Loro Asian Smokehouse & Bar

"At Loro, patio season is serious. The Heights location of this Tex-Asian smokehouse and bar from Ty Cole and pitmaster Aaron Franklin already offers the perfect ambiance for enjoying Houston’s spring-like weather, with an outdoor patio with plenty of table and lounge seating — as well as swing seats. They’ve also debuted a limited line-up of off-menu Mash Up drinks through April 30. These new drinks, crafted by Loro bartenders, feature new spins on Loro staples like Mango Sake Slushees infused with mezcal and Scrappy’s Firewater Bitters, a yuzu spritz combined with a Hendrick’s Gin Float, and a frozen chamoy drink." - Brittany Britto Garley

"Happy hour gets going mid-day at this buzzy Asian smokehouse. From 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays, diners can expect $4 and $5 cocktails, wine and sake on tap, and boozy slushies like its icy mango sake, a frozen G&T, and an alcohol-free pina horchata. Bites such as pulled pork tostadas, smoked wings, and a crunchy cabbage salad all go for under $10." - Brianna Griff

"Score a brisket from pitmaster Aaron Franklin and chef Tyson Cole’s Tex-Asian smokehouse this holiday. Diners can order whole oak-smoked beef briskets (around 5 pounds for $150) online, and to-go packages for $190. The meals, which feed four to six people, include smoked turkey breast with smoked apricot chutney, turkey and sage gravy with miso, kale and apple salad, confit marble potatoes, a toasted brioche stuffing, creamed spinach, and yuzu and peach cobbler. Diners can pre-order through Sunday, November 24, with pick-up held on Wednesday, November 26, and Thursday, November 27. Briskets must be ordered online 72 hours in advance." - Brittany Britto Garley

"When: Mon-Fri 2-6pm The Deal: $5 bar bites , $8 sandwiches, $5 Aki Sour, Yuzu Spritz, and Boozy Slushies, $4-$5 for select beer and glasses of wine The mid-afternoon Happy Hour at Loro, an Asian smokehouse in The Heights, runs every Monday to Friday from 2 to 6pm, and it’s a great setup for an early dinner with kids, a coworker get-together, or even catching up with a third-tier friend. Order some $5 bar bites, grab a $5 sandwich, and get a few $5 cocktails, beers, or glasses of wine, and wrap everything up before it's even dark outside." - chelsea thomas, gianni greene

"There are plenty of worthy dishes at Aaron Franklin and Tyson Cole’s Asian Smokehouse, Loro, including the herb-laden brisket and the cheeseburger, which is topped with a red onion-brisket jam, muenster cheese, and yuzu 1000 island. A sleeper hit is the side of cold sesame noodles, which are tossed in a chili vinaigrette and sprinkled with green onion and black sesame." - Brittany Britto Garley