James Beard Award Winners Aaron Franklin and Tyson Cole to Open New Loro Location at the Domain

The Asian smokehouse and bar blending Southeast Asian flavors with Texas barbecue, Loro, will open its second Austin location on December 21 at 11601 Domain Drive, Suite 200, on the ground floor of Aloft Austin at The Domain. The new restaurant takes over the space previously occupied by The Park at the Domain, a restaurant and sports bar.

This marks the sixth location nationwide for Loro, which also operates two locations in Dallas and two in Houston. A collaboration between James Beard Award-winning chefs Tyson Cole of Uchi restaurants and Aaron Franklin of Franklin Barbecue, Loro is known for its smoked meats, rice bowls, boozy slushies and shareable plates, served in a casual, communal setting.

A variety of rice bowls from Loro, featuring coconut-scented rice, seasonal pickles, and Thai herbs. (Photo courtesy of Loro)

Cheeseburger, smoked shishito queso and chicken karaage from Loro. (Photo courtesy of Loro)

Tokyo shoyu ramen, available Tuesdays and Wednesdays after 4 p.m., features pork char siew, ajitama egg, wood ear mushroom and charred broccolini. (Photo courtesy of Loro)

Crispy smoked chicken served with crispy potatoes. (Photo courtesy of Loro)

The menu at Loro Domain will largely mirror that of the South Lamar location, featuring favorites such as Smoked Beef Brisket with Thai herbs, Crispy Thai Pork Ribs, and the Loro Cheeseburger. Shareable plates offer group-friendly options, including Crunchy Sweet Corn Fritters with habanero aioli and Chicken Karaage with chili aioli. Other highlights include Oak Smoked Salmon with cucumber-yuzu broth and the Sake Can Half Chicken with Gochujang glaze, cilantro and lime.

Exclusive to the Domain location is the Double Smash Burger featuring yuzu, Thousand Island dressing, American cheese and grilled onions. The menu also includes rice bowls that can be customized with proteins such as Crispy Szechuan Tofu, Malaysian Curry Chicken or Oak Smoked Grilled Steak. For lighter fare, guests can choose from salads like the Crunchy Cabbage Salad or the Loro Wedge Salad with miso bleu cheese and brisket burnt ends.

Loro’s slushee flight. (Photo courtesy of Loro)

A bloody mary from Loro, garnished with lemon and cucumber. (Photo courtesy of Loro)

Loro’s frozen peach aperol spritz. (Photo courtesy of Loro)

Rotating specials and sweet treats

Loro Domain will also offer specials on select days, including Smoked Baby Back Duroc Pork Ribs on Sundays and Mondays and Tokyo Shoyu Ramen on Tuesdays and Wednesdays after 4 p.m. A lunch special, the Lunch Two Step, bundles a sandwich and half-side for $15 on weekdays.

Desserts include Loro’s Chocolate Chip Cookie with salted toffee, Chocolate Crème Brûlée, and Dole Whip soft serve topped with fresh cracked Szechuan pepper. The drink menu will feature new additions such as the Frozen Bourbon Hot Chocolate, Frozen Margarita, Espresso Martini and Lychee Martini. The bar will also serve classic cocktails, boozy slushies, non-alcoholic beverages, beer, wine and sake.

A warm and communal space

Designed by Hai Hospitality’s in-house team, the 135-seat interior and 82-seat patio at Loro Domain feature a rustic, welcoming design, with local artwork, antiques and a wraparound outdoor bar with swings and lounge seating.

Austin native Trevon “Trey” Bland, with a background in Asian, German, and barbecue cuisines, will lead the kitchen at Loro Domain after rising through the ranks since starting as a prep cook at the South Lamar location in 2018.

Holiday opening week festivities

Loro Domain will celebrate its launch with ten days of holiday-themed activations beginning on opening day:

Dec. 21: The first 100 guests receive Loro-branded Yeti cups.
Dec. 22: Limited-edition Loro socks for early arrivals.
Dec. 23: Smashburgers available for $5 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Dec. 24: Complimentary Loro-roasted peanuts with purchases (while supplies last).
Dec. 26–31: Activities include giveaways, food donations for cookies, and $5 drink specials, culminating in a social media contest for a whole brisket and $100 gift card.

Loro's boozy slushees. (Photo courtesy of Loro) — Loro’s boozy slushees. (Photo courtesy of Loro)

Happy hour offerings

Loro Domain will be open Monday through Sunday, with happy hour specials from 2 to 6 p.m. on weekdays, offering discounted drinks and food items. Highlights include $5 boozy slushies such as the Frozen Gin & Tonic and Frozen Margarita, $5 cocktails like the Yuzu Spritz, $5 house wine and sake, and $5 draft beers, including Sapporo and rotating local options.

Happy hour food offerings include Smoked Wings for $9, Smoked Salmon Dip for $7, and the Pulled Pork Tostada for $7.50, as well as sandwich options like the Crispy Smoked Chicken Sandwich for $8 and the Caramelized Onion Cheddar Burger for $8.50.

For more information, visit their website or follow them on Instagram for updates.

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