Tried the Loro x Siete: Backyard BBQ collab at Loro Asian Smokehouse & Bar and it was such a fun…read morehappy hour bar experience. Loro is an Asian smokehouse and bar featuring grilled and smoked meats with Southeast Asian and Japanese-inspired sauces, sides, and a bar that boasts craft beer, boozy slushees, and batch cocktails. Parking at this location is a bit of a challenge. They have overflow parking in the back but the spots are really small. We sat at the bar area and worked our way through cocktails, apps, and dessert. We opened a tab and the bar staff takes your order which is convenient, versus how you normally have to order by waiting in line at the bar. The bar staff was extremely busy because they have to make all the cocktails and take the line orders at the bar. They are a master of multitasking. It was $3 martini night on Tuesday, so was excited to sample the four different drink options. lychee martini, Mexican martini, and Lucky Cat cosmo martini. Lychee martini is made with new amsterdam vodka, sake, elderflower, Mexican martini with espolon blanco, olive, yuzu, lime and cosmo with vodka, blood orange, naranja, lime. The lychee was hands down my favorite of the three. We started with the Dip Sampler that included a trifecta of smoked shishito queso, smoked salmon dip and Thai green salsa with the Siete blue corn tortilla chips. We went through the chips quickly and got a second round of wonton chips which I preferred to the Siete chips. Tried the Mango Chamoy frozen Slushee with Siete Chamoy Botana Sauce & Siete Chile Lime Seasoning Rim, passionfruit, Aperol, Sake and Sparkling Wine which was refreshing. All their boozy slushies are $5 during happy hour. Ordered the oak grilled edamame from the happy hour menu and it was a flavor explosion with a dusting of serracha powder, lemon zest and white sesame. For dinner, I ordered my go-to rice bowl with coconut-scented rice, seasonal pickles, thai herbs and steak as the protein. They normally served this with Bavette, but the steak was a bit tough and chewy this time. Finished everything off with cheesecake with five spice crumble, yuzu marmalade for dessert. The vibe at the bar was relaxed and lively without feeling overwhelming, and the collab menu felt creative without trying too hard. The ingredients are very thoughtful for a fully developed flavor profile. Just what I would expect from the culinary minds of Tyson Cole and Aaron Franklin. Definitely one of the regulars in my list when craving good cocktails with a casual but elevated food menu.

This is really disappointing because we genuinely love Loro and eat here pretty regularly…read more I currently have a hip injury, so we ordered curbside pickup. After receiving the notification that our order was ready, I waited in the designated curbside spot for about 10 minutes. Eventually I had to painfully get out of the car, only to find our food sitting on the pickup shelf while employees were standing around talking. The much bigger issue came when we got home. We were eating dinner while watching a movie in dim lighting when I happened to notice my boyfriend's chicken was completely undercooked. It was still pink throughout, with some areas even appearing bloody. By the time we realized it, he had already eaten quite a bit of it. He ended up spending the night very sick. Undercooked chicken is a serious food safety issue, not just a quality issue. Mistakes happen, but serving raw chicken can make people extremely ill, and that's exactly what happened here. I'm posting this because I hope management takes it seriously. We have always enjoyed Loro, which is why this experience was so shocking. I hope they improve both their food safety practices and their curbside service so this doesn't happen to someone else.

    This was one of the best Omakase experiences we've ever had. Chef Ling is a brilliant and personable chef who treats her chefs and staff like family. Several different chefs prepared each course, and the presentation was well beyond what we expected, both visually stunning and thoughtfully composed. From the moment we walked into Ling Kitchen, the energy felt warm and intentional. The space is intimate without feeling cramped, and you immediately sense that you are about to be part of something special rather than just another dinner reservation. Chef Ling personally welcomed guests, shared the story behind the menu, and checked in throughout the evening in a way that felt genuine and never forced. Each course built on the last, with a clear progression of flavors and textures. The fish was impeccably fresh, the knife work precise, and the seasoning balanced to highlight the natural ingredients rather than overpower them. You could see the coordination among the team as different chefs stepped forward to prepare and present their dishes. It truly felt collaborative, like a small culinary orchestra. What stood out most was the creativity. Traditional techniques were honored, but there were subtle twists and unexpected combinations that kept us curious and engaged. Every plate was composed like art. The pacing was perfect, allowing time to savor each bite and appreciate the craftsmanship. Beyond the food, the hospitality elevated the entire experience. The staff was knowledgeable, attentive, and clearly proud to be part of the team. That family atmosphere Chef Ling fosters is palpable and makes the evening feel personal. If you are in Austin and looking for a memorable omakase that rivals experiences in much larger food cities, Ling Kitchen is a must. This is not just dinner, it is a curated, immersive experience. We will absolutely be back. Thank you Ling!!! You are truly one of a kind!

