Imperial Treasure Fine Chinese Cuisine London

Traditional Cantonese, refined style

Cantonese roasted duck

For overseas restaurant brands entering the UK market, one of the biggest questions is always going to be, do I adapt my offering to suit the local taste, or do I stay true to my core and offer what has worked in my local market? I recalled when Imperial Treasure first opened in the UK, the menu was more or less the same compared to what they got in Asia. The traditional Cantonese style and Peking duck are what they are known for, the dim sum here doesn't look a great deal different from what you can find in Chinatown at half the price. What set them apart is their taste, and that matters to its main target audience, which is the Asian community in the UK.

Baked char siu buns

Xiao long bao

Visually, the dim sum here is very standard, but gosh the taste is another story. The har gow had a lovely crisp taste from the bamboo and the well-marinated prawn, the prawn was chunky instead of using prawn paste which is a norm in many Chinese restaurants in the UK. The Cantonese roasted duck I would say is perhaps the best in London, the skin is still crispy which is not the case in many other places. The meat was tender and had a deep flavour from the five spices and soy sauce, and was cooked to just the right level. While everyone raves about the Peking duck at Imperial Treasure (which is also outstanding), I found the Cantonese duck here is just as good, and if not better, and at only £38, compare to £100 for the Peking duck.

Siu mei

har gow

This is my 7th visit, and there is a reason why I head back every once in a while, similar to China Tang, the cooking is not creative or exciting, but it does manage to do the traditional things really well. Visually it might not be anything fancy or attractive, but if you are really into Cantonese cuisine and have encountered it in China, you will know Imperial Treasure is for sure a step above many China Town restaurants, and that is down to using finer ingredients with a better-skilled group of chefs. Not the cheapest place for sure, but if you are smart in your food selection (avoid seafood), it should cost you around £60 per person if you skip drinks.

Food 3.5/5


Average cost without drinks and services:
£60

9 Waterloo Pl, St. James's, London SW1Y 4BE

https://www.imperialtreasure.com/