Finding a place to eat in town can be quite a hassle. On some days, I wouldn't want to fork out for a restaurant meal with all the taxes add-on, neither would I want to settle for overly-franchised food courts. Thankfully, I now have an affordable haunt at Somerset, the Imperial Treasure: Windows of HK!
Located at the little known 111 Somerset (previously known as SP Building, I think), the place was a (rather) new venture by the Imperial Treasure Group. Closely imitating the system of HK-style fast food restaurants, the menu for the day was displayed on a large board, which you then order from the counter and wait for it to be delivered to your table.
Iced Milk Tea ($1.70)
Well I guess you guys should know my judging criteria for such cafes by now. And the verdict is two no, three words: Very very authentic. Smooth, rich and suitably sweetened, this was as close as you could get to HK! Even the use of crushed ice fitted to a T. Well my sources told me that the tea chef hailed from the Cafe De Coral chain previously, so that explained the golden standards!
Four Treasure Rice ($6.50), Pork Ribs Winter Melon Soup ($2.50)
The treasures here referred to different selections from the roast corner, and I supposed you could add more treasures if you liked to! The tender charsiew was nicely roasted with a caramelised finishing and the soy sauce chicken was also very well marinated. A pity that my salted egg that day was rather dry and the squid slices were a tad tasteless. Portion was enough to fill me up though!
The soup of the day, on the other hand, was not worth the money. It was just average and came in a rather small bowl, as I subconsciously compared it to an identical one in NTU canteen at triple the volume and cheaper the price.
Hotplate Crispy Noodles with Chicken and Black Pepper Sauce ($9.00)
With a colourful presentation, the sauces sizzled as you poured it over the crunchy noodles. Juicy capsicum, onion and carrot slices accompanied the tender chicken bits. Good stuff!
I also returned on separate occasions to have the Seafood Baked Rice and Curry Beef Brisket Rice. Very satisfying!
Homemade Chilli Sauce
For those who like their food spicy, the in-house chilli sauce packed quite a punch, though I didn't think it had the XO touch.
Red Bean Ice
Part of the hotplate noodles meal, the classic HK dessert drink was creamy and nicely sweetened. Washed everything down well!
Bill for two was $19.70 without additional taxes. Paying exactly what you see on the menu, the place offered true-blue HK fast food at attractive prices, with portions and quality that I could identify with. My regular hangout for a quality cup of milk tea already!
Imperial Treasure: Windows of Hong Kong
#01-K1/24/25
TripleOne Somerset
Tel: 6732 8798
Taken with Nikon D70
7 comments:
I'm so going to try the HK milk tea! Daniel, you mean the menu on the board ain't fixed and changes daily?
bro I think it's SP building. singapore power.
i'm going to try the HK milk tea too!
had fish paste congee and milk tea there last time, pretty good food at reasonable price, relatively quiet too!
Tried the iced milk tea. Wasn't "gao" leh hehe, but was quite nice coz it wasn't too sweet. The ice lemon tea was a major disappointment though, not "gao" enough with a very weak tea flavor. Very tragic lolx.
The menu board looks like 大家樂's!
ice: haha, hot milk tea will be abit more "gao" but for a better iced one, wait till you try Tai Hing in HK then! I'm guessing that the menu rotates periodically to keep the feeling fresh. Much pity about the lemon tea though haha.
Graeme: Ah I think you're right bro. Thanks for pointing that out.
Jer Lin: Yes you should go soon! Lunch, tea or dinner, anytime will be good for a cup of milk tea!
Adel: Ahh.. I guess the lunch crowd will be quite happening, but it sure was quiet during dinner. Haven't try the congee selection yet!
Yu Ying: Yup! Guess they really brought the whole hk fast food experience over. Idea for a club trip eh? ahaha
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