Loro

Loro's Southeast Asian cuisine comes to us from Austin vets Tyson Cole and Aaron Franklin, with many of the dishes exhibiting a Texas BBQ influence. Most of the options are small plates or snacks that are meant to be shared, so the menu offers things like crunchy sweet corn fritters and chicken karaage. A dinner menu provides larger portions, and its also where you'll see more of Franklin's influence coming through—there's a smoked beef brisket, for example, that's been marinated with Vietnamese nuoc mam and Thai chili gastrique. The airy space, designed by Michael Hsu, is an ode to traditional Texas dance halls, with plenty of light and exposed wood beams. Communal tables and spacious booths populate the restaurant, while outside, a patio offers a more casual setting.