Imperial Treasure

The Imperial Treasure brand might not yet be well-known in the UK but it’s a huge deal in Asia, where the Shanghai flagship holds two Michelin stars and the Hong Kong and Singapore branches have one each; 20 further restaurants extend to Guangzhou, South Korea and a Paris outpost scheduled for 2019.

It’s the sort of heritage that means the brand’s founder Alfred Leung has had the confidence to launch a three-storey restaurant occupying 8,500 square feet of prime St James’s real estate. And with a 25-year lease, Leung is in London for the long haul.

That confidence is well and truly deserved. For make no mistake: Imperial Treasure is the best Chinese restaurant to have opened in London since A Wong. Wagyu beef, Iberico pork, Scottish lobster and sea cucumber feature heavily, while Peking duck is carved tableside with all the theatre you would expect. But there are plenty of other treasures on the menu.

Dim sum contains superior ingredients encased in the most delicate of wrappings. Classics of har gau and cheung fun set a new benchmark for London (try the char siu cheung fun, which tastes of the most beautiful barbecued spare-rib meat imaginable) while there are new treats to discover such as the snow pork bun: basically a sugary, savoury doughnut that, like all of the cooking here, keeps the balance of salty and sweet in perfect balance. Then there’s prawn toast served as a fat coil of deep-fried king prawn encrusted with sesame.  

Full-sized dishes are handled just as deftly – kung po prawn keeps its chilli heat in check as deftly as any temperature-controlled thermostat – while lemon chicken is reinvented as juicy blocks of breast meat, coated in almond flakes and with a citrus-sharp lemon sauce on the side – although we preferred a blob of chilli sauce for seasoning. Even the fried rice would make a sumptuous meal by itself.

None of this comes cheap (the Peking duck is £100, dim sum around £8 a plate), but nor would you expect it to: the setting is luxurious without being ostentatious and there’s an army of solicitous staff to cater to your every need. Our only criticism was that the gap between dishes at lunch seemed to drag – but at these prices and with this quality of food, this is a ceremonial experience that you won’t want to rush.

Imperial Treasure in St James’s brings world-class Chinese fine dining to the heart of London. Part of the internationally acclaimed Imperial Treasure group, whose Shanghai flagship holds two Michelin stars, the restaurant is known for exceptional craftsmanship, premium ingredients and a luxurious yet welcoming atmosphere.

The dining room is sleek and moody with dark walls, soft amber lighting and a rich palette of black, cream and muted green. Leather seating and refined contemporary touches create an elegant backdrop for dates, business dinners or special occasions.

The kitchen is led by Executive Chef Wee Boon Goh, a specialist in authentic Cantonese fine dining. His signature Peking duck is the restaurant’s centrepiece, roasted using traditional methods and carved tableside with meticulous precision.

The a la carte menu spans appetisers such as caviar on egg white with crab meat, dim sum platters and salt and pepper squid. Cold dishes include marinated foie gras with bean curd, while the barbecue selection features Cantonese roasted duck and crispy Berkshire pork belly. 

Premium seafood is a major draw with dishes like braised whole South African abalone, Norwegian king crab and sauteed lobster with black truffle. Meat dishes include poached wagyu beef and there are refined vegetable plates such as poached spinach with trio egg in superior broth. Desserts range from double boiled bird’s nest with rock sugar to steamed charcoal buns with custard.

Guests can also enjoy a weekday lunch set menu, a dedicated dim sum menu and chef’s recommendations, which include Scottish razor clam, steamed porcupine buns with red bean paste and steamed chilli sea bass with yellow bean sauce.

With impeccable service, exquisite food and a polished setting, Imperial Treasure stands as one of St James’s finest destinations for Chinese fine dining.