Empellon Taqueria in New York
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New York, New York County, New York, US
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Site: https://www.empellon.com/restaur...
- Monday:5–10PM
- Tuesday:5–10PM
- Wednesday:5–10PM
- Thursday:5–11PM
- Friday:5–11PM
- Saturday:11:30AM–11PM
- Sunday:1–9PM
This place was delicious!!!! The cucumber margarita is amazing. The seven salsa are GREAT, the guacamole is great. I am vegan so I asked about vegan options and there were plenty! I split the veggie chorizo tacos and bean flautas (just tell them no queso or creama) with my girlfriend and it was SO good. The flautas were so crispy. They were able to accommodate a party of 8 and the waiter was very nice. They also brought out a birthday dessert for my friend! Great ambiance, definitely recommend to anyone!
Trendy spot with a limited menu and decent but overpriced food thats not memorable. I got a brunch dish, but it wasnt memorable at all. The flavors all got mixed together, and the portion was small. The tacos Al pastor came with an unripe slice of pineapple and the meat could have been a lot juicier. The tortilla was also bland. The hamachi tartare tasted better, but it had so much rice... The chocolate flan was tasty, but not really a flan.
Upscale taqueria with a good ambience and drinks selection. I appreciate its creative take on traditional tacos. The food is good, but not good enough to justify the high prices and small portions. The lobster taco and the 7 dip salsa were a fun experience to try but not worthy of getting again. I was baffled at the $17 guac. The pork taco was more of a classic street taco style. While it was delicious, it’s also something that you can find elsewhere for half the price.
Delicious and upscale Mexican food - there are a ton of tacos to try. The tempura fish tacos and the sea bass tacos are especially delicious. Everything has terrific flavors - try a couple of the salsas with the guacamole as well.They have interesting ingredients that they use (pork belly, brussels, mushrooms) and everything is fresh and bright.
Empellón is in a great area and a fun brunch stop for brunch dishes, though not what I would recommend for tacos. The staff was very nice and patient. The environment is well lit and artsy. The tacos are slightly overpriced and over smoke-flavored. A group shared the Brussels sprouts and lamb barbacoa tacos. People were impressed by the complexity and vinegar bite of the Brussels sprout tacos. At 2 tacos for $16, it’s a nice restaurant, but I would probably not get tacos here again. Check it out.
I’ve frequented this establishment on three separate occasions, and I really enjoy this spot.The menu isn’t extensive; the food is à la tapas style, but very delicious. The bar, too, isn’t extensive in terms of liquor; but the cocktail menu is pretty awesome, and the bartenders seem knowledgeable about their tequilas.I’d label the vibe as semi-romantic vibes with their simplistic, but modern decor, with dim lighting. Great spot for a first date, a meet/greet, or friends gathering, or even after-work-happy-hour- hang.
Lets Taco ‘bout it !! Happy hour Menu is delicious ... they got every delicious margarita and the Mezcal drink ... takes you to another level. (See photo)Favorite tacos: chicken, Brussels sprouts and the steak were heaven !Happy hour is until 7 pm & $9 margaritasTry the guacamole and chips too, if your not as hungry.Follow : Miss_indecent_verity
I actually ordered delivery, and wow was I happily surprised. First off, the food was packaged perfectly, with great instructions on how to best ensemble the food. I got the black trumpet tacos, smoked cashew salsa, and pinto beans. Everything was absolutely delicious and very flavorful. I look forward to visiting the restaurant in the near future, but this is such a great idea for ordering in. I highly recommend! Only thing I wish for the future is a vegan refried bean option!
What an amazing brunch! The food was fantastic; great bites to share or enjoy solo. The quesadilla was so unbelievable we are still raving about it. The service was perfection and Phillip, whom I think is the manager, was so gracious to our group celebrating our friends birthday! This place is the best Mexican food in all of NYC! Will return often.
This restaurant, boy let me tell ya. This travesty of an establishment has poisoned (figuratively speaking) both my insatiable hunger and broad appetite. Not only were the meals gross, but they were also incredibly small. I simply do not recommend this food, however the service was pretty good. P.S. the prices were egregious, atrocious if you will. Guacamole for 17 DOLLLARS?? Id rather eat green gunk off the street then pay for such a highly priced pile of green goo.
This place is absolutely wonderful. The tacos are excellent, modern takes on traditional flavors. So incredibly delicious and I am super picky. The drinks are strong and flavorful, and the service is always on point. I went back twice in four days (and I live in another borough). That is how serious I am about this place. 5 stars!
Great food! Some of the items on the menu were a bit eclectic for my taste but, if you like sweetbreads and other such items you can find them here.What I DID try was very tasty, the strip steak tacos and Brussels sprout tacos were my favorite. We ordered the guacamole with 7 salsas to start and then used the salsa on our meals, the 7th one is REALLY spicy and not for the faint of taste buds.Our server was attentive, friendly and professional, he made great recommendations and the rest of the staff made us feel welcome and relaxed while we ate. I’ll definitely be back here
I hosted a birthday dinner here for a close friend. We chose Empellon because its the perfect matrix for a birthday food and drinks everyone will enjoy, they take large groups and prices are amicable to different incomes.A friend recommended it and she was spot on. The guacamole was a hit and had great flavor and freshness. The table ordered some of the queso con chorizo and that was a smashing hit. I enjoyed all the cocktails, we had all variations of margaritas. I started with a sipping tequila which they had a great array of.Everyone ordered tacos and they were each cooked to perfection with fabulous flavor. Impressively they were able to manage multiple courses and timing for all the food ready at once. This is a challenge for any restaurant and it was completed here with such ease.Our waitress was excellent and so conscientious of my allergies and the courses I felt so comfortable and safe with not having to look over every bite.The birthday meal was so great another friend asked to have their there next month!!Highly recommend and great for those large group meals.
Really, really good tacos. Really creative tacos. Pastrami and mustard in a taco is a wonderful thing. And the 7 salasas? The hottest one is a treat because it starts not that bad and then heats up after you eat it. I like that kind of stuff. Then the desserts? Always so creative and fun. That and the great margaritas and this is a place I look forward to visiting again and again.
Excellent tacos and margaritas. Somewhat suprisingly, the fish tempura tacos were the table favorite. Theyre crispy, well seasoned, and filling. The wait staff is timely and personal. Would certainly come back for another dinner, quick appetizer, or drink before an evening out.
Chicken with black kale tacos were bland and the meat was a very tough/overcooked. The Classic margarita itself was fine but came with a smoky salt around the rim which really turned me off - if I wanted smoky, I would’ve gone with mezcal. Guacamole was good but only came with a handful of chips (like 7, not kidding) and when we asked for more, the waitress acted annoyed and took awhile to come back with 7 more. Overall, this place is way over priced, the menu is very limited and there are several other great quality Mexican restaurants with much better service in the west village.
We came here with a bunch of friends for their Sunday brunch.Pros:1. Flavors are great. We got tacos, churro toast, steak and eggs and Scrambled Eggs with sausage and cheese. They all tasty very good. The guacamole is fresh and their in-house dipping sauce is rich and unique. The chips are also homemade and delicious.2. Service is pretty good and fast.Con: Price is steep for their tacos. 2 small ones are already about $16 and those definitely are not enough for one person. So you probably will spend at least $20+ for a taco entree.Otherwise, it is a great place. Would like to try their regular dinner menu.
Delicious food in an attractive setting. Kristen our hostess couldnt have been sweeter and the waiters & servers very attentive. We ordered the smoked cashew salsa with chips which was delicious (no tomatoes to this salsa, looked more like hummus), then shared all 6 of the veggie dishes - wonderful! Also shared & loved the black trumpets queso, the scallops ceviche, the red chili duck tacos, and the chili rellanos. -- a mouth-watering variety of food for a very reasonable $120 for 6 people exclusive of drinks, taxes, and tip. My only complaint is the music -- very loud and hard to talk over -- would love to have something more representative of the culture rather than 90s stuff.
