Hidden Treasure: Alicia’s Palapa Restaurant
Tara A. Spears
There’s a special place at the south end of Jaltemba Bay that offers relaxed dining and cocktails with a tropical breeze. It’s as if you step back in time to when livin’ was a slower pace at the family owned and operated Alicia’s Palapa Restaurant. Come wiggle your toes in the sand as you sip a fruit margarita while watching the fishing boats come and go. 
Three generations of the Salas family has worked the ocean and offered tasty fresh fish and shrimp at the shorefront restaurant. “We don’t advertise; we don’t expand because we are simple people,” said granddaughter Alicia Koral. “The restaurant is my family’s life. We are proud of our service, we are proud of the beautiful Mexican ocean view.” This hard working family is at the restaurant seven days a week, from 10:00 am until 6:00 pm all year long. This is excellent news for fulltime residents because the majority of local business close except for the weekend. When it’s too hot to cook? Treat yourself to Enramada Alicia for a delicious hot meal with cooling ocean breeze.
The restaurant’s history is a love story. Sra. Alicia Salas (pictured in restaurant) started out cooking what her father caught each day. She was born in a small mountain village in 1957. Her father and one of his brothers wanted to be commercial fishermen so they came to Jaltemba Bay. By the time Sra. Alicia was a teenager she missed her father and came to live with him in the tiny village of Rincon de Guayabitos. She had to work in order to support herself so Alicia began preparing some of the fish her father brought in each day from fishing. She started selling grilled, smoked fish in a little thatched umbrella on the beach. Alicia fell in love and married young to Luis Lopez Rojasfrom Las Varas. Together they worked the restaurant with Luis as waiter and Alicia the cook.
She worked hard and tried to do better each day. After many years to perfect her secret recipe, Sra. Alicia’s specialty is BBQ fish and fresh oysters. In addition, the restaurant’s menu includes: 8 snacks/ appetizers; 5 types of fresh caught whole fish; 5 styles of fish fillets; 13 styles of shrimp dishes. Alicia added a full service bar in 2008, perfect after walking down the beach.
The demand for Alicia’s cooking grew. In 1973 she and her father were able to acquire the land that is the site of the present day restaurant. Alicia Palapa is one of the original businesses from before the many hotels, bungalows and all-inclusive resorts existed. Look at the following photos from the past: circa 1960s; 1970s, 1980s, present.
She is a very modest woman but Sra. Alicia has much to be proud of. Not only did she start and successfully run a business, she also raised five children. “Family is everything!” she said during the interview. Only two of her children followed into the business: her son Victor and her youngest child, Alicia Koral. She has 11 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild but she has no intention of retiring.
While many visitors to the area aren’t aware of Alicia’s Palapa Restaurant, you might have heard of Alicia’s Eco-Tours. After 17 years of commercial fishing, Koral’s grandfather, Captain Tony, began to take people to deep sea fish and touring around Jaltemba Bay’s interesting beaches that can’t be reached by car. Due to his out-going personality and intimate knowledge of the best fishing spots, Captain Tony was respected as a great guide. He has many customers that return year after year to fish and have fun in the boat.
Koral began working in the restaurant at age 12, doing whatever was needed. She inherited the gregarious family personality and love of the ocean. As the area drew more and more international visitors, Koral realized the need to speak other languages. She took private English lessons for several years and is now fluent. Although she doesn’t have formal business training, she is one savvy business woman. Alicia K took over the tour component of the family business in 2007 and expanded the tour services offered. She compiled a comprehensive brochure listing a description of available tours as well as business cards and a Facebook page. “I am so fortunate to be able to do what I love- work with my family and make lots of friends!” said Koral. “I give personal service and work hard to ensure that the guests enjoy the tour. It is fulfilling to share the natural beauty of Mexico.”
The whale watching tours are excellent during the months of December-March. Any month is great to take the day trip to Coral Island for snorkleling and picknicking. Of course chartering a boat to go fishingon the Pacific Ocean is wonderful any time. You can get more information by email: aliciastours25@hotmail.com or go to Facebook: Alicia’s eco-Tours Guayabitos.
It may be off the beaten path but dining at Alicia’s Palapa or letting Koral arrange a fun activity for you is one of Guayabitos hidden treasures. Enjoy this slice of authentic Mexico: simple, good, family oriented. Koral’s smile says it all: “If you want to be on the beach, enjoying the sun, sand, breezes, peace, food, drinks or something else…come and meet us, we will share with you our paradise!”
