After a Decade on 9th Avenue, Tacuba Says Goodbye to Hell’s Kitchen

Hell’s Kitchen will lose a margarita hotspot this Saturday, when Tacuba closes its doors after 10 years in the neighborhood.

The popular Mexican cantina, located on 9th Avenue between W53rd and W54th Streets announced its imminent closed on social media. “Serving our community has been an honor, and we are deeply grateful for every visit and every memory shared with us,” the restaurant’s message read. “Hell’s Kitchen will always have a place in our hearts.”

The restaurant kept its doors open during the pandemic, using every inch of outdoor space at the restaurant and in front of the adjacent MTA parking lot, and was a key hangout during those times. They were one of the local places that received RRF Funds — in their case, nearly $2m.

Since mid-2024, however, Tacuba has been shrouded in scaffolding as a new apartment building rises next door. This has significantly affected business, said manager Isabel Escobar, as the scaffolding prevents the restaurant from serving guests on the sidewalk or on an outdoor patio in the back of the restaurant. 

Shortly after construction on the apartment complex began, Tacuba applied for an extension on its liquor license from midnight to 4am, aiming to transform into a 24-hour diner. However, Manhattan Community Board 4 voted 38-1 to deny the application. The board was swayed by local residents, who voiced concerns that late night service would “unreasonably increase late night noise” on the block. 

The board noted that Tacuba had not complied with an agreement to keep its doors and windows closed when playing loud music, and that this disturbance would be amplified in the quiet morning hours. Co-owner Louis Skibar stressed that the restaurant would only play background music, with no amplification. 

“I think there’s a need in the neighborhood for a place to go at 1am or 2am,” Skibar said in an April 2024 testimony to MCB4’s Business License and Permits Committee.

Skibar opened Tacuba in 2016 with Mexico City-born chef Julian Medina, who also owns Mexican restaurants in the Upper West Side, Washington Heights, LaGuardia Airport and the Hamptons. 

Over the years, Tacuba was frequently listed by Hell’s Kitchen residents as one of their favorite neighborhood spots in W42ST’s West Side Stories series. 

“This is my go-to, home away from home restaurant,” said Jeff Karliner in a 2024 spotlight. “During the past several years we have gone religiously for brunch to experience their hospitality…we have eaten fabulous foods and drank more chef’s margaritas than I would want to talk about.”

Tacuba’s margarita and mezcalita selection was frequently raved about by locals. “Pina Para La Nina is my favorite margarita in Hell’s Kitchen (heck, the City) and I’ve tried a lot of them,” said Julia Zamorska.

The popularity of the margaritas can be attributed to the fresh-squeezed juices that go into them, revealed Escobar. “Everything is fresh — everything,” she said.

The nachos were the next most buzzed about item among our readers. “My absolute favorite Sunday afternoon activity in the summer is posting up outside Tacuba, going to town on the steak nachos, sipping a frozen strawberry margarita and hanging with my friends while we people-watch on Queens Boulevard aka 9th Avenue,” said Charlie Serotoff in his 2025 profile.

Escobar said she and her team are sad to leave Hell’s Kitchen. “We’re gonna miss the customers; we’re gonna miss the community,” she said. “It was a nice area, and we were right on the corner.”

While Tacuba’s closure is a true loss for Hell’s Kitchen, we are lucky to be in a neighborhood packed with Mexican restaurants. Almost 20 options — as well as the burrito truck on 9th Avenue and W49th Street — remain open for local guac and chips enthusiasts. 

Tacuba, located at 802 9th Avenue, closes its doors on January 24 — so there is still time to grab one last margarita or plate of nachos while you can.