Lalo had a good deal for Taco Week, so my sister and I decided to stop in before seeing Jersey Boys at the Aronoff. We arrived at 6:30pm and the show didn't start until 7:30pm and we were right across the street. The restaurant wasn't too crowded so we figured we'd have plenty of time. We were wrong. We were seated immediately but it took forever for someone to come take our drink order. I ordered a margarita and my sister just had water. Then we waited a long time for the drinks to come and to have our order taken. The restaurant was very short staffed and it looked like everyone was handling everything. When we finally got our order taken, our server seemed unaware of the Taco Week special and looked at me funny when I asked for it. The special was 3 specific tacos for $2 each. My sister ordered 3 tacos too, but not the Taco Week special tacos. We also ordered a sampler of dips with chips. The sampler was very good, with queso, guac, and two salsas. The chips were amazing and we asked for more as soon as we finished. Our tacos took forever to arrive and we overheard another server tell their table that you could get any tacos for the special Taco Week price. So my sister should have been charged $2 per taco as well. By the time we got our food we had to hurry since we were going to be late to the show. They tasted good, but I was so concerned about missing the show that I didn't really pay attention. Then we had to ask a different server for our checks. My sister was charged more for her tacos than I was. We literally left the restaurant at 7:29 so we didn't care to argue. We came to Lalo with plenty of time to eat before the show, yet we were late to our show. I know that it's Taco Week but the place wasn't very crowded at all. I would like to give them another shot but I might wait awhile since I was very disappointed with my experience. read more

The food was so good! Very accommodating and friendly staff. I definitely would recommend. The plantain fries were great!!

This place is awesome and unique. It has a good mix of Mexican and Asian flavors, and I had a really hard time choosing what I wanted. I ended up getting Queso Fundido with chorizo to start off, which was excellent. I got the Honey Pork Belly and a tempura fish taco and I definitely overdid it, although everything was delicious. I left full and happy and eager for my next visit. Staff is friendly and helpful! Definitely my new favorite taco spot! read more

Lalo - Honey Pork Belly - Latin American Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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It's tricky to keep up with the various restaurants the owners of "Chino-Latino" Lalo have operated around downtown Cincinnati over a span of just a few years, but this one follows in much the same footsteps of the others, offering a reasonably-priced amalgam of Latino and Asian fare. I was definitely a fan of the now-defunct Huit over on Court Street. (Could be getting mixed up, but pretty sure that Huit opened as "Neuf" in this Main Street location and then was re-named Lalo.) Huit leaned much more heavily on the Asian side of the "Chino-Latino" divide, whereas Lalo definitely is more Latino. To be honest, I haven't really sampled all that much on the menu, because I keep coming back to one of the best under-ten-dollar menu items in Cincinnati. That's a decent-sized bowl of posole that really ups the ante on both depth and richness of flavor for its price point. (Sad to note that the kitchen seems to have dialed down the spiciness over time.) It used to be served with delicious and tender pork, but more recently with slightly less flavorful but still-fine pulled chicken. With fresh cilantro and minced onion (that's for your soup) and tortilla chips on the side. I've tried the tacos, too, and thought that they were just about as good as those offered at noticeably higher prices at the nearby Nada and Bakersfield. Very nice job with fish and cochinita pibil. read more

We visited this restaurant on our last trip to Cincinnati. What drew me to it is that it was walking distance of downtown but not right in the middle of everything, and was described as Asian-Mexican fusion. I got the Mexican pad thai with tofu, and it was the perfect marriage of tex-mex type food and Thai food. I split an order of spring rolls with the person I was with, and those were good, too. The portions were large and reasonably healthy as far as dining out options go, the presentation was excellent, and the prices were reasonable. I also liked the atmosphere of the restaurant, and the location (easily accessible by foot from downtown, but not right in the hustle and bustle of things, but still in what appeared to be a safe neighborhood). read more

The carnitas taco is simply next level! So much flavor! Server was very helpful with great suggestions and all three tacos I chose were so tasty! Also, very affordable for such quality made food! read more

