If you have spent any time on TikTok or Instagram over the last couple of years, you have seen it: a thick bar of chocolate snapped in half, revealing a bright green pistachio filling and a crackle of golden pastry. That is Dubai chocolate, and it has gone from a single shop in the UAE to dessert menus all over the world. At Mr Max in Riverwood, we put it on a waffle.
Here is everything you need to know about the Dubai chocolate waffle, where the trend came from, and where to try one in Sydney.
Where did Dubai chocolate come from?
Dubai chocolate started with Fix Dessert Chocolatier, a small chocolate business in Dubai founded by British-Egyptian entrepreneur Sarah Hamouda. The story goes that in 2021, while she was pregnant, Sarah was craving something sweet and nothing in Dubai quite hit the spot. So she made her own: a chocolate bar filled with pistachio cream and crunchy knafeh pastry, cheekily named Can’t Get Knafeh of It.
For a while it was a local favourite. Then Ukrainian food creator Maria Vehera posted a video of herself breaking one open and eating it on TikTok, and the clip racked up well over 100 million views. Almost overnight, “Dubai chocolate” became a global dessert trend, with chocolate brands, bakeries and dessert bars everywhere creating their own versions.
What is kataifi, and why is it so crunchy?
The secret to Dubai chocolate is kataifi (also spelled kadayif), a shredded pastry made from very fine strands of dough. It is the same pastry used to make knafeh, a much-loved dessert across the Middle East. Knafeh has a long history: according to Smithsonian Magazine, the earliest recorded recipe appears in a 13th-century cookbook from Baghdad.
When kataifi is toasted, the strands turn golden and shatter when you bite into them. Mixed with a smooth, nutty pistachio cream and wrapped in chocolate, you get that signature combination of crunch, cream and chocolate that made the bar famous.
What is in a Dubai chocolate waffle?
A Dubai chocolate waffle takes all the flavours of the viral bar and loads them onto a warm, freshly made waffle. At Mr Max, our Dubai Chocolate Waffles are made with:
- a golden waffle, cooked to order
- crunchy toasted kataifi pastry
- tahini
- your choice of pistachio cremino, Lotus Biscoff or Bueno
- a coating of rich Belgian chocolate
- a swirl of soft serve on the side
Pistachio is the classic Dubai chocolate flavour, so start there if it is your first time. If you are a Biscoff or Bueno fan, swapping the filling gives you a whole new dessert with the same kataifi crunch. The warm waffle softens the chocolate just enough, and the cold soft serve makes every bite a mix of hot and cold.
Other ways to try Dubai chocolate at Mr Max
Not in a waffle mood? Our Dubai chocolate range covers a few different cravings:
- Dubai Chocolate Strawberry Cup: fresh strawberries layered with pistachio cream, toasted kataifi and Belgian chocolate. The lightest way to try it.
- Dubai Chocolate Brownies: a warm, fudgy brownie topped with kataifi, your choice of filling and Belgian chocolate.
- Dubai Chocolate Crepes: paper-thin crepes with strawberries, kataifi, pistachio spread and melted chocolate, served with soft serve.
Every Dubai chocolate dessert is made fresh to order, and you can see the full Mr Max menu online.
Where to get a Dubai chocolate waffle in Sydney
You will find our Dubai chocolate waffles at Mr Max Riverwood, 237-239 Belmore Rd, Riverwood NSW 2210. We are open late seven days a week, until 10:30pm Sunday to Wednesday and 11pm Thursday to Saturday, so it is an easy after-dinner stop.
Getting here is simple. Riverwood Station on the T8 line is a three minute walk up Belmore Rd, the 948 bus stops right out the front, and there is a car park directly behind the shop on Theatre Lane with a back entrance straight into Mr Max. You can dine in, grab it to take away, or order online for pickup.
Dubai chocolate waffle FAQs
Is Dubai chocolate actually from Dubai?
Yes. The original bar was created by Fix Dessert Chocolatier in Dubai. The knafeh pastry inside it has a much longer history across the Middle East, which is where the flavour combination comes from.
Does a Dubai chocolate waffle contain nuts?
The classic version uses pistachio, and our desserts are made in a kitchen that handles nuts. If you have an allergy, please talk to our team before you order.
Can I order a Dubai chocolate waffle online?
Yes. Tap Order online on any dessert on our menu to order for pickup from Riverwood.
What is the best drink to pair with it?
Pistachio fans should try our pistachio matcha with cold foam. If you would rather keep it classic, a flat white or an iced latte cuts through the sweetness nicely.
Ready to see what the hype is about? Come and visit us at Mr Max Riverwood, the home of the waffle.