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 - Mexi Spicy Miso Ramen with tofu (vegan) - Latin American Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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

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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

Lalo - Mexi Pad Thai* w/ chicken - Latin American Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

I love Asian. I love Mexican. Just not together. The portions are huge. Whoever is cooking does a great job---the Mexican flavors are wonderful, but the Asian pop was too much. Like drinking orange juice and pizza. I love orange juice. I love pizza. Just not together. read more

I was downtown for work, so decided to try some take-out here, as I love the concept of a Latin/Asian fusion restaurant. It's very beautiful inside -- very bright and clean. There were few patrons and I had a great friendly conversation with the staff there. The food itself (once I got home) was very good -- the combination of flavors worked well. I got the pork kimchee dumplings, which were pretty good. But my favorite was the curry chicken tacos -- tender, with a great zing to it. Also got the Mexican pad thai. The portion was huge, the noodles were cooked just right, and the shrimp in it was very fresh. Definitely a good filling adventure of a meal!!! read more

I got the mexi-bi bim bap which was full of veg and I liked. The tomato rice was also interesting with salsa, the Mexican's take on Bi Bim Bap. Overall the dish was pretty tasty and it had a lot of veg. I don't think I'd get this dish again and probably try something else. read more

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

Lalo - Carnitas*, Hawaiian chicken, Asian chicken - Latin American Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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

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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

Lalo - Drunken brisket burrito to go - fantastic - Latin American Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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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

Lalo - Birra ramen noodles - Latin American Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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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

Lalo - Mexi Bibimbap* - Latin American Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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Lalo was delicious. The service was spectacular. Everybody loved it there meals. everything was so flavorful and presented beautifully. fun and yummy. read more

Amazing menu! I was not sure about Chino-Latin fusion but it works. Party of four we each tried something different completely different and everything was delicious. read more

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

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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

Lalo - Latin American Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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

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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

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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

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I was really excited to try Lalo as I've heard great things about them. My partner and I ordered the Cuban Banh Mi with barbecoa meat, Mofongo with grilled chicken, and elote. I wasn't sure if they had elote yet since it seems like more of a summer item but I decided to ask anyways since ears of corn have already started to pop in the produce section at our local Kroger. It was! The corn was really sweet but it was nicely paired with the sauce and the cheese they used. It's not spicy, so I would recommending having chili flakes/ hot sauce on hand if you want something a little spicier! The Cuban Banh Mi was very nice. I like the sponginess of the bread compared to a traditional banh mi which is a crusty baguette. I liked the barbecoa and felt like it was very tender! It came with a side of plantain chips which were very delightful. The mofongo with grilled chicken was really tender and the notes of garlic butter came through strongly. Note, this does require a longer prep time but our food was ready in 15 minutes which was very reasonable! The salad that came with the mofongo was so nice and paired well with the starchiness of the plantains. It was really hard to narrow down just 3 menu items to try and I can't eait to go back and try a few more! 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

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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

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Chino Latino fusion - sign me up!! I came with a group of 10 and we had incredible service on a Monday evening. We shared zucchini fries to start along with the kimchi pork dumplings and the dip sampler. All were fantastic - especially the zucchini fries - the dipping sauce (a quest fresco sauce) was the perfect accompaniment! Most everyone got the tacos and tried three of their many options. My favorite was the carnitas and Asian fried chicken - amazing!! I would love to try more options next time, including the r mexi bibimbap and Cubans bahn mi! I finished the night with the chocolate tres leches cake. While it didn't look appetizing, the taste more than made up for it!! So moist and somehow light! Would love to come back! read more

Great veggie option downtown. We sat inside on a Monday and service was friendly and prompt. They offer a really nice draft beer list and came out nice and cold. The atmosphere was a little sterile on a Monday evening and needed some music or something more welcoming. I had their tofu bibimbap dish which was flavorful and a huge portion. We also started with their veggie spring rolls which tasting housemade. Overall I'd like to come back. read more

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

Lalo - Latin American Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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

Lalo - Tropical salad - Latin American Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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

Lalo - Birria Quesadilla - Latin American Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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

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*Disclaimer: dining experience during COVID-19 and Cincinnati Taco Week* Vibes: casual, bright and vibrant Latino-Asian fusion with Latino music playing throughout the restaurant; good for groups; limited outdoor seating available Tasting notes: Queso: served warm, light in flavor and color, consistency is smooth and not too runny Guac: a good mix between chunky and creamy, well-salted with subtle cilantro flavor Chips: served warm, super flaky and crispy Kaarage taco: chicken is shredded and present for umami flavor rather than texture, very high coating to chicken ratio; loved the tangy mayo sauce on top Honey chipotle chicken taco: chicken is very juicy, tender, and well-seasoned, but really did not get any of the honey-chipotle flavor Beef barbacoa taco: tender chunks of beef with a healthy amount of richness from the fat Other thoughts: -Taco plate is mix-and-match friendly, with choice of flour or corn tortillas, and the tacos are on the larger side -Service is attentive and friendly -Love that the menu has a wide variety of dishes and is fairly vegetarina friendly! read more

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

Lalo - Al pastor and drunken brisket taco - Latin American Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Korean and Mexican fusion... This I had to try!I have the Mexican bibimbap which was full of good fillings and so delicious! I could not finish the entire thing but the leftovers were just as great. They came out very hot in a stone bowl and stayed hot the entire time. The Chipotle wings were excellent and full of flavor and meat. the elote was good although I feel like it could have been a little bit more substantial. The drunken brisket burritowas excellent and full of good fillings and sauce and was probably my favorite of everything! Great service and a good location in downtown to go with friends. read more

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We catered Lalo for an event of about 50 people and the food was amazing! We were able to customize what we wanted and chose the barbacoa, chicken, and tofu as our mains and then rice, tortillas and chipotle udon noodles as bases. People could choose whatever they wanted to make. The toppings really made it, especially the guacamole, chipotle Mayo, and curry sauce. My favorites were the curry sauce with the udon and the chicken, so good! It was a perfect set up for the various dietary restrictions people had too, so everyone was able to enjoy the delicious meal. While figuring out the catering order I worked with Trang who was so helpful and got back to me quickly. We also messed up communication on our end, so I was worried it would not work out but they were so accommodating and made it work out for us anyways. I would recommend them for any event you would like to cater and am looking forward to visiting their restaurant soon. Thank you Lalo! read more

Decided to try this restaurant though I was told by a friend that it wasn't that great boy was she right the only good thing about it was the margarita was absolutely out of this world but the food itself is terrible and the service was even worse all I can say they like to use a lot of carrots to fill up the entree to make it look like there's a lot of deliciousness not so I will be back however to enjoy another margarita but I'm leery of the food 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

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Great fusion dishes! The chicken wings, cocktails, mofongo and lomo Saltado are all really good! :)

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

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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

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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

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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

Lalo - Mongolian fajitas with pork carnitas and pineapple jarritos - Latin American Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Really good food as this menu is Asian and latino fusion. We shared some lettuce wraps (chipotle chicken, lime shrimp and drunken brisket) , zucchini fries and spring rolls. The menu may sound nutty. .... But let you palate tell you. It's a fine blend and it was all really good. Parking on the street and LaLo is located next to the Queen City Exchange. 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 - Honey chicken taco, carnitas, and curry chicken. Curry was my fav! - Latin American Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio