Whether you were looking for it or not, the Dubai chocolate trend has probably appeared somewhere on your feed over the last year. It’s hard to tear your eyes away from these pistachio cream and kataifi-stuffed chocolate bars, which make for an epic blend of textures and flavors for anyone with a sweet tooth. Luckily for us, Bay Area chocolatiers have jumped on the trend in numerous ways, from recreating the chocolate bars to incorporating the flavors into other sweet treats. Read on for a breakdown of how and where to try Dubai chocolate in San Francisco.
What is Dubai chocolate?
The Dubai chocolate trend originated from Fix Dessert Chocolatier, which is helmed by British-Egyptian entrepreneur Sarah Hamouda. The luxurious chocolate bar called “Can’t Get Knafeh Of It” typically comes as a milk chocolate shell stuffed with pistachio cream, kataifi (crispy shredded phyllo pastry), and tahini paste. It’s inspired by the Middle Eastern dessert knafeh, which is made with shredded phyllo dough and sugar-based syrup with various flavors. Viral videos of the chocolate show people snapping them open to reveal the green pistachio filling and doing taste tests.
Fix Dessert Chocolatier is based in, well, Dubai—but they do offer worldwide delivery for minimum orders of $150. However, if that price is feeling a little steep, you can still get a taste of the Dubai chocolate trend in San Francisco…
Where can I find Dubai chocolate in and near San Francisco?
A handful of Bay Area chocolatiers, home bakers, coffee shops, and cafes have jumped on the Dubai chocolate trend since it began last year. Even SF’s chocolate authority Ghirardelli offered a 1-time-only Dubai chocolate sundae that brought a massive crowd last month.
The following Bay Area businesses are reported to be selling Dubai chocolate (bar or otherwise), based on what we could find from news articles, blogs, Reddit, Instagram comments, and the like. Many of these are small-batch bakers and online businesses, so make sure you reach out to them directly to see when and where they’re serving Dubai chocolate.
Charles Chocolates
San Francisco – This online bakery in SF ships their “Dubai Done Better” bars all over the country. Available flavors are Original Pistachio, Pistachio Bittersweet Chocolate Ganache, and Pistachio Milk Chocolate Caramel.
🌐 Website: Charles Chocolates
The Candy Store
San Francisco – They’ve gotten ahold of Oasis Treasures’ Dubai chocolate bars a few times. Check their socials or get in touch to see if it’s in stock.
🌐 Website: The Candy Store
Tiny Croissanterie
San Francisco – This small-batch French-Asian bakery pops up around the Bay Area serving delicious pistachio and Dubai chocolate croissants.
🌐 Website: Tiny Croissanterie
Abu Salim Middle Eastern Grill
San Francisco – In July 2024, they introduced chocolate kunafa bars to their menu for a limited time. You can call ahead to see if they’re still making them.
🌐 Website: Abu Salim Middle Eastern Grill
LeVant Dessert
Menlo Park – This Lebanese Bakery creates delicious Arabic pastries including Dubai chocolate, which they’ve also incorporated into a pistachio chocolate cheesecake.
🌐 Website: LeVant Dessert
Hanna’s Chocolates
Pleasanton – This small family-owned business produces luxurious Dubai chocolate bars which often come in creative flavors and variations.
🌐 Instagram: @hannaschocolates
Eats Cha Cha Cha
Fairfield – These Knafeh Pistachio Chocolate bars come in milk, dark and ube flavors. Pre-order for pick-up all over the Bay Area.
🌐 Instagram: @eatschachacha
The Xocolate Bar
Berkeley – Their Dubai chocolate bites are in high demand, as are the “Dubai Bunnies” they created for Easter.
🌐 Website: The Xocolate Bar
San Jose Candy Kitchen
San Jose – This small chocolate business is creating delicious Dubai chocolate bars, plus variations—try the cup of fresh strawberries topped with pistachio kataifi and chocolate ganache, or the chocolate-dipped pistachio kataifi-filled dates.
🌐 Instagram: @sanjosecandykitchen
Koko Kunafa
San Jose – Depending on availability, you can order Dubai chocolate in pistachio and Biscoff flavors from this online bakery.
🌐 Website: Koko Kunafa
Blissberry Choco
Santa Clara – This small Instagram bakery specializes in chocolate-covered strawberries, but they also sell a delicious Dubai chocolate bar.
🌐 Instagram: @blissberry_choco
Good Thing Coffee
Burlingame – Pick up a delicious Dubai chocolate cookie from this small artisan coffee shop.
🌐 Instagram: @goodthing.coffee
Mama Sona’s
Castro Valley – Small-batch baker Sona Bedrosian makes Dubai chocolate hearts that are available for delivery.
🌐 Instagram: @mama_sonas
aL chocoLat Boutique
Campbell – Order a Dubai Pistachio Baklava Bar for pick-up or delivery, plus dozens of other sweet treats.
🌐 Website: aL chocoLat Boutique
C’est Si Bon Bakery
San Jose – Enjoy custom cakes, cupcakes, cookies, and Persian sweets from this local bakery. Their Dubai chocolate cake and strawberry cups are to die for.
🌐 Website: C’est Si Bon Bakery
Milyar Arabian Coffee
Berkeley – They posted about serving Dubai chocolate back in August 2024.
🌐 Instagram: @milyarcafes
Can I make my own Dubai chocolate?
Yes, in fact, the trend of making your own Dubai chocolate has also grown on social media lately. It involves getting your hands on a chocolate bar mold, kataifi pastry, pistachio butter, and tahini, plus other simpler ingredients like chocolate and butter. Here are a few tutorials to follow in case you want to give it a shot…
Would you try the viral Dubai chocolate bar?