Loro Asian Smokehouse & Bar Reviews

Waiting easy under shade of huge trees out front, not a long wait, common picnic table Type seating outdoors and u can bring your dog, you order at bar and they bring it to you.. Cole slaw, chicken lettuce wrap w jicama and pickles ,beef and a breaded more Chinese feeling chicken..everything excellent w fresh mint and cilantro:...Asian flavors that we crave and Don’t find much here in Austin. Will be back .food was great and we needed a to go box which made for a great lunch! 2 meals For price of one. Thank you

Went to Loro with friends and we ordered in a bunch of food; summer salad, chicken karaage, corn fritters, wonton chips, candied kettle, coconut rice, brisket sandwich, ribs, and the magical brisket. The brisket, the brisket, the brisket… I have so much to say about the brisket yet cannot find the words. I nearly wept - that’s how good it was! The coconut rice was so light and flavorful and perfect, and the summer salad was u n r e a l - I don’t know what that dressing is but Christ that’s good!! I’m so so impressed with the food and the frozen gin and tonics were delicious. Love love love the food and hope to get the opportunity to return!

An Austin native directed our family to this restaurant and said expect a wait and expect it to be worth it... he was spot on. On arrival this. is a very unassuming restaurant with a buzz of activity in relaxed atmosphere. You cue up from drinks after putting your name in for a table outside (picnic tables), or inside with a bar and seated area. In fact you cue up to order food and pay....they serve all food at the table family style...drop and go and you share. Waits are 30-45 minutes but there is plenty of outdoor seating and an outdoor bartender with beers and mixed drinks and various margaritas that help the wait to slip away to easy conversation, laughs and anticipation At.an average price range, this place delivers some unique delicacies that blend / fuse asian and BBQ cuisine, without overwhelming either. We started off with the Crunch Sweet Corn Fritters and Kale and Pear Asian Salad and Chicken Karrage. These were outstanding with a hint of asian influence and some terrific sauces that enhanced the flavors. For Dinner we shared the Pork Belly, malaysian chicken and Smoked Prime Vavette and smoked baby back duroc ribs.... for us, we would order it all again except the Malaysian chicken... not bad just not memorable. The one problem with this place is we all WANTED to go back again, but also wanted to enjoy other restaurants while visiting Austin. Go Hungry and try some of the interesting dishes...wrapping BBQ and Smoked meats in an asian theme.

We’ve visited the Loro’s in Houston and Dallas. I didn’t like that you had to order at the bar. At the Dallas location, you used a QR code and ordered from your table. Loved that you could purchase a drink from the drink hut after checking in to eat. We had to wait ~30 minutes but it was the perfect amount of time to order a drink and sit down outside. Lots of outdoor seating. We were seated at the bar which turned out to be great since we could order from there. Would recommend the corn fritters, chicken karaage, sesame rice noodles, and brisket👌. It was all so good! We started off with the Typhoon and a ginger old fashioned then got a slushee flight. The killer colada was amazing!!! Perfect place for a date!!

At my wife's desire, a group of us with out for lunch while on vacation in Austin. We ordered almost ever appetizer on the menu and passed them around. I only had a few of them and will only speak to what I ate. The snap peas were not good. Some were spicy, some were not but they didn't do anything for me. The pork belly was good but it would have been a lot better without the sweet sauce they put on it. The rice noodles were okay but I do not think they justified the price. I had the Loro burger and it was good. The "brisket jam" on the burger is not really a jam. It is yesterday's brisket with a sauce that they put on the burger. I was really hoping to have ribs or brisket but it is not available until after 1600. That made me sad. I had bits and pieces of some other appetizers but I don't know what they were or else I would comment on them.

Really quirky bar and restaurant. Indoor and outdoor seating. Menu is a fusion twist on BBQ. Everything was very good. Service was excellent. It’s not fancy, but it’s a fun place to try something different.

I had arrived at this restaurant at around 2pm to enjoy happy hour and read a book since it was my 1 day off a week (I typically work around 60 hours a week) I work as a General Manager of another restaurant. I had been diving there for around 2 hours in a spot away from most people and was very occasionally smoking a puff of two from my e cig blowing it at my book when a lady came up to me from another table maybe 10ft or so from me and ask me in a very rude way to stop smoking while calling me an A-Hole for doing it. (I hadn't said a word to anyone and was in the dead middle of a chapter) I politly told her no I'm good and that I was not doing anything wrong being in the outdoor area that allows this and was here well before they just walked up. She went and got a sauce from inside came over and dumped it all over me calling me some fowl names. (I had been minding my own buissness) and I was upset and said I am no A-Hole I was minding my own buissness and you acted like a B word. So I told the management and I am deeply disappointed in the response they went and spoke to her but no action was taken. I was accosted minding my own business in this establishment and they failed to remove the person who assaulted me in this manner. I have been coming here for years but I will never again set foot in this establishment after they failed to remove such an awful individual who accosted me from the restaurant. If these are the values and ethics of a company and it's staff then I will no longer be a customer and my buissness is lost. While it wasn't their fault they spectacularly failed to remedy this situation.

While I know many think this place is all that, my rating has to do with the overall dining experience. Slushies are sold while you wait and they explained that once you’re allowed to go inside, it’s up to your party to find a table. Timing met our expectations, and then everything is self serve except the food delivery. Many dishes are very greasy, although the basic brisket is melt-in-your-mouth delicious is with the oily finish. Very busy, but not relaxing at all. Would like a few less greasy items on the menu, but it’s clearly popular. Each tray of food contains small portions so factor that in with your order.

We stopped by Loro our last night in Austin and it was great. For drinks we had the gin and tonic slushy and the batch old fashioned and both were great choices as we had a second with our meal. As for the food, it was exactly what you would expect. We ordered the corn fritters which where very good and not too filling. After that came the brisket and the ribs. Now it may have been the Franklin we had earlier in the week, im not sure, but honestly i could live without the brisket. The ribs on the other hand were perfect. Tempted to order seconds perfect. we finished off with both chicken dishes. The fried chicken was very good, nice light firm breading and a great sauce, the curry chicken was equally delicious. All in all i would say the food is great, the atmosphere is fun and it is definitely worth the stop.

Great mix of more than just brisket. Turkey, pork, beef tenderloin. A selection of side choices unexpected but appropriate. Not a romantic spot - not a quiet spot - not Zen but Texas tailgate enthusiasm in an open but warm setting.

First time to this new establishment. Very knowledgeable bartenders and staff. Clean and bright. Nice building.

We found out about Loro on the plane down to Austin and we are so glad we made the visit. Loved sitting outside and all the dishes we ordered were exceptional. We went after 2 pm (happy hour on weekdays from 2-5 pm). We had the karaage chicken with a spicy aioli, smoked pork sausages with a yummy dipping sauce and a delicious slaw (a bit of spice) and a chicken curry with pickles, lettuce, and radish and a flavourful curry sauce. . Oh, and the ride is a must order. So flavourful, i could have just have eaten the rice. I also liked that take containers were available for both the food and the sauces. Extremely inventive and would definitely go back.

One of the many "hip"places who have replaced the gourmet community in Austin with "growth". Too expensive, tasteless, stupidly combined. Full of people of "believe" but only believe (not knowledge or taste) that this is great. They charge serviced prices but you still gotta get in line to order. Outdoor space in full sun, great during a 105 degree Texas summer (from April to October). A strange concept.

Asian meets Texas BBQ and the flavors were outstanding. The brisket was incredible. Also had smoked pork with peanut sauce and papaya salad. This, along with great beer and cocktails makes it a must eat at place. Understand the person behind Franklin's is also behind Loro's

Went to Loro on a Wednesday night in May with my wife, brother, and his wife. We knew there would be a wait, arriving around 7p, and it ended up taking about 1hr till they gave us seating. We were able to get a place to sit in the outdoor bar area and have a beer while we waited. When finally seated, we had to go inside to stand in line to order - I guess considering all the BBQ places that make you stand in line to get your food before sitting makes this option marginally better, but it seemed like taking orders wouldn't be a stretch for the prices charged here. I suppose if it speeds up the turnover, then it's somewhat worth it. The food was delicious (everything was some sort of mash-up of Malaysian, Japanese, Korean, or Chinese with Austin), but the portions were quite modest from what I recall. The cocktail I had was good (I think it was a jazzed up mojito), but not sure I would pay so much for it next time. Theoretically, the owner of Uchi (Fine Japanese) and Franklin's BBQ (local BBQ pitmaster emperor) got together to make this place. Sounded like a good idea, but they seemed to price more for it than it merits.

The quick review is the food was excellent, craft beer ambiance, and dog friendly with outdoor seating. I have driven along South Lamar for a long time but never stopped by. My impression was it was too Asian for my wife where she may not like the taste. After talking to my niece who ate there said we would definitely love it, so in looking for a new place to try Loro was on top of the list. Built under huge oak trees Loro provides many seating options from bar, indoor, patio, and outdoor seating. It was a bit chilly so decided to sit at the bar noticing some sat outside under large heaters. First you find your place to sit and then order at the bar. It seemed to work well and gives that country bbq feel. Taps of local brews were in front of me with decorations along the wall perhaps from a garage sale adding to the ambiance of Austin coolness. The menu was on a peg wood wall with old school lettering or scan the QR code using your phone. I ordered the Oak Smoked Salmon with Coconut Scented Rice. The bartender noted to return on either Sunday or Monday to try the Smoked Baby Back Duroc Pork Ribs where you will sing about it they next day. We dressed Austin casual so not need for business attire or bow ties, and there seems to be quite a bit of parking even though saw a few arrive on e-scooters. The average age here is 20-30s which made me feel young here. Looks like it’s a place where the food is brought to you when ready, not sitting under a heat lamp. A side bowl was placed in front of me with a delicious looking piece of salmon in a puddle of some juice. The rice was in a white takeout box. The salmon was extremely good and went along fine with my Live Oak Hefeweizen draft beer. I was so tuned into my fish I forgot about the rice. I opened the little box and tasted it where it was very good too with a buttery taste. Forgot to ask for chopsticks but again lost all consciousness on enjoying my salmon. As for my wife she enjoyed the Oak Smoked Beef Brisket Sandwich where said the best she had tasted in a long while perhaps on our Texas Monthly BBQ tour. Definitely added a pin on this place to my restaurant regular rotation where there are a few other menu items I need to try.

