though. The vermicelli and pho bowls were way pricier than their counterparts at other Vietnamese restaurants (like $12!!). Can't comment on the taste because I haven't had it... Other random notes: - There is a stone on the table for your use. My friend and I were perplexed about the use of the stone. We have the answer for you, so you don't have to be embarrassed to ask! It's a chopstick holder to keep your chopsticks off the table. :) - Each table has a different kind of salt and pepper shaker. Cute!! read more

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Service is good. I had the pork belly bun twice and both times it was nothing but fat and didn't have any flavor. The brisket bun is really good! read more

Bun Belly - Vietnamese Near Me - Austin, Texas

So glad we finally made it over to this place, because it's an awesome neighborhood spot! The decor and seating were simple but comforting, and the food was delicious. We ordered the bun belly (belly bun?) and the beef bun, as well as a shrimp spring roll. They were all incredible! The buns were fluffy, sticky, and slightly sweet - exactly what you want them to be like. Seriously sexy buns. The pork belly had a nice crust on it, and had great flavor. We also really enjoyed the spring roll with peanut sauce. I wish I'd had more room to eat more (and generally would have kept going because I have no self control) but those three things were more than enough to feed two of us. The server was attentive and helpful, and we'll definitely go back! read more

Bun Belly - Pork belly bun - Vietnamese Near Me - Austin, Texas

Best Pho in town. Hands down. I can't eat wheat but my wife says their signature dish, the bun belly (it's pork belly in a soft Asian bun,) is delicious. But I have to repeat how good this Pho is. It's the melt in your mouth, savory, craving after a hangover, want to buy another bowl but you can't because you're stuffed kind of pho. Best be sure I will be coming back here to get my fix. read more

We went here for a dinner during SxSw. The place was pleasantly not packed up. Everybody in my group liked his/her food. We tried the Bun Belly, it was delicious. I ordered the Crispy Noodle. It was a huge portion, with lots of vegetable (the way I like it), I had to share it with others. My daughter got the Bun Belly Egg Noodle. She liked the pork belly but the noodle was just so so. She liked my Crispy Noodle the best. My husband was sold on this place since they played classic jazz music while we were there. :-) We will be back! read more

Walked in early on a Sunday for dinner with a nearly empty restaurant. My friend and I ordered 3 different bun combinations: the Bun Belly, Chicken and Egg, and the market special which was a fried soft shell crab. The original Bun Belly was a great start. The buns are soft and slightly sweet. The pork belly was cooked well with a good piece of solid fat on each of the pork slices. The soft shell crab was next. I was excited for this one the most. It came with a spicy sauce on top. The crab was fried perfectly. The last one was the chicken and egg and also my least favorite of the three. This was pretty plain thigh meat with a barely overcooked egg on top. The flavors were alright. I wanted something to tie the egg and chicken together better. I will definitely be back as this is down the street and I've heard they have a happy hour deal. read more

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**THIS REVIEW IS MAINLY ABOUT THE BEHAVIOR OF THE OWNER-- Let me start by saying I did not eat here. I wanted to, but never got the chance. I arrived shortly after they opened at 11. There was someone already there waiting for a delivery order (she had arrived at 11:07). The restaurant was not ready for business- floor still wet, manager on the phone, chairs not down, and I was told they would be ready in 5 minutes. Waiting is fine-I know things happen, but there was a lack of concern to actually make anything happen, including making the restaurant ready for customers. I got to talking to the woman picking up the order- she had to deliver the food by 11:30 or it would be late. Yes, she did arrive early, but her order pickup time was 11:20. That time came and nothing happened. Absolutely no one talked to us at this point and by now there is another customer waiting. The restaurant is still not ready. I asked the delivery person if I she minded if I said something and she said 'no.' The conversation between me, her, and the manager (?), who said 11:20 is the 'approximate' time for pickup, escalated quite quickly due to the arrival of the owner ( who was preparing the food in the back). The owner was aggressive, unbelievably rude, obnoxious, and tried to cancel the order. He yelled at the driver for being early and said it was her fault- Order cancelled! By now it is 11:25 and they are just now packing up the order. Look, the driver was early and she knew that, but she really had no idea if anyone was preparing her order, etc. as no one was communicating with her (or me as a waiting customer). It was all very confusing, but could have ended differently with just a little bit of communication and the reaction of the owner was completely unacceptable. FYI- do not put a sign out that you are open for business if you are clearly not. That is false advertising and inconsiderate to your paying customers. ** I found out (later that day) the owner told the delivery company that their driver yelled, cussed, and swore at him. That is a complete and utter lie. Absolutely false and 100% untrue. She was absolutely professional, considerate, and polite. When the owner reads this, and I hope he will, rest assured your lies were proven false when I spoke to the driver's manager today. read more

I made a yelp account to review this restaurant because it was that good! I had the pork belly spring rolls (9/10), beef belly buns (10/10, best I've ever had!), and spicy beef vermicelli noodles (9/10)! Everything was presented professionally and the portion for the price was solid. The service and environment were also top notch even though we had a party of 9 on a Friday night ! read more