I was so excited to come here because I'm a huge fan of fusion food. The menu was a mix between Korean and Mexican food and from the pictures and reviews it was a must visit for us. However, when we arrived it took them forever to get us seated because the tables were wobbly and they were trying to fix it. It took them about 15-20 minutes. We ordered the potato and chicken empanadas and the veggie spring rolls which were both delicious! We wanted the elote corn OFF the cob and it took 20 minutes to explain that to the server. For dinner, I ordered the fish tacos and they were extremely soggy! My husband ordered the pad Thai and said it was a 5/10. I really wished if the food could've been more tastier as the menu made it seem. read more

Was looking for someplace to eat last minute and decided to try Lalo out! My other hall and i arrived roughly 30mims before they closed. The food was amazingly great considering poor timing on my part. Will definitely visit again! read more

Lalo - Dip Sampler - Latin American Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

I really wanted to love this place, but it didn't quite do it for me. My friend and I got the bibimbop and both agreed that the flavors were off. The al pastor had a cinnamon hint, which isn't what I want or expect when getting a typically savory dish. My friend who got the veggie version thought it was too bland. I also believe more could be done to make the atmosphere more interesting! Other dishes may be better, so could still be worth a try! read more

I've never heard of most of these fusion combinatjions until I came here. I grabbed the Mexican Bimbimbap and didn't really have any expectations because I've never had BibimBap before but it sounded like a reasonable dish to begin with. The best part of the entire meal was the freshness of everything. The bibimbap is not overwhelming in Flavor although it comes with a delicious spicy sauce that I'd recommend getting extra amounts of . The vegetables were crisp which complimented the rice and beans very well and the pork (my protein selection) was well seasoned. I removed the egg from mine because I hate eggs but imagine that it added to the taste of this dish. To wrap it up, I enjoyed my meal but would want to venture out to something more adventurous next time... we'll see. read more

I've eaten here several times. Like seriously. I overdo it. But I love this place. Cute ambience. Speedy and attentive service. And the food is not only lyrics incredible but very reasonably priced. Thought I haven't taken advantage of it, it's BYOB. Best fish tacos I've had in the city hands down. I prefer my fish tacos with a crispy crunch when I Bite into it and theirs definitely hits the nail on the head. Their jalapeño limeade was surprisingly delicious! I've never tried anything like it so I was apprehensive, but it was great. Also a great variety of delicious hot teas I love to order, especially the white tea, all served to you in a press. A few of my other favorites I'd definitely recommend are their potstickers, empanadas, and the flam cheesecake!!! Oh and their corn appetizer is delicious!!! Definitely recommend this place. read more

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Found this place from Yelp glad we tried it ! Tacos are comparable to Bakersfield except WAY more flavor and freshness priced really well at $4 I tried the chicken curry taco the fish taco and the Al Pastor which is a pork taco all soooooo good ! Server was very knowledgeable and helpful and the chef actually came Out to talk about the food and answered questions ! Def coming back to try more but will def get the tacos again ! read more

Lalo - Latin American Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

This is a great little spot, food quality is excellent, as is the staff. I had a special last night and it was wonderful and served beautifully. read more

The staff were helpful and extremely warm and friendly. The food was amazing, and accommodated several different palates (wing connoisseur, vegetarian, kiddos). Our server was engaging and kind, and to anyone looking for elevated fusion deliciousness, I highly recommend. read more

Amazing job on a fusion I was skeptical of at first. The portions are big and tons of flavor. This is one of my favorite spots!

First time I came to Lalo Chino Latino was during the lunch hours when it was that busy. I got the tacos which were pretty good. I decided to come back for dinner but found that they were extremely busy, and you pretty much needed a reservation to get a seat. I made a reservation for another Saturday evening and it was decently busy but not line out of the door busy. For the starter we got the Lalo Fry Nachos. The fry's were amazing, the chicken was cooked to perfection, the fries were crispy, and the flavors of the cheese and sauce were delightful. For the entree I ordered the Mexi Pad Thai with grilled chicken, and Mai Thai drink. The Mexi Pad Thai was very flavorful. You would think the Mexican and Chinese food could possibly clash, but for this dish, we're delightful. The peanut flavor was well balanced and the cilantro was a great accent flavor. The Mai Thai was visually interesting, as there were 3 separations in it. This caused it to be very strong at first, with barely any of the flavor but after mixing, it did tone down a bit, and the flavor really came out half way through. The drink would have been perfect if it had been shaken before serving. Overall I would highly recommend Lalo Chino Latino, especially if you ware going with someone and can't decide on Mexican or Chinese. read more

One of the best meals I have ever had. Excellent service, great drinks, and amazing flavors of the food! (July 2018) (July 2019) As an update, we came back this past weekend on our annual trip to Cincinnati - we were worried that it wouldn't be as good as the first time, but it did not disappoint! The chips and salsa were as good as we remembered, and the Mexi Pad Thai was incredible! Sydney took great care of us! Can't wait to come back the next time we are in town! read more

I know it's said that using curse words means one has a limited vocabulary, but the only words that come to mind for this place is "Got damn!!!" This place is a hidden gem and I was afraid to post a review. But hey, they have several reviews so I might as well post my positive response. I've eaten here 4 or 5 times, and had a great experience each and every time. I've had the cheesy noodles for lunch, and the drunken brisket over rice and the Mexi Bibimbap for dinner. I had a coworker who had the cheesy cauliflower tacos. Everything blew my mind away. The cherry on top is the food is very affordable. You can get an amazing Chinese Latino infused meal for two for less than $25. This place reminds of the Chinese Latino infused places in downtown and Chelsea New York City. Trust me, that's a compliment. Now if only I can find some authentic Korean BBQ in this city. Baby steps, baby steps. read more

Best place I've ever been !!! TJ has my heart pad Thai to die for and pork dumplings were amazing, large portion sizes worth every penny

The food is always great, but the restaurant doesn't have enough employees to keep it tidy. We came in on Friday around 8:00 PM and tables were stacked with dirty dishes. Not very appetizing, to say the least. This is not the first time this has happened. Get it together, LaLo. My friends don't ever want to return, but I'll give you another try sometime. read more

This place is a must go! The ambiance is ok, but the food was fantastic! We started with guacamole, which was done perfectly, and not overly spicy. Their chips are light and crispy. I got the poblano and mushroom quesadillas, which were incredibly flavorful and delicious. Husband got the lomo saltado, which was also excellent- full of flavor and cooked perfectly. Finally, we shared the elote-- this is a must get!! The service was also excellent. We will be back for sure! read more

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Even though they had generous portions and the salsas were on point. The rest of the food needed something to stand out. I loved the concept of combining Thai flavors and Mexican flavors, but perhaps they should just focus on one. Place was clean and staff was a little overwhelmed but super nice! read more

I decided to try Lalo for a date night after reading great reviews and hearing they offer gluten free vegan options. I have a restricted diet while my partner does not so it's always exciting to find restaurants offering a well rounded menu. The pros: Innovative dishes Gluten free and vegan options They take reservations The cons: Nothing we ordered was good, not even the chips and salsa. The chips and salsa were inedible. My tacos were soupy and lacked flavor. My partner got the Mongolian carne asada and for $19 he expected meat that wasn't full of gristle. But he could barely cut through it due to the fat and gristle. Overall we were really disappointed. We hoped this would be a new date night spot in our regular rotation. read more

This is my new go to restaurant for group events for may reason. First it takes reservations which is not super common downtown. Next it accommodates many dietary restrictions such as having many vegetarian options and they advertise gluten free. This makes it easy for a group were I'm not sure what everyone can eat. Also, as asian fusian it has multiple cuisines that fit many different palates and making it a must that you come back so you can taste more than one plate. However, if all of this has not convinced you, then the simple fact that the food is good should make it worth a visit. read more

Lalo - Latin American Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

We had the Mexican seasoned corn as an appetizer which was messy but DELICIOUS with the spicy yumyum ish asian sauce, the service was quick and friendly, and for our main courses of brunch we got the Shrimp Pad Thai and the Tuesday special - Tres Taco Plate! The taco meat was soft and delicious and extra spicy salsas were provided. The Pad Thai was a little bit dry but the shrimp and flavorings of the corn and pad thai were definitely well done. read more

