Hock Kee Kopitiam — Restaurant in Kuala Lumpur

Hock Kee Kopitiam’s concept of a “yamcha” (饮茶) spot, reminiscent of the good old days when Malaysians of all backgrounds would gather to catch up, strikes a chord in everyone’s heart - especially if you're an old-timer like me.

The Chinese name of Hock Kee Kopitiam, 福气安康, is a clever tweak that forms an auspicious phrase meaning “good fortune, prosperity, peace, and good health.”

The kopitiam’s design theme aims to recreate a nostalgic throwback to the spirit of muhibbah (harmony), when life was simpler and communal spirit thrived.

During my visit, I only had an iced coffee (RM5.50), which was creamy, delicious and refreshing - especially after hours of exploring Bukit Bintang City Centre (BBCC). So, this review is more about the vibe of the place rather than an in-depth take on its food.

Hock Kee provided a welcome respite - a pit stop for both physical rest and a quick recharge for devices.

Located in Tuah 1895 (one of BBCC’s key components), it offers a front-row view of the buzzing Jalan Hang Tuah and the monorail trains pulling in and out of Hang Tuah station with almost clockwork precision.

Building on the success of its first kopitiam in Taman Molek, Johor Bahru, Hock Kee has now expanded to nine outlets - five in JB and four in KL.

The menu features all the usual kopitiam staples, with an emphasis on “nostalgic flavors of Malaysian and Nanyang delicacies.”

I’ll have to revisit (perhaps another Hock Kee outlet for a different perspective) to try one of their signature items - nasi lemak, laksa, steamed chicken rice, sunshine egg tart or hor ka sai.

You can bet I’ll be writing about it when I do.

Note: This visit was in late...

The food here leans heavily towards sweetness, which might not appeal to local palates. It falls short of expectations in terms of authentic flavors. The portion sizes are reasonable for the price, so it's not overly expensive. The indoor air conditioning is ineffective, leaving the space feeling humid and hot.

While the interior design initially evokes a local kopitiam aesthetic, the actual experience deviates significantly from the authentic kopitiam atmosphere.

Despite the kopitiam-inspired interior, the overall experience fails to replicate the genuine kopitiam feel.

Response to Hock Kee:

Catering to diverse public tastes is a constant challenge, as preferences vary widely. Continuous improvement and finding the right balance are essential. Therefore, ongoing refinement and the pursuit of an optimal balance are crucial.

A prevalent drawback in a considerable portion of Malaysian culinary offerings is the tendency towards excessive sweetness, which can sometimes overshadow other nuanced flavors.

A decision not to voice any concerns immediately stemmed from the realization that the employees present were limited in their ability to enact change while the manager/cashier of a local Chinese heritage, maintained such a perpetually grim countenance that the prospect of engaging in a positive and constructive communication...

Always want to try Hock kee kopitiam and this is our first time .

Ordered kopi bing , curry laksa , egg tart and mee siam fried chicken .

Kopi Bing is kinda blend . I can barely taste the aroma of coffee and I think quite off for me . I actually didn’t order less sweet because we want to try the original taste of hock kee kopi but this abit disappointing.

Egg tart (rm4.8) The shell of egg tart is not that crispy and don’t have buttery taste .The egg custard filling is way too little . You can see from the picture . It’s not too sweet so I think is okay .

Mee siam fried chicken Mee siam is above average not oily at all . Love the fried chicken kinda flavourful and it’s similar to Oriental Kopi . Sambal too sweet for my taste bud . BTW ,This portion is kinda big can be sharing .

Curry laksa The superb thick version of curry . Not a typical version we had before. But I enjoyed this curry . We ordered thick mihun ( this is similar to laifen) . Quite interesting .

You don’t have to wait for your food which is good . But there’s too many flies flying around .. And too many workers around measuring and passing by which is annoying and noisy . Keep moving furniture or a lot of staff discussing and walking around . Hardly enjoy your meal .

The good spot of the kopitiam keep full of workers so you will find difficult to snap a good...