In North America, we're so used to seeing bowls, plates, or cups overflowing with food and drink, that anything less is often considered inadequate.

But it can actually be a sign of a different kind of generosity.

In fact, Kaiyu Lin decided to name her forthcoming eatery after precisely that: 3 Quarters Full.

In an interview at her new premises under construction at the Denman Mall, Lin explained that from her experience making Americanos as a barista, people often complained when they received their cup only three-quarters full.

That space, she said, was actually to provide room for customers to fill their coffee with whatever they wanted to, such as cream or sugar.

Consequently, the name symbolizes the space Lin hopes to provide for, and involve, her customers at her new venture.

"There's another quarter left for me to listen to my customers," she said. "I'm not full, like four out of four, of myself where I don't listen to any other people. This is a name to remind myself to listen to other people."

3 Quarters Full, at 1789 Comox Street, inhabits the space in the Denman Mall once occupied by Seventeen89 and West End mainstay Delilah's.

The stylish shop covers 1,800 square feet and features industrial décor with a variety of seating arrangements including counters and tables for about 50 people.

Lin, who hails from Taiwan, hopes to bring more of Taiwanese café cuisine to Vancouver.

There'll be plenty of baked goods to choose from, including the naidong roll, a Taiwanese cake roll; freshly baked fusion bread, such as black sugar loaf and square loaves; Japanese-style cheesecake (which is lighter than North American–style); handmade almond crisp (sold by weight due to varying sizes); and pineapple cake.

Taiwanese buns will be available in a multitude of flavours, including red bean, raisin, pineapple, taro, black sesame, green onion, and a house bun which will have cranberry, walnut, or pumpkin seed.

There'll also be traditional Taiwanese recipe street food, such as gua bao, steamed buns with pork belly, crushed peanuts, and cilantro; basil popcorn chicken; and hometown soup (traditional soup with chicken broth, white radish, and Taiwanese meatball).

In the mornings, an early-bird sandwich combo will be available for $6, featuring Taiwanese-style breakfast sandwiches with coffee. Two types of sandwiches: club sandwiches (with ham) or dry crispy pork floss sandwich. Both will have eggs, ham, Japanese cucumber, pepper, and house mayonnaise.

To prevent traffic jams with lineups, the cash register and bread and cake display are separate from the coffee bar.

Speaking of the latter, there'll be everything from tea lattes to cappuccinos, as well as mochas and hot chocolate made from Belgian chocolate.

But there'll also be Taiwanese takes on caffeine culture.

Instead of London fog, there'll be a Taipei fog and there'll also be a Taiwanese specialty: iced sea salt coffee, which features a creamy layer of sea salt on top of the coffee. And of course, as this is a Taiwanese shop, a variety of bubble tea flavours will also be on hand, such as taro, peach, or lychee.

The soft opening will take place on Tuesday (October 5). Needless to say, there'll be plenty of space for customers to check out what they have on offer.