Delicious tacos, crisp beers and great margaritas at decent prices. I believe the Al Pastor is the style of meat cooking, on a skewer slow grilled with pineapple dripping on it. DELICIOUS!! ¡Una sabor fabuloso! The bar staff are great and its all counter serve so no stuffing around with split bills and tips. A refreshing change in service style and totally welcome. Great for groups and easy to stay all night or just for a bite.

Cool place with a cool vibe, nachos were 10/10, best ever had. The al pastor taco was also really good. Chicken taco was ok, not great. It's definitely more of a bar hangout than an eating place but the food is still great

I think they recently revamped the menu to make it simpler. Happy hour deals are still there though. Food, location, ambiance are amazing for a bar/food crawl starting point. Go early before it starts to get super crowded

Great food and the drinks are AMAZING, my favorite is the spicy cucumber and por que no margaritas a must try! The atmosphere is good but I would definitely suggest to have spanish music to go with the mexican theme food and drinks. The bar tenders are super friendly and super nice will definitely recommend this place to people who want a fast bite or great drinks.

Empellon Al Pastor has an awesome atmosphere and sits right on the corner looking out over the park. Decent beers, cool cocktail options, and pretty good food. If socializing isn't your thing, you can totally zone out staring at the artwork and murals that adorn the walls and ceiling.

Open atmosphere with locals who know about East Village. Spicy Cucumber Margherita is on point. Happy hour has great deals!

Tacos were a m a z i n g! Inexpensive and authentic. It was just what we were looking for. The drinks seemed fairly priced, although I just had some water as I'd been previously drinking.. I will definitely be back

Looking for a great bar that plays fire reggaeton with a super friendly staff? This is definitely the place! Vibes are always great here not to mention this may be the only bar I’ve been to in LES that Carrie’s Siete Leguas tequila

Tell me how I’ve lived and worked in the neighborhood for 7 years and never came here? Delicious food, great drinks, and friendly service. Can’t ask for more. Rosy is an absolute sweetheart. Got the breakfast burrito after my shift ($10, they could easily charge $16). Definitely coming back. Gracias por todo!!!!

let me start with our server, stef; she is sooo helpful and courteous and informative about the menu. she recommended the shrimp dumplings and the ribs and the duck and the sushi. it was all sooooo good. (especially the dumplings and ribs). stef, is sooo good at what she does and asset is fortunate to have her on their side. i’d be remiss if i didn’t mention josely, ada and another server, carlos. they too are exceptional at their jobs and asset is fortunate to have them as well. we really enjoyed the service, food and overall vibe. thank you stef for making this dining experience special.

Fun neighborhood spot with decent tacos and margaritas. Happy hour offers decent value, as long as you make it before 7pm. It does get busy in the evenings/on weekends, so best bet is to show up on the earlier side, especially if you are planning on visiting with a larger group

It is worth it to come here just for the ceiling mural. Wow! Did not eat but they had birria dumplings which sounded amazing.

What a great vibe! Tacos are delicious, blood margarita is strong and yummy and the bar manager was working behind the bar and is incredibly friendly, helpful, and nice. Definitely going to be my new happy hour/weekend go to!! 10/10

I love this place! It’s very unassuming but has quickly become our favorite chill date night spot. The only downside is that it’s extremely loud, even on a week night. Would be amazing if they turned it down just a couple notches. But don’t let that shy you away - The tacos here are delicious! There’s always an interesting taco special- definitely try them out. My BF loves the cheeseburger taco, I think I had a brisket taco once that was amazing. Do yourself a favor and get an app too - cant go wrong with the chicken wings and nachos. The margs are pretty good, not too sweet which is nice. The classic and blood orange are the best. Plenty of other drink options and beers as well. I highly recommend trying this place out! They have great happy hour deals too.

Best tacos I've ever had... especially the cheeseburger taco. The nachos are great, too.