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Excellent food, but poor service experience. I had lunch here a few weeks ago with a friend on a Monday. Usually Mondays are pretty slow in the restaurant biz, so I figured it would be easy to get in, enjoy the legendary tacos I'd heard so much about and head on out. We started with a bowl of guacamole. It was guac perfection, not too spicy, but excellent avocados and nice flavor. The chips were so addictive, but boy were they greasy. I honestly couldn't stop eating them and had to push them away. Next up came the tacos and they did not disappoint. I chose a Tres Tacos plate so I could sample a variety including: Fish Tempura, Grilled Curry Chicken, and Carnitas. The fish and carnitas were outstanding and the curry chicken was good, but a little dry (that's not unusual with tacos though - at least in my experience). But the sauce made up for it. So, the only reason I gave this 3 stars instead of 4... When we ordered, I requested a soda water with lime. I had to ask for it again, 3 more times before it finally arrived. Our server just kept forgetting to get it and it was kind of strange because he walked by a couple of times and said, "Oh yeah, you're soda water." Then when I drained the water at some point in the meal, he said, let me bring you another soda water. And then he never brought it. He offered it up and then forgot, again. It was so strange. Also, I had ordered 3 different kids of tacos. But somehow, the server messed that up and brought me to chicken curry tacos and a fish taco. He fixed the situation and brought me the Carnitas taco, but it just was so odd, especially since they weren't really that busy. Will I go back? Probably. In the end, the server was very friendly and the food was quite good. But will it be at the top of my list to pop back in, probably not. There are a lot of places in Cincinnati that serve excellent, unique street tacos, so the competition in this area is tough. read more

Tried this place for taco week - really angry I haven't been sooner. DELICIOUS. My fav was the fish taco. Chips are outstanding. Will back for guac, zucchini fries, bibimbap, and alllll the noodle dishes Also, the happy hour marg was great and the red sangria was just the right amount of koolaidy goodness and booze. Unfortunately, there were like two servers in the whole place... luckily we had a fine time enjoying each other's company. read more

I've read and heard mixed reviews about Lalo, but wanted to try it for myself. I am pleased to say, my experience was a very good. Menu: Lalo's menu seems to have changed over the last year. I've noticed there were less items available. However, what they did offer were solid items. Also, each item was described in detail, giving me a clear idea of what I was ordering. Food: I had ordered the Drunken Brisket Rice Bowl -- to go. I waited and was rewarded with a large, lunch-sized plastic container full of hot rice and beef. The smell alone was fantastic, but the taste? AMAZING, to say the least. Atmosphere: Lalo is a pretty clean establishment with a bar and dining area to the left of the bar. The style is a slight mix of minimalism and Latino Culture, but not to overwhelming; just right. Service: Upon entering Lalo, I was greeted by the manager, who was eager to take my order. Having someone friendly and willing to offer suggestions is a very BIG plus. During this time, it was extremely hot and I was exhausted. He offered me a seat and offered me a refreshing cup of ice water. I'm very thankful for managers like him. They are very rare in the restaurant business. Summary: I would recommend this place if you would like to try something tasty and a tiny bit unusual. I personally would never have thought the Asian/Latino combination would work in food...but it DOES, and it's delicious!! read more

Drove downtown from Colerain to try this place out for taco week. I park and arrive to be greeted by a sign that says no take out for taco week. Don't have a picture of the sign because I left my phone in the car due to this being a grab and go transaction. The other restaurants that I visited were adhering to what the key said on the passport. I guess I won't be trying Lalo. PS not to mention the place was packed and I wouldn't have been able to get seated anyway... Oh well. This never happened to me during Burger Week. read more

Lalo - Latin American Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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We've done Lalo twice now on Uber Eats and have loved it every time! I've ordered the Ramen both times and it hasn't disappointed. The broth is super flavorful and makes the dish. My wife tried the Mexican Pad Thai and really liked it with the Carnitas. We tried the Elotes and was great, too. The Mexican-Asian fusion seemed interesting at first, but really glad we tried it and will go back for sure. Portions are big and prices were very reasonable. 2 entrees and a side, delivered for under $30. Saw some posts mention the service, which we couldn't speak to, as we've always done carry out. read more

Brisket Burrito hit the spot for 11 bucks. Atmosphere was nice and quite for a friendly get together. Service was a little slow but no point subtracted. Will certainly dine here in the future and recommend. read more

Lalo - Brisket Burrito - Latin American Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

This is a great example of fusion cuisine combining Latin cuisine with Asian. And done well too. The pork pozole was very flavorful, the guacamole was on point and the queso... oh my! The Drunken Brisket bowl was terrific and this time, I had the Mexi Bibimbap in a SCREAMING HOT lava rock bowl. Yumm-my!! read more

