economie

The creator of the viral Dubai chocolate bar says it’s changed her life. After tracking down 3 different versions in NYC, I understand why.

September 7, 20240
New York-based restaurant Chocolate House’s recreation of the viral chocolate bar.

Priyanka Rajput/Business Insider

I came across this dessert shop, which has six locations in New York City while scrolling through Instagram. I saw that, in addition to selling the chocolate, they had remixed the pistachio cream and toasted kataifi — shredded phyllo pastry used to make kunafa — flavors to create pistachio chocolate crepes and waffles.

I picked up the chocolate from its Astoria location, where it costs $8.99, excluding tax.

The bar came wrapped in a clear cellophane with a gold clip on top and felt soft, not firm.
The chocolate bar from Chocolate House.

Priyanka Rajput/Business Insider

While I usually opt for dark chocolate, I also enjoy the occasional milk option when mixed with nuts or berries. And though this chocolate combined both, it didn’t seem to get the balance of flavors right. When I broke the bar in half, I also did not get the crunch or snap that I watched on scores of TikTok videos.

However, if you’re new to Middle Eastern desserts and would prefer a largely American flavor profile with hints of kataifi and pistachio, then this chocolate bar might be the one for you.

I also tried a version of the chocolate bar from the Nuts Factory. This was my second favorite.
The chocolate bar from Nuts Factory.

Priyanka Rajput/Business Insider

At first glance, the chocolate felt firm and had an even tone throughout, which suggested its base was tempered.

Din Allall, the CEO, told BI the chocolate is sourced from Belgium, the pistachio cream from Italy, and the kataifi from Greece.

As per tradition set online, I did the snap test by breaking the bar in half and was instantly satisfied by its sound.

The bar is also quite big — equivalent to four chocolate bars stacked — making it ideal for sharing with friends or family.

The bar was rich and crunchy, but I wish the chocolate and pistachio flavors had been better balanced to complement each other.
The chocolate bar from Mokafe had the perfect balance of all flavors, and so was my favorite.

Priyanka Rajput/Business Insider

Just across from the Chocolate House in Astoria is a small specialty coffee shop, Mokafe, that’s most popular for its premium Yemeni coffee blends but is also selling the famous chocolate bars.

So naturally, I walked across the street and managed to get the last remaining bar of dark chocolate for $9.36, excluding tax.

The bar came wrapped in branded cellophane and had a white chocolate glaze.
Mokafe’s chocolate bar had a nice, crunchy exterior that snapped when broken in half and a creamy interior.

Priyanka Rajput/Business Insider

One of the reasons this bar stood out to me was its use of roasted kataifi, a texture and flavor profile I could taste well and that integrated nicely with the pistachio cream.

The other reason, of course, was that this was the first place that used dark chocolate instead of milk, which I felt helped balance the overall sweetness.

Although the chocolate wasn’t 100% dark and had hints of sugar, it still paired better, in my opinion.

Each shop added a unique spin to the original bar, and I can understand why the indulgent dessert is such a hit.
In addition to “Can’t Get Knafeh of It,” Fix Dessert Chocolatier’s most popular flavor, the shop offers five other choices, including Lotus cheesecake and salted pretzels.

Fix Dessert Chocolatier

If I were to buy one of these bars again, Mofake would be my first choice, but all the bars offered a distinct experience, from melt-in-your-mouth smoothness to a delicate crunch.

Each shop provided a unique spin on the original bar from Dubai’s Fix Dessert Chocolatier and offered chocolate enthusiasts a variety of flavors, types, and textures to pick from — all without having to travel 7,000 miles across the ocean.