We went with son and his wife for happy hour. We spilt all the appetizers on happy hour and the corn fritters, Wow. All good. We also had the frozen gin and tonic, Wow. Wished we lived in Austin. Sat outside great place. Have fun

Very lively and fun. Great outdoor patio areas, very large. Order food and the bar and it is served to you quickly. The corn fritters were delicious as well as the Malaysian Chicken Curry bowl and the Oak Salmon bowl.

This is one of a number of great small plate sharing menu restaurants. Patrons order at the counter and the order is delivered to your table, as the items are ready, perhaps in several courses. We had a party of 6, seated at a large table with 2 other parties. Customers can meet people, simply because you end up seated next to them. Of the many items which we ordered and shared, everything was excellent. Be prepared to wait for a table.

Had Malaysian chicken bowl and corn fritters. The chicken was curry flavored. The sauce on the side give the rice a sweet and sour flavor. The corn fritters were right out of the fryer. Had a glass of Pinot noir too. The wine was so so - would not order it again. Had chocolate chip cookie. Cookie was very good - chewy and had a slight peanut butter flavor.

When I learned this place had a Franklins bbq connection I knew we had to go. The brisket was heaven. Awesome place and a real good vibe in the atmosphere. Everything we ate and drank was great.

All food was excellent. Inside decor and set up was also nice. Only issue we had is that every time you order something ( food, drink, second drink, third drink) you had to close out your ticket. They don’t open tabs at all. We ate here bringing clients to dinner and had to compile all orders for 12 people to place one order and it was too complicated to continue compiling drink orders so we are quickly and left to find a bar to enjoy drinks at a place we can open a tab.

A small group of us gave Loro a try on a Friday night, arriving about 5:45. We were able to secure a table with room for 8 outside, but it was some of the last space. We ordered drinks and appetizers to start - you go to any of the four ordering stations at the bar for both food and drink. The popcorn with burnt ends is actually Carmel corn with shredded and chopped brisket - it was delightful. Between all of us, we tried the smoked chicken, the green papaya salad, the brisket and the pork belly. All were very good, the brisket was the star, and we went back for more. The papaya salad was too spicy for my wife, I found the spice level fine, but thought it might be better as an accompaniment on the side of an entree. Overall, we loved it and really enjoyed being able to sample all of the flavors. .

If you like world class BBQ, and world class Asian, you will LOVE this. This is a fusion of Franklin’s and Uchi, and the result it freaking incredible. This place will be legendary! I had the brisket, which in its own right, is worth the trip. The Asian flair to it with the sauce and accompaniments preserves the awesomeness of the meet, but takes it up a notch with the flair. So good! I also had the sausage which is similar in nature. Very creative and delicious. The atmosphere is cool too. There is no downside to this place. It is pretty freaking crowded though, but entirely worth it.

Nice balance of freshness, the meats were perfectly cooked, tender, well seasoned. Service was terrific, we ate at the bar. Frankie, bartender, was GREAT, even recommended where we should go for Christmas. Highly recommend this spot!

Original concept from famed Chefs Tyson Cole & Aaron Franklin... Serving a wide variety of Asian inspired dishes with the Barbecue Smokehouse Texas influence... Amazing patio seating options and indoor dining as well. A must go to location is on the popular South Lamar Blvd, but they have multiple different venues as well.

Monday evening in April and a 1-1.25 hr wait for a table by 7pm (that was indoors…didn’t dare ask for patio). So, we ordered take-out and a drink. Long line to order and were told by bar staff that we needed a table number to be able to have our food given to us…even though we ordered take-out and had a buzzer given to us (?!). Hostess had no idea what that was all about when we went and told her that…sent us into the (full, no seats available) ‘waiting area’ and said she would tell ‘them’ where we were. After half an hour or so, we asked on progress of our order, to be told one dish just being cooked, 2 mins wait. After 15 mins, someone wandered out with a bag shouting our name, no buzzer having gone off (???). When we eventually got home, we had an extra dish in the bag! (Sadly for our meat-lovers, tofu!!!). Really lovely flavours, really rubbish in all other respects…felt like jumping in and sorting them all out myself!!

ave you dreamed of the place where East meets West, where curry-rubbed ribs are smoked for hours, or where Vietnamese coffee can get you drunk and lucky like the Irish one? If this is not the place, it comes pretty close. I start with frozen Vietnamese coffee. It freezesze my brain with the slushie texture and the sweetness from the condense milk. Make sure you swirl so that you can taste the aromatic coffee grounds in every sip. And perhaps midway or at the end, you will feel the lighthearted as the bourbon kicks in. Pleasure! Chicken karaage has the crispiness on the outside, locking the juiciness inside the meat. It's accompanied by a light sweet and sour dressing. I tried to stop eating so that I would have room for the others. Malaysian curry chicken rice bowl is light in texture yet bold but not overwhelming in flavor from the curry. Chicken pieces are tender and they sit on top of coconut rice. Then comes Bánh mì adopted child: smoked pork sausage sandwich. It is displayed like a Vietnamese sandwich, but in hot dog buns and shredded daikon radish. Like its American relative, hamburger, you need to a big mouth to have all ingredients in one bite. The least flavorful amongst what I ordered. I couldn't get to try the dishes from the smokehouse like briskets and such because it is served in the afternoon. Happy hour is everyday with smokehouse specials on Sunday and Monday at 5 ( actually at 4pm I've been told). And the service is exceptional, friendly and hospitable all the way. Don't expect full service, expect full flavor.

Went there during cold snap, ate at bar. The brisket was great including the sandwich trimmings. Beer selection could have used more on the amber to dark side, but good. Snap peas were good too but kind of trying too hard.

Wow! An explosion of flavors. Burnt ends and kettle corn. Awesome. The brisket was very good. Catarina loves the kale salad. Something for everyone.

Quick business trip to Austin. My foodie coworker said this is the place to go. It was fantastic and exactly what I envisioned a cool Austin eatery to be. Brisket so tender you don’t even have to chew. 🤠😀 A ridiculously delectable plate sharing night of Smoked Beef Brisket, Char Siew Pork Belly, & Chicken Karaage were the absolute Bomb 💣 💥 😋

GREAT food. Low key ambience and general chill feel all around. Good selection of drinks and beers.

Excellent food ordered at the bar and delivered to your picnic table. A true combination of the best BBQ in the world and the best Suchi in the world. We tried a large variety of the menu, all great. Unfortunately, all of the Franklin's BBQ was sold out. We arrived after 8 PM... Great new addition to the Austin cuisine!

My two favorite cuisines, hands down, combined. Some of the stuff on the menu is not awesome, but the brisket sandwich and the popcorn with burnt ends are both ridiculously good. The smoked bavette bowl was delicious. Wontons and sauces also unique and tasty. Cool decor and outdoor seating. Seemed like some people could not handle ordering at the bar and not having a waiter, but I don't understand it. We're going back every time in Austin. Not cheap but totally worth it. Enjoyed banter with staff also. I want this place in Dallas so bad.

I recently had lunch here with a friend, I'm a big fan of Franklin BBQ and Uchi and Uchiko so I was excited to finally try their fusion restaurant. I was not disappointed. There is a decent-sized parking lot, we were there for an early lunch so it was easy to get a spot. The first thing you notice is the outside space, it surrounds the restaurant itself and has fun outdoor furniture and lots of shade trees. Entering the restaurant, I was impressed with the open space and the clean design lines. Like combining BBQ and Asian cuisine, the restaurant itself combines the feeling of an old school BBQ pit restaurant with the rustic wooden charm of tonkatsu joint in Tokyo. You order at the bar, and your food is delivered as it is ready. Not refined like at Uchi or Uchiko, but faster than waiting to get your order in at Franklin. We started with the burnt ends popcorn, which was excellent. Simple, but such a great flavor combination. We also had the wonton chips and salsa, the wontons were crispy like tortilla chips and both the salsas were very flavorful. The smoked turkey breast with the citrus dressing was a bit disappointing, the turkey itself was wonderful but the strong citrus sauce interfered and overpowered the turkey flavor. We also tried the pork belly with hoisin sauce, which was divine. Every bite was so flavorful and delicious, I was full before I finished but I still wanted more after I finished. The staff was great, really friendly and attentive (we sat at the bar) and we even got a free beer when the bartender poured the wrong one for another customer. The space is open but the seating can be communal or intimate, so this is a great place for a date night (maybe a bit loud), a family meal or a meal with extended friends. There are a number of veggie options on the menu, and lots of other meat dishes that we didn't get a chance to try. I'm very much looking forward to my next visit, hopefully asap!

During COVID-19, I was able to order this Pork Belly Rice Bowl and Oak Grilled Snap Peas online and pick-up in their parking lot, as there were signs as to what to do and the staff brought your order to your car. Pork Belly Rice Bowl was served over coconut scented rice, seasonal pickled vegetables, thai herbs, and a dipping sauce. This dish was very good with the fresh herbs and the sauce made it a great dish. The Oak Grilled Snap Peas with kimchee emulsion was something I was thinking about when I got home! I love smoked vegetables, which had a smoked flavor but still had a crunch. Unfortunately during my visit I couldn’t dine on site, but I will be back as the food was excellent (even if it was togo).

Very popular place and very crowded now that Covid restrictions are loosening. Long wait tonight. Drinks although tasty were pretty weak and expensive for premixed drinks. But that is now Austin. Sigh. Limited wine outside-only cans. Fried wontons just ok and oily, sauces were tasty, but when waiting an hour was filling. Overall food was flavorful in a really nice outdoor setting. They also do a bustling take out business that probably contributes to wait.

