Order Lalo Takeout or Delivery
Lalo Photos
Lalo Popular Dishes
LALO ATMOSPHERE
You might also consider
Recommended Reviews - Lalo
Start your review...
Reviews With Photos
If you're into tacos, you definitely have to check this spot out. I tried six different tacos and every one of them was solid. The bulgogi taco was probably my favorite. It honestly reminded me of authentic Korean bulgogi, super flavorful and cooked perfectly. I also had the fish taco, salmon taco, and one of their steak tacos, and across the board the meat and fish were really tender and well seasoned. Nothing was dry and everything had great flavor. I also ordered the drunken brisket burrito, and that thing is huge. I'm not even exaggerating when I say it could easily feed two people, maybe even three. The portion sizes here are seriously generous. I tried their wings too and those were amazing. The mix of seasonings and flavors they use really stands out. Overall everything was flavorful, the portions are big, and it's definitely one of those spots you tell your friends about like "yo, we gotta go back there."
Went here for restaurant week and their menu was so yummy I ordered the cauliflower wings with Thai chili sauce Mexi pad Thai with chicken peppers corn green onions and egg So much flavor!! Tres leches for dessert I will be back to enjoy their other menu items
Wow, what a wonderful restaurant. It's small, intimate, but the flavors are big and bold. It's a Latin/Asian fusion spot! For appetizers we had the Birria Egg Rolls and the Chicken Curry and Potato Empanadas! Both came with sauces that just took the dishes to the next level! For our entrée we got three taco special. We had the mango lime shrimp taco, the Asian fried chicken taco, and the drunken brisket taco! They were equally delicious! This place is a can't miss if you're in Cincinnati
Lalo was a great dinner! So many options and easy to order as a vegetarian. Service was fast and everyone was nice. The restaurant is comfortable and casual. I'm excited to go back and try more food.
I wish I could give a 3.5. Lalo is a Latin-Asian fusion restaurant that always hits the spot. I've been here a few times for special occasions and I've had a good experience every time. The servers are very accommodating. Each time I go to Lalo I try something new and I regretted that a little bit this time. I didn't love the drunken brisket burrito. It just had too many beans for me, I didn't like the texture of it. However, my drink was great. And I would definitely eat here again. My favorite thing on the menu is the Mexi Pad Thai. I do not have a picture of it, but it is so good. I will randomly get cravings for it. The restaurant is doing the best they can with the space that they have . It's not the cutest place to eat, but the tables are set up nice enough. In the front of the restaurant is a lot more aesthetically pleasing than the back. My only wish is that they improve their communication among their staff. I've had some really great servers there, but sometimes the hostess and the bartenders are not the best or there seems to be some type of miscommunication between them every time I'm there. I always have a reservation for this restaurant and I still end up waiting. I definitely recommend it because of the food but be prepared to wait a while and give the staff some grace.
I had a great experience here. I tried the wings and the CUBANO BANH - MI. I have no complaints what so ever! The staff and the food were great. The restaurant is so pretty on the inside.
I love Lalo, and I can't believe I haven't reviewed it yet. Probably because every time I go, I dig right into my food and don't take a picture. But I remembered this time for Restaurant Week! We got the zucchini fries and Birria egg rolls for apps, and both were incredible. I get the Mexi Pad Thai every time I go because it's so delicious. The desserts and drinks were just ok. Staff is very friendly at both lunch and dinner. I've never needed a reservation - typically you can just walk right in. Seating is colorful and fun and there's plenty of it. Good location of Court St that has a lot of parking options. I highly recommend this restaurant- it's one of my favorites in the city.
Very tasty miso ramen bowl! We were there for about an hour and still hadn't received our food, the manager was very nice and gave us a discount. Great place to go during your lunch hour, good vibes and a big menu to choose from!
We came for the first time on a Friday night for Asian cuisine week. Everything was delicious. We ordered the curry chicken and potato empanadas and the Asian taco sampler to start. For our entrées, we ordered the Mexi Pad Thai and the Singapore curry noodles. The Mexi Pad Thai and the Empanadas were stand out for sure. They were both bursting with flavor. For drinks we had the Ube margarita which was a little sweet for my liking and a beer, which was a little flat. However, the food was a 10 out of 10. We will definitely be back to try more options!
Decided to try Lalo during Cincinnati Burger Week. We got there a little early before they opened, 10:30 am, and were waiting in our truck in the parking spot. About a quarter til 11:00 a police car showed up and turned sideways right next to us blocking the road. Several more officers showed up and surrounded a guy that was on the sidewalk in front of the restaurant. Exciting start to our day, lol. A resident said he was likely a drug dealer but who knows! So after that cleared we were able to enter Lalo. I have had a meal next door to Lalo at Hawker's Alley before and really have no issue with the neighborhood as it is a typical downtown area in a larger city. We were greeted as soon as we entered and we were told to sit where we would like. We chose a booth. She brought us a menu and silverware and ice water. They had two choices for Cincinnati Burger Week and I ordered on and my friend ordered the other. I also ordered the pork kimchi dumplings and my friend ordered the zucchini fries & sriracha aioli. Both of these starter items were delicious and next time I would definitely order the zucchini as they were so lightly battered and fried crispy, so good! Nothing wrong with my dumplings either. The burgers were hot and delicious! We also had a shot of Bulleit Bourbon to go with our meal as it was on special as well with the burger week offerings. Our waitress/bartender was great and made sure we were taken care of. We will definitely be back here again to try something else off their menu.
Ambiance is great, the booths make it very private. The Lalo Margarita was amazing, very smooth with just the right amount of kick. And the Monfongo was a perfect blend of savory with a touch of sweet and spicy. Definitely coming back to try some of their other dishes!
It was relatively quiet on a Tuesday evening however, the atmosphere was very clean and festive to the restaurants fusion theme. The birria egg rolls were so tasty to be able to dip into the beef sauce and lastly, the drunken burrito was perfect and absolute fusion of both Asian and Mexican flavors. I would recommend having the guacamole as that added an additional freshness to the already tasteful burrito. The service was outstanding as the waitresses successfully were able to check up on our order and make sure we have everything we need would highly recommend this restaurant!
True Rating: 4.5/10 LALO is a hidden gem that perfectly blends Asian and Latin food into something that you had no idea you needed. Service was fantastic, the food was even better, and what you get for the money is unbeatable. I have been raving to everybody I know about this place for days. We started with Chips & Guac, and it was great. The chips were crunchy yet light, and the guac was very tasty and fresh. Drinks were good- just a beer and a margarita. Dinner stole the show, though. I got the Mexican Pad Thai, and it was great. Both the "Mexican" and "Pad Thai" elements of the dish blended so well together. Barbacoa as the protein was an excellent choice, and was the twist on the dish that blew me away. Imagine mixing a fajita up in your favorite Pad Thai. That is what this was, but better than you can imagine. Far and away, the cost was so worth it. Chips & Guac, a beer, a Marg, 3 tacos, and a Pad Thai bowl for 57 dollars. Portions were big, so the cost was just unbelievable. Service was also great. We were promptly greeted, seated, and our waitress talked with us like we were her friend. She offered suggestions, her preferences, and was bubbly. The venue itself was vibey and pretty. I only worry about the size of it. Bathrooms were okay, but otherwise I have no complaints about it. Overall, this is my current favorite place in Cincy. Just a remarkable little place that offers a new twist on two of your favorite kind of comfort foods. I implore everybody I know and don't know to check it out! NOTE: Star rating based on my own formula consisting of flavor, cost, facilities, service, and overall satisfaction. Reviews are subject to change based on future visits.
