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.

Mexico City Street Food

Billy and Akaisha Kaderli

We love street food! (But is it safe?)

Everywhere we travel, street food is an integral part of our enjoyment of any particular country. Having spent years in the restaurant industry, the preparation and presentation of food in foreign countries fascinate us.

Mexico City was no different. Take a look at some street food locations, very near to our hotel.

Right outside our hotel and to the right

Here you see a couple of eateries lined up together. The one in the front part of the photo serves meat, bean and cheese or vegetable, bean and cheese filled quesadillas. They cater to the locals and to the business workers in the area, and at lunch time, they are packed. For 17Pesos each (less than $1USD) you can have a fresh and filling lunch. If you are hungrier, then order two!

The next stall (which seemed to be a combination of two stalls) served fresh sliced fruit in a quart container, fresh juices like carrot juice, orange juice and specialty "green and power" drinks with herbs, enzymes, and certain powders packed with vitamins and protein.

The quesadilla stand

Here's a closer look at the popular quesadilla stand. They were fairly good sized, especially for the price, and the condiments to accompany your meal are there on the side in the bowls - mild chili sauce, hot chili sauce, cilantro, sliced lime, and diced fresh onions.

As you can see, the place is becoming busy.

Taco stand with French fries

Tacos are a favorite in Mexico. The grill on the right in the photo is domed shaped. The various meats are placed in the center to cook until there is a usable pile which is then put to the side to keep warm. When someone orders a taco, the small, double tortillas and dipped in the meat drippings, placed on the dome to be heated, and then filled with the various meats you might order.

Generally they run about $0.50US cents per taco and they are really tasty!

This place also offers French fries.

Another food stall

This place offers deep fried quesadillas filled with meat and cheese with a side of salad and rice.

You can get a closer look at the domed grill that is commonplace in these stalls. In the center of the photo you see the quesadilla being deep fried.

Food to go is placed on Styrofoam plates and if you choose to eat your meal there, you will be given a plate with a plastic bag over it. Cleaning these plates means that the plastic bag is removed and a new, clean bag will be put over the plate for the next customer.

This helps keep the food clean, and there is no dirty water washing the dishes.

A different taco stand

This vendor has chosen a flat grill with several styles of meat for his tacos. Generally there are Al Pastor, Barbacoa, Adobado, Chicken and Chorizo with Potato.

Here you see the man on the left with a plastic bag-covered plate that I wrote about in the previous photo. The woman on the right has her order to go.

Several stalls together

This is still walking distance from our hotel, and stands lined the street one after another. We found that during the week these places were just packed for the office workers in the area. Come the weekend almost all of these staneds closed with just two or three trying to catch the weekend crowd - or lack of one!

This first vendor has some food item already prepared in plastic bags attached to a line with clothes pins. He is also selling tacos, appetizers, and French fries. 

Fruit!

LOVE these tropical fruits. These are the filled quart containers that you will see all over Latin America.

Some of the choices above are fresh mango, carrot and cucumber, watermelon and mango, carrot, papaya and watermelon, and the white one further down the line is fruit with yogurt.

Very popular lunch stands

The guys on the right look like they might be construction workers, electricians, or plumbers. You can see the men and women in business attire in the center, and the woman in the front of the photo is most likely a local who lives in the area.

The vendors on the left are selling dried fruits, nuts, chips, bottled waters and sodas, packaged chicharones, gum, mints, and various other selections.  

The mad lunch rush

The cook in the center and left of the photo is grilling the meats as fast as he can on his gas grill. The man on the right has a bucket of freshly diced onion. The man in the orange apron in the center right is packaging up an order to go.

If you look to the left of the white bucket, you will see a stack of the colorful plates covered in plastic bags.

It's the job of the cook to keep on cookin', the job of the man on the right to keep the plates ready to grab for customers, and to be sure all the condiments are filled and ready. The man in the center right wraps up to go orders and keeps the line moving.

Did you ever think street food was this organized and with such a variety?

For more photos and stories of Mexico, click here

The stress of living in the States can take its toll on your health. People say that living in Chapala adds ten years to your life and we believe it. The relaxed Mediterranean lifestyle, clean air, great food, friendly people and just plain fun is bound to extend your life.

What are you waiting for?   Keep your retirement dreams alive.
Many North Americans have already made the move.

HOME   Book Store

Retire Early Lifestyle Blog      About Billy & Akaisha Kaderli      Press     Contact     20 Questions     Preferred Links    

Retirement     Country Info     Retiree Interviews      Commentary     REL Videos