Curry Fish Balls
37
MIN WALK
180
kcal
1.9 MILES / 3,820 STEPS
Or run it off in 13 minutes.
TL;DR
One Curry Fish Balls: 180 kcal, about 37 min walking or 13 min running at 82kg reference rates.
Quantity
What is it?
Curry fish balls are springy spheres of fish paste, usually made from cheaper white fish blended with flour, simmered in a mild yellow curry sauce and threaded onto a bamboo skewer. They took off from Hong Kong hawker carts in the 1950s.
In Hong Kong, where summer is typically 30°C and humid, they are bought from Mong Kok stalls and 7-Eleven counters as an after-school or late-night bite, often with a dab of chilli sauce. A skewer usually holds six to eight balls.
The texture is bouncy and chewy rather than flaky, and the curry is sweet, lightly spiced and faintly coconut-rich.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to burn off Curry Fish Balls?
At 82kg, one 180 kcal serving takes about 37 minutes walking or 13 minutes running. Your pace and body weight can change that.
Can I split the walk into shorter sessions?
Yes. Several shorter walks at a similar pace add up to the same overall walking time. Watch estimates vary across sessions.
Does the 180 kcal estimate cover every Curry Fish Balls serving?
No. The 180 kcal figure is for the serving shown here. Recipes and portion sizes can differ; check the label or restaurant information for the one you ate.
How we tested
Reference by Y.W. Fung at 82kg with an Apple Watch Ultra. The reference route is a 5.3-mile loop at 3.1 mph walking and 6 mph running; food burn minutes are calculated from calories at those rates, not individually walked off for every food. The reference test date is 2026-05-20. Check the food's listed source and serving.
In Hong Kong, where summers are usually around 30°C and humid, a longer walk in the heat can feel harder than the reference loop shown here.
Full test protocol
Burn table
| Activity | Minutes · selected quantity |
|---|---|
| Walking | 37 min |
| Running 6mph | 13 min |
| Cycling Moderate | 18 min |
| Rucking 20kg | 20 min |
Visual swap
1 Curry Fish Balls = 0.56x Pineapple Bun = 0.38x Brown Sugar Boba Milk = 0.82x Egg Tart
Base serving calorie equivalents; the quantity selector above only scales your selected total.
Nutrition facts
| Portion | Calories | Protein / Carbs / Fat |
|---|---|---|
| 100g | 120 kcal | 6.0g / 12.0g / 6.0g |
| 1 serving | 180 kcal | 9.0g / 18.0g / 9.0g |
| 2 servings | 360 kcal | 18.0g / 36.0g / 18.0g |
1 serving = 150g. Estimated from typical serving - check local label. 100g = 180 kcal x 100 / 150g. Cross-check: USDA FoodData Central.
Real-World Test
Bought a pack of 8 balls (about 150g) at the Temple Street night market, around 30°C and humid. Spicy and chewy, eaten standing up, with an oily curry sauce. The walk afterwards felt about right for what I ate.