Very creative fusion restaurant combining Mexican and Japanese cuisine. That's a new one for me. I saw that they had lots of vegan options, including a Mexican-infused ramen. That looked intriguing, so I ordered a vegan version of it with tofu ($14 plus tax). The ramen came out within 10 minutes, coming with lots of fried tofu, some kale, pico de gallo, corn, mushrooms, and what seemed like instant noodles, which were a bit subpar. Fortunately, the broth character rich, complex and unique, seemingly like a mix of miso and spicy Mexican tomatoey character. I really liked this inventive mix. Other than the noodles, everything was great. Service was professional, quick and attentive. Recommended if you want something different. read more
Lalo was an incredible experience. The food is Asian Mexican fusion which the first restaurant I have ever been to like that. I got the wings, plantain fries, tacos , and ramen. My favorites were the ramen and the fries! Every bite was a rush of delicious flavors. When I went the restaurant was packed but the service was still very fast. I was really impressed but the food and am already itching to go back! read more
We met our family at Lalo tonight and had the best experience! First of all, I was able to make a reservation for 8 on Open Table, which was super helpful, and then when we got there our table was already ready and waiting for us! Our server was excellent and always on top of anything we needed. He also had great recommendations. This was my first time at Lalo in this new spot and it has some very cool vibes. Love the graffiti art wall and bright colors popping everywhere. We were among the first table for dinner service but as we were leaving it was mostly full and I would say there was a nice buzz but it wasn't too loud at all. Among all of us we tried so many delicious things! Unfortunately I forgot to take pictures of most because everyone was excited to tuck in but every single thing we had was utterly delicious! We seriously didn't have one thing that wasn't perfect. On the menu for us: Pork Kimchi Dumplings Dip and Chip Sampler Queso Fundido w/ Chorizo Mexi Pad Thai w/ chicken (my leftovers pictured because the portions are huge!) Mofongo w/ Barbacoa Mexi Bibimbop w/ Al Pastor Mexi Spicy Miso Ramen w/ Carnitas If you haven't been...you're missing out! And if you haven't been in awhile, like me, well you should 100% put Lalo back in your rotation. read more
1 year ago
Partner and I did takeout a few weeks ago and Lalo was a great choice. They handled a few substitutions/special requests perfectly (burrito rice on the side, subbing meat in on a dish that it wasn't typically an option), had our food hot and ready right on time, and honored a coupon - all while serving a packed (yet distanced) house! I got the drunken brisket burrito, and my partner the mofongo sub brisket. Mannnn that burrito was great! BIG serving, with flavorful meat, toppings, and veggies. The mexican side of the Mexi-Asian fusion came through more than the asian, but it was in no way a "traditional" or "typical" burrito. It was more of a burrito that had a few hints of asian spices and flavorings, and the result was great. My partner liked her mofongo, though it was VERY garlicky, and the accompanying salad was a little heavy on the (very good, very sweet), dressing. We'll be going back, and hopefully to dine in on their cool new dining room down on court street! read more
4 years ago
Came here to try the Cincy taco week specials. Compared to other restaurants, Lalo has a lot of options which was nice. We ordered the carnitas, panko Asian chicken, and Hawaiian chicken tacos. They were great! The carnita one had some heat. The service was what was slightly off. I believe they were understaffed so I will not blame them. They only had two servers for the whole restaurant who seemed stressed. Felt a little bad. Some of their specials looks good and I'll consider coming back the next time I'm hungry for Mexican. read more
Whenever you're stuck between getting Mexican and Asian, this is the perfect place to come to get the best of both worlds. Their portions are huge so either come hungry or be prepared to have leftovers. Also the nachos appetizer aren't actually nachos even though it's Mexican cuisine (it's fries??) Plantain fries are a bit bland but I prefer them over really salty ones. I can only speak for the pad Thai and bibimbap - I preferred the former with yummy chewy noodles. I don't recommend getting carnitas on it- it was quite dry. The bibimbap was okay - I do love the stone bowl it comes in every time- but some of the elements as well as the sauce are a little far out from what an original bibimbap tastes like. TLDR- reasonable price, huge portions, don't get carnitas read more
3 years ago