Very nice establishment with great interior design touch, however the food was lacking for the…read moreprice. I went with my brother and we had a fun time talking with the people around us. For $150/head you get solid Chinese food, with nice presentation. To me, if I consider the $150 price point for the meal, paying simply for presentation is not enough, especially if you consider other restaurants competing at this price point in the Austin area. Very few of the dishes had any real flavor advancements/innovations past the original Chinese dish it was based on. For example, the salt and pepper lobster comes out in this fancy wide wooden dish, filled with dried peppers, and then is seated on a textured stone bowl with sliced lettuce under the lobster tail. All to get 2 bites of typical tasting lobster. Was the lobster good? yes, but the general feeling is pay more to get better presentation, and less food for the money, not a food taste upgrade. To be fair, that may be what the restaurant is targeting. To contextualize Ling's kitchen, I feel as if you would be able to get a larger version of most if not all dishes, with similar quality in Houston for $20. For $150 you would be able to feed an entire family with drinks and dessert normally so I do not feel as if the money is worth it. Not much innovation on the flavors for the palate, but the food had very cute visuals. Service was nice, and the Chef's energy was infectious.

I met one of my best friends for her birthday dinner at Loro in The Domain, and since it was her…read morerestaurant of choice, I was excited to join her. This Asian smokehouse definitely lives up to the hype. Since we had more adventures planned for the evening, we decided to keep dinner on the lighter side. Loro's menu combines Asian-inspired and Texas smokehouse flavors, creating a unique and delicious dining experience. The atmosphere is casual and inviting. We placed our order at the counter, and somehow the staff magically delivers everything to the correct table...without numbers, flags, or those little buzzing gadgets. I'm still trying to figure out their secret. We especially enjoyed the open seating, modern décor, and communal dining concept. The indoor-outdoor layout is especially appealing during Austin's cooler months. For dinner, we ordered the wings, Brussels sprouts, and salmon bowls. My friend happily claimed most of the wings, as they were a little crispier than I prefer. The Brussels sprouts, however, were excellent...crispy, crunchy, and finished with just the right touch of sweetness. The true highlight were the salmon bowls. The salmon was perfectly charred and packed with flavor, while the coconut rice added a rich, slightly sweet complement that tied the dish together seamlessly. Loro delivered a fun, flavorful dining experience and proved to be an excellent choice for a birthday celebration.

First Loro experience. There are both i door and outdoor seating. The inside is lively and loud…read more The outdoor seating is quieter and more intimate. There are 2 bars (inside and out). Flavor, flavors, flavor! The 4 plates we ordered were different and felt like a solid representation of the menu. The pork belly was melt in my mouth delicious. We couldn't stop munching on the Brussel sprouts. The cold noodles were refreshing and the Sake 1/2 chicken was incredible!

Camila did a great job! she had an amazing attitude, and brightened our day with her amazing humor.read more

Came here on a Sunday morning and it was empty. Which is nice but a bit concerning as a first-time…read moreguest. Parking is decently okay, my only complaint is the spaces are small and I don't have a big car, just a 4-door sedan and it barely fit in the spot. So if you have a big car or a nice one, I would recommend parking a bit further away and just walking to the restaurant. I am going to focus more on the cooked items as most people here already gave their review on the sushi. Hangover ramen, not too bad. It is like Shin Ramen Instant Noodles with a lighter flavor, nice touch with the bean sprout as it is a needed texture element. Add the gyoza into it and it makes it even better. Cucumber salad, not bad at all. It is missing a bit of spice to it. A touch of chili oil on it would kick this dish up a bit. It is refreshing and a must at the table. Truffle fries, please skip this. No salt on the fries if you are okay with it. It is just a bit of truffle oil and Parmesan cheese sprinkled on top. It is lacking in flavor. Yaki Udon, skip this as well. Not sure if it was just the day I went but the sauce was not so great. It was this sweet and sour taste but it was swimming on the bottom of the bowl like the sauce was poured on top of it at the end instead of being stir-fried into it in a wok or a pan. The first few bites are okay but the bottom half is just swimming in that sauce. Spicy Pork Bulgogi, decent size overall, not too bad. I would order like kimchi rice to eat with it next time if I come back. I do wish it was a bit more charred just to give it a bit of a textual element to it. also another thing to note, the bathroom is shared with the restaurant next door to it.

