Dubai chocolate everything

Blooming Bites. Instagram.

Made famous on TikTok, this viral treat—loaded with pistachio cream, tahini, and crispy kataifi (a dessert made with shredded pastry dough, also called kunafa)—first took off in Dubai and quickly sparked a global obsession. Now, you can find versions of the iconic chocolate bar (and those luxe pistachio-stuffed strawberries) right here in Victoria. Here's where to get your fix:

Syriana Restaurant

The Syrian restaurant located in Esquimalt started making fresh pistachio butter and their own take on the viral Dubai chocolate bars early this year.

Address: 2-1258 Esquimalt Rd. 

Niloo Persian Restaurant

The Persian restaurant in Royal Oak has introduced the famous Dubai chocolate strawberry pistachio cups on their menu. The cup comes with juicy strawberries, rich chocolate drizzle, and a crunchy pistachio topping.

The restaurant also offers Dubai chocolate pistachio kunafa ganache and Dubai chocolate pistachio kunafa mega cookies.

Address: 4440 W Saanich Rd. 

Gigi’s Italian 

The specialty food grocer in Cordova Bay has a Canadian-made Dubai chocolate bar available in stores. The Flaveur brand gourmet milk chocolate bar is filled with smooth, nutty pistachio paste and kunafa. 

Address: 5118 Cordova Bay Rd.

Blooming Bites in Cedar Hill has the Dubai strawberry cups on their menu: strawberries drizzled with chocolate fondue, in-house pistachio spread, and kunafa.

Address: 1630 Cedar Hill Cross Rd. 

Opening soon: Berry Sweet

A new food truck by the popular Greek N Go team is opening soon and will offer a varied menu of dessert cups, including the option to build your own. One of the cups is the Dubai Deluxe: fresh strawberries, milk chocolate, pistachio cream, and crispy kataifi.

Aside from the cups, the food truck will have cinnamon buns and one of them is a Dubai version: with pistachio cream, milk chocolate, and crispy kataifi.

Address: Find them at the Sidney Street Market this summer, and they are hoping to find a spot at the Inner Harbour as well. Stay tuned. 

Maria’s Cakery

The new kiosk bakery at Hillside Shopping Centre has its own version of a Dubai chocolate chunk cookie: crunchy kataifi filling with pistachio cream and milk chocolate. It also has a Dubai chocolate crookie: croissant filled with the same cookie filling, pistachio cream, kataifi, and milk chