I find myself here again eating one of my comfort foods in Iloilo City. The restaurant is called Kap Ising’s Pancit Molo. The food is pancit molo. I’m drawn to it like a moth to a flame. My original plan was to go to Ayalla Atria District Park to buy groceries in Metro Supermarket; a short walk away from where I live in Avida Towers Atria. But, on the way is the restaurant. And just like that, I take the short detour, sat at a table, and ordered. I confess that it’s not the first time this week.
I scan the one-page menu, but I already know what to buy. I get 2 orders of pancit molo (65 pesos each), 1 order of puto that comes with 3 pieces (20 pesos), and iced tea (38 pesos). At 170 cm or 5’7” ft and 72 kg, I’m not a big person. But one order of pancit molo is not enough to fill me up. I need two. The waitress arrives with a small cooking pot with a small, metal ladle along with a bowl and spoon. The puto, wrapped in clear plastic, is placed on a small plate. I break up the puto and mix it into the bowl. This will add a little sweetness to the soup. The waitress, also, places complimentary water along with my order of iced tea.
The pancit molo is hot, and the dumplings are soft and delicious. The soup looks milky, and it tastes like liquefied, concentrated wonton wrappers. Kap Ising’s version has chicken and shrimp mixed in. All these ingredients together create a unique flavor. I personally never had anything like it before. I can't compare it to anything. The taste is not over-powering and has the same comforting feeling you get from eating chicken soup.
The name pancit molo is misleading. There is no pancit (Tagalog for noodles) and it’s a soup. It is made of pork dumplings using wonton wrappers. The wonton wrappers are the substitute for the pancit. Molo is the district in Iloilo City where this dish was created. The district historically was the place where Chinese residents lived during the Philippines Spanish rule. Back then, Iloilo City was one of a few places in the Philippines where it had a large population of Chinese residents who traded with the locals and Spanish rulers. It is the 2nd oldest Chinatown in the Philippines. Kap Ising Pancit Molo’s version has been around since the 1920s at their original location in Molo.
Kap Ising, also, has other things in their limited menu. In other visits, I’ve bought the empanada and lumpia shanghai to accompany the soup. They were ok. Nothing to brag about. They do have frozen products and small bakery with Biscocho (Filipino buttered or garlic breadsticks) to buy to go. I haven’t tried those but strongly considering buying the frozen pancit molo balls. Does it come with the soup or just dumplings? I wonder. I’ll have to buy it and update this blog.
I quickly eat my meal. It only takes a few minutes from my initial order to the waitress delivering the food. I was in and out within 30 minutes. This place is small and usually crowded. I came after 5 pm so was not as packed. I’ve learned to come during the morning or after 5 pm to avoid lunch rush-hour starting at 10 am. The branch in Atria District Park closes until 10 pm. I pay for the meal for the total cost of 188 pesos or 3.75 dollars. I give the waitress 200 pesos and leave the change as the tip. I then walk a few steps to Metro Supermarket where I buy my groceries.
Restaurant Info:
Kap Ising's Pancit Molo
Atria Ayala Park District, Donato Pison Avenue, San Rafael, Mandurriao, Iloilo
Directions from Avida Towers Atria:
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