Retire Early Lifestyle
Retirement; like your parents, but way cooler

In 1991 Billy and Akaisha Kaderli retired at the age of 38. Now, into their 4th decade of this financially independent lifestyle, they invite you to take advantage of their wisdom and experience.

Chicos Bar and Restaurant Shrimp

Chacala, Nayarit, Mexico

Billy and Akaisha Kaderli

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One of the best things to do when at the beach is to eat fresh seafood. It's one of our favorite food groups, just out of the sea!

We've already shared how good the whole fish grilled over the open flame was. We had mounds of crabmeat piled high on thin tostadas for breakfast.

Today we'll tell you about the shrimp.

Shrimp boats out in the cove

In the native language of Nahuatle, the word "Chacala" means "where there are shrimp."

Indigenous peoples from decades ago knew that this protected little cove of Chacala was the place to harvest shrimp. It's no different today. You can look out from the beach and see shrimping boats pulling in these delicious little creatures.

A plate of shrimp in garlic butter

At Chico's Restaurant and Bar, an order of a dozen shrimp served with a small salad, rice and tortillas runs about $7USD. It's plenty to eat for one person, or you could take some home to snack on later.

Shrimp are rich!

Shrimp Zaranteado

These shrimp are covered in Chico's "magic sauce" and grilled over an open wood flame.

We have never tasted shrimp so fresh - they simply "popped" when you put them in your mouth. It was a bit like juicy celery and amazingly sweet.

Zaranteado (pronounced Sar-ahn-tay-AH-doe) is a favorite preparation at the beach in Mexico.

Our bill

Our total for a bottle of water, a few beers and two plates of shrimp Zarendeado came to just under $20USD without tip.

Eating it beachside, under the shade and watching the surf hit the shore was fabulous.

Sunscreen'd Akaisha a few feet from the sea

One gets pretty laid back when at the beach... The salty air, the sea breeze, the perfect water temperature, and lunch served straight to your table.

What could be better?

Chico's menu

This is Chico's lunch and dinner menu. We tried everything we could in the days we were there, but of course, we had our favorites.

The orangeade and lemonade are made fresh and you can choose from natural or mineral water. There are 4 different names of beer, and a "Ballena" is a large bottled, nicknamed a "whale." Ballenas roughly translate to about 3 glasses of beer for $2.50USD.

Sautéed octopus in garlic butter

Tender and delicious, this full plate of octopus was cooked in garlic butter. Price was $7USD.

Breaded shrimp

These lightly breaded shrimp were served with a delicious red dipping sauce.

As is customary in Mexico, one eats the tails and all. These shrimp were crisp and not oily.

Chico's is a local family-friendly restaurant with affordable prices and plenty of tables to choose from. You can be completely under the palapa if you want the shade, or the first row if you want an unobstructed view of the ocean. They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Wandering minstrels come by every day and will play songs that you choose from a music menu.

Really delightful.

Chico’s Restaurante de Mariscos

Playa Chacala, Nayarit

Cel: 327. 219. 4019 OR 327. 978. 8554

 Full Restaurant and Bar

For more stories and photos about Mexico, click here

Retire Early Lifestyle appeals to a different kind of person – the person who prizes their independence, values their time, and who doesn’t want to mindlessly follow the crowd.

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