There are fish in these balls!

It was past 3:00pm on a Saturday as I was walking my way trying to look for a local favorite street food along the busy streets of what is dubbed as the Athen’s of the Philippines – Molo, Iloilo.

Across the grandiose Molo Plaza, beside Andok’s Chicken is a humble food stall all prepped up and open for business. Three people are busy frying and skewering what seems to be a street food we all love – Fish balls!

Jo-ann's Special Fish Ball

Photo by Jo Andrew Torlao

Slowly, people are coming and going from the stall all gripping and biting into sticks of what is famously known to locals as Jo-ann’s Special Fish Ball. People coming from work or strolling around the plaza all head their way towards the stall to buy a stick or two. Even jeepney drivers pull up near the stall to buy some for themselves.

In the middle of the traffic when the red light lit up, a white car pulled up near the stall and a posh woman rolled down the window from the back seat.  She asked, “Tagpila?” (How Much?). The woman frying fish balls answered that a stick cost 8 pesos. The woman bought a 50 pesos worth of sticks.

I stood there watching while people all reached in with their hands in the stall for a stick. I’ve lived in Iloilo all my life but it is a shame I haven’t tried this famous fish ball. So in my hands to see what I’ve been missing.

What sets Jo-ann’s Fishball apart from all other fish balls? Well that my friends can only be answered using your own mouths. But then if you haven’t tried it, let me share to you how it went for me. As you devour one ball into your mouth, you will tell yourself, “Yup, there’s fish in there somewhere”. And true enough there really is.

Photo by Jo Andrew Torlao

Mrs. Gema Camandero, the owner’s daughter-in-law shared that Jo-ann’s fishball contains real fish bits. Ingredients may include one or two of any of these four fishes:  Bangrus (milkfish), Dubla-dubla, Karaho, and Bulaw. Its unlike other fish balls that the moment you take a bite, you know for sure that you’re only paying for flour and food coloring. Yup, expectations versus reality.

You will also get to taste crisp garlic and onions that makers have finely chopped and made sure are present on every ball. The batter is made fresh everyday and is formed into balls ready to be deep fried in the afternoon.

Not to mention the four levels of sauce you might be interested to try. 4 pitchers sit atop the side of the stall all filled with a yellow sauce.

On your farthest right is sweet – just plain sweet sauce, no challenge at all. 2^nd pitcher is mildly hot – so so. 3^rd is hot – there goes a a bit of a challenge and 4^th is extra hot –good luck with your tongue.

It was fun tasting each sauce. Interesting information: Jo-ann’s does not let you dip your purchased fish balls after you’ve taken a bite into it to ensure their other costumers of good sanitation.  Its all clean and safe!

Jo-ann’s Fish ball has been selling its famous product for 42 years now. Amazingly, It has sent some of it’s proprietor’s children and their own children to school. Today, it has grown into three carts all roaming around Plaza Molo.

What keeps a fish ball business going for 42 years? - Apparently great quality and good service. Nothing lasts this long when people do not patronize it for its excellence. Indeed something fishy is in Jo-ann’s Special Fish ball and its a good a kind of fishy. A delicious kind of fishy.

Jo-ann’s Fish ball is open every day of the week so long as the weather is in good condition. If you haven’t tried it, come and visit them across Plaza Molo beside Andok’s Chicken. They’re open from 3:00pm until late evening.