I had a great experience at Empellón Taqueria! We had a great waitress, Jennifer, who was attentive and funny! The food was delicious- doing tacos buffet style is the best move. My favorite was the shrimp. Even though they are small they are full! Less expensive than I was expecting. Cool atmosphere. I would recommend to others and come back!
I am a native New Yorker and will keep to the directness of how we are known to be :)Food: Excellent! If you are looking for authentic and innovative Mexican food, look no further. You must have any of the tacos. I recommend the chicken or lobster tacosDrinks: Excellent. Great margaritas.Space: Very sleek, sexy, and ultra modern setting. The main dining area is spacious and intimate and the bar is large and open making it very conducive to mixing and mingling.Scene: Great place to bring a date or impress your significant other. Great for date night or get togethers. Date Night. Singles Scene. People watching. Romantic.Service: Excellent! Very courteous & professional.
I eat out at least 4 nights a week, I come from a family of restaurateurs, Ive never been driven to write a review ever. The food, whether youre into authentic Mexican or not is fantastic. Extremely sophisticated takes on traditional dishes. The drinks are fantastic, service (Coco was our adviser/server) fantastic! Cant recommend this place strongly enough, try...Everything!
This place is great, but really pricey. The happy hour specials are good, but the price point keeps it from getting a 5th star from me. The tacos are very good, but not really substantially better than you can get at Ottos a block away for half the price. Its is a good atmosphere, however.
This is a repeat visit to Empellon Tacqueria. I recommend this place as a cute casual eatery with friends. Looking for some tacos and queso it’s a good spot. The queso with shishito peppers is delicious and filling. If your looking for unlimited chips and salsa probably not the place to go. The chips come in a very cute box, but limiting for a table of 4. The salsa is great but the bowls used for dipping are far too small and come with a spoon.The tacos are all filling even though you only receive 2 per serving. I always recommend 3 tacos per person if you’re coming hungry. The brisket tacos is highly recommended along with the fish tacos.
This was mostly in regards to their Monday Taco Monthly Sampler Tasting- Amazing service- Unbelievable amount of food given the price including the cocktail, six full gourmet tacos and appetizers (no skimping on any of the fillings including crab, etc.)- Very good service and ambience (prob a great place for a date if you are trying to impress but trying too hard or paying way over top)- Only mini negative is can be a tiny bit cramped in parts but then what isnt in West Village and a lot of Manhattan
OMG yes to everything, the drinks, the service, the food... Uuhhhg the food was sooo delicious. Those Tempura Fish Tacos my gahd the kick of like 12 different flavors exploding in your mouth was sensational. I loved it and the waiter was helpful, patient and adorable. I loved everything and will def be going back 💕
Speedy service and inventive, delicious dishes. My dining companion and I tried a bunch of dishes: guacamole, a couple salsas (they have 7 on offer), queso with mushrooms, and various tacos. The guacamole and queso were amazing - fresh, rich but not heavy, great all around. The tacos were very good, and the salsas were fine, unique but not necessarily the best around. Service was extremely quick (drinks, multiple courses etc. took just under an hour) - almost too quick! But they didnt rush us out, so it just felt efficient rather than hustling or rude. Would go back again for sure.
I absolutely loved my Sunday dinner at Empellon and cant wait to return. They have a delicious cocktail list that includes a spicy cucumber cocktail that will run you ~$15 but well worth it. If dining with a group, go for the price fixe menu of $30 for a shared salsa and chips spread, individual salad appetizer (ceviche - salad), shared queso and two tacos each. Despite the fair price for the West Village and the generous spread, they wont rush you out making it a great place for groups and reunions.While the entrance and seating are wheelchair accessible, its very tight/narrow and restrooms are on floor level but not accessible.
