Loro Asian Smokehouse & Bar

"Loro is an indoor/outdoor restaurant on South Lamar that looks a bit like a camp dining hall—minus the hair-netted cook and plus a large, partially covered patio. You don’t need to make a reservation or spend hours in line to eat here. However, there’s still usually a bit of a wait for a seat, which is the perfect amount of time to drink a frozen cocktail while you look over the menu of Asian-influenced barbecue. With lots of large tables, both inside and out, Loro is a great choice for a casual birthday hang." - nicolai mccrary, raphael brion

"Whether you sit in the tall rustic interior or on the large covered patio, Loro is one of the city’s most fun restaurants. This collaboration between two Austin powerhouses—Franklin Barbecue and Uchi—blends smokehouse and Asian flavors seamlessly, and eating there feels like being part of a vibrant scene where everyone is in a good mood. Go with a group and order everything you can, namely the corn fritters, chicken karaage, pork belly with hoisin sauce, and smoked butcher’s cut garnished with shishito salsa verde. Loro doesn’t take reservations, so request a frozen gin and tonic from the outdoor bar and grab a seat under the string lights until your table is ready." - matthew jacobs, nicolai mccrary

"Loro is the brainchild of two Austin favorite institutions—Franklin Barbecue and Uchi—resulting in an Asian/Texas smokehouse that provides some unique fusion flavors in a beautiful space. Their fried chicken sandwich, that’s only served during the day, is exceptional: smoked chicken is thickly battered more along the lines of fish and chips, and then fried and covered with a smoked hot sauce. For extra texture and flavor, there’s a citrus cabbage slaw and a full-on layer of pickles. " - raphael brion, nicolai mccrary

"There’s a little something for everyone at Loro, including barbecue for the carnivores in the group, excellent salads for the vegetarians, and chicken nuggets (OK it’s karaage, and it’s great) for the friend who still eats like a child. And despite being a collaboration between two Austin powerhouses—Franklin Barbecue and Uchi—you won’t need to spend hours in line, or grab a reservation a month in advance to eat at Loro. And with long rows of tables that feel more like a camp dining hall than a large restaurant on South Lamar, it’s usually not too hard to grab a table for you and your seven closest friends. " - adele hazan, nicolai mccrary

"When: Weekdays 2-5pm The Deal: $5 boozy slushees; $4-5 beer, wine, and sake; select menu items $6-10 The setup at Loro is ideal for work Happy Hours, so snag a picnic table for your whole team, then order from a full list of boozy slushees, discounted bites, and $4-5 beer, wine, and sakes. There's also a small menu of Happy Hour bites, including a very good crispy smoked chicken sandwich. " - nicolai mccrary, raphael brion