Great Find! I was searching the streets for a place to have a good beer. To my surprise I stumbled upon Empellon al Pastor! This was by far my favorite dining/bar experience in NYC over the long weekend! I sat at the bar and was amazed by the artwork and dark but not to dark vibe the place offered. I had a great tasting IPA and was told by the bartender to try one of their signature pork tacos. I was blown away by the taste and how reasonable the menu was. Tacos are $4 but two or three for under $15 in the East Village, cant beat it! I highly recommend this place. The bartender was very friendly and service was outstanding! Very authentic food and atmosphere! I will be back every time I visit the city!

Antonio is YOUR bartender. Great guy with a great vibe. This bar has such a happy atmosphere!!! You can dance and sit!! What more could you want?!? I’m from Chicago but each time I’m in NYC on a Saturday night, this is my place. Food isn’t bad either for a snack! Drinks are great too!

So I always walk past this place especially when returning from Tompkins with my pup! And well, it’s always crowded and I keep telling myself that I’ll have to check it out. Well! I finally did! It did not disappoint. Was essentially your typical dive bar with food as well. I did not get any food but I have heard very very good things! Bar tender was nice. Priced pretty well. Very open atmosphere—feel like it may feel too crowded with the doors and windows closed? I’ll have to see. Cool interior as well. Good place to stop and grab a drink before moving on with your night!

Love this place! Inside is totally divey but that’s what makes the atmosphere so great. Amazing food - tacos and nachos are awesome. Good selection of tequila including smaller batch tequilas. Shots are all $5 for good tequila...hell of a deal for NYC!

Went here with my boyfriend last week when it was kind of rainy outside. The server/hostess/bartender Brenda (I think that was her name!!) was AMAZING. She was so sweet and gave her recommendations. We ordered chips and guacamole, tacos Al Pastor, and spicy cucumber margaritas (could have been a bit spicier). We sat at one of the high top tables outside and even though they don’t have umbrellas we didn’t get rained on THAT much. Brenda is awesome!

Popped in here for a pick me up happy hour margarita which was delicious, but the tacos, which are mostly $3 during happy hour are the stars here. On the table almost immediately, loaded and full of flavour. Their pork tongue taco is one of the best I've ever tasted

Get the Spicy Cucumber Margarita. I’d say it’s the best margarita in east village! It’s not actually too spicy. The main flavor is the refreshing cucumber! Also the fries and al pastor tacos if you want one of all things delicious there!

Great spot to drink Beers, cool music and people very cool ! Besides they do Micheladas (lime and chili salted🔥)😃

The cheeseburger taco is my absolute favorite. This place does not disappoint when it comes to a fun environment, interesting decor and easy service. The drinks are huge and the food is great!

Really good drinks and perfect service. Happy hour prices are good for tacos. Delecious

Crazy vibe. The bartender knows his mix and they really focus on a customer happiness.

Happy hour with friends🍻 Nachos 😋 Ok I’m not going to lie! These nachos are addictive.

If you’re looking for excellent tequila drinks and Mexican bar food— this is excellent. A satisfying but not exhaustive menu of interesting & complex cocktails, including classics. Great tequila options. Delicious pork tacos. Great happy hour treats. Loud party atmosphere. You must order food & drinks at bar. All that said, I will return when friends who don’t mind noise want to have great tequila cocktails.

Love this place, I stop all the time before work. Super fast, bartenders are very nice. Cheeseburger tacos are amazingggg. Sounds weird but they truly are so perfect. Also love the cuc marg. I also have a one eyed cat so I might be biased

A great little dive bar experience with great Mexican food. The food menu is great, with a few non standard items like a sandwich special (which was meatloaf when we went), and the tacos look great though are very expensive at $7 each. The nachos were incredible value, and every ingredient was handmade down to the chips. They offer a happy hour special on drinks, margaritas can be customized with either tequila or mezqual, and the beer & shot combo is a great deal at $10. They also have a shot that contains mezcal and cold brew for people drinking all night who need a pick me up.