First time visiting this restaurant for lunch today Been looking for a restaurant close to me that have these noodles I love the food and the ladies was so helpful Bringing my twin brother next week to try this restaurant read more
2 years ago
So far this was my favorite taco week stop! Absolutely delicious! tacos and great service to boot. $2 taco specials and they even offered items beyond what was on the passport. They also had a $5 frozen margarita special and it was a reasonably strong blend. The chicken curry taco was my favorite because it was a blend of several flavors that you normally don't receive in a taco. The dips and chip sampler was a great value with $11 for 2 types of salsa, hearty guacamole and creamy queso. I will definitely come back here, really great food. read more
5 years ago
Lalo is a new to me restaurant. I think they recently moved to the old Court St. Lobster location..They really open up a small space and added lots more room for seating. It's got a great contemporary vibe, with bright neon signs, and a wall full of Mexican glass soda. We went to celebrate mine and my friends birthday on 3/19/21 and couldn't be more pleased. It was a packed house but we made reservations in advance, which I would highly recommend. The food was so good, a delicious mix of Cuban, Asian and Mexican. Some of the best tortilla chips and gauc I've had outside of Mazunte! The portions are great. Our server was so nice and we had fun with her. She got our order perfect and while food timing was a smidge slow, it wasn't anything to complain about since we were all enjoying margaritas and conversations. I think this will be a hot spot and here to stay. Can't wait to return. read more
Where to begin with Lalo?! They were extremely busy, & it's easy to see why - the atmosphere, the food - you could feel the excitement around it. I highly recommend making a reservation. I went with a large group of friends who all like to share food, so I got to experience a little bit of a lot of things (I wish I could remember them all ). To start, the curry chicken & potato empanadas were very good - soft & pillowy on the outside with delicious flavors throughout. The guacamole - don't even get me started. By far the best guac I've ever had. I had the Mexi Bibimbop, which was amazing, but missing a little bit of heat in my opinion. My husband had a birria quesadilla (I believe this was a special), which was also delicious & flavorful but he felt maybe was missing a little something. A friend ordered the Mofongo, which I had never had before but found to be quite interesting & something I would try again in the future. Definitely plan on coming back & trying more things! read more
5 years ago
I think the Mexi Pad Thai here may be my favorite pad thai of all time. I got it with tofu and it was so flavorful and full of vegetables! I like my food to be decently spicy and I felt like it was the perfect level of heat. It wasn't overly oily and it was a huge portion too! 10/10. The ceviche was great as well, another large portion here too! I found Lalo to have a really interesting menu and nice atmosphere. It was pretty quiet on a Saturday afternoon and a little difficult to find at their new location. Overall, I would come here again. read more
Nice spot downtown, was intrigued by the fusion options that co-mingled Asian and Mexican together. Started the meal with pork dumplings with kimchi and the shredded chicken & potato empanadas served with a delightful coconut sauce. Both appetizers had an interesting mix of flavors. My entree was a collection of tacos (shrimp, fried chicken and beef short-rib), the shrimp and chicken were just ordinary but the short-rib taco was great! All in all, it was a great experience. read more
Now this is off the beaten path. If you like different kind of food fusions then this is your place. It has such a great verity that you would be wise to try something your not used to. What else is better than having something different. Okay okay you may not like it and have to pay for it. I mean that is what an adventure is all about. My son and I were excited to try something. New that we found this little place. Now as for parking you have to be careful because you can get a ticket fast. You won't have a better place to try the food. I tried the ropa vieja fajitas and my son had the chicken curie. Which might I add is delicious! It took us a while to eat it all as it was large portions. We did kind of fill up on chips. But he was able to take some leftovers home. As for me I was able to muscle through and eat most of my food. Stay awesome Eat different food! Me read more
3 years ago
My teenage boys and I were thrilled with the food and the service. We love both Latin and Asian fare, so this was right up our alley. High quality, fresh ingredients and good portion sizes. Good for foodies and hungry teenagers alike. read more
2 years ago
