Tag Archives: fishing village

Foodie Friday

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Dinner at sunset after our exciting drive to Mexico. We decided to eat at Wrecked at the Reef, where some tables are on the sand with perfect sunset views. It’s very Americanized, has a huge indoor sports bar, corn hole and live bands. We prefer the quiet tables next to the sea.

One of my favorite things about Puerto Penasco is the food. They have fresh seafood, since it’s a fishing village, and the prices are outstanding.

Coconut shrimp at Wrecked on the Reef. My husband and I shared this along with a shrimp cocktail, American style.

On our first trip to Puerto Penasco, we asked our Arizona realtor for places to eat. He gave us a list, but said his family of four kids and wife liked Pollo Lucas the best. At first, I was skeptical of char-broiled chicken, rice and beans. What could be so exciting about that? Well, it’s now our go to place and favorite, too.

Prices are in pesos. For under $20 we ordered a whole chicken, rice, beans, salsa and the most delicious flour tortillas I’ve ever had. We got about four meals out of this, eating in the restaurant and taking the rest back to the condo.

I’ve posted about Pollo Lucas several times before. But it’s so good it deserves another round of applause and attention.

The works at Pollo Lucas. I LOVE the Mexican Coca Cola but I’m glad we don’t have it here!

The restaurant was empty when we arrived. Sometimes we have to wait for a seat. It’s open air with a thatched roof. It comes complete with cats who are very well behaved.

Where are your favorite places to go out to eat?

Do you have a go to place? What is it?

Winner Winner! Chicken Dinner!

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Pollo Lucas.
A hand-painted sign in the parking lot of Pollo Lucas On the curb.

Our exploring this weekend took us to a small fishing village in Mexico. Although it’s still a fishing village, Puerto Penasco has grown into a tourist resort town with towering condos and fancy restaurants. Our first trip there was at the end of March. I had asked our realtor, who owns a condo there, where we should eat. He told us his family’s very favorite restaurant was Pollo Lucas for chicken, rice and beans.

That didn’t sound exciting to me, I was on a quest for fresh seafood. So we skipped Pollo Lucas last trip. I remembered it this time and thought, “If it’s his family’s most favorite, maybe we should give it a try.”

Coca Cola Pollo Lucas sign
The Coca Cola sign with the restaurant name is how you spot it from the street.

The menu is simple: whole chicken, half chicken or quarter chicken. Chicken comes with garnishes of shredded cabbage, onions and home-made tortillas and salsa. Plus rice and beans for 180 pesos or nine dollars for the full chicken meal. That sounds wild right? Maybe I’m off the price for a few dollars.

Menu of Pollo Lucas
The chicken charbroiled on the grill and the menu in pesos.
Charcoal grilled chicken.
Under the grill is charcoal. What a hot job that would be!

My husband insisted on the full chicken, while I said we only needed a half. Boy, am I glad he insisted! We got about three meals plus snacks out of the best chicken I’ve tasted in my life! Juicy charbroiled chicken like I’ve never had before.

The beans, rice, tortillas and salsa were unbelievable, too.

chicken, beans, rice and salsa dinner in Mexico.
A full chicken dinner at Pollo Lucas.
Interior of Pollo Lucas.
The large tables sit under a tall palapas that is open air on several sides.
We shared a table with a Mexican family of several generations and took a ton of food home.
Original Coca Cola in Mexico.
I tried the super syrupy sweet original Coke that’s found in Mexico. Wow!

Yes, we’ll be back. This is at the top of our list for favorite restaurants in our new beach vacation town. Talk about winner winner chicken dinner!

What restaurants have you been to that compare to this find in Mexico? What’s the best chicken you’ve ever had?

More thoughts on Mexico

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Puerto Peñasco signs and buildings.
A view from downtown Puerto Peñasco.

A friend told me she and her husband visited Puerto Peñasco 25 years ago and there was nothing there but a campground. Today, there are giant towers of condos, hotels, restaurants, beach houses and three golf courses. The marina is packed with fishing and pleasure boats.

I wonder what the residents of Puerto Peñasco think about this?

Are they happy because American tourists have turned the town into a flourishing tourist town? Or, do they resent us with our brand new cars driving into town throwing our money around? Maybe they liked the quiet Mexican fishing village pre tourist destination? Or, maybe they like the jobs and opportunities for a higher standard of living? I don’t know.

Here are more photos from our trip last weekend:

Statue of El Camaronero downtown Puerto Peñasco
El Camaronero statue downtown dated 2003.
Shrimp dinner at Pedros Puerto Peñasco
My dinner at Pedro’s. Fresh, delicious and $8.
Pedro's seafood restaurant in Puerto Peñasco
The exterior of Pedro’s restaurant. There were six tables inside and two on the deck overlooking the ocean.
Las Palomas golf and beach resort, pool bar
View of the ocean and pool bar from the condo we rented.
Sandy Beach Condos Puerto Peñasco
A view of Sandy Beach where condo developments have sprung up during the past 20 years. I should have gotten a massage from one of the many vendors lined up on the beach. Next time.

What are your thoughts about Americans coming into a sleepy fishing village and turning it into a tourist destination? Do you think the Mexicans appreciate the changes? Why or why not?

I enjoyed watching pelicans dive into the ocean and catch fish.