Hai Hospitality, the restaurant group that is home to award-winning concepts Uchi and Loro, announced last month they have hired Chef Marcos Leal to take the helm of Loro's third outpost. 

Opening in the Heights neighborhood this fall, the new location adds to the recently opened Dallas location and original concept in Austin. 

Leal, a Texan by way of Mexico, came to Houston as a child and was largely inspired by his mother's cooking. The Asian smokehouse and bar hired Leal whose background spans a range of culinary styles, from classic American fare to barbeque. 

"Chef Marcos has such a great attitude and diverse experience; we’re excited to have a Houstonian lead our Loro team in the Heights," said Partner and Chef Tyson Cole.

Leal also has a passion for mentorship and considers building and leading teams an "essential skill for a chef," as per a press release. He also has the resume to back it up 一Leal honed his skills during his tenure at Kent Rathbun’s award-winning Jasper’s, then moving on to corporate recipe development for many years, continuing to work side gigs, like smoking meats with  David Welch of FireCraft BBQ. 

“Joining the team as Chef de Cuisine at Loro Heights represents the culmination of my culinary journey,” said Leal. “I am excited to build a team from the ground up and to come back to Houston, the city I consider my hometown.”

Loro's Height's location is slated to open in fall 2021 and will be located at 1001 West 11th Street.