They’ve got a great breakfast burrito! The al pastor taco was really good as well

Leyla Knight

Came here on the hunt for a bloody mary 🩸🤯 but learned about and stayed for the michelada 😎👌🏽 Drinks so lovely so bartender explained their gorgina menu 💯 recommending the michelada & fruit blood cocktail <3 so delicious reasonable price point. WILL return 🤷🏽‍♀️🤭✨️ Shout out to Jason Edit: Jason said my friend sounds like Jojo siwa 🤷🏽‍♀️🤭✨️ Edit: Jason said my friend rhymes like slim shady and quoted mom's spaghetti <3 great time

jennifer lopez

My absolute favorite bar to go to! I love the atmosphere, great music, so much variety of drinks, bartenders are friendly, what more could you ask for!

Cass

Solid spot. Good prices. Busy on a summer weekend so just hang around until you can steal someone’s table outside. The marg was a bit watery but good. Hit the spot enough. The nachos are actually exactly what you’d expect in a standard, satisfying plate of nachos and they’re big. Perfect for sharing with 2-4 people. Love that they have a breakfast burrito at night. Great spot to grab a drink before going out or meet friends. Super lively area, obviously.

+6

S R

the bartender there was so nice. Gave me a sample of the frozen pina colada (sweet but strong taste) to make sure i would like it. I felt very welcomed and the music was pretty good! The Moscow Mule (Sweet) was good too. 10/10 would come again

Isabella Grandic

Very cool, underground pregame spot. Spicy cucumber marg was nice. Mez cal pina colada was cool (a bit odd). The Al Pastor tacos are really good (just spicy!). I actually really liked the cheeseburger taco. The chips & guac is super mid. Wouldn’t wonder again. Also, not enough guac for the chips :/ Overall, really like this place. First come first serve. Not fancy. But $4 late night tacos! Decently priced drinks!

+4

Justin Rogers-Cooper

What better casual spot for a drink and bite in the neighborhood? Full of dates, locals, and chillers. Posted up no problem for a round before meeting other friends. Quick service and nice tap.

Carl J

The happy hour takes the edge off of their prices a bit. The food and their specialty cocktails are super-tasty. Ask about the chef's special - I think that changes regularly.

Benji Hefner

Absolutely fantastic experience! Mel was a wealth of knowledge and made the most fantastic recommendations and specialty cocktails. If you're looking for delicious beer and cocktails, a great time and amazing fries this is the place to go. I don't really head into the city very often, but you bet I'm heading straight over every time I do.

Veronica

Amazing bar in downtown Manhattan, greaaaaat customer service, both barman and waiter were very helpful offering vegan options. Cocktails are great and the bar offers and specializes on mezcal and tequila drinks. Good prices and nice environment.

Howard

Vibrant and fun atmosphere with a good selection of beers and tacos. It's perfect for the location right by the park. Large open windows and a sensible mix of tables (high and low, benches and stools). The style is definitely Mexican, although it's through rose-tinted US glasses. Well worth a visit for the friendly, social atmosphere and speedy service.

Sebastian Saint

Empellon al Pastor is an amazing place to go for tacos in the East Village. It has a classic Mexican vibe, mixed with a dive bar. I really liked the aesthetic in the bar, and was happily surprised at the Happy Hour pricing on tacos and Tecate beer. If you're looking for a fantastic place to grab tacos in NYC, look no further than this place! Really loved how they had a mix of both classic, and more modern takes on tacos!

+7

WoodenRoller

The taqueria has a very hip youthful vibe with the lights and graffiti walls, the al pastor was delicious but $5 a taco is not the cheapest thing even though it was a good taco. Service could have been friendlier though.

I was told by a friend that this place is one of the best Mexican joints in town. It lived up to the expectations. I had tacos and chapula. Both were so tasty. I can't wait to go back and have some more.

I like the casual vibe of this spot off St. Marks Pl. Ordering is a bit confusing at first, but you can order food and drinks both at the bar and the stand near back when you can see the beautiful Al Pastor tacos made to order. I particularly liked the Al Pastor and the Potato/Chorizo tacos. The guac was also good too! I didn't get a chance to try the drinks, but I'll try one of the Mezcals they have next time.

Quick, casual taco counter with a decent selection of micheladas and beers (in the $7-10 range) to wash down very decent tacos ($4) and guac. Pleasantly popular and noisy without being too much of either.

Get the pastor tacos, they are easily the best thing on the menu and close to the best tacos in town. The homemade chips that come with the guacamole make that a great option to get as well. All of their drinks are top notch and the quick service makes this a great spot to start the night.

Good location, good beer prices, but $5 and $6 for one taco is pretty pricey. Better getting drinks and maybe some bar snacks. The Baby Back Carnitas was probably the best item.

Awesome low key bar that sells fantastic tacos. It's hard to say if it is a bar or restaurant from the setup. There are no reservations and no waiters so just grab a table and order at the bar. The beer selection is pretty good with the expected corona and so, but also some great craft beer like saison and IPAs. The tacos are all delicious but the sauces really stand out. The Empellon owner is a sauce magnate and is shows in the salsas and chipotle sauces available at the bar. Get the chips and guacamole to really enjoy the salsas. The pastor taco, which has to be good since it is the signature dish, is up to the challenge. The meat is hand carved off a huge stick of meat in the back. The pork was tender and falling apart with moisture and flavor. The menu is nice because you get a single taco with each order, so you can sample several.

This is a good bar to get some pretty decent tacos. They change the menu seasonal. The drinks are good. They offer happy hour but it does get pretty packed

Very alive and buzzing place especially in the evening. The classics like the tacos are very well executed. Nachos superbly prepared, so the guacamole and a good choice of sauce is available on each table.

Latin-American cuisine. Nice atmosphere. Cheap drinks. Good time.

Nice place to get some beers with friends. Not so crowded. The nachos and the guacamole are good

My friend treated me to dinner here and I was pleasantly surprised. You would not guess just by looking at this bar that the food is delicious! There is graffiti - tasteful and purposeful - all over the walls, wooden tables and benches and very relaxed atmosphere. I loved it and just the type of place I needed to unwind after a long day. I had and recommend the veggie tacos, fries, and nachos. The margaritas were spot on as well!

A great Mexican bar and food place that is mellow during the week but gets packed in peak weekend drinking hours. I prefer going on off-hours to enjoy the food and drinks without the weekend revelers. They have the best queso in the city, and some good Mexican drink offerings. Taco prices are bit too much tho!

Had drunk tacos here and they were great! That being said, service was a bit disappointing. I’d left to use the restroom and they cleared my (not empty) drink by the time I got back. The hours are listed incorrectly; I asked and they said 1:00am close is summer hours only. They shooed my boyfriend out and basically made him chug his drink, even as we were standing and ready to leave. Great drinks and food, generally fun vibe but definitely get there earlier to avoid the late night rushed service.

Stiff drinks, nice bartender. Didnt try the food but lots of college kids did ..

The chorizo nachos were really good. Service was ok 🙄🙄🙄

+4

Food and cocktails were great and moderately priced. The murals around the bar were very interesting to look at. Great music 🎶 Would recommend. It can get crowded but overall good.

As people mentioned slightly overpriced for the amount given , but the tacos are 100% on point and the wings although not as good as traditional ones imo, is still worth ordering because they're so different and pretty damn good. Would go back

These are very good tacos. Probably the best al pastor I’ve had outside of Mexico. The vibe of the bar is maybe too loud and chaotic for me, however 👵🏻

Food was pretty good. Drinks were also good. Try the jalapeno poppers, for some spicy fun.

