Dining

Asian barbecue concept from Aaron Franklin and Tyson Cole opens this month

Loro, the Asian smokehouse from James Beard Award-winning partners, pitmaster Aaron Franklin and chef Tyson Cole will open on Feb. 23

Greg Morago February 7, 2022 Updated: February 8, 2022, 10:26 am
Loro, the Asian smokehouse from James Beard Award-winning partners, pitmaster Aaron Franklin and chef Tyson Cole will open on Feb. 23 in the Heights at 1001 W. 11th. Photo: Hai Hospitality

Loro, one of Houston’s most anticipated restaurants for 2022, announced Monday it will open on Feb. 23. The Asian smokehouse from Hai Hospitality (Uchi and Uchiko), is a project from James Beard Award-winning partners -- pitmaster Aaron Franklin of Franklin Barbecue in Austin and chef Tyson Cole of Uchi and Uchiko in Austin.

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Set inside a former church at 1001 W. 11th in the Heights, Loro is described as a casual restaurant with a menu that blends Southeast Asian flavors with traditional Texas barbecue. The menu includes meats (Malaysian chicken bo ssam, char siew pork belly, smoked Prime bavette, smoked beef brisket and turkey breast), sandwiches (smoked brisket, smoked turkey, crispy smoked chicken, and the Loro Cheeseburger), and rice bowls (crispy Szechuan tofu, Malaysian curry chicken, char siew pork belly, smoked bavette, and smoked salmon).

When it opens, Loro will serve Sunday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Happy hour will be offered Monday through Friday 2 to 6 p.m.

Greg Morago writes about food for the Houston Chronicle. Follow him onFacebookorTwitter. Send him news tips at greg.morago@chron.com. Hear him on ourBBQ State of Mind podcastto learn about Houston and Texas barbecue culture.

  • Greg Morago
    Greg Morago

    Greg Morago was a features editor and reporter for The Hartford Courant for 25 years before joining the Houston Chronicle as food editor in 2009. He writes about food, restaurants, spirits, travel, fashion and beauty. He is a native Arizonan and member of the Pima tribe of the Gila River Indian Community.