Everything about this restaurant looks interesting. The inside/outside design is creative and in line with today’s metropolitan style. However, the big problem is the food. The menu is very limited, the ‘fusion’ just isn’t working and with the small portions they seem to be charging as much as possible for as little as possible. It is hard to see why you would want to keep coming back with this menu and the quality of the dishes. The pork belly was too tasteless and under-prepared and the steak bavard completely over priced at $18. The garlic noodles were cold and had no hint of garlic. We would advise you to select the salmon which is good but, again, overpriced. We hope the kitchen will read this and raise its game because this could be a very special place. The environment is wonderful and the ‘front of house staff’ are excellent - our bar waitress was top class.

Our Uber driver recommended LORO as a new concept in Austin. The barbecue genius of Franklin Barbecue and the Sushi genius of Uchi collaborated on a barbecue with Asian flavors. This is for what a guest needs to be prepared: a)you are handed a menu as you arrive and you order at the bar 2) it is open “cafeteria” seating. 3) your food arrives as do Tapas. Your meat may arrive before your salad. 4) everything arrives very quickly. 5) servers find your table via a tabletop paging device that sits on your table. The whole process is a marvel to watch work. We were seated at the bar and had an incredibly WONDERFUL experience. Make a stop here.

We never miss a visit to loro and sometimes we over order because the leftovers are fought over. Much get chicken karage, Cole slaw, everything is good . I had a slushee drink delight which was so perfect w a hot summer day ..and yes lunch the next day was just divine !

3 people in our party had eaten here before. Some reviews I read prior to coming were a bit offputting so I wanted to state our experience. We were able to get a table for the group no problem and walked right up to place our orders after reviewing the menu. We ordered a variety so everyone got a bite of different dishes and then went back for seconds on favorites. The fried wonton chips were a pleasant surprise and rice noodles really flavorful. We loved the fried chicken pieces with jalapeno aoli...and the beef and pork belly dishes were outstanding. The food is beautiful and was surprisingly quick to the table. We shared desserts- the cookies had just the right amount of salt on them and the mousse was gobbled down by several in the party who still had a smidgen of room left. We loved the shared plates, the environment was inviting, a game was on tv and we could have a conversation without feeling like we had to yell over restaurant moise. A definite place to return.

This a really great place. Fantastic experience and the food is full of flavor. My favorite is the brisket which has an Asian flare. Absolutely delicious! The Carmel popcorn and burnt ends is also a must. Very addicting! Service is friendly and spot on! Enjoy!!

My wife recently visited Loro for lunch. I had and amazing Smoked Brisket Sandwich and she had the Malaysian Chicken Rice Bowl. Both were outstanding.

Not to be missed . We tried the TX corn Today..spicey but really tasty. We had the chx karage..coleslaw ..reliability good. Tried the creme brûlée which was chocolate w peanuts on top. Had a pot du creme vibe we thought..delish. Thank you

My friend and I split two sandwiches and neither of us could eat either one. We had the corn fritter appetizer, which was good.

My wife had eaten lunch with a friend before we took the family to Loro, so I was already prepared for the addictive won-ton crisps with what must be liquid crack in the salsa, thanks to her bringing the leftovers home, but every single dish we tried was just a marvelous combination of tastes. Besides the won-ton crisps, we had the corn fritters, kale and Asian pear salad (because it's healthy, right?), brisket, Malaysian chicken, pork belly, salmon, and Malaysian curry rice bowl. Every one was outstanding, and most were accompanied by absolutely delightful sauses/salsas. It's not a cheap outing, but it's worth the deep reach into your wallet. The service model is effective at getting food to you quickly, and the small dishes encourage a lot of sharing, which will inevitably lead to a fight over that last won-ton crisp. The outdoor seating is great for this time of year when the heat and humidity are at more bearable levels during daylight hours. Highly recommended.

The food is really great! Unfortunately we did not realize that you had to order the food from the bar, get your own plates and silverware and drinks. I would have rated the place a 5 if the Hostess would have taken a moment to explain how the dining experience works. We did not live in Austin. It was our first time to try it. We assumed it was a full service experience. Other than that I highly recommend!!!!

Food was delicious... briskets and salmon a must... very rekaxing garden...only thing u have to order at counter so a bit disruptive for the 2hr window catch up we had...

Very seldom do I really like a restaurant so much, and yet I have many complaints! Like others reviewers have said - this is probably fusion food at its best (ex. green curry sausage wow!). The restaurant has a great atmosphere, lively feel, super food and drink selections at very reasonable prices....but yet the service model has me sorely disappointed! For the most part - this is a self-service restaurant. You have to stand in line and order at the bar, then carry your drinks to your table yourself. Apart from the bar, there is no 'service'. Why the owners have chosen this bizarre model simply defies explanation. If I wanted self-service, I would go to subway! 1. We waited for the better part of an hour to get a table (they don't take reservations). Finally when our turn came, we were ushered to the door, where we were told - "ok, you can order at the bar, and then grab any table/bench/bar stool that opens up". So its not like you actually get a table. We had to scout around for another 15 minutes before we got lucky with grabbing a table that someone had vacated. 2: Go to the bar, stand in line for 15 minutes, order food and drinks. Carry your own drinks to your table. 3: Food starts showing up at your table as it is ready. To one of the staff, "Excuse me - where is the silverware?". Answer "It is by the far wall, you need to get it yourself". 4: After a while, to one of the staff: "Excuse me, can we have some water please". Answer "It is over on that other side, by the wall. feel free to help yourself" 5: Now we are done with 1 round of drinks and we need more. To get more drinks, go back to the bar, stand in line again for 10 minutes, order drinks. Did I mention you have to carry them yourself? 6. Oh but the food is so good. We need to order some more. Oh no not again....yet another line at the bar to order more food..... I talked with a one of the bartenders as well as some of the staff - and they all had the same thing to say. NO ONE really likes this self service model. They do have people who bring food to your table. Why not allow them to take extra food/drink orders and bring them to you??? Why make the customer get up and stand in line again at the bar?? The saving grace is the food! And here I have to compliment the chefs on a truly fantastic selection. We tried the corn fritters, roasted snap peas, chips and dip, karaage chicken, green curry sausage, tofu with coconut rice, char stew pork belly, and the desserts. No complaints whatsoever! In the end, I really do hope that they restaurant starts offering some service. I am sure everyone will gladly pay for it. Do I want to go back? - oh yes!! Will I go back? - I don't think so.

Was in Austin with some family and this was one of the restaurants we tried. There was a wait until we got a table, but they have an area setup outside with drinks and heaters for your comfort. Food was very good with standard BBQ items with Asian twists to them. Service was very quick and everyone enjoyed their meals.

Amazing food with a great atmosphere. The BBQ / Asian fusion really works. Everything is good, but the burnt ends and popcorn is a must.

We visited with our family of five and two friends on a very hot summer afternoon. We found a great shaded spot near a tv that they were gracious enough to switch to the soccer game that was playing. We had a variety of items off the menu and highly recommend the shareable wontons with dips, and the colada slushie.

First time here. Everything was great looking, and what I had, smoked flank steak with a fancy French name, was amazing! Snap peas well seasoned. Cucumber, tomato, and cantaloupe salad delicious. Lots of seating choices. Not your ordinary restaurant. Go. Enjoy.

Stay away! This restaurant just charged my wife and I $6 for two glasses of sparkling water from the soda gun. The food was mediocre and overpriced. I will never come here again.

Chicken carrage, Cole slaw , Bavette, tomato, melon cucumber salad, curry chicken lettuce wraps..all With fresh mint or cilantro or daikon radish and pickles…wonderful flavors , nice portions so you can have a yummy left over lunch tomorrow , reasonably priced, large corp event on one patio, but wait was not bad.. food comes out quick and it’s a great spot to get take out as they bring right to your car when you pull up to front row spots.allow time to park here , Lamar is a busy road, and lot is always packed… inside or out seating is fun..bar out front if you want a beverage while you wait for your table. They don’t take reservations

Small plates and excellent service -- just off Oltorf on south Lamar. Baby-back pork ribs are outstanding -- many people like the brisket. Go after 5pm for these choices -- interior has a "sports bar" style. Reasonable cost and large parking area.

This place is fantastic. We came here twice on our trip and loved it both times. Everything was delicious and different and we loved all the unique flavors. Hands down favorite was the kettle corn. We ordered three bags on each trip so we would have some to snack on for later in the day. The sweet, savory and spiciness of the kettle corn played perfectly with the burnt brisket ends! Absolutely delicious!

It was a busy Saturday night with a long wait but the food was worth it. It was nice to be able to get a drink while waiting and the outdoor area was comfortable to hang around. We ended up sitting at the bar, despite having people ordering drinks right next to us the service was great and the food was delicious. I recommend the rice noodles.

We passed by this place on the way back to North Dallas from San Antonio, Texas, had our family dinner here. This place has their unique style of preparing their Texas food using Asian ingredients. They claimed that they're Asian fusion restaurant. Self service order style and they will deliver your paid order in your table. Lots of parking spaces. Service staff are friendly and helpful. They will open a branch somewhere in North Dallas soon as per their website.

REALLY great and unique barbecue/Asian mashup. Such an interesting concept, and such a nice atmosphere. You order at the bar and get a number and a VERY attentive wait staff (they were INCREDIBLE) brings you the food, takes away your dishes (the millisecond you finish). Might be tough to find a table but we got lucky and found one even on a busy night. What a great and friendly atmosphere- ALL types of people there- families, groups of young people. Some casual, some dressed up. What a nice inclusive atmosphere. And a great outdoor area that on a nice night or day would be incredible- swinging chairs hanging from trees, firepit. Really nice. Food was mostly great. Greeenbeans were good. Beef dish was INCREDIBLE- we ordered more. Only losing dish was the corn fritters- you should skip them. And the fried wontons were a great appetizer. We made the mistake of getting two and it was way too much for five people. The portions are pretty sizable. Again, our favorite experience in all of Austin. Barbecue with a unique twist.