Discovered on yelp and came here, safe to say this is a solid pho spot! It might even be a…read morecontender to pho phong luu which is hard to come by in austin. You can check in to get a free spring roll and the overall vibe is nice, spacious and quiet. I really enjoyed my noodle bowl - i got it with pork. The fish sauce paired really well with it and meat was soft. I do wish it came with the garlic chips though as pictured. For the pho- we got the ha noi special and the thinly sliced scallion was so good with the broth and the meat. Overall it was very decent and i definitely need to come back here to try the banh mi.

From the owner: Free 1 Spring Roll per table for Dinning in Only to the end of Jun.read more

While I'm going to say that this isn't my favorite vegan pho in town, it's still better than many…read more What really keeps me coming back are the vegan eggrolls. THESE are the best imperial rolls around, mark my words; perfectly crispy, juicy inside, not greasy, and served piping hot. You must get at least one order per person. Those are the rules. They do some great things with tofu. Garlic tofu, in the banh mi, vermicelli noodle salad, and rice plate comes out nicely fried and flavorful. Many of these items aren't vegan by default, but easily adapted upon request. Speak up, they know how to help! Also, I appreciate how chill of a spot it is overall. Never crazy busy, comfortable, spacious, always fast service, and perfect for the whole family.

I've been here twice now, and this place has earned a spot on my rotation…read more I started with my standard Pho Tai, and it was excellent. The broth was perfect and authentic. On my return trip, I went for the Stone Pot Pho with fresh noodles, and it was even better. I can't go back to regular noodles after having the fresh noodles. I found the staff friendly and attentive both times. If you want authentic Vietnamese, I'd come here.

Visited Old Thousand on a day in which I was just craving a good Chinese meal, and they did not…read moredisappoint. I appreciated the quirky ambiance and unique menu combining traditional Chinese dishes with a Texan fusion flair. We ordered the hot and sour soups to start , followed by the incredible brisket fried rice, kung pao chicken, and a side of green beans. The soup was served hot and was absolutely delicious. The brisket fried rice was phenomenal and should not be missed. Kung pao chicken was okay (I didn't like that they deep fried the chicken). Green beans were flavorful. Service was good but you have to ask for utensils if you can't use chopsticks and it took them a while to get us spoons/forks to eat with. Overall a solid meal and good experience. I'll be back!

Came to Old Thousand because of the hype on social media, big mistake…read more It wasn't busy, yet we stood there waiting to be acknowledged. When a server finally came over, she walked us to a table, slammed the menus down, and walked off. Rude for no reason. Food was just as disappointing. The rangoons were good. My husband wanted orange chicken but it wasn't on their brunch menu, they were kind enough to still make it, which we appreciated. It was good, but everything else? No. The "mala fried chicken" was basically chicken nuggets with steamed rice, the menu said it had chili oil, I expected it to be drizzled over the chicken but instead was sitting at the bottom of the bowl. I didn't notice it till the end and since I thought they had forgotten it, I asked for some and got just the oil. Idk if that's the way they do it, but usually when I ask for chili oil I receive the chili flakes with the oil. Anyways, it was mid. But the brisket fried rice..... now, that had zero flavor. We barely touched it, left the whole thing behind. Between the attitude and the food, it's a no for us. Wouldn't come back.

I got here a few times and usually in the evening. The only part of going in the evening is that…read morethey can run out of food, so be careful coming later in the evening. I like that it is part convenience store and packs food ready to be served. There are even 2 small tables there if you want to just eat there as well. I had a few dishes there and they were great. I got a pork bowl before and the pork was great flavor and was tender. I am hoping to visit again and try to get other dishes to try.

I visited this shop several times during their pop-up events. Today, I called to ask about the line…read moreand whether the bread might still be available. Unfortunately, the owner wasn't very helpful and couldn't give any indication of how many bread was being sold or whether it was likely to sell out.I ended up driving about 30 minutes from Central Austin, only to find that the salted bread from the pop-up was already sold out. That was really disappointing. When I went inside the store to buy some regular items instead, the interaction with the owner was also frustrating. He seemed to misunderstand what I was asking and kept directing me to stand in the pop-up line, even though I explained multiple times that I just wanted to purchase items from the store, which didn't require waiting in that line. In the end, I bought a few small items, but three small items came out to about $20, which felt overpriced for what I received. The overall service experience was not pleasant. The owner came across as rude and unwelcoming, and it didn't feel like customers who made the effort to come support the business were being valued. I understand this is a small, local mom-and-pop shop, and I usually love supporting small businesses. However, customer service still matters--especially when people travel a long distance to visit. Because of this experience, I probably won't be returning unless it's for a pop-up event.