This place was a unique find! It was an Asian Mexican fusion which I have never tried before. I got a margarita slush which was really good and strong! Definitely recommend. I also got this bowl which was very good too! The egg made the whole dish if I'm being honest. If you are looking for something unique in Cincinnati I would definitely try here! The inside is also very aesthetic and I love the art in there read more
3 years ago
Overall we had a good experience here. The service was a little slow but everyone was really friendly. The food was good and unique. I have a list of things that I'd love to try next time we come in. Drinks: Lalo Margarita - good but very tangy. If you don't love lime I would stay away from this one. Hot Razz Margarita - delicious! A lot of jalapeño flavor but not really spicy. Red Sangria - run of the mill sangria. Not bad. Appetizers: Loved loved loved the chips. They taste like wonton chips but look like tortilla chips. Get some sort of dip that you like. We had the salsa and i preferred the mild over the hot even though neither were spicy really. Entrees: Mexi Pad Thai - delicious! Hands down my favorite of the four entrees we had. The only thing i would change is the amount of onions they put in it is a little higher than i like. Birria Ramen - really great flavor in the broth. I wanted this to be spicier than it was but overall the flavors mixed well together. Mongolian Fajita Plate - we tried the carnitas which i thought was not as good as the brisket in other options. The vegetables were Asian and i loved this combination in a fajita. Drunken Brisket burrito - good flavor. Reminded me of pot roast made into a burrito. Very filling. Side note: we kept off the tomatoes and onions. read more
5 years ago
Haven't been to this place in about 3 years, and they have even moved to a new location. I find this location to be more appealing and cozy. Despite the fact that is not at the heart of downtown I still believe the location is great. Moreover, their menu has expanded with even more tastier options, so deft a plus. We ordered the curry chicken over rice, and the chipotle chicken Cuban sandwich. First of all the chips and salsa they have, are the best chips and Sala I've had in Cinci. If you ever tried the fresh chips at Whole Foods, you will love this. Nevertheless, everything was extremely delicious. The fries that came with my Cuban sandwich were awesome. Last but not least, the service was slightly slow, but the waiter was so friendly and prompt that you feel welcomed . Worth the time and money! read more
6 years ago
6 years ago
Visited Lalo a few times now and each time I have enjoyed the dishes I got to try. Recently- their sticky wings for wing week were amazing and one of my top choices. Other visits I've tried the tacos, queso and some entree dishes. My friends and family have also liked their meals. They take reservations which is very helpful and do curbside takeout right now. Always a nice option to consider if in the area ! read more
3 years ago
4 years ago
3 years ago
Our server was a gem! We were greeted right away and had incredible service. Food was great as well. I always get the chip dip sampler to start. Today I tried the tropical salad which was a great choice. 10/10. Vibes are great read more
4 years ago
I ate here over the weekend for a birthday celebration and had a great time. The environment was very calm and our waitress was efficient and knowledgeable of the menu. I had the Birria Quesadilla and it was pretty good! The broth itself was delicious. It's a seasonal dish so I'll be back before they take it off the menu. read more
Love the colors for their decor inside. Our server was mostly nice. The chicken & potato empanadas were absolutely delicious. They were a mix of spicy, savory and sweet! The wings were decent according to my friend. And aside from the overwhelming amount of FAT in our entrees, we were pleased. No one wants to be chewing on chunks of that stuff, so they need to make sure that more *actual* meat is what they serve us next time. read more
5 years ago
Wonderful service! Delicious food. Very unique flare! Everything on the menu was delicious and enjoyable. The fajitas with the Mongolian sauce were delightful and came out steaming hot. Family friendly and great place to sit and have drinks. The spicy margarita was such a treat. read more
3 years ago
2 years ago
5 years ago
Lalo has been on my list to-try now for awhile. I finally made it a point to stop by during Cincinnati's Asian Food Week. It's a fun week where lots of the Asian Cuisine restaurants participate in a week long celebration to offer guest meals at a discounted rate. It's a great way to try multiple meals and different restaurants for an affordable price. My family and I try to go to multiple places to support local business owners as well as enjoy some delicious Asian cuisine. We enjoy a three-course meal for only $20 at most restaurants. Prices do vary. Sayyyy whhhaattt?! I know, such a great deal! This particular day we stopped by Lalo for some delicious Asian / Latin American Fusion. We enjoyed our meal and got to try some of their hottest menu items. We tried Taquitos, Chips & Salsa, Lalo's Wings, Curry Chicken & Potato Empanadas, Chicken Mexi Pad Thai, Asian Beans Pudding, and Asian Roll Cake. We also had Margaritas to drink as well as a Sangria. The food was good and had good flavor. I don't really have any complaints on the food. The Margarita was good but I didn't care for the Sangria and sent it back. I think it was watery and just didn't wow in flavor. I also did not like the desserts which were the Asian Bean Pudding and Asian Roll Cake. I don't think they were bad as in they were probably made the way it's was suppose to be made. However, I just did not like the textures, flavors, and overall dish. This was more of a personal preference. Overall, Lalo was good. read more
7 years ago
After a day of travel after reading several Yelp reviews I decided to give Lalo a try. When I entered the restaurant I was promptly seated. The waiter brought menus and asked for my drink order. I asked him for his recommendation off of the cocktail menu. He said I should try the Pisco sour. So I gave it a try. While waiting on my beverage I ordered chicken empanadas and placed an order for my meal the curry chicken bowl. The empanadas arrived as well as the pisco sour. I gave it a try. It tasted differently than what I remembered. I couldn't place my finger on what it tasted like. The empanadas were edible to say the least, nothing to write home about. The chicken curry arrived. The curry had good flavor, the only issue I had with the dish was that the chicken was tough. This food adventure went south. This time Yelp definitely led me wrong. read more
5 years ago
I had no idea that Lalo had opened up a second location, and nearby my workplace. I would once a month get Lalo's for delivery but now that they are close by it is dangerous for my wallet. The place is stashed right next to the lobster place and before a Thai place and it is remarkably cute inside, and while the place is narrow it feels very spacious. Full of its fusion vibes, the atmosphere is so well done. However, like always, the food is the real winner here. They have found the perfect ways to mixed Asian and Latin cuisines together in a way that is not too elegant requiring high prices and definitely not to be confused as street food. It's the place for a great lunch, or a casual dinner. I got the fajitas with pork carnitas and wow they aren't wasting any of their meat cause it was packing. The vegetables were so well cooked and the steam from the plate lasted a long while when it came out. Fresh! Having steamed riced instead of the regular, what is considered, Mexican rice was a nice taste change but not too distracting. The beans were very tasty and everything in a taco was excellent. Only note for the future, if you like spicy, get some sauce with this. The meal itself is tasty but has very little spice and I like a bit of a kick. Can't wait for my next lunch meal here. read more
First time here and it was pretty good overall. Curry chicken taco I will be back for for sure. My friend got the ramen and we couldn't stop eating the broth. Service was just ok but that's a huge deal for me. Try it out! read more
Lalo moved locations and it is such an upgrade from the other location! The inside is big and has a wonderful ambience. Our waiter, Jackson, was so personable and amazing. He gave great suggestions and made us laugh during the whole meal. We split a pitcher of the margarita, which was a little too sweet for my liking but still enjoyable. We also got the dip sampler for the table and everything was delicious. The red salsa was so flavorful, the guacamole tasted so fresh, and the queso was amazing. I got the chicken mexi pad Thai, and it was good. In my opinion, a little dry, but still full of flavor. Great place and the new location is so nice! read more
3 years ago
More info about Lalo
3543 Columbia Pkwy
Cincinnati, OH 45226
Columbia-Tusculum
Directions
(513) 381-5256
Call Now
Visit Website
http://www.lalocincinnati.com
Full menu
Hours
Payment methods
Food & Alcohol
Indoor Amenities
Outdoor Amenities
Other Amenities
From the Business
Ask the Community - Lalo
Has Lalo closed? Their phone line doesn't seem to be going through today.…
I was there last night, so my guess would be no they haven't closed. Maybe you called too early? Or on a day they were closed?
You might also consider
Why does Yelp recommend reviews?
13 reviews that are not currently recommended
The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.
8 years ago
3 years ago
5 years ago
7 years ago
5 years ago
4 years ago
4 years ago
5 years ago
7 years ago
4 years ago
3 years ago
8 years ago
7 years ago