Cool enviornment with plenty of street art covering the entire place. Tacos are small and overpriced at $5 each. Menu is small and mostly Mexican food.

Marlena Prast

Went here for a few drinks on a beautiful day. Had a nice selection of beers on tap and drinks. The paintings all over the walls and ceilings are cool and it’s nice that they have the outside sitting area. Good vibes

Alex Zhang

Came here for a drink Saturday afternoon. This place definitely has a vibe. Cool mural on the wall and even on the ceiling. You order everything from the bar and seat yourself. It does get loud when it’s busy and when people raised their voice. They have a great selection of draft beer, draft cider and draft wine. The price are really reasonable. Menu isn’t big but has good Mexican food selections. Happy hour only weekdays 4-7pm

+1

Jonathan Batista

Fantastic drinks. The spicy cucumber cocktail is definitely where it’s at. Very refreshing and the perfect drink for warm days. The taco was ok. For $6 expected a bit more meat in it. Will def be back for drinks.

tommaso a.

From outside looks a very ‘underground’ restaurant / bar but inside it is a standard Mexican bar and restaurant (in a good way...). In summertime they open the windows and the feeling is like been in a terrace. The selection of draft beer is good and the prices are ok.

Edwin Pratt

Great happy hour selections and the food came quickly. Delicious and the best in the area we think. Place is a bit loud though

+5

Expensive. Frozen pina colada tasted like freezer coolant. Tacos average size but above average price. Happy hour could be cool but other than that you’re better off pregaming at home.

Average food and average service. Forgettable food served on paper plates and bowls. If I'm supposed to believe it is Mexican street food then the prices should reflect that. Food and drinks ordered from the bar, no problem. But the bartender too lazy to take 20 seconds to deliver the drinks to us and just left them sitting on the bar. This wasn't a busy time, and no it isn't a huge deal. Just poor service.

Was my go-to for takeout tacos for a while, but the food's gone downhill since they dropped the pretense this place was ever anything besides a bar and put up the divider between the two sides. Last visit the avocados in my guac were overripe and the seasoning was off, and my tacos were just straight up cold. The price for the food is definitely a premium on other places around (and for a while it was worth it), so I don't think I'll be going back in the future. That said, the bar's not bad.

While there may be a dearth of quality affordable Mexican food available in the city, this place does not fill that void at all with tacos priced at around $6 and traditionally cheap Mexican beers priced at around $8. The tacos are definitely well made, and there is a high level of attention to detail, especially with the al pastor (it was well seasoned and crispy). There is also the matter of the tacos simply being skimpy on the amount of meat, and the lack of the availability of salsas. I'm not saying great Mexican food doesn't deserve to be expensive, but I've had tacos of comparably high quality for half the price from a truck. To put things into perspective, if you match it up against the duck carnitas at Cosme, the prices are barely cheaper, which is frankly a laughable proposal given the difference in the spaces, food costs, and quality. The space and ceiling art are without a doubt very cool, but for me it can't make up the prices, especially in a neighborhood with an abundance of cool spots.

The bartenders were snarky and the other customers were pretty judgy, the only person here who was really inviting and welcoming was the bouncer, they do have really awesome drinks though and they come in really cool glasses!

At $5 - $8 each and meager in size/fillings, the tacos here should at least be above average in flavor. Or the service should be spectacular. Sadly, neither was the case for me. Hugely disappointing for a place I was excited to try.

Tacos Al pastor were so bland. The sauce weren’t spicy at all, which is lame. I just used two limes per taco because of the lack of flavor. This caught me off guard because this restaurant is called Al Pastor so I had high expectations. These were one of worst tacos Al pastor I’ve had.

The tacos al pastor seemed more like pernil with pineapple. They were too salty, the pineapple was undergrilled, and the pork was a bit tough and not very crispy or well-marinated.

Food is awful. Super disappointing as many of the other Empellon branches are great. Everything was covered in the same strange sauces and tasted the same kind of bland. Would have had a better culinary experience at chipotle. Drinks are good, I'll give them that. Go somewhere else to eat.

