Imperial Treasure Fine Teochew Cuisine, ION Orchard

We ended up in this Michelin starred branch of Imperial Treasure Fine Teochew Cuisine (#03-05 ION Orchard, 2 Orchard Turn, tel : +65 6736 2118) because our favourite branch at Guoco Tower has stopped serving dim sum. Heard that it was due to shortage of chefs. Hearsay.

While we have been curious about what made this outpost deserving of a star, we've never made the effort until today - because we no longer had much of a choice.

Kung fu tea, fermented bean chilli sauce and picked mustard greens. These were part of the reasons why we come back even though we don't talk much about them

We've had their double boiled pig's stomach soup with salted vegetables and peppercorn previously. Seem to recall it being more peppery but this was also nicely done with tender chewy pig's stomach and fall off the bone pork ribs in the soup.

Competent 凤爪 steamed with black bean sauce that was slurp off the bone tender. We never expected any less for this dish from Imperial Treasure.

Steamed radish cake like what we usually prefer from them.

Got a basket of their Teochew siew mai instead of the Cantonese one that we normally do. These were lightly flavoured with dried sole (ti poh).

Nice fluffy char siew bao that were piping hot with the sweet saucy bbq pork fillings. 

Har gow - not bad.

Nicely done mushroom dumplings with great mushroom flavour.

Today's Teochew chai por kuey teow was a bit nicer than their rendition we had previously at Guoco. There appeared to be more chai por, the kuey teow was more tender and also more nicely browned. Delicious with black vinegar, their fermented bean chilli sauce and both. Or neither.

Tender, fluffy and light ma lai ko. For the best texture, you'd have to eat them freshly served as they are steamed on order and cool rapidly upon serving. The burns on your fingers, lips and tongue are known and accepted risks. 😂

Scalding hot egg tarts with ethereal custard and buttery crusts.

Orh nee was also pretty good. Texture of the yam was smooth. If only there was some aromatic oil to it...