Best way to eat tapas is having a group of 4 or more and this we did. Grab a menu as you walk in, stand in one of food ordering lines at bar, order food and drinks and then pay. Pretty simple process. Grab a seat, put sensor on the table and they bring your dishes as they are ready. This restaurant is a BBQ spot with a bit of Asian inspired dishes. We ordered the brisket, prime bavette (which is a steak), corn fritters, chicken karaage, coconut rice, salmon and as highly recommended by the bartender the baby back ribs. Everything came out rather quickly that we even ran out of room on our tables for any more plates of food. There were actually no dishes that I wouldn’t order again. If you are rolling solo or aren’t looking to order that many dishes go with the bavette for sure. I really liked the vibe, pretty laid back. Lots of outdoor seating although it’s summer in Austin so we chose to sit inside. The mango sake slush was refreshing although didn’t really have much alcohol.

Asian & texas bbq fusion, Sounds like a trip. The place is more like a bar and trendy with outdoor seating. No waiters, come up to the bar and order up. They will bring out your food. Not all at once but as it comes out. We had the bavette plate and bavette rice bowl. The rice bowl was better. Both lacked flavor, bowl needed some type of acid. We started with apps, Smoked pea pods and chicken tenders.s Once again both lacked flavor, more acid or more sauce, we asked and they stated SIracha, no please not siracha, maybe some vietnamese sauces to add would be great. Give it a try, the beers have many friends.

Been here a few times and each time I walk away with a new favorite menu item. YOU CAN NOT go wrong with whatever you order. Everything will be insanely delicious! Order at the bar, eat outside on a good day, eat at the bar for entertainment, eat inside for casual dining. Each time we've gone, we order several small plates to have a sampling of menu highlights. The turkey, the salmon, the snap peas, coconut rice, corn fritters, street corn, bbq sandwich ALL great selections...my absolute fave is the burger! You can only order the burger 2-5 M-F from the Happy Hour menu. Maintaining your hunger thru lunch to hold out for this burger will leave you dreaming about your next visit. Truly worth the wait. Be bold and go for Mango Sake or Sake on tap...because after all it is an Asian smokehouse!

Although the meals and appetizers are delicious, unfortunately I do not like the service and staff quality. I still come every week for those delicious meals and drinks.

Visiting my friends in Austin and they took me to this great place. To start Kettle Corn with Burnt Ends 🤤 who would’ve thunk?!? Ingenious idea of salty and sweet!!!!! We sat at the bar and were well taken care of! Great place to hangout and snack. Next time I’ll have to try eating a meal 😁

What a fun and unique place! The food is amazing and the frozen drinks are phenomenal! There’s also a great outdoor seating area that I could hang out in all day!

Fantastic spot - food and vibe great. Visited with a group of colleagues, food a mix of Asian and tex mex. could have eaten everything on the menu. Sat outside in the warm air. Music good. Staff friendly and service swift despite it being super busy. I’ll go again

Very good, interesting food--which we'll come back for--but expensive for a self-serve restaurant. Food arrives as each dish is prepared, so some of your party will be left waiting--but only for a minute or two. Love to dine outdoors there under the shade on a warm day. Parking can be a bit tricky.

BBQ with an Asian twist full of flavor. Order at the counter and food delivered to table. Give it a try if you like something different.

So I had heard that this restaurant was a combination of UCHI talent with Franklin BBQ talent. Such a hybrid! How would Asian and Texas fusion cuisine work out? I gave it a go. The initial experience was one of a little confusion. Tables were long and you sat family style near total strangers sometimes ( nice experience, it is Texas after all). You ordered up at the bar and you got the puck which flashed when your order was ready. I am always uncomfortable in a line especially at a new dining experience because I was not sure what I wanted and I needed time. This was made worse by the vaunted ribs not being available. Still, the barman was very helpful within his constraints ( a lot of people ordering). It was a Sunday night around 7 PM and they had been serving since 5 PM. I ordered the flank steak, a dish I did would not normally eat but the steak was perfectly marinated and BBQ'd and it was tender as could be. Quelle Surprise! It was excellent. My friends had the salmon in a Miso sauce and they said it was "perfectly cooked". Overall, this was truly an excellent experience of Texas BBQ and Asian cuisine and the chef's accomplished their goal of fusion in spades. This type of fusion is not an easy task but also not one that is easily executed consistently but that was what I experienced. A new Austin hotspot.

Not going to lie, I didn't make it more than 20' in the door, because seating was open at the full service bar. V set us straight about what drafts, meats, bowls, starters (karage rocked) & cocktails that make up the menu. Deceptively small plates hold ample servings of superbly smoked meats. Two superstars teamed up to make a new Austin destination.

This was definitely the best brisket I have ever had. It just melts in your mouth. There is no waitress service, but order stations. The wait wasn't too long and so worth it. For an appetizer, smoked brisket scraps are fried and tumbled with popcorn - they call it candied kettle corn. Everything was delicious!

We love this restaurant. It may be our fave here -we got take out on a sat night after a day of hiking and they were quick , food delicious even at home, can’t wait to come again.

This is a super unique establishment with lots of parking and food and beverage options. They have unique food options and my partner and I ordered an eclectic mix of meats and veggies and some really good drinks. I’ve heard the ordering and serving is a little strange, but we sat at the bar both times we went and we were directly served by the bar tenders. Everything we had was tasty and we tried a good sampling. I highly recommend it for the food alone and leave the choice of seating to you!

My wife and I had dinner at Loro when we were in town. Love the space, and the food was amazing! Probably the best brisket I've ever had, and the kettle corn with burnt ends and Texas sweet corn are not to be missed! Open one in Nashville please!

Great food came out quickly. Lots of people spread around at picnic tables outside with twinkle lights above. A slight breeze and good conversation made for a perfect night. Thanks Loro.

We went for a light dinner and one drink. The frozen gin and tonic was nice, nothing special, but a fun change from the usual margarita. We had 2 appetizers - the chicken karaage was really tasty, but the garlic rice noodles had some funky taste that neither of us liked. The water also brought a tomato and cucumber salad which was fantastic. I had the brisket which was way too fatty but still quite tasty (I'm a lean fan myself). She had the turkey which was wonderful. No table service, but no big deal. We sat outside and it was very nice. Not too busy as it was a weeknight and a little bit early. All in all it was very good food, but for almost $70 (with only 1 drink I guess I expected a bit more.

Very good food. Best brisket I've had. Portions were small and overpriced for what you received. You're paying for that Franklin mystic. Glad I went once.

We went in early September, it was still 90+ degrees out at dinner time, but the misting fans kept the outdoor dining (only outdoor during Covid) bearble. Our family ordered a full complement from the menu. From the Char Siau pork and beef bavette rice bowls to salads to the Malay Chicken Bo Ssam and Chicken Karaage. Everything came out fast and was deliciously done. We thoroughly enjoyed our meal - It almost felt like dining in the good old days before the pandemic. Something I should mention - the kettle corn combo with burnt ends of the brisket was an interesting and great combination. The wonton chips two dipping sauces were unconventional and great too. The Vietnamese coffee slushee was something we had to get used to in the first few sips, but the Mango Sake slushee went down just fine. All in all it was packed on a week day evening for a reason. Tough times to be in the restaurant business, but these guys have figured it out.

Inventive menu but tough, stringy beef made us very sorry we ate there. We stopped at Buccees for a chocolate bar to get the taste out of our mouths.

We ate at this place twice in our week trip to Austin. Our Uber driver from the airport told us it was a joint effort with Franklin's Barbeque and Uchi. Not sure if this is true, but the food made this believable. Don't miss the beef brisket.

We ordered a bunch of food and just shared them all. The favorite of the group was the brisket. Best we ever had. Close second was the pork belly. Chicken was good, Bavette was good, smoked turkey was decent. Fantastic sauces with the wonton chips. I heard the fritters were good, but I didn’t try any. The beer was good also. I didn’t like the fact that you have to “hover” over people, or keep your eye out for a table to open to sit down and eat. You place your order at the bar, try to find a place to sit. They start bringing food out to you before you can sometimes find a table to eat at. It’s not going to keep me from coming back here though.

When two of the best chefs in Austin join forces, expectations are very high. Loro does not disappoint! The dishes are well executed. The atmosphere is relaxed and service is friendly.

Wow. Just wow. Loro has been on my list since the day it was announced, and I only got to go this weekend. Was it worth it? Oh my, yes. Good food, nice staff, lovely building, what's not to love? Now, let me give you the play by play. First, parking. It's not obvious when you look online, but there's self-parking there. It fills pretty fast, but there's some options on that part of South Lamar, so it's better than most places downtown. Next, the system. You're greeted by a host who gives you a menu and advises regarding seating etc., but you order at the bar. We went on a Saturday morning (before noon) and it was quiet - no wait. It was MUCH busier when we left though. Service was nice and prompt; I had a nice laugh and joke with the bartender. Drinks were good; the Ginger Old Fashioned was nice (but not very gingery) and the Peach Margarita subtle. For food, we ordered a few things: starting with Chicken Karaage and Crunchy Corn Fritters, and the Chicken Bo Saam/Smoked Bavette for mains, accompanied by a portion of the coconut scented rice to share. With tip, it came in closer to $100 than you'd think - hence a little pricey for the setting (seat yourself, order at the bar). However, the proof of the pudding is in the eating, so how was the food? Answer: Amazing. The Karaage was nice - best I've had in Austin, tbh. However, the Corn Fritters were to die for. A decent portion, full of corn kernels and crunchy yet still moist. On to the mains. The Chicken was raved about by my partner at length. For me, it was perfectly cooked, but could have had a bit more of a zing to the flavor. The Bavette, though, was perfect. Medium rare, perfectly kissed by smoke, amazing little pickled shreds of onions. Oh yes. Oh heck yes. Both paired well with the rice, which was easily enough to share. On reflection, I love Loro. I would time my visits (I hate crowds in general), and I do think you run a decent bill for the location/setting, but really, when you factor the high quality of the food and the friendly service, it's worth every penny.

Such a unique dining experience with the fusion. Everything was so good. Super casual and relaxing. The ginger noodles had a kick. A nice upgrade would be to order on the app and have it delivered to the table (number the tables).

I agree my daughter's choice - this is best lunch restaurant in Austin. My daughter recommended the beef sandwich for me, it is really good. i also like the environment of Loro, definitely i will go back to try more...

Very poor! Avoid this place! Staff is not good, food is mediocre and cold when it arrives. Raised concerns and manager laughed. Too many good places in Austin to choose from so do not go here

BBQ and Sushi fusion. This place was highly recommended to us and glad we checked it out. We experienced some amazing food, drinks and great service,

Imagine spicy burnt brisket ends with kettle corn - a combo of sweet, crunchy and spice - incredible. Next a slushy margarita with Thai noodles and then fresh baked wanton chips with 3 flavors of dipping sauce. Everything was fresh and delicious.

A friend recommended this restaurant and are we glad we went! Loved the outdoor patio with music (drowned out the street noise easily). We had the green peas, chicken curry bowl and pork belly - all were absolutely fantastic full of different flavors. And at a good value. If we lived in Austin this would be a go to place for us!

How can you go wrong when you start with a frozen gin and tonic and a mango sake slushie? They were wonderful and things only got better at Loro from there. The menu is unique and intriguing. The Crunchy Sweet Corn Fritters with sriracha aioli and cilantro were fabulous. I wanted a second order after tasting them. Oak Grilled Snap Peas with a kimchee emulsion were spicy and delicious. The Oak Smoked Beef Brisket sandwich and the turkey Reuben were both winners. Delicious! Char Siew Pork Belly with house hoisin sauce was delectable. The kids in our party loved the Malaysian Chicken Bo Ssam, sans the yellow curry-yuzu vinaigrette. There is indoor and outdoor seating and inside can be a bit loud. Ordering is done at a counter and food is delivered to the table. Monday through Friday, Loro hosts a Happy Hour from 2 to 5 that our Austin family raves about. That is the only time they serve the Loro’s Cheeseburger with red onion-brisket jam, muenster cheese, and lettuce, which apparently is to die for. Our next visit will be planned around Loro's happy hour. I highly recommend Loro for a casual dining experience with a menu you won't find anywhere else.

We enjoyed this restaurant. The food was really good. The crunchy sweet corn fritters were delicious. The only drag was that we ate outside and the flies were out of control. I'm surprised they didn't have any control mechanisms in place to address this. We were literally swatting about 10 flies away at any given time. It caused us to eat fast and not really enjoy the whole experience. That being said...it was October. Maybe that is higher fly season??? The employee who came to check in saw us swatting and didn't say a word so this must be normal. If we visit this place again, we'll definitely eat inside. Again...great food!

Aaron Franklin and another chef who's name escapes me have partnered to bring you barbecue with asian sides. Sounds weird but is delicious. I went to a big family birthday and the hostess agreed to a per head fee and then they just brought food, almost the whole menu to pass around. I got a taste of everything and all of it was interesting and different. Nothing was terrible, some things I liked better than other. Nice outdoor space and simple interior.

We did. Everything was suuuper good. We ordered beef ribs, corn fritters, crispy potatoes, chicken karaage, beef brisket and pork belly. It was a ton of food for the 4 of us so we were sure to save some meat to bring home for breakfast. If you want beef ribs, get there early because they sell out (for good reason).

The boozy slush was awesome! got the Mango Sake flavor and really enjoyed. The food was definitely different. We ordered two different rice bowls, corn fritters, garlic noodles, and the Ruben sandwich. The corn fritters were awesome, the Ruben has this awesome like crispy cheese crust on it, and the garlic noodles were decent. The only complainant was that the garlic noodles were extremely fishy.

I had a business lunch here today and was very impressed. We started with a large plate of chips that come with two dips- one spicy and one peanut based. They were very good, but it was the Brisket Sandwich that really blew me away. I could have never guessed that Brisket and a Asian Cole Slaw together could be so tasty. My lunch guest had the Kale Salad with Salmon and he seemed to love it. It's a thoughtful done restaurant in layout, design and decor with an even more thoughtful menu. A bit pricey and ordering at a counter, then fetching your water and utensils is a bit of a turn off at those prices.

Expected it to be busy based on who is connected to this place based on ownership. Arrived around 8 pm on a recent Friday and was told by the very nice hostess we would have to wait 20 mins. to seat two. That was pretty accurate. HOWEVER, the beyond frustration policy of having you go in and find your own seats, table, etc. is total joke. There were really no tables available-it's a Lord of the Flies free for all. We ended up crammed in at the bar and thus due to being sardine canned in on stools ultimately I could not really enjoy my meal even though the bartender was upbeat and engaging. The pork belly bowl was fine and reasonably priced but nothing out the norm that I couldn't recreate easily at home. Frankly, they need to do something about this seating process fiasco. I would have been more than happy to wait another 10-20 mins. in this scenario to actually get to sit down in a comfortable situation.

The smoked salmon, karaage and brisket rice bowl were to die-for; rich in flavors, sizing portions just right. Only comment was the poor guy whose neck was hurting when he was doing our reservation. Management should look into their staff well-being as well. 😊

Very interesting idea this restaurant has going on. First and foremost, the food was very good. Lots of different flavors bringing two great cuisines together. Portions are not too big but it allows you to try many different plates. Only negative about this restaurant for me was having to go up to the bar area to order food and drinks. Also having to find a table was a bit frustrating. Pricey for the portions as well. Not sure this is a great idea especially on a busy night. Other than that, the restaurant was very nice. Offering seating inside and out on the patio.

I met a friend here that lives in the area and we shared a bunch dishes plus the slushie gin and tonics. We had the wonton chips (my least favorite), corn fritters (yummy), snap peas (very spicy), chicken karaage (amazing sauce!) and the kale & pear salad (so delicious!) Everything was really good but the kale salad and chicken were the best of the bunch. Very fun outdoor space as well, As a first time visitor it did take me a few minutes to figure out how to order as I was waiting outside for waitstaff, but I figured it out. Go inside and order at one of 3 stations at the bar. They bring it out to you when ready. If I make it back to Austin, this is worth visiting again!

SUPER DELICIOUS. I've been a total of 3 times- twice for dinner and once for happy hour. Always a great experience and amazeballs. Happy Hour we ordered one of everything Loro's Cheeseburger, Lemongrass Beef Noodle Salad, Smoked Brisket Tostadas, Chicken Karaage, and Crispy Thai Pork Spring roll. I'm sharing pics from that day because they were absolutely stellar. From all the times I've been that Chicken Karaage is a MUST HAVE. =) Love the location and the interior is just the right amount of 'smokehouse'. It is counter service and has plenty of seating.

Good - nice change of pace. Went for lunch so it was not too busy ---the corn fritters were amazing.

I finally got around to trying this this place after hearing great things. IT is down the road a mile or 2 from Uchis. You seat yourself and scan a little disc and then order at the bar. They don’t take reservations. Dispute that service was very good and food delivery was fast. TV etc throughout the place so it would be great Place to watch the game. Now, do you want to know how freaking good it is? I started back doing reviews to just do this one. My daughter goes to UT so I am frequent visitor, and although I have had sone excellent meals I find the food scene overall boring, uninspired, and somewhat disappointing. (Sorry Austin, but just telling you like it is.) I may be tainted growing up around New Orleans, but I expected more. They have some great steakhouses like you would expect, and sone cool places like Tiny Pies, but I have only found two exceptional unique restaurants before this place. One is Uchis which is the baby of one of the creators of this gym, the other is in the Peacock in the proper hotel. We started with the kettle popcorn with burnt brisket pieces. (I mean who even thinks of stuff like this?) The best game snack ever in the history of Texas. Please sell this outside the gates and I will personally make sure the bama fans know how good it is. We had the snap breans with a orange colored sauce which were excellent, some potato dish my wife loved, and corn fritters. Everything had a complimentary or contrasting sauce. (Being from New Orleans all I Can say is Bam! Now ya cooking, or C’est bon. I wife had a frozen Mojito which was outstanding and I had a house version of the Mule drink which is also excellent. However I do have to deduct a few points for not serving it in the traditional brass cup brass cup. My daughter tells me we didn’t even order the best drinks. The brisket was excellent, perfectly cooked but not the best I have ever had. That distinction belong to my step dad the Tiger of Thibodaux, and legendary Hall of fame coach, Kenny Guillot. I would trust you guys with the recipe but he left us last year and none of of thought about writing it down. More brown sugar. Tony Cs, maybe Barqs rootbeer. We had tons of food left as sides are big enough for 2/3 people. The total bill was around 80 bucks with tip. I overheard other dinners saying things like “well this was a good call” and couldn’t be much better than that. Now since no one is perfect, the music was a tad loud for me but I am old. Also there bathrooms by us were just two individuals rooms which were very nice and fine but it they are only ones for the entire restaurants that could be and issue. we sat outside which was fine as they had good amount of fans misters going. Again, this in one on the best restaurants in Austin

Cool, hip place! Tons of indoor and outdoor seating. Great happy hour specials. Enjoyed the pork belly! Small portions. Clean. Would recommend!

A casual atmosphere with a fusion of asian and bbq come together into some delish food. Started off with a bag of sweet popcorn with some remains of brisket thrown on top - Delish! We tried pretty much everything on the menu and it was all great. Good cocktail options. Well worth a visit.

Bizarre location in the middle of nowhere, but well worth the trip. Brilliant food - Asian / Barbecue fusion. The meat was fabulously tender and Asian flavoured. Pork belly wow!

