At the last minute, we ended up at Alex Stupak’s Mexican-inspired bar and taqueria Empellòn Al 
Pastor in the East Village for nachos.
I was meeting a friend to catch up after some of my travels and was on a mission for nachos as I had a hankering for them. We couldn’t get the reservations we wanted, so laughingly we Googled “best nachos in NYC.” Tacqueria Diana on Second Avenue was on many lists. We called, learned they didn’t take reservation and decided to head there.
We giggled…
Taqueria Diana is a narrow take-out place with two slivers of tables squeezed in the back. That wouldn’t work to sit and chat. Instead, we headed to Empellòn Al Pastor only a couple blocks away, a restaurant from 
chef Alex Stupak, whose other places are so good (Empellon Cocina and Empellón Taqueria).
How could we go wrong?
After we figured out that there is not service and we needed to do so at the bar, we ordered the nachos with chorizo. The nachos were one the sorriest version I had ever seen, drizzled with the liquid orange stuff they add at movie theatres and ball park concession stand. The chicken wings were actually worse: breaded wings, with Arbol chiles, peanut butter and peanuts ($14).
If I were Alex Stupak, I wouldn’t associate my name with Empellòn Al Pastor, but I’d keep it in my portfolio as it’s over-flowing with college kids downing drinks…
If you’re looking for a boisterous bar scene, this could be your place. Just don’t go hungry!
– bonnie
Follow @biteofthebest
BonnieBOTB
Follow @BonnieBOTB
Empellòn Al Pastor
East Village
132 Saint Marks Place,
New York, NY 10009
646- 833-7039
Leave A Comment