As a Californian, I am deeply disappointed in the authenticity of this “Mexican” bar/restaurant. Very disappointing representation of Mecían cuisine and dining. Ordered nachos, a classic margarita pitcher and an al pastor taco. The al pastor taco was the only redeeming factor, but still found a hair in the taco. Beware of ordering the pitcher of margarita, it is only about 3 drinks without the mountain of ice that they put in the pitcher. Better off trying another “Mexican” spot in the area.

Yawn. Over rated and a brunch bartender that was so unfriendly. sked for a water after some cocktails and was told there was a water cooler in the back by the bathroom. Wonderful. $2 tacos were terrible.

My friends and I came here to have a few drinks to celebrate a birthday. The bartender, Charlie, was extremely rude, dismissive, and incoherent. He should not be behind the bar. The place lost a good amount of money from a group of 8.

Bar is ok but service it’s extremely disappointing. Sorry to have to do this all the people there were nice but the MANAGER was extremely rude and in A bad mood even though it’s was a Saturday night. Claiming +5 tips for opening just a can

I understand it’s the pandemic but there is no reason why I should be charged $50 bucks for the wrong order!! The lady taking my order was definitely more interested in chatting with the person behind me than taking me order. It’s ridiculous!! This used to me my favorite taco place. I am so disappointed!

Ordered from here got one of their $12 margs which they pictured in a huge Chalice. When it got here it was probably the smallest marg I’ve ever seen. It didn’t even hit half of a small glass. Over $30 for two tacos and this tiny marg. Never again

Overheard underage girls talking about the bouncer letting them in for a fee. Thoroughly disturbed.

Came here on Oct 19th to get some drinks with friends. As there were no tables outside available, my group spent most of our time standing and drinking our drinks, which was fine. We finally were able to secure an outside table (with no chairs, mind you, so we still had to stand), and after being at the table for only 10 minutes while we finished our first round of drinks a staff member came over with a plate full of food for another group and said that we need to leave because our drinks were empty and the other guests couldn't find any tables (not our problem). We were not asked if we planned to order any more food or drinks, which we were. We were so turned off by the rudeness of the employee in trying to kick us out of a self serve table (there was no one being sat elsewhere; it was first come, first serve) that we decided to leave anyways and not spend anymore money here. Won't be coming back.

Honestly this place just sucks. Have been here on a night out several times and bartenders are always in a bad mood. Came here for a breakfast burrito and it was flavorless. Just not a good spot dunno why people come here. Maybe it’s because the shirts are cool. That’s about it

THE WORST TACOS EVER. Salsa is tomato/ketchup. Its like $6 a taco with no toppings. Ive never in my life had such a bad taco.. this is for drunk people that are just in need if anything. Its not worth it even for happy hour.

I went here excited due to online recommendations, but was very disappointed. The service was bad and dismissive. Went in for a good time and left upset with the service. My friend ordered a pitcher and it was mostly ice, would’ve been much cheaper to get individual drinks. Asked for hot sauce and was laughed at/ignored. Would not recommend, there are many places much better nearby

kat

Bouncer is insanely rude. Definitely one of the most aggressive bouncers ive met. Bar staff and bussers were super nice but bouncer was awful

Kimberly Guaman

$6 a taco for a taco that felt and most centainly was incomplete. I don’t know if they did this on purpose since it was a take out order but seriously nothing like the picture they posted. And also took them about 20 minutes for a order of 5 tacos. Ridiculous.

Maria Paula Abadia

Do not understand how the place has a 4.4. It is a decent bar but food-wise probably some of the worst Mexican food I have ever had... and it is not hard to make good Mexican food... really dissappointed. Tried their version of the street corn and was literally taken out of the freezer, their mushroom tacos tasted like foot, the guacamole had a pound of salt. The drinks were decent though