Best restaurant we ate at in Austin, really good food, good atmosphere, good service, I would highly recommend it if you're in the area.

We decided to try a place that would normally not be in our ‘typical’ type of restaurant - an Asian Smokehouse. So we made the mistake of going at 7:00 pm on a Saturday - our bad. They do not take reservations. The wait was a bit over 45 minutes. On the positive side, the have lots of places to sit (including tree swings and porch swings) while you’re waiting. On the negative side, they do not have sufficient parking. Once we were finally paged, we went to the host stand where we were handed menus and told to sit where we wanted and to walk up to the bar to order our food. Ok, wasn’t expecting that but ok. So our party of four went throughout the inside of the restaurant and there were no seats. We went outside to the long ‘communal’ tables (it was a cold night but they had heaters, which helped) and they were all full. I went back to the host stand and was told ‘just wait for a bit and a table will open up. Definitely not getting off to a positive start. After we finally got seats at a table, we stood in a fairly long line to order, only to find out there are five places at the bar to order (it was somewhat dark inside and the signs aren’t lit up). Frankly, at this point we were ready to walk out but decided since we waited, we would try it. Fortunately, the guy behind the bar taking our order was very friendly; made several suggestions; and got our order correct. Then we took our cups and filled them with the soda we ordered, before picking up plates, napkins and silverware. We returned to our table with the square thing they gave us that looks like what restaurants give out to people waiting for a seat - but this one had a number on the top - turns out it’s a GPS device for waiters to figure out where you are seated, which is a good thing because appetizers (we ordered 3) came out in random order at different times. Our 4 entrees also came out at 4 different times. This would have been helpful if we’d known or been told that because we could have ordered ‘family style’ and shared. So, up to this point I considered this place pretty much a confused mixed-up restaurant. Fortunately the food makes up for all of the other downsides. Our appetizers were: Sweet Corn Fritters (they were really good); Chicken Karsage (also really tasty) and Candied Kettle Corn (also great tasting - kettle corn mixed in with shredded very flavorful brisket). So - a ‘10’ on the appetizers! For dinner we (we each tried some of everyone else’s) ordered: Smoked Prime Bavette Plate - the beef was prepared perfectly and flavored with peppers (hot but not too hot), carrot slivers, onion slivers and an amazing sauce! We also had the Char Stew Pork Belly Plate which was also prepared very well - it had an Asian flavor to pork belly which is a unique but very good flavor. The third dinner was Smoked Beef Brisket Plate. The brisket was amazing tender and the flavor was very good. Finally, there was the Malaysian Chicken Bo Ssam plate. I’m not a fan of curry so I didn’t care for it, but the other three really liked the flavor. The flavors and presentation of all the dishes was top notch. All in all, I would return because of the food and in spite of the seating arrangements; ordering arrangements; and ‘self help’ beverages and dinner ware arrangements

I was anxiously awaiting my trip to Loro. Two great restaurant owners combining in a huge mostly outdoor venue in a unique Austin setting. Unlike other reviewers, I liked the way the service was organized - many stations in the bar area to order from, and food delivery to the tables didn’t take that long considering how busy and just how many people were here. But that was where the fun stopped. I was sorely disappointed with the food - why take great BBQ and confuse it with mostly too sweet Asian style marinade and sauce? Much little less sweetness on most of the dishes would go a long way. The “Brisket” dish of course had excellent brisket, but it was disguised with a generally oversweet sauce which was entirely unnecessary. Also got the pork belly, which again was dripping in hoisin sauce (even though I asked to omit it). Pork belly was good, sauce was just ridiculously too sweet. When you have such a good base product (Franklin’s bbq style) and such a good Asian augmentation like Uchi, why mess these two up and get something that really doesn’t highlight the mix of the two? Also, be prepared because it is VERY noise, so if your’e there with a group don’t expect to hear anyone at the other side of the table. Beer selection was good (which is normal for Austin these days) and parking was ok but challenging - big lot but some of it is off limits and it’s not exactly clear where NOT to park. I may go back in a year to see if anything’s changed, but this was basically a “been there done that” check the box for me.

Unique blending of BBQ and Asian tastes - Today enjoyed the Oak Smoked Brisket, Garlic Rice noodles and Crispy Katsu - each very tasty - Enough to bring home some leftover Katsu

So. Flavorful! Every bite was packed with flavor in the tofu rice bowl. The rice was sticky and coconutty, the dresssing was so tasty. The only thing we didn’t love was the intense fish smelling sauce for my husbands pork rice bowl.

We had a wonderful lunch and the restaurant has plenty of inside and outside seating. I had the brisket rice bowl and with the sauce it was delicious. My wife had the Salmon rice bowl and said hers was delicious also. You have to try the corn fritters appetizer, wonderful.

During the recent "cold" front in July we decided to give it a try. It is an unique atmosphere. You put your name on the list and then when there are some tables available they let you go inside and order. There are high and normal tables inside and picnic tables outside. There are two waiting areas with swings and chairs. Serve yourself water, plates and silverware. We ordered the cucumber & tomatoes salads, wonton chip & dip, smoked beef brisket, char siew pork belly and oak smoked salmon. Our favorite was the pork belly and then the brisket dish. The chips were too salty and greasy for our taste and we would not order again. The salmon was ok but nothing special for us. They do have a decent wine & beer menu. They also have frozen gin & tonic that was a hit. Overall a good experience as we beat the crowd a bit. We came after happy hour but before 7pm. We didn't have any issues parking. I would also suggest they do a tad better job making sure people are not at tables before they order. We had a bit of an issue finding a table post ordering. I also think it is a tad high in price for the portion sizes. However, given it is owned by Mr. Cole & Mr. Franklin it is better priced that their other restaurants. We will come back and try some other dishes once the weather cools.

This was the first time we came here. We were in town visiting relatives. We heard it was a great place. When we arrived it was very crowded. We put our name on a wait list. When we were seated a serve came by to explain how it works. There are no menus for the table. You have to use a QR code to view the menu. I'm not a big fan of this. Then she explained, when we know what we want to order, we get on a line at the bar to place our order. Another reason I wasn't pleased with this process. When I did finally get to place my order, you needed to check out & of course, choose a tip. So, now you need to decide how much you want to tip, when you haven't really been served & have no idea if the service would be good. This is stupid. When the food was brought to our table it was brought out in 6 trips, a little at a time. the food was good, but the portions were VERY small. This was supposed to be a full entree, but it was like a small plate. I had the brisket. It was good, tasty, tender. It was barely lukewarm. You had to get your own water. I would have to say the service was fair at best. Prices were very high for the tiny portions.

First of all , the food is dynamic. It could not be better. One order of wontons and corn fritters for 2 is plenty. It should have been posted as sharable on the menu. My husband loved the Shrimp Rice Bowl and I loved the melt in your mouth brisket. Now about the rest. It is a little too chaotic to go up to one of the order signs. Also since they bring some of your food anyway, wouldn’t it be just as easy to take your order at the table? Next time, I will do carry out.

Arriving on a Wednesday night around 7:00pm, we waited 5 minutes to ask for a table, 15 minutes for drinks, 30 minutes for the table to be ready, 10 minutes in line to order inside, and 20-25 minutes for all of our plates to arrive... but it was completely worth it! The more accessible price point makes for a lovely, diverse crowd, people you can meet while eating at one of their family-style dining tables. The fusion of unique flavors is quite impressive, and I would absolutely return!

Owners of Franklin’s and Uchi (top sushi in Austin) opened this gem and its a rockin’ fusion spot. Brisket was excellent as was the smoked prime bavette. Snapped peas were fired, smokey, and flavorful without being spicy. Great long bar. 45 min wait Saturday night, we sat at the bar instead and experienced great food, very good service, and a happenin’ atmosphere. A great hit!

YUM!!!! We arrived a bit early in order to partake in the Happy Hour samplings. My friends had the boozy slushy sampler. We had the corn fritters from the Happy Hour menu. SO good! Next was the main course...chicken sandwich, cabbage salad (the best I've had), rice bowls with brisket and pork belly. Everything was delicious! I'm ready to go back! We started out sitting on the picnic benches outside but the wind kicked up. Luckily, there was still room inside. Very comfortable. The staff was helpful and friendly. Food was hot and served relatively quickly.

this was a gret recommendation from our friends. its a franklin barbeque place with a asian fusion twist to the food. service/food and drinks were out of this world.free seating was a new concept but worked well. a must eat at place in austin

Wide variety great flavors. We would return. We had a variety of dishes. From barbecue to Asia style

We were surprised that on a Monday evening the inside was packed. We had a brief wait for a table and it was worth it. Ordering at the bar is a slow and because there is no table service they missed a few meals form our orders. In saying that, the food was excellent. Ribs, pork belly and brisket are all a must. Portions are smaller but adequate. You can always go back to the bar and order more as we did. It’s a definite recommendation if you get there. They don’t take reservations so get there early.

Our food was delivered by entree so the first delivered food was cold by the time everyone got their order. Terrible dining experience.

Loro is a new Asian-BBQ concept which presents interesting choices. We shared the corn fritters which were outstanding. The turkey Ruben was excellent, the brisket sandwich disappointing as the Asian spices so overwhelmed the meat I could not taste it. The sticky rice was good. Overall this is a very interesting concept worth trying.

#Brisket & #Coconut #Rice ... Corn Fritters.... #NomNom .... #Namaste @LoroAustin @ChefTysonCole of @UchiAustin #AaronFranklin of @FranklinBBQ for an amazing #Atmosphere #Food #Drink #Lifestyle #Foodie #Foodstagram #AustinFoodstagram #FoodieATX #Blog #Blogger #Love #Photography #PicOfTheDay #Photo

Not a gourmet destination but wasn't our expectation so wasn't disappointed. Lots of fried food and a first come, first grabbed policy on getting a table meant you had to compete. Really good system where you order at the bar and it comes when it comes means you graze and the atmosphere is vibrant, lots of noise and people having fun. Pleased we mad the effort to visit.

It was really good. We had the Chicken Karaage, the wonton chips and dip and the brisket tostadas....all were wonderful.....We ate "tapas style" so the fact that the items came out as prepared did not bother us at all. The food was delish ...the atmosphere super chill. And the frozen sangria was perfect refreshment for a hot afternoon under the shade trees.

We had heard great things about this place from our kids. The menu is very interesting and inviting. You have to order both drinks and food from the bar and they bring your food to your table when ready. We had a group of 13 people, kind of a family reunion of sorts...on a Friday night...they don't take reservations, so grabbing a long picnic table was a challenge at first, but we made it happen, even though was 6pm. First, we tried the Candied Kettlecorn with burnt ends appetizer along with the Wonton with couple of unique salsas...we were not impressed with the Candied Kettlecorn which comes in lunch sack, trimmed for easy access. We used chopsticks, but the flavor of this "fun" appetizer was not there...sweet corn of course, but burnt ends were disappointing. The Wonton appetizer was just "ok". We ordered just about everything else on the menu thru the evening. All the sides including the crunchy cabbage salad, kale and pear salad, fritters were good. The Oak grilled snap peas were surprisingly very tasty! For the meats, the brisket, turkey, and chicken dishes were good also, but the char-sue pork belly was really good! Bottom line, you should try this place...Franklins and Uchi founders collaborated on this, and I think it should only get better, but certainly different style of TX BBQ/Asian fusion, which makes Austin such a great place to live or visit!

First visit to Loro’s in Austin . Aaron Franklin has created, with the help of Tyson Cole of Uchi , together have created the newest idea for BBQ. The Asian connection. With Asian spices and style dining and Aaron’s signature flare for Great BBQ your taste buds are in for a treat . The smoked Sliced brisket is out of the world. We had brisket tostados to smoked steak bevatta , turkey with apricot and crispy chicken skin delicious

Went with friends on a Wednesday night. Very crowded and to order food or drinks you have to stand in one of three lines at the bar. The lines were long and the bartenders taking your order were also waiting on people at the bar. Each time we wanted another drink, same thing. Waited in line over 15 minutes for two batch drinks that were already made. What a joke. Food was very good. Drinks were average. But the system is horrible. Won’t go back

On my most recent trip to Austin and after a wonderful early lunch at Louie's bbq trailer friends and family suggested we try Franklin's newest venture-Loro. OK let's go. Upon arrival I was impressed nice location, seating,atmosphere etc. But then the confusion began. Try to figure out how to order drinks. WTH you cannot run a tab? Entire line of hipster beers and cocktails at inflated prices. Barbecue, corn fritters, etc disguised as some sort of Asian fusion food. Really? For what eight of us spent on some slightly above average self service food we could've gone somewhere like Perry's and enjoyed a giant pork chop or any number of other fine dining places. I live in the DFW metroplex and never cease to be amazed by the Austin hipster sheep mentality. If you have to be seen at the latest trendy place head on over to Loro. But Austin has hundreds better choices from food trailers to five star.

I’m salivating just thinking about the food here! We ordered a second round of food (even though we were full) just because we wanted to try as many things as possible. The pork belly is a must. I also loved the Mexican corn and the cabbage salad. The only think I would skip is the brisket, because you can get it anywhere in Austin. Try this place! You wont be disappointed

Great happy hour menu options! Delicious! Staff was friendly and plentiful. Fun place if looking for some non traditional cuisine.

Very cool place! We went on a Friday afternoon for lunch and it was packed. After eating the food, you can see why! We loved the crispy chicken sandwich especially. There were great drink options, even for non alcoholic drinks.

Great spot for lunch. The pork belly and rice were flavorful and cooked perfectly! Great patio to enjoy lunch!

Bustling and energetic venue with fast and efficient service but without a sense of being rushed. The menu is very varied fusion of Asian and American. Some gluten free options, though could have been more. Staff were relaxed and happy to take time to support and help answer questions.

The idea of “fusion” dining is oversold, until you experience Loro at its grandest. Loro truly amazed us, with exceptional food, a trendy and exciting vibe, and cool staff and customers. Other reviews explain the challenge in understanding how things work, but the hostess at the front explained things so we were pretty confident going in. Locals are friendly and helped with any questions. The place is happening!!! But until your first food comes, you have not yet begun to experience Loro at its finest. Amazing. Really. Fusion suddenly is demystified with simple flavors that blend in perfection. Everything we had was perfect in taste, texture, presentation, and temperature and preparation. What I recommend: crunchy sweet corn fritters, oak grilled snap peas, chicken karaage, Malaysian chicken bo Ssam, and Oak Smoked Salmon. It’s everything we had for three of us. Everything was exceptional. The Malaysian Chicken was the weakest, the peas or chicken Karaage the strongest. But this is like comparing gold silver and bronze Olympian medalists. All are top champions! See the pics, go, experience something special and really enjoy your time dining with friends. Leave the phone in the car, be present, live as we were meant to live. You can do just that with food we can only hope to experience at Loro. Let me know how you like it. J. (Check our my pics from tonight’s excellent evening in Austin)

Be prepared to chow down - everything on the menu is excellent! He staff was friendly and the food is amazing! Who knew barbecue and Asian blended together so well?

An upscale setting with indoor and outdoor seating. The outdoor seating is picnic table style. The portions were small although the food was tasty. It seems like a trendy business lunch place. Given all the great bbq places in Austin, I’ll probably try someplace else next time although if I had a business lunch this is a fine choice

Blending Asian cuisine and BBQ sounds like you’re going to get sticky ribs and rice. But WOW, that’s not what you get at Loro. You get perfectly balanced, exciting flavors in dishes that will surprise you. The sugar snap peas are nothing short of brilliant....smoked with Kimchi sauce....WOW! The indoor dining space is casual, but slick ....the patio is adorable.

OK, it's a little quirky the way you order and the outside looks like a summer camp mess hall but, oh my, the food is as good as it gets. Order a lot of dishes and share. You'll need to eat quickly though because the forks will be flying! One great taste after another. Far, far, far, better than Acre 41 which is ranked #1 and should be closer to the 41 it advertises. Loro was the best place I ate in Austin. When I go back to Austin, I'll be going back to Loro's. You're welcome!

We went to Loro's for Christmas Eve lunch. We picked up our menu on the way in and ordered from the bar. We then find a place to sit at one of the many booths and large tables. We ordered: chips and with two types of dipping sauce, sweet corn fritters, charred pork bellies, and brisket on a bun. The food was then brought to our table. Note: brisket and baby back ribs are not available until after 5 PM. The parking lot had an interesting quote on the parking signs: "Loro's Parking. Violators will be smoked or towed at owners expense." Time to go back...

An interesting restaurant with a different selection of food. I have been twice and enjoyed the choices. The physical building with indoor and outdoor seating is beautiful. The smoked brisket plate is only available at dinner and is very good, but not the best in Austin (La Barbecue and Black’s are my favorites). The corn fritters are tasty but oily. The smoked turkey was a bit on the dry side. I’d go again but not with the same high expectations I had previously.

The food was exciting and unpredictable. We didn’t have a plate we didn’t enjoy. The kaarage is a do not miss.

Great location and atmosphere. Plenty of indoor and outdoor seating in a cool and eclectic setting. Not too noisy when crowded. Happy hour prices are fair, but selections are limited. Beer and wine selections are typical Austin regulars, but prices are high. Would still come back and try the frozen gin and tonic and the bourbon milkshake as both sound too good to pass up but for the moronic order at the bar only requirements. Food we had was pretty good. The candied kettle corn sounded better than it looked and tasted. The brisket tostadas on the happy hour menu were exceptional, but one has to wonder why they don't have on the regular menu? The burger on the happy hour menu was also very, very good. The corn fritters were excellent. Seems silly to have some things only available certain days or after 5 pm? Very unusual for a high cost restaurant in Austin. Would likely have rated this one better but for the stupid brain dead order at the bar only requirement with no ability to set up a tab (yes, you have to give them your credit card or pay separate every time you place an order). Waiting in line a long time for food and drinks seems to be something the owners value and want their customers to experience? Likely will not go back unless something changes with their service model. Don't have a desire or time to waste time waiting in line when I go out. I go out to relax and not wait. Ownership/management come on, really? Do you think your line waiting is hip, cool, Austin wierd, and going to attract and keep customers? Bottom line is this restaurant makes its customers do too much of its work and its really annoying given the high prices. You can and should do better!

Super atmosphere and delicious food. Make sure, however, you are not seated right inside under the a/c. Better to wait in the outside yard with a drink.

This was my second time at Loro after visiting a year and a half ago and it was a great experience overall! I visited around 6:45 pm on a Saturday and only had to wait 15 minutes for a table for 5 (was told 25-30 minutes). We opted for "first available" and got seated at a table outside... it was perfect weather and the string lights and music playing had a quintessential "Austin" vibe which was what we wanted for catching up with family visiting from out of town. The hostesses working were great and all the food came out quickly after ordering inside. Plus, workers came by to clear empty plates and bowls from the table pretty often. Crunchy Sweet Corn Fritters (10/10) - I remembered LOVING these the first time I came and they didn't disappoint! The portion size is pretty good for the price (I think we got 8-9 fitters per tray) and the habanero aioli dipping sauce on the side pairs so nicely with the sweet corn. I will get these every time I come! Loro Cheeseburger (8/10) - This was a solid burger but definitely not the best I've ever had. The patty is super thick but it wasn't the juiciest... however, the yuzu 1000 island sauce is DELICIOUS! The red onion-brisket jam was good, but didn't blow me away. Crispy Potatoes (8/10) - Look, they're potatoes so their potential is limited BUT these were very good! They were cooked perfectly... crispy but not too crispy... and the miso mustard flavor made them unique! The habanero aioli is the same dipping sauce that comes with the corn fritters so I kind of wish there was a different sauce just to try something new. But, I'll most likely order these again! Texas Sweet Corn (8/10) - Awesome side option! It definitely had a kick but the flavor from the chili aioli was so good! I'd get it again.

