Empellon al Pastor Alex Stupak Empellon al Pastor

Empellon al Pastor

132 St. Marks Pl. (Avenue A)
New York, NY 10009
646-833-7039
Map
Cuisine: Mexican / Taqueria / Tacos
Alex Stupak’s East Village taqueria highlights slow-roasted pineapple-studded pork.
Openings: Open Mon.-Wed. 4 p.m.-midnight, Thurs. 4 p.m.-1 a.m., Fri.-Sat. 1 p.m.-2 a.m., Sun. 1 p.m.-11 p.m.

Features

  • Dress code: Casual
Empellon al Pastor, New York, NY


Empellon al Pastor Restaurant Review:


Set on the corner of Avenue A and St. Marks Place in the spot that was once home to punk rock dive bar Alcatraz, chef Alex Stupak’s Empellon al Pastor is a love letter to the pork-and-pineapple-loaded taco, al pastor. With wacky images painted floor to ceiling (look up to spy the giant pig face), the venue is dimly lit and casual. Order at the bar. The namesake taco boasts pork that’s shaved shwarma-style from a hunk of meat on a rotating spit, crowned by a juicy chunk of pineapple and spicy red and green salsas. It’s made even better by the house-made corn tortillas. Other taco options include a surprisingly good oyster mushroom version as well as one with hearty tripe, bacon and beef tongue. The bar shakes up Manhattan-laced and Negroni-spiked micheladas and the margaritas are strong. Amidst the graffiti inside is a phrase scrawled “Never trust punk,” perhaps a reference to the former tenant. You can trust Empellon, though, to feed you well.