Came here with five others for the dinner service. The decor and vibe here felt very modern and elegant. The service was extremely attentive, courteous, and efficient. The food, while on the pricey side (the tacos cost about $9 each), was excellent!It is very difficult to highlight specific items on the menu since we thoroughly enjoyed everything we ordered. For starters, Id recommend trying their smoked cashew salsa (mild), salsa verde (medium), and salsa de arbol (spicy). For appetizer, the scallop ceviche with mango and mustard seeds was simply sublime! For entree, their lamb taco was fantastic, and for the more adventurous individuals, give their sweetbreads or beer braised pork tongue tacos a go. Finally, the passion fruit custard is a light and refreshing dessert option (ask about the dessert options - there were only two items to choose from and they were not listed on the menu).
Unfortunately, my experience with this restaurant wasnt that pleasant. I ordered a salad and some tacos. I mentioned to the waiter that I cant eat anything spicy due to my severe heartburn. I got my salad with red chilli powder on it and my tacos with jalapeno sauce all over them. Lol. The food was DELICIOUS but I wouldve loved for them to pay a close attention to what I had to say about my order.
The food was extremely tasty (which surprised me, since I am generally not a fan of Mexican food -- this isnt your average Mexican eatery), and I was pleased to see that there were several vegetarian options. The brussel sprout tortillas, the cauliflower almendado, and the guacamole/chips were excellent. The ambience is simultaneously comfortable, refined, and romantic -- suitable for a date or for a special occasion.
Stopped by Empellon after a tech seminar. Its a great place to get incredibly delicious gluten-free Mexican. The skirt steak with mojo taco, and the fish tempura with cabbage and lime mayo are both outstanding menu items. Service is fast and professional in a more upscale than usual Mexican little dish style space.
Dining here is worth a 40 minute subway ride.I came here for brunch and it was perfect! Their guac was great. We also tried all of their 7 salsas and I particularly liked the salsa verde. None of the food or drinks we ordered disappointed. Standouts included: Churro French Toast, Scrambled Egg Fundido, Fish Tempura tacos, Skirt Steak tacos, and the Diamond Fizz drink. Service was equally as great and the prices very reasonable. Will definitely come here more often.
Empellón Taqueria = fancy Mexican. Its a nice place to take a date if you want to impress him/her, and youre craving some Mexican food.My boyfriend claims that this place serves the best tacos that he has ever eaten in his life (even though he has been to LA and Mexico). Were both meat eaters but get this - his best taco is the BRUSSEL SPROUTS taco. So naturally when he brought me here to eat that, I was pretty skeptical.We came in a little before 8 pm on a Wednesday and the place was poppin. The wait for a table would have been 45 minutes. But since we didnt mind if we didnt sit down at a table, we just ordered drinks and tacos by the bar.First things first. The drinks. He says cocktails are pretty good. But I ended up getting the michelada since I love beer and bloody marys, so its kind of an in between. The tomato juice had this smoky taste to it that I didnt really care for but overall, it was a good michelada. We also decided to do some tequilia, and the bartender was super knowledgeable, and didnt, try to G us. We told him that we wanted a smooth, sippable tequila, but didnt want to break the bank. So he recommended a smooth one (at $12 a shot, which came with a shot of that smoky tomato-y mix) which wasnt too bad. Mind you, I never drink tequila, especially not after my college days. But this one wasnt TOO terrible.On to the tacos - its $16+ for two tacos, so I dont really think it was that worth it. I guess I just have this idea in my head that really good tacos can also be really inexpensive. It was good, dont get me wrong, but it was probably more of a splurge for me.While I wouldnt crown this place as the best taco ever, as my boyfriend has, it is still pretty good. But if Im craving some tacos, Empellón wouldnt be at the top of my list.
Average food, good selection of craft beers. The menu description of all the food did not exactly match the taste or what we had imagined. Ordered wings, jalapeño burger, and the Cubano. Cubano was very dry and honestly was a bit disappointing. The best were the wings and their fries.
