In a city renowned for its luxury market, it makes sense that chocolate is wrapped in gold and filled with flavors as rich as the skyline. Dubai chocolate has piqued international curiosity, becoming a viral sensation on the internet. The most popular version of the famous chocolate bar contains a pistachio‑rich cream filling with crispy shredded filo or kadaifi that creates the iconic crunchy texture. The decadent, creamy paste is then coated in silky chocolate, offering the perfect melt-in-your-mouth crunch. With inspiration from both Middle Eastern and French culinary traditions, Dubai chocolate might be the most cultured thing you will ever put in your mouth.
Recently, I went on an excursion with my housemate, EJ Johnson ‘26, to the boujee 7/11 gas station on Main St. in Canton. It was there, on the right side of the checkout counter, that they lay: several bars of Dubai chocolate. Though they looked enticing, we were ardently warned of the high cost of each bar by the clerk. Our minds buzzed as loud as the fly circling overhead with the question; is this bar worth the price? Well, you’ll never guess what we carried out of that 7/11….
Here’s how the debrief went:
Simone: “Can you talk to me a little bit about your experience with Dubai chocolate? Just your emotions and your feelings towards it?”
EJ: “So, the first time I tried Dubai chocolate was with dear Simone here, yesterday? Yeah, which was the 21 of October, 2025. My first reaction was that we spent $20 on it, which is a lot of money. So, I must be referred to as its co-parent in this interview. My second reaction was that it was delicious. Scrumptious, absolutely everything that I could have ever dreamed of. I think that there could have been some more complexity with the flavors. They were all very similar tones, if that makes sense.”
Simone: “Please elaborate.”
EJ: “Like, when you’re painting—I’ve been painting a lot recently—there are different colors that are different shades, but when you turn everything grey, they are actually the same tone. I feel like the chocolate and the pistachio are the same tone of different food [groups], which makes them blend and mix very nicely in terms of flavors, but at the same time, I feel like there could have been a little somethin’ somethin’ different.”
Simone: “What flavor would you suggest?”
EJ: “No idea.”
Simone: “You don’t know, it’s a mystery flavor?”
EJ: “Yeah. Or like, maybe I would prefer it with a darker chocolate—enhance the chocolatey flavor—pump up BOTH of the flavors.”
Simone: “Did you have any expectations going into this experience?”
EJ: “I mean, I’ve heard all the good ravings about Dubai chocolate. I feel like it kind of lived up to its potential, but also it was $20. It was delicious, scrumptious, of course, but like, $20… and it gave me a really bad tummy ache.”
Simone: “Is there anything else you would like to say that I didn’t ask you?”
EJ: “Despite the $20 price tag, I have no regrets. Because if I didn’t get this Dubai chocolate, I would have spent the rest of my life thinking, ‘What does it taste like?!’ and now I know!”
All of a sudden, our lovely housemate, Kayla Larrabee ‘27, walked into the living room. In a fit of excitement, I hopped to my feet to interrogate Kayla on her opinion on the hedonistic confection.
Simone: “What is your preconceived knowledge about Dubai chocolate? What do you know about it?”
Kayla: “I know that it was very popular around social media, TikTok and Instagram, and that it’s pistachio-flavored, and it takes a long time to make.”
Simone: “Do you have any strong feelings towards it?”
Kayla: “Not a ton, I do wanna try it at some point. But –”
Simone: “Yeah, do you wanna try it right now?”
Kayla: “Suuuure.”
Simone: “We’ll get your live reaction.”
Kayla (preparing to eat the Dubai chocolate): “Oh wow! I’m afraid I’m gonna hate it.”
Simone: “You’re not allergic to pistachios?”
Kayla: “No, I’m not.”
Simone: “Ok, awesome… This is the last slice… Do you want the rest, EJ?”
EJ: “No, no thanks.”
Kayla (eating the Dubai chocolate): “It’s fine. I wouldn’t spend a lot of money on it.”
Simone: “Would you spend $20 on it?”
Kayla: “ABSOLUTELY not.”
EJ: “Guess how much we spent on it.”
Kayla: “$20?”
EJ: “YUP.”
Simone: “SURE DID.”
EJ: “It’s only $10 each, though. That’s not–”
Simone: “Yeah, cuz we co-parent this.”
Kayla: “It’s like– it’s not– I don’t think it’s worth the hype.”
Simone: “Really?”
Kayla: “No…”
If any single one of you were inspired to try Dubai chocolate after reading this, email me a selfie immediately at sorout23@stlawu. If enough of you do so, this will become a regularly recurring weekly series that YOU could be featured in!