food

Wildly Delicious and Ambitious Asian Smokehouse Sets Opening Date — Finally!

Wildly Delicious and Ambitious Asian Smokehouse Sets Opening Date — Finally!

AFTER OPENING IN Austin to great fanfare in 2017 — and really, were two James Beard-winning chefs expecting anything else? — a popular fusion restaurant under the Hai Hospitality umbrella has finally set an opening date for its Houston Heights location.

Loro, an Asian smokehouse from pitmaster extraordinaire Aaron Franklin and Uchi creator Tyson Cole, will open Feb. 23 in a 1940s church on 11th Street. The building, reimagined by celebrated architect Michael Hsu, took significantly longer than expected to complete due to pandemic- and permit-related setbacks.

Expect the delicious dishes and flavor profile for which Loro became instantaneously known five years ago: Melt-in-your-mouth brisket, Southeast Asian spices — and boozy slushies. Chef de Cuisine Marcos Leal, a Mexico-born chef who considers Houston home, will put his own stamp on the menu, which will tout starters like crunchy sweet-corn fritters with Thai chili and fish sauce, and wonton chips with a Thai green salsa for dipping.

Meatier offerings include a smoked prime bavette with shishito salsa verde and pickled onion, and oak-smoked salmon with cucumber-yuzu broth; rice bowls and sandwiches are on the menu, too. And save room for the Yuzu peach cobbler!

Beginning today, foodie fans can enter an Instagram giveaway to try to win a one-on-one hang sesh with Leal and learn how to smoke their own brisket, plus a $200 happy hour to share with friends.

From Your Site Articles
Related Articles Around the Web
Food
promoted

Pelican Builders Welcome Residents To First New Upper Kirby Condo Offering In Years; Boutique Midrise Adds To Pedestrian Appeal Of Sought-After, Inner Loop Neighborhood

Pelican Builders Welcome Residents To First New Upper Kirby Condo Offering In Years; Boutique Midrise Adds To Pedestrian Appeal Of Sought-After, Inner Loop Neighborhood

WITH ITS INAUGURAL set of residents newly moved in, Pelican Builders’ mid-rise condominium Westmore at 2323 W Main Street in Upper Kirby is already seeing the blossoming of a tight-knit community. Designed by Houston-based Mirador Group the Westmore is the first new condominium product to be introduced to the in-demand, inner loop neighborhood in more than three years. And with remaining two-bedroom homes starting at $895,000, it’s a remarkable value for this increasingly pricey area, where condos can easily climb to several million dollars and more.

Keep Reading Show less
Home + Real Estate
promoted

As Escape Spa Expands in 2025, Owner Has Advice on Personal Growth: ‘Focus on Intention Setting’

CHANGE IS A good thing, and with the start of a new year, I always like to reflect on how far I've come and start fresh by setting self-care goals for the coming months. Personal growth is a passion for me, and also something I enjoy. Guiding a business through growth and change is also one of my passions, so I am very pleased to announce that Escape Spa is going to be expanding in 2025! We’re honored that we’ve built such a loyal following since opening in Cypress in July of 2022, and we’re thrilled to be in a position to grow our wellness and recovery sanctuary just outside of Houston.

Keep Reading Show less
nightlife

Nightlife Veterans Team Up to Bring Buzzy New Bar to the Heights

photo by Chris Nguyen

THE OWNERS BEHIND two of the Heights' most beloved nightlife destinations are teaming up to bring the neighborhood a new hangout.

Keep Reading Show less
Food