I went here for brunch. The food here is really good but the portions are rather small. The chips with guac and the two sauces they serve you, (chipotle mayo and spicy smokey sauce(?)) were very good but costs $12. I ordered the two eggs with skirt steak and potatoes ($16). Very good! But I ended up grabbing a couple tortillas from my wifes entree and making my own tacos complete with the sauces from the chips and guac...it tasted even better! On the menu I noticed that they have skirt steak and pastrami tacos (3 for $20+) and lobster tacos (3 for $40)..those are some expensive tacos!
Best place in NYC for tacos, margaritas, and guacamole. I have been coming here for the past year and every time the service is the same (great from every server), drink amazing, and food delicious. I tried every tacos in the menu and they have never disappointed me. Love empellon taqueria.
The food. Every dish from the tacos to the impossibly unique desserts to each individual salsa sustained a distinct and exquisite flavor. The service can be rushed or slow, the space is cramped and sometimes loud, but its totally worth it for the food. And drinks - the classic margarita is really the only one you need.
I made an OpenTable reservation at this restaurant and had the absolute worst service imaginable. The hostess and both managers were incredibly rude to both my girlfriend and I. We asked for a certain type of table that was open and was provided to multiple customers who came into the restaurant after us. The restaurant was way too crowded, with poor communication between the hostess and manager regarding just about everything. No one apologized for the mix-up and our waitress acted cold toward us. We went to this restaurant for date night but even the food was overpriced – would never recommend to anyone.
Im not crazy about Mexican food, which often seems to me an uninventive remix of the same four elements but this place was definitely on another level than most places serving it Ive tried in the past. The dishes are creative and refined, service is good, the place is welcoming.
Where else can you find original soft tacos resembling Mandarin pancakes with original toppings like sea bass, brussel sprouts and lamb? Understand this spot is fundamentally a place to start the night pub crawl with tequila and a few tacos, despite appearances it is not and never was meant to be a five-course restaurant. Many reviewers are missing the point and failing to enjoy this spot for what it is: New Yorks most stylish neighborhood Mexican. If you want a fuller meal, try sister-restaurant COCINA.
Avoid like the plague! Terrible service right from the start, on website it states closes at 12, we were rushed to choose food as kitchen was closing, even though we booked our table for 10, but obviously wanted us out sooner as candles were quickly removed and service got worst. A joke of a restaurant and should be classed as a bar instead.
Brunch review: I went to Empellon for brunch and found almost everything underwhelming. The service was slow despite us being there on the early side (11am). The food came out cold and the portions were small. Given the good things Ive heard about dinner here, I was surprised at the experience.
Empellon Taqueria is a small restaurant spot, mostly for the singles bar scene or the after work cocktail crowds. The food was flavorful especially the guacamole with two salsas, the Shishito fundido and the brussel sprouts tacos! The service is wonderful as the young lady was both attentive and friendly. Happy eating!
Good tacos but at seriously high (West Village lol) prices.I just checked and Im sure that the recipes they use here are no different than those found at the owners other restaurant empellon al pastor on St Marks and A, but here they charge three times as much (because here tacos are served on ceramic; not paper plates?). The decor, service and crowd leave the place feeling a little suburban and trying hard, at less than desired success, to be cosmopolitan but COOL and DOWN-TOWN.
Great atmosphere and phenomenal food! The inviting and friendly staffs hospitality were only amplified by how great the food and drinks were. As someone whos Uncle owns a Mexican restaurant Im usually completely biased and fine that no restaurants live up to his; until I ate Empellón’s food which was as amazing and as authentic as you can get. It seems that Empellón holds true to something most restaurants in NYC fail to remember when trying to create high end and exclusive eateries, the food was perfection. Everything from our starters and addicting chips and margaritas right down to the late bite of their decadent desserts. The atmosphere seems to create a warmth that is perfect for that special date night as well as a gathering of friends. Empellón is a must go to when you are in NYC!
