Tyson Cole and Aaron Franklin Give SXSWers a Peek Into Their New Restaurant Loro

Loro, the forthcoming Asian smokehouse from notable local chefs Tyson Cole and Aaron Franklin, was host to an exclusive South by Southwest party last night. Attendees were able to preview the still-in-progress South Lamar space and taste dishes from the award-winning chefs courtesy of outdoor lifestyle company The Outpost and indie record label record label Secretly Group.

Before the party, Franklin and Cole also recorded a podcast to kick off the party, where they talked about their intentions with the restaurant. For Franklin, what appealed to him was the chance to be “creative” but in a different way for him. He’d be able to make things that aren’t just brisket, Cole added. The food is meant to be “unique but familiar,” he said, “brisket and meats, but like you’ve never had it before.”

While the chefs warned guests that the party’s menu wasn’t indicative of Loro’s final food lineup, it was not surprising to see Asian-influenced smoked dishes at the event. Bites included candied kettle corn paired with brisket burnt ends, dense yucca fries, cured salmon on wonton tostadas, curried grilled chicken paired with furikake coconut rice, and brisket topped with a sweet sauce. Scroll down to see what the dishes looked like.

The dining room is massive, with warm wood details, high open ceilings, and lots of room to move around. There are booth seating, communal tables, and high tops. The bar wraps around the edge of the building (it’s where guests will place their food and drink orders before looking for seats when the restaurant opens). The restaurant also shared a photo of the space during a recent team meeting, which provides a wider look at the main dining room, as well as pictures from other guests.

Out in the back is the equally as massive outdoor space encircling the massive live oak tree. There’s a shaded patio, plentiful seating arrangements, hanging lanterns, and picnic tables.

Loro is expected to open sometime soon, though an exact date isn’t available yet.

• All Coverage of Loro [EATX]