Loro Asian Smokehouse & Bar

**UPDATE** Loro management has gone above to remedy this issue and I have been really impressed by how they have handled everything. It makes me feel reassured that it is safe to eat there again in the future. I have loved this place for years but warning to anyone with Celiac or a gluten allergy, I ordered the salmon entree for pickup and marked gluten allergy and celiac on the order only to find out after getting home that the new seaweed salad that it comes with is not gluten free despite the entree being labeled gluten free on the menu. Unfortunately I couldn’t eat any part of my meal due to cross contamination so definitely call and confirm the website is up to date before placing your order :(

We firsted tried Loro Asian Smokehouse & Bar via Postmates then our apartment catered from Loro which we found out to be the same place. After trying it twice, we want to experience Loro in person, especially given their expansive menu with so many items to try. Crispy Chicken Sandwich ($13.95): This sandwich came with citrus-cabbage slaw, pickles, hot honey, and smoked hot sauce. They put the slaw and hot honey sauce on the side, but even after adding the slaw and dipping the sandwich in the sauce, it felt deconstructed and didn't quite come together. I think the slaw would have been better mixed with mayo instead of citrus, which didn't complement the chicken well. Unfortunately, the chicken itself was dry and lacked flavor. Char Siew Pork Belly Bowl ($16.50): The pork belly was phenomenal but the portion size was small for the price, especially in contrast to the crispy chicken sandwich. There was barely any rice so they covered the bowl with a layer of veggies instead. The sauce it came with was really good and paired well with the fresh veggies. Wonton Chips & Dip ($8): Wow these wonton pieces are huge and crispy. They paired well with the thai green salsa which I thought was chimichurri. Even with the salsa on, the wonton chips remained crispy for a long period of time. Smoked Shishito Queso ($9.5): These weren't your average tortilla chips but were huge half moon, crispy chips topped with kimchi furikake. There were great with cheese and would have been better if they got it with protein. Smoked Wings ($13.95): Even though the wings were cold by the time we ate them, we could still taste the smoky flavor. However, I was surprised to see the menu description mention miso blue cheese because I didn't taste it at all. The hot sauce was noticeable, but it wasn't spicy.. Smoked Beef Brisket ($18.95): This was one of the best briskets we've had! The meat was incredibly juicy and fatty, though you could easily trim the fat if preferred. The chili gastrique and Thai herbs complemented the brisket nicely, but honestly, the meat was so flavorful on its own that it didn't need much else. Crispy Potatoes ($7.95): Unfortunately, the potatoes were hard, so we didn't enjoy them too much. They were seasoned with miso mustard, habanero aioli, and toasted white sesame, but the flavors were subtle and didn't stand out. Sesame Rice Noodles ($7.95): These gluten-free noodles were tossed in a chili vinaigrette with black sesame, green onion, and cilantro. While they were decent, they didn't pair well with the brisket or wings. I'd only recommend ordering them as part of an entrée rather than as a standalone side. Chocolate Chip Cookie ($3.95): The description says it has salted toffee and almonds but I didn't taste any almond. Nevertheless, the cookie was good, sweet, and a good size. House Made Lemonade ($4): The lemonade was too sour for my taste, yet tasted surprisingly good mixed with beer.

Very cool place. Lovely outdoor seating. Great food, great drinks. Awesome gluten-free options