Even the pandemic can’t stop top chefs Aaron Franklin and Tyson Cole from expanding their empire—but it did slow them down. 

In October 2019, the duo announced that the popular Austin-based Asian smokehouse Loro would open a second location in East Dallas at 1812 North Haskell St. in late summer 2020, but construction on the site experienced several pandemic, weather and city delays, which pushed the expected completion time back about a year. 

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Now, owner and developer Chad Bradshaw expects construction to be complete by late June or early July. 

“I think it will be a huge addition to East Dallas and to Dallas in general,” Bradshaw said. “It’s a unique concept that’s food and beverage forward, a very approachable Asian-barbecue mix. There’s nothing else like it in town.”

Loro combines the talents of Franklin as pitmaster and Cole as a Southeast Asian cuisine entrepreneur into one highly acclaimed collaboration. Michael Hsu Office of Architecture, which designed the Austin location and several of Cole’s Uchi restaurants, is also designing the Dallas eatery. 

“The design of Loro is inspired by Texas dance halls, with its simple gabled roof, exposed wood beams and wood-clad walls,” said Amber Quist, chief brand officer of Hai Hospitality, the restaurant group that operates Loro. “The warmth of the materials and classic form create a space that is both new and familiar.”

Quist said the finished site will contain over 10,000 square feet of dining space and a nearly 6,000-square-foot outdoor covered area with patio seating.

“The 165-seat indoor dining room features a bar that spans the length of the building, offering multiple order stations and plenty of bar seating,” Quist said. “Guests can choose from a mix of long table seating or four-top and six-top booths that line the edge of the space. The dining room opens onto the tree-lined patio space that wraps the building, as well as a covered outdoor dining area with picnic tables throughout.”

Loro in Austin often gets so busy that guests wait for hours to order. In preparation for similar levels of busyness, the Dallas location will also feature an outdoor waiting area for guests to stay comfortable with an outdoor bar, pergola and various seating options.