“There’s nothing there” was the standard reply whenever I told someone that I went to Lalaport BBCC on my day off. It was true that the main reason I occasionally visited the mall was that parking was easy. It was usually uncrowded, despite having some interesting shops.

Then I discovered Hock Kee Kopitiam at Tuah 1895, located adjacent to Lalaport BBCC. 

I liked the Chinese coffee shop menu, which ranges from light breakfast to hearty meals. It was a good place to stop for a drink after a day of mall hopping or when hungry. Just mind the lunch crowd. The place is packed at lunch. 

Although the price tag was on the high side, especially with the addition of 6% tax and a 10% service charge, the excellent service at Hock Kee Kopitiam alone made up for it. The servers are attentive and accommodating. 

There were several Hock Kee Kopitiam locations around the country, most of them in high-end areas. The one at Tuah 1895 opened daily from 9am to 10pm.