Wonderful family style barbecue in Austin incorporates an Asian fusion mix. Outstanding brisket, coupled with the sweet corn with cilantro. Fantastic!

It was busy when we arrived on a Thursday night during SXSW, but we still found a table relatively quickly. Everything we ordered was absolutely top notch. We had the garlic noodles, cabbage slaw (the two kinds of slaw in the bowl is give you two completely different experiences), the karaage chicken, brisket, buvette, sausage, and papaya salad. All were excellent.

We were about to venture out for our first meal in Austin and this place, as it turned out, was recommended by locals a few different times during the day. We ate outside on the picnic tables.Since it was the first time in Texas... we could not help but mention how far the unadjustable benches were from the tables.It's a Texas thing. It did not stop us from enjoying our meal.I had the oak smoked salmon. Now I eat a lot of salmon and I would have to say that this was REALLY good.Texas has it down when it comes to smoked and BBQ foods better than us east coasters.The oak grilled snap peas were awesome and very different. I highly recommend for good food and a nice time!

Greeted promptly with their own comp’d chopped brisket and kettle corn mix, we were seated as a party of 6 and ordered the Smoked Prime (rib) Babette, chicken Karage, oak grilled snap peas, Texas sweet corn, coconut rice, and charred siew pork belly. All fantastic along with the Mimosa’s made from freshly squeezed orange juice. The only negative-no bloody Mary’s! We can’t wait to go back!

Namaste Loro Austin for an amazing night... Uber Cool Atmosphere. Phenomenal Food & IceCold Cocktails 🍹& CraftBeer 🍻 Chefs Tyson Cole of Uchi & Aaron Franklin of Franklin BBQ fame have hit it out of the park on this Asian Smokehouse concept... 👍Austin ATX SouthLamar, SoLa has scored big with the Huge Oak Trees, Lighting, Decor, & multiple seating areas... Foodie heaven...

While I could not pronounce most of the items on the menu, the wait staff was super helpful and very friendly. You must start with each of these drinks: Mango Sake Slushee and Hanuba Snowstorm (Wild Turkey bourbon, cacao, coconut cream). Then you must have the popcorn - Candied Kettle Corn (brisket burnt ends, togarashi, sea salt). For our meals, we enjoyed: Smoked Turkey Breast (apricot gastrique, orange, mint ) and Smoked Beef Brisket (chili gastrique, thai herbs) with a side of Texas Sweet Corn (yuzu kosho aioli, lime, sunburst tomato ). When we return to Austin, this will be a must go to place. Great place for those of you that think you are eclectic.

Stop reading this review and go directly to LORO. This place is fabulous. Perfect mix of Asian & Texas BBQ . Great atmosphere. Fabulous frozen Gin & tonic and unbelievable corn fritters. You could make a meal of the corn fritters alone. Highly recommend any of the rice bowls, as well as, the side of Texas corn. Unique ordering at bar with a GPS locator in coaster that delivers your food to your table of choice once you order. Great outdoor space. Seriously, stop reading this review and go...NOW.

This was my first visit to Loro. I ordered the Smoked Turkey Breast, Coconut Scented Rice, and Richard's Sparkling Rainwater. The turkey was fabulous! The rice was just about perfect with a nice aroma. The counter service and food delivery was fast and very friendly. The prices are a bit high for the portion sizes however. They have plenty of indoor and outdoor seating.

Came here for happy hour with a group in May, was excited about the prospect of the collaboration of owners. Unfortunately, we were really disappointed in our first visit. The bar area looks nice as you walk in but you are left to wonder how to order and what to do. Some people nearby saw us and recognized the confusion and helped us. After we found a table, we got our own silverware and water from the water station. Food took longer than expected; we ordered the candied kettle corn and the corn fritters. The corn fritters were good but c'mon - hard to mess that up. After a friend had raved on the popcorn, we were left wondering - Why? The popcorn was cold and the burnt end pieces were chewy. One of our party members was hungry from the long wait and ate it anyway so... obviously couldn't take it back. High prices, staff not too friendly. With so many other great and fun places in Austin that actually wait on you and have delicious, hot food, we won't be back. Guess we are not cool enough.

Our party of four had frozen gin and tonics and a couple of craft beers. All great. Appetizers were the kettle corn and won ton chips, also fantastic. My wife and I had the bbq brisket and smoked turkey - 5 stars. The restaurant was rockin' the Saturday night we dined. At least 25-30 waiting outside at the outside bar also. My only knock on Loro is that there is no table service and you've got to be ready to pounce on a table when it is super busy. A really fun place to people watch and have a good meal.

Second visit to this brilliant Japanese-BBQ combo. The food is sensational, staff friendly and atmosphere relaxed. Snap peas, corn fritters and brisket all highlights.

Our daughter who lives in Austin brought us here with some of her friends for dinner the night we arrived. I was blown away at the Char Siew Pork Belly. I didn't know what to expect but it tasted like some excellent cut of meat, tender, smoky and flavorful. Definitely has the Franklin's BBQ influence but without the wait. My wife was equally delighted with the Malaysian Marinated Chicken and our daughter the Oak Smoked Salmon. To compliment the meals, delicious white rice was served in traditional Chinese takeout paper containers. We sat outside and it was a little chilly but we thoroughly enjoyed the food.

From the pictures I looked at and the menu this looked like a great place but when we got there we were left disappointed. So loud you couldn’t have a conversation. You wait in line to order food like a cafeteria. We ordered drinks for our group but couldn’t take more than 2 back to the table. Everyone had to bring their own drinks back. Once they called our name they said go find a table inside which was impossible since we were a group of 8. There were no open tables for 8 if we wanted to sit together. Also the front staff was not helpful at all. I have no idea how the food is but Austin has too many restaurants to deal with this place.

Took about an hour to get seated, but the food was worth the wait. The corn fritters are a must try. It was one of the tastiest corn dishes I've ever had. The edamame was easily the best I've ever had. The prices were reasonable. Seated at the bar & the servers were super friendly and food came out quickly.

4 pm will get you into the last hour of happy hour and the start of the daily special. It truly is the happiest of hours! The salmon was perfect, and the beef ribs (special) were the best we've ever had. While I've ordered takeout a few times, this was a better option. Eating the food immediately after cooking was a different level of texture and flavor. The love child between the owners of Franklin Barbeque and Uchi made a super child loaded with flavor and care. Is it 4 pm yet?

There was a 45 minute wait which was fine, we had a drink and hung out. We were seated and the only reason I didn't give this 5 is the kid who seated us just walked off without saying a word. So it took us a bit to figure out that we needed to get up and order our own food. Having never been there, a heads up would have been nice. The food was excellent! I had brisket which was fork tender, the other two people had salmon and shrimp which they also enjoyed. We shared corn fritters and potatoes. Overall an enjoyable experience.

Whether you want bbq or Asian, you can do both here. Corn fritters, brisket, and Malaysian chicken were all amazing. Will becoming a regular!!

I am slightly leery of restaurants that focus on “fusion” because I worry that the result will be somehow less than the sum of the parts. In Loro’s case, rest assured that the experience is utterly sublime in every detail. I didn’t know what to expect from an Asian-BBQ concept, but was confident that the genius behind Franklin Barbecue and Uchi wouldn’t miss a beat in making Loro a culinary star. Thrilled to learn I wasn’t wrong. From delectable, perfectly fried corn fritters to brisket ramen and everything in between, you really cannot go wrong here. We also loved the various cabbage salads/slaws we tried, which pared perfectly with the stellar meats. And the cocktails are fun and well executed, too. Frozen G&T, anyone? Counter service to order, then attentive table service for delivery, makes the inevitable waiting seem less onerous. The outside table situation is also perfect; the vibe is outdoor BBQ party under lights. What’s not to like about any of this? P.S. Don’t skip the Sunday and Monday-only ribs. Insanely good.

This was the hardest work I've ever done to order food that would not kill me. I understand having a "new concept" for a restaurant, but shouldn't that be reserved for a new culinary concept, when the "old concept" of ordering food at your table and having the food made to order actually works? First, we were told to sit where we want and then go inside to order our drinks and food. We were ushered from one line to another, until we reached line #4 at the bar. At that point, I was asked if I had any food allergies. That's very nice, I thought. It turns out that there's a very good reason for that! #1: The food is pre-made, so that you can't order something that looks delicious and ask to hold the cashews because they might kill you. Nope, can't eat that dish at all. The cashews are already there. #2: CROSS-CONTAMINATION! I honestly thought that this was a health department no-no. Turns out that the wonderful-looking fried tofu is not only not vegetarian (for those veggies who might want to join their meat-eating friends for a dinner out), but it's fried in the same oil as the chicken. It's a good thing that I was told this because I have a deathly allergy to chicken. Good thing for me...and for Loro, who would have had to call an ambulance and deal with a law suit had I not been warned away from the tofu. I have several vegan chef friends in town who are very open to joining their meat-eating friends for a culinary experience, as long as there are vegan options to choose from. They will taste the chicken in that tofu...that is, if they have a chance to eat at Loro, but I will warn them not to. Sooo, finding something that I could eat, while standing at the bar, took quite some time. No worries, we were told, The food would be brought to us! Amazing! AND, the bar tender (I think that's who it was that took our order), told us with excitement in her voice, "you can leave everything on the table when you leave because WE will bus it for you!" Yay! But I thought that's how it's supposed to be when you're not eating at home or at a fast-food restaurant. The food here is pre-made, but having to stand at the bar for 20 minutes to order it definitely takes away the "fast" part. So, what's the up-side? Still don't know. I live here in Austin. There are plenty of restaurants to choose from. Loro won't be on the list again for me, my friends, or my out of town guests, unless they get their act together....especially on that cross-contamination issue.