The quality of this place has definitely gone down! I used to come here and be obsessed with how much flavor was in all the food, but now it’s just not as good! Don’t get me wrong, if it’s your first time you’ll probably love it, but it’s just not as food as it used to be. The restaurant doesn’t even get packed like it used to. Disappointed
I went into this place first time when it opened and asked for a Grand Marnier Margarita and they said they dont do that here. Came here again a few days ago ssdd Food was way over prices, tacos small, I dont want to see white bartender hipster chics at a Mexican restaurant..
I literally could not be more impressed with Empellon. I was blown away with the vibe/space, but taken to a different planet with the food. Get involved with the guacamole (smoky cashew brings tasty to the extreme), meatball sope (personal favorite), lobster tacos, scallop tacos and if youre going for the big leagues - hit the kobe beef tacos. Besides dinner, you must make it a principal point to visit Empellon for brunch! If you do go, take my word for it and order either the french toast or the short rib burger (topped with an egg that explodes in your mouth during the initial bite). From the super helpful staff, sexy vibe/scene and unique mexican fare - make no mistake, Empellon is as good as it gets.
Total reviews rating 4.3
199 Reviews for Empellon Taqueria 2023:
Review №1
2022-08-15Went here on a company outing and the service and the food was very good. Cant beat the location...many choices after eating for after dinner drinks. Recommend this place for a casual but not fast food type of casual. Drinks were excellent. Oxtail tacos were delicious
Review №2
2022-01-23This place is awesome. Beautiful environment, spacious, AMAZING FOOD and friendly staff. I would recommend lamb and special tacos. The cucumber margarita is refreshing.
Review №3
2022-08-22Excellent friendly service. Regular margarita was tasteless. Cucumber margarita was excellent. Guac was ok but chips were good. Queso fundido was wierd. Steak taco was just ok.
Review №4
2021-07-262 of us shared, in order of liking from most to least, the special tacos (with wrapped bacon), shrimp tacos, and lamb tacos. The special tacos were uniquely interesting, shrimp tacos good, and for the lamb tacos I wasnt a fan of the salsa boracha.Overall, the food was all good, though its pricey for tacos.
Review №5
2022-04-21The food here is excellent. The dips to start with Id say the cashew dip is a must try - its very unique.Then the Tacos we tried were all good but the Lamb we had were particularly good.The drinks are also good - tried the spicy Margarita and their version of the Old Fashioned which were both really good
Review №6
2022-06-21In order form best to worst:- Spicy margarita was good- Pretty good guac and chips- Meh Fish tacos- Very underwhelming grapefruit margarita- Very bland Brussels sprout taco-The “special” crab cake taco was honestly inedible, super tough and chewyThe staff was honestly the best part, the food was either okay or just bad, won’t be returning sadly.Also, our check came super dirty at the end too, ew. (see photo).
Review №7
2022-06-16This was my 2nd time here and I love it. The tacos and guacamole were super tasty! It wasn’t too busy inside which honestly is a vibe. Cozy and not too loud so it’s easy to have a conversation and hear each other. Drinks were on point as well! Definitely will be back and I definitely recommend.
Review №8
2021-06-06I stumbled into this Mexican restaurant by complete accident & was lucky enough to find a table at the right time. The staff very friendly & attentive. The interior was available but the outdoor dinning was very inviting & also available. Service was great, drinks were delicious & food definitely outstanding! The carnitas were a little salty but delicious to say the least. I do have to admit, it was a little pricy but cant denied that it was money well spent. Cant wait to go back.
Review №9
2022-06-25Food was fantastic! Had the hamachi tartare appetizer, lamb barcacoa taco, pastrami taco and skirt steak taco. Every one of them had a very different flavor and texture, great variety. Service was super polite, attentive and quick. Definitely canceecommend!
Review №10
2021-09-22Went on a Saturday night and it was packed. Server was funny, prompt and making helpful recommendations. Drinks were quick and well made. Food was amazing, fresh and good portion size. Would go back just for the shrimp (see picture) and Guac.Update Sep21Pictures