Chef Tyson Cole from the Austin Asian hotspot Uchi and Chef Aaron Franklin from the iconic Franklin’s BBQ, came together to create the deliciousness that is Loro. Loro takes all of the elements that you love from Asian cuisine and rustic Texas BBQ and combines them to create something truly extraordinary.
A few girlfriends and I decided to try Loro out for dinner last week and it did not disappoint! We arrived early so that we could take advantage of happy hour and quickly learned about the restaurants casual set-up. All food is served up on tin trays and can be ordered right at the bar along with drinks that range from beer, to wine on tap, to boozy slushies. They give you a number for any food purchases and then you’re able to grab a seat anywhere that’s open!
I personally love this family style set-up, but I know it’s not for everyone. If you’re not a big fan of crowds or seat yourself dining, then I would suggest coming here during an off hour so that you’re not part of the main lunch or dinner rush.
DECOR:
From the outside Loro looks relatively small, but once we entered in the front door we were simply blown away. Inside you’ll find rows of tables, all family style, and a large bar which serves up craft beer, batch cocktails and everything in-between. The exposed wooden beams, hanging greenery and rustic light fixtures gives the interior a comfy cozy feel. The space is versatile in that you could find yourself there for an intimate birthday celebration or happy hour with a large group of co-workers and it still works perfectly.
The patio of Loro was magical–that’s really the only way I can think to describe it. The family style tables carry out onto the deck for those looking to dine outside and, beyond that, there’s ample space and seating to enjoy a cocktail with friends. With white rocking chairs, wooden swings and glistening string lights and lanterns above, this may just be one of the prettiest patios in Austin.
HAPPY HOUR:
Happy hour takes place Monday-Friday from 2-5pm and they serve up discount menu items, ½ off selected beer and wine and ½ off boozy slushies. The food list is short and sweet, but the items included are only available until they run out. If you make it there on time you can try the Cured Salmon Tartare or Smoked Brisket Tostadas for only $7!
On the drink side, if you’re opting for wine and like white, the Dry Creek Vineyard Chenin Blanc is on tap for only $3.75 and is a must!
THE FOOD:
We ordered a ton of food, mainly because after an hour of drinking wine our eyes were bigger than our stomachs! We ended up with 6 dishes (slightly excessive) but so worth the food coma.
We started off with the Crunchy Sweet Corn Fritters and Kale & Asian Pear Salad. The Corn Fritters will go down in history as one of my favorite menu items ever. They were piping hot, crunchy, fried to perfection and absolutely addictive. The fritters also came with a side of sriracha aioli which was heavenly. The Kale and Asian Pear Salad was also delicious and it was a nice {healthy} balance to the corn fritters. The bunches of kale and slices of pear were mixed with hazelnut, cabbage, dashi and mint and the combination was tossed in a subtle savory dressing.
For entrees we ordered the Smoked Beef Brisket, Thai Green Curry Sausage and Grilled Malaysian Chicken. My favorite of the three had to be the Smoked Beef Brisket. The brisket will melt in your mouth and the combination of flavors with the chili gastrique and thai herbs was so pleasantly surprising.
Next up was the Grilled Malaysian Chicken Bowl which felt like pure comfort food. The chicken was marinated in a light curry sauce and sat on top of a bed of coconut rice, seasonal pickles and thai herbs.
Last we ordered the Thai Green Curry Sausage. We were drawn to this dish because we really wanted a two-for-one meal where we could get a taste of one of the other meats and also sample the papaya salad. The sausage alone was great and it also came with a thai chili dipping sauce on the side. The papaya salad was definitely worth trying, it included peanuts, cabbage and tomato and the thai chili dipping sauce also doubled as the dressing!
After all of these savory dishes, we knew we needed something sweet. We topped our meal off with the only dessert on the menu, a Salted Chocolate Chip Toffee Cookie. This cookie tasted it like came straight out of grandma’s oven with a soft exterior and chunks of chocolate chips, salt, and toffee throughout.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
Overall, I loved this place and can’t wait to go back and experience it again. Whether you’re going for a drink with friends or to grab a bite to eat for date night-if you’re a fan of good BBQ and creative Asian cuisine-then you’ll never want to leave!