Lalo - Mexi Bibimbap - Latin American Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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Ah. Maze. Ing. Went in on a Monday night. I think Jackson was the name of the bartender. He was knowledgeable and fun to talk to. The food was so good. I'm very happy with the amount of vegan options. Well priced. Will be back. read more

Lalo - Mexi Bibimbap Taco trio: 2 tofu, 1 portobello All vegan - Latin American Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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I've been here a few times. It's not super difficult to get a table, even for a bigger group. This restaurant offers a very unique fusian of Latin and Asian flavors. I highly recommend their drunken brisket and curry chicken. Both can be had in a burrito, with noodles, rice, and or on tacos. The portion sizes are pretty plenty and the price are really decent and affordable. The only thing is that the decor is pretty retro, which is fine with me, but sometimes it can be unkempt. Overall I recommend checking this place out. read more

Lalo - Lettuce wrap with Al Pastor* Cochinita Pibil* Carnitas* - Latin American Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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Love this place! Food was tasty and everyone was very friendly. The service was quick and they really walked us through the menu on popular items and what to expect. Good vibes. read more

I pleasantly surprised by this place. We tried a variety of items from the Spicy Miso Ramen (Pretty spicy), Mongolian Fajita Plate, and Chipoltle Chicken Banh-Mi. The waitstaff was friendly had made good suggestions. I will be trying out more of their menu soon. While the restaurant is small, it never felt cramped or crowded. read more

Picked this restaurant because it was the only place that took reservations downtown and also accommodated everyone's dietary restrictions. Great for groups (especially those going to a show afterwards). The guac and queso are phenomenal, but no standout menu items so far otherwise. Dishes are good (and large!), but not a rage review. I'll still go to Stone Bowl for my ramen and bibimbap fix. Quiet atmosphere that allowed us all to visit, though! And totally fine with splitting checks/groups paying separately. read more

Lalo - Ramen with egg - Latin American Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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Do not be afraid! It says "fusion." I sincerely recommend this place-and I not a "foodie." I just enjoy delicious cusine. The homeade chips and salsa were hands-down the best-ever! read more

First thing, pet peeve of mine is when you go into a restaurant and the tables wobble. Spent the whole time making sure we don't put too much weight on opposite end of table to cause water to spill. Found a rubber wedge on the floor and shoved it on one table, temporary fix. Saw that the other tables had a rubber wedge. Order empanadas and fried zucchini fries, both were very good! I had the Lomo Saltado and it was full of flavor and the fries in it actually tasted good. Service became slow at 6:30PM, 1 server and bartender started helping out and 1 food runner(maybe manager). Waited for bartender almost 15 minutes to acknowledge we need refill on water, then another 7 minutes to fill it. Asked for more napkins but never got them, why can't servers just give extra napkins when they seat you???? Asked bartender for check, never got it, waited another 10 minutes then finally saw the other server and she took another 5 minutes to get it. All in all good food but service on busy time needs work. PS: the bartender finally showed up with the check but it was not ours,lol!!! After 15 minutes read more

Lalo - Zucchini Fries and Chipotle Aioli. Very Good!!! - Latin American Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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I went to Lalo for the first time the other day and was pretty impressed. The food was great and the interior was clean, modern, and had plenty of seating. There's a good variety of items on the menu to try and Lalo makes it interesting by creating a fusion and Asian and Mexican flavors. We had a large group so we made a reservation and we were seated right away. The waitress took our order quickly, but then we waited and waited and waited for our food. It took about 45 minutes for our food to come out after we ordered. Not a big deal if you have all the time in the world, but it during the workday it was not ideal since that lead to an hour and a half lunch. I ordered the Mexi Pad Thai with carnitas ($11). They were out of their regular noodles, but we were assured that the dish would take the same with the noodles that were used. It wasted good, but I would have loved for it to be a little more spicy (there was no spice to it). It was essentially just pad thai with corn and peppers in it to make keep with the fusion theme. The carnitas were tasty, but there were several pieces of straight fat which wasn't the most appetizing. The portions were good, I had enough for lunch and some to take home. Overall, the food was tasty and I would come back, but I don't know that I would return with a group during lunch. I might try ordering online instead. I would also try something new next time since so many things on the menu sound good. read more

Lalo - Mexi Pad Thai - Latin American Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio