July 30, 2018 Iloilo
Edmund’s friends Stef and Woody heard that we wanted to eat pancit molo so they brought us to Kap Esing’s reputedly one of the bests if not the best pancit molo in Iloilo. The locals are the most reliable authority when it comes to finding the best local dishes.
We went inside a residential compound with old structures. I would have never thought that delicious pancit molo could be found here.
I didn’t know what to expect but after seeing the surroundings, I lowered my expectations yet still keeping an open mind. Growing up in Binangonan prepared me for situations like this. Hindi ako sosyal.
I saw trays of what looked like wonton wrappers being dried under the sun.
There was no restaurant or a carinderia-looking structure. There was only a long wooden table and monobloc chairs sa gilid ng isang bahay in the compound. Lucky for me there was some breeze and the sky was partially cloudy.
Step and Woody knew what to order right away. Pancit molo and fresh lumpia sa ubod.
Kap Esing’s pancit molo was worth our visit. It was served hot and very flavorful. The fresh lumpia ubod was also very delicious. I was sweating from the sun’s heat and from eating three bowls of molo broth.
I think it’s no surprise that Kap Esing supplies the bulk of its pancit molo to many other restaurants. They don’t actually have a space in this residential compound that qualifies as a restaurant or carinderia. What they have are dilapidated areas used as food commissary.
If you see this place and you haven’t lived or immersed in a poor community, you would not dare come here to eat. Kap Esing’s, with their popularity and growing demand, should start cleaning up and improving their food preparation areas. Their pancit molo and lumpia ubod are hands down delicious and deserving of patronage. In the same token, customers deserve assurance that their favorite molo is prepared in clean, sanitary and orderly surroundings.