The wife and I have been here twice during our month long sojourn in Austin stuck out in the burbs. Bun Belly was convenient to get to and easy parking. The two times we dined here early evening it took an exceedingly long time between when we were seated, received menus, and finally had our drinks. The first visit the Pad Thai was good, the following visit not so good. The two times I had the Pho with chicken it was very mediocre, with a very light watery, flavorless broth vs the beautifully layered broth I have come to expect served up in great cities such as San Francisco and Seattle. The Bau Bun with the pork belly; the pork belly was dry and over cooked... so disapointing. The 2nd visit, the surface of the table was sticky... and I dunno the interior space seems a mix of nicely updated and run down looking. Try it if you dare, enjoy it if you can. read more

Super soft buns .. had the shrimp and mother and child .. both were good. Loved the shaken beef. Also tried their fresh shrimp spring roll . Liked all the dishes, everything was fresh and had good quality ingredients . They also have lot of gluten free options too.I will return again read more

Bun Belly - Vietnamese Near Me - Austin, Texas

I can't say enough good about this cozy, cute spot! I almost don't want to review because I want to keep this gem to myself- but the owner is fabulous and she deserves a five star review and a thriving business. Locally owned and operated. Out of this world authentic Vietnamese. Adorable environment. If you're craving a bahn mi, bao, or pho, you need to make this place your next stop. Yum, yum, yum! read more

Cool atmosphere and decor. We have been a couple of times for pho. Food: I have had the beef and chicken pho, both were pretty good, plentiful, and had good flavor. We also have had the shrimp po bao buns. They come 2 to an order, and are made with huge gulf shrimp. Super good! Service: our server was super polite, and handled the room efficiently on his own. When we walked in there was another guy behind the counter....not as friendly. He kind of looked at us strange and barely greeted us. Others have said similar things about this, so maybe take note. Atmosphere: more upscale than a typical pho joint yet casual. Wood is everywhere, great lighting, and they seem to be able to seat larger parties of 6-8 easily. read more

There is a certain amount of courtesy that should be used by staff and waitresses who work in a restaurant as they have to deal with public The waitress today at Bun Belly chose to be rude and obnoxious this is not called for as folks in Austin are known for being friendly Friendliness past it on please read more

I had the brisket sliders and the shrimp spring rolls, they were SO. GOOD. The service was friendly, the decor was super cute, I'll be finding new excuses to come up north just to come aNd eat here! read more

We were already to go to Kome... for ramen...but it was a one hour wait and we were hangry and didn't feel great about stewing in our hunger. Instead we popped over to Bun Belly and ordered pho. I had the beef with added veggies and my friend ordered the chicken. Both were so delicious. I felt the universe had given us a good turn. Better still The service was perfect...plus fortunately we didn't have to wait. read more

Five stars solid folks. Everything was top notch! The environment was cool, modern, clean and relaxed. The waitstaff were friendly and helpful with good suggestions all around. We started with Sapporo and the belly buns which were fantastic. A little while later the soft shell blue crab buns came and they blew our minds. Crispy, yet soft and perfectly seasoned. We tried the chicken pad Thai, the steak rolls and the spicy salt and pepper shrimp. The shrimp were spicy, so watch out! Everything was so delicious, see pics, it tastes as good as it looks. We'll be returning for sure! read more

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I've had Bun Belly on my list of must try for quite some time and finally made it over there last night. I was not disappointed. The place is simple and clean with a modern zen like vibe. Service was friendly and attentive. Food was spectacular. We came for the bun and tried the pork belly one called the Bun Belly. So delicious we had to order another pair. We also tried the beef brisket bun. Another awesome choice. We even went for the pork belly spring roll. We really liked the Thai basil in the spring roll. It added so much flavor. We'll go back to try more of their dishes very soon. Oh did I mention the check was a delight as well. read more

Prepare to astonish yourself with deliciousness! From appetizers to entrees through desert, every bite was a moment to savor. Be sure to ask your waiter if there's a special, as we did! We started with a pork bánh seasoned with cilantro that was both light and juicy. I treated myself to the chicken bun bowl while my companion enjoyed the seasoned pork that was grilled, then carved from the bone, and oh, so tender! We had Vietnamese iced coffee with our meal which was extremely good. For desert we enjoyed a rice-mango-ice cream and sauce desert with a name I don't remember, so I'll just call it decadent delight. One serving was plenty for the two of us. The setting was attractive and the service was excellent. I can hardly wait to return! read more

Bun Belly - Delicious Delights - Vietnamese Near Me - Austin, Texas

This review is for 3.5 stars. Small menu but portioned well and easy parking and seating available. I came and ordered a vermicelli bowl with pork to go. They didn't answer their phone so couldn't pre-order, but it came out in about 10 minutes so wasn't too horrible. Order came with 2 sets of chopsticks and no napkins, but otherwise packaged well and didn't open up on the car ride home. Large serving but average taste overall. Very raw carrots, bean sprout and spinach, and pork had a weird texture. Noodles were starchy and good and sauce was sweet but had a soft kick. Complimentary egg roll on top of the dish made the dining experience more interesting. Price for the meal was $12+ which included small take out fee of about $1. It's a nice spot for a casual business lunch or take out for dinner, but won't fill your craving for exceptional and worthy-of-a-drive Vietnamese food. read more

Yes!!! This place was amazing. We stopped here in a whim because we love Vietnamese food. The pork belly buns were awesome. I got the pho and it was perfect. They even catered to our kids. We will def come back here the next time we are in Austin. read more