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    Loro Asian Smokehouse & Bar

    4.3 (2.6k reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

    Loro Asian Smokehouse & Bar Photos

    Business Info

    LORO ASIAN SMOKEHOUSE & BAR ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Classy
    Casual
    Good for kids

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    Order at the bar and they bring the food to you
    Dan S.

    Very cool spot we stopped in for happy hour and the prices were amazingly low. The smoked wings and pork sliders were huge hits. I love the gin and tonic frozen drinks. Great place and I highly recommend happy hour 2-5 pm Service was quick and friendly and love the option of eating outdoors under shade trees or indoors in the AC.

    Angelica L.

    Overall: 3.8/5 [dine in] Our friend recommended trying their ramen, which is only available on Tuesdays and Wednesdays after 4 PM. We did a walk in for dinner on a Wednesday night around 6:45 PM. While we waited to be seated, we grabbed drinks at the outside beer garden. The outdoor menu is slightly different from what's listed online, some drinks are only available inside, and the cocktails outside come in tiny plastic cups instead of actual glassware. They also seemed pre-made, so the quality just wasn't there. First and last time ordering outside for us. The Mandarin Margarita ($11) with luna azul blanco, mezcal, and tangerine tasted like juice with no detectable alcohol. The Typhoon ($10) with bacardi superior, passionfruit, lime, and thai basil was better but still low on ABV. Neither was impressive. We both ordered the Spicy Japanese Curry Ramen, one with char siew pork belly ($18.50) and one with smoked brisket ($19.50), both topped with buttered corn, roasted tomatoes, green onion, and ajitama egg. The ramen noodles themselves were good. The curry was very salty and umami forward, so I could only eat so much of it before hitting a wall. It's heavy and filling, so we ended up with leftovers. I liked that there were a lot of toppings, but it doesn't have authentic Japanese flavors. They gave us two lean dry brisket slices with no fat at all, which was disappointing. The pork belly though was delicious! I just don't think the meat combo worked with this curry because the curry was overpowering everything. The Spicy Bangkok Chicken Bowl ($16.95) was my favorite of the night. Nam tok, hot honey, peanuts, coconut scented rice, papaya salad, and piri piri aioli. It was a new special and they weren't sure how long they'd be running it, so we just went for it and I'm glad we did. I love their coconut scented rice so much. The fried chicken was okay and a little light on the portion, and the papaya salad was tasty. Even with those small gripes, this bowl was the highlight and the one I'd come back for.

    Sesame noodles
    Kristi W.

    Still one of my favorite places in Austin. New menu items slapped! Smoked brisket bowl and sesame noodles - staples - are always tasty. Welcome to the menu spicy Bangkok chicken bowl! The Caesar salad was not as great as I had hoped but that was because it was slathered in dressing. Order the dressing on the side or light dressing. The shrimp on the salad was so flavorful I'd order it over and over. The spicy watermelon margarita was the best frozen drink I had all week and I had a healthy sampling! They have a great selection of tap beers. Order at the counter and the servers will find you and deliver your food. It doesn't always come out all at once. Lots of outdoor seating and you may have to share a table because this place jams. TVs inside and outside to watch games. Parking is a nightmare. Tip: do not park next door in the CVS lot as you're likely to get a boot on your car and have to pay $100 to have it removed.

    Margarita
    Sherrill J.

    We ate outside on the picnic tables since the weather was so nice. I had a Margarita that was tasty and well prepared. L ordered a Cheeseburger with Crispy Potatoes and I had Pulled Pork sandwich with Crispy Potatoes. The Cheeseburger had a very large flavorful patty. My Pulled Pork sandwich had excellent flavor. The Crispy Potatoes were outrageously good.

    Kim S.

    Loro is one of our go-to's every time we visit our son in Austin. I love sitting outside under the large shade trees but this time we ate inside which was nice as well. Their happy hour is amazing and from 2pm-5pm which is longer than most happy hours. We ordered our cocktails and food at the counter then sipped on our drinks as we waited for our food to arrive. The boozy slushies were so good and only $5! I especially liked the frozen espresso martini. The hard working staff brought our food out as it was ready and everything came out fresh and hot. Our table tried the smoked wings, the grilled edamame, the wonton chips and dip, and the pulled pork sliders. Everything was great! The edamame really stood out because it was prepared differently than most edamame, with lemon zest, white sesame, and sriracha powder that gave it a kick. We only get to Austin once every couple of years but I am sure we will return to Loro next time we're in town.

    Sake can chicken
    Anisya N.

    Loro has mostly outdoor seating with large, wooden benches. You order at a kiosk and then they bring it out to you. We got the chicken karage which was crispy, spicy and paired deliciously with some creamy aoili. Corn fritters were so so, needed more flavor. My main was the sake can chicken which was done so well! Chicken was a bit dry on the inside but the chicken skin was so crisp and the marinade was spicy and sweet. The rice noodles were pretty mediocre, again missing flavoring. I think Loro does really good proteins! Everything else needs a bit work. Cool spot though for some casual but slightly upscale food.

    Drinks
    Karl A.

    Holy moly! What a great meal! We had to wait a bit to order at the bar. It was amazing how fast the food came out. Everything tasted great. From the appetizers to my burger, I enjoyed every bite. The burger was cooked perfectly and the toppings added a new flavor I have never had on a burger. I hope I can get back to Austin to visit Loro again! Great food, great service!

    Salmon entrée
    Susan E.

    My great-nephew and I had a great Valentine's Day lunch at Loro. While I was concerned about the restaurant being crowded, we arrived around 11:30 am and had no problem parking and getting seats. We chose to eat outdoors (covered area) at one of the long picnic tables. As you enter from the back of the building, there's a station with hard copy menus and a QR code. Then you seat yourself and place your order from the bar and get a pager. We had an order of pork belly, an order of salmon, and charred broccoli. We had Sapporo on tap. While the menu is not huge, everything looked tempting. The beer selection, both draft and bottled, was very good. I enjoyed my salmon very much. The portion size was just right, it was perfectly cooked, and the sauce was excellent. My nephew said the pork belly and broccoli were excellent. Our entrées arrived at different times. Prices are moderate given the quality of food and portion size. There's no doubt I'll return, possibly to try the Domain location, which is nearer to home.

    Menus
    Jamila M.

    The atmosphere is lively and buzzing. It is pretty loud inside, especially on a Saturday night. They have both indoor and outdoor seating, and both spaces are large. There is also a waiting area outside. Important to know: they do not take reservations. You walk up and put your name on the list. We waited about 45 minutes to an hour on a Saturday night, which honestly is not bad considering it was prime time and no reservations are accepted. While we waited, we grabbed drinks at the bar. Once we were seated, we had a waitress, which I preferred. You do have the option to order at the bar and bring your food back to your table, but the line was very long, so having table service worked out in our favor. Now for the food. The sesame rice noodles really surprised me. They are served chilled, but they did not feel cold in an unpleasant way. They were refreshing and much better than I expected. The brisket was great. Very solid. One friend did not love the salmon dip, but another friend really enjoyed the smokehouse sampler. For drinks, I had the Mandarin margarita and the Mexican martini. The Mexican martini was the winner. It tasted great and the presentation was super cute, which always makes it more fun. Overall, I would go back to Loro. It is a cool spot with good energy, solid food, and strong drinks. Just plan ahead for the wait.

    Tofu rice bowl
    Larry E.

    Once again fantastic food and delivery service. I ordered double tofu hopefully to eat it tomorrow but couldn't stand it and ate the whole thing! Be prepared to eat a couple of breath ments :-)

    Ted C.

    I'm a fan. No mincing words about it. A co-worker suggested to go but go early to get the Happy Hour deals. So, I can't comment on the regular menu but $5 dollar boozy slushies? Cheap shareables? A dining area with tables that accommodates large groups and ordering at the counter so there isn't that awkward splitting check thing but everyone can still order for the table. At the time, the boozy slushies were vodka but I got it because it's 5 bucks. Gotta say, not bad. Since I was driving I limited myself to one and then got one of their NA HH mocktails, yuzu and ginger beer, and they used the good stuff. Got the wonton skins-and I wasn't expecting much. I thought it would be those wonton strips that you get on top of egg drop soups at those strip mall Chinese restaurants but they were house made wide and the dips were not the afterthought I figured they would be.

    Cold sesame noodles, pork belly, pulled pork tostadas, shishito pepper queso, brisket

    Honestly one of the best BBQ/fusion joints in Austin. Their brisket is to DIE for, melt in your mouth, cry when it's gone good. Their ribs are also sensational and the bbq sauce is uniquely sweet and savory! The appetizers are ALWAYS a hit and extremely shareable. We LOVE Loro and it's hard not to come once a week!! The service is usually fast and the vibes are always HIGH! Could not recommend this place more!

    Tricia N.

    Ahhh this place is sooo good. A must try if you love asian style cuisine. I opted for the brisket rice bowl and it was DELICIOUS. Love the veggies that came with it and the sauce like omg it was perfect with the brisket and loveeee the rice. My husband got the BBQ sampler and he loved it as well. I really enjoyed this place. It was a bit of a wait but there are plenty of spots to just chill for a bit and an outside bar to grab a drink. The vibes are great here and food came out pretty timely even though it was VERY busy. Must try in Austin tbh, highly recommend!

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    Page 1 of 64

    Loro Asian Smokehouse & Bar Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Loro Asian Smokehouse & Bar

    Is there seating indoors?

    Yes, there is.

    Do you have halal brisket option?

    Yes!

    Soy free options?

    We have many soy free options! Upon arrival, ask to look at an allergy guide to see our soy free offerings! Our bartenders are more than happy to lead you through and answer any questions!

    Do they have misters on their covered patio?

    We sure do!

    Do they take reservations?

    No. First come, first serve

    Is there WIFI and/or outlets inside?

    No. Nor is there anyone who really cares about anything service related.

    Will Loro Austin be open on Christmas Day 2021?

    We will not be open on Christmas. We close at 5pm on Christmas Eve and won’t reopen until the day after Christmas at 11:30am.

    Are there highchairs?

    They may have 1 or 2, but mostly outdoor picnic tables. I'd say bring the stroller and wheel right up to the table

    Are they now taking reservations? I can't seem to find any way to reserve a table.

    They are walk in based

    Do you order at a counter and the food is brought to you/your paged to pick it up, or do you order from your table and a waitstaff?

    You order at the counter/bar area and they give you any drinks and utensils that you need on a tray. They give you a pager and waitstaff bring the food out to your table.

    Is the outdoor patio heated?

    Yes it is!

    What on the menu is vegan/gluten-free?

    Not the place for a VG/GF guests... maybe a couple of the veggie dishes but even most of those have fish sauce, soy or fried elements

    Do they close on holidays - hoping to visit on Presidents' Day?

    They weren't closed New Year's Day so I'd imagine they won't be on Presidents' Day

    Do i need to get there early to get a table on the weekends for lunch?

    You need to get there early even to just drive by the building.

    Gluten free options?

    Absolutely. All of our meat plates are gluten free or possible to make gluten free other than the Pork Belly. We also have a lot of additional items like the chicken karaage, oak grilled snap peas, texas sweet corn, and most of our rice bowls.

    Dogs allowed on patio?

    Yes, dogs are allowed on the covered heated patio. Bring a friend to take turns while you go inside and order :)

    Is this place kid friendly?

    For sure it is, its seat your self and walk up to the bar to order, serve your own drinks and clear your own table. It's way laid back

    Is there seafood in your BBQ sauce? (Many BBQ Sauces have it due to anchovies.) My sister has an allergy to it.

    It does not. Initially our recipe included Shiro Dashi with contains shellfish but we've since omitted it and revised the recipe. Matt Guzzetta… Read more

    Coming from Hou for the weekend. How long is the wait on average for a Sat evening?

    This past Saturday at 6pm there was no wait at all. Food was excellent.

    Is it hard to order gluten free items?

    Not at all

    View All 26 Questions

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    (120 reviews)

    78704 (South Austin)

    It's a rainy night in Austin. My girlfriend is in town because my cousin and her fiancé are getting…read moremarried in Austin. It's also the weekend of our one year anniversary. An hour ago it wasn't raining, but now it's pouring. A few months ago, I heard of a newer bar and experience called Equipment Room just right off of South Congress. Music means everything to me. Nothing can express emotions and instill a feeling in 3 minutes like a song can. I live for that. Equipment Room is inherently Japanese in concept. Existing in Japan for over 50 years, listening bars combine high fidelity audio equipment with impressively crafted cocktails and alcohol combining the passion of music in a space to gather with comfortable chairs and a beautiful atmosphere. The concept has expanded westward as all cool things inevitably do, but I would never think a spot would be successful in Austin like it would be in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and so on. As I back my car into a parking spot on South Congress, I grab the umbrella out of my trunk and walk my girlfriend and me to the entrance trying to not get ourselves soaked in the process. This is not the first time we have tried to go to Equipment Room. We tried to get a walk-in table just to see out of morbid curiosity and that was a failure. I booked her and me a table for this night and I was madly looking forward to it. As we got to the small entrance, we were introduced to the hostess who brought us from the stairs into the main underground space and to our seats on the couch in a large wraparound sofa with other parties sitting near us. The music is faint from the entrance, but once you walk through the main walkway, a wave of sound hits your eardrums. You're immediately engrossed into the music like walking into a concert hall or putting a fresh pair of headphones on for the first time. As we sat down, selections from Outkast's Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik were playing through the speakers. Our hostess introduced us to their "User Manual" (their menu) where it contained all the snacks and drinks you could get your grubby hands on. There's more than just drinks and food on the menu. The first page introduces the concept and gives a few house rules. The second page shows all the equipment this so-called room has, from the premium Klipsch speakers, their preamps and amplifiers as well as their turntables and mixers. It's a dream page for music nerds. I want a $15k speaker in my apartment, but those noise complaints would never end. Our waitress came by shortly to give us water and take our order. Their menu is quite expansive, but the main pages we were told to check out were their A-side drinks or the classics and their B-side drinks, which are more experimental. We had to go with experimental for starters because who knows when you'll get to try something similar again. I started with a Goca Dünya while my girlfriend ordered a Deceptacon. The Goca Dünya was a vodka based floral drink with pistachio foam and Amaro Nonino, an Italian herbal liqueur. The Deceptacon was a rum-based cacao drink with a touch of lime and mint. It took a little time for our drinks to come out, clearly, as they are quite intricate. I loved my drink, bluntly. The pistachio foam was a great balance to the herbal flavors at the bottom. My girlfriend and I continued to enjoy each other's company as the music continued. The space we were in was decorated with posters and memorabilia from legendary artists coming through Austin and some general music decor like that purple album from that Prince guy. The DJ-curator that night was on a tear playing incredible soul music holding the bar hostage with a taste of funk. Jimmy Smith came next before transitioning to a few tracks from Bobbie Gentry. The last albums he pulled out were Steely Dan's Aja (a stone cold classic) and Stevie Wonder's Songs in the Key of Life (a top 10 album of all time). Not only was he playing classics like Isn't She Lovely, but he threw down some deeper cuts like Black Man and Contusion. Incredible. We both got another drink with my girlfriend getting their A-Side Espresso Martini while I got the Brown Sugar from their B-Sides. It was a seaweed and mushroom infused whiskey with a few more bells and whistles and it was super unique. Quite a bit of their menu is Japanese-inspired in homage to the originators of listening bars. This includes Japanese beer, sake, and Japanese-inspired food and beverages on their menu. Very cool. The worst part of the night came when our hour and 45 minute reservation came to a close. I could've stayed there for another 3 hours and never grown tired, but with how popular this space has become, they gotta kick you out at some point. This is an experience you have to have. It's worth it. I'll be strolling back in soon enough because there is nothing like this in Austin and it's truly a special space. RIYL: Actively listening to music.

    Loved this place so much..!!! If you want to go somewhere to just lounge with low lighting and have…read moresome delicious drinks with great music in the background , this is place is it! They play no digital music and their speakers are installed throughout the whole building. The sound is great! The menu was so cute and on theme. The furniture and decor is mid century modern. I went here for my birthday and they gave my table a round of Sake shots, which was nice! My table ordered drinks: the Brown Sugar, Goca Dünya, Suffer No Fool (non alcoholic), Vitamin C. They were all delicious and they did not skimp on the alcohol! It was well balanced! I seriously recommend the Goca Dünya--that pistachio foam was addictive! For food, we got the Cheese board to have something to pick on and we demolished it, haha. It came with marmalade and crackers. The cheeses were great, along with the dried fruits and nuts. The cheese selections seem to rotate every other season, which is cool.

    Midnight Cowboy - Drinks LOOKED delicious

    Midnight Cowboy

    (580 reviews)

    $$

    Downtown

    5-star speakeasy...if you like cool, secretive, unusual speakeasy cocktail bars - this is the place…read morefor you! Located on 6th street in downtown Austin (near the Driskill hotel), in what looks like from the street an apartment complex. You buzz the "secret" button and if you have a reservation, they let you in and escort you to your beautiful, sexy table. Their menu is creative and their every cocktail delicious! The theme we experienced was tarot cards and we loved the presentation and creativity of cocktails. Service is excellent and all drinks are around $20. Worth a visit for sure - great 5-star speakeasy and so fun for a date or with a group.

    I was unable to check out the quality or ambiance of this establishment as there were a number of…read moreissues with my reservation. Basically, I had a large group reserved for a celebration, and I didn't get a confirmation email and when I noticed this I scrambled to find another reservation. The reservation link I was sent to kept erroring out when I tried to process it. Apparently the incorrect date was selected and I did not notice I was charged an exorbitant amount of money because it was a larger party, but we had every intention of going and we would have spent quite a bit of money. After being charged a $120 no show fee I tried to contact them to see if they could at least squeeze us in or take the no show fee off but they said their policy was clearly stated and they don't respond to my last email. Also, there is no phone number which is incredibly frustrating as I would have called to confirm my 5:30pm reservation issue, but instead just assumed it didn't go through While part of this was undoubtedly user error, the process of reserving and confirming reservations was not easy. Furthermore, the establishment was not overly understanding Some tips: Go to a different bar. There are so many great bars, lounges, and speakeasy's in the area, and I wouldn't risk the potential hassle. We pivoted to the Roosevelt room last minute and we had a great time Cheers!

    Loro Asian Smokehouse & Bar - smokehouse - Updated May 2026

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