Empellón occupies a corner at 510 Madison Avenue, bringing chef Alex Stupak’s modern Mexican cooking to the Midtown East business district. It draws a crowd of foodies and cocktail drinkers who want tacos built with technique rather than nostalgia, paired with an agave program that rivals any bar in the city.
The 160-seat dining room runs on a menu built around tacos that lean into unexpected combinations alongside snacks, ceviches, and larger plates drawing on classical French training filtered through Mexican flavor logic (source: Yelp). The bar team pours margaritas and mezcal-driven cocktails made with small-batch, artisanal spirits rather than mass-market tequila, and the drinks list changes often enough that regulars order a round of recommendations instead of scanning the menu themselves. Private dining options make the space workable for client dinners as much as first dates, a dual identity that fits its Madison Avenue address.
Visitor Highlights & Practical Info
Book ahead for dinner, especially weeknights when nearby offices empty out around 6 p.m.; a later seating after 8 p.m. tends to be calmer. The restaurant sits close to the E/M trains at Lexington Avenue–53rd Street and the 6 train at 51st Street, making it an easy stop before or after a walk through Midtown. Check current hours directly, since holiday closures shift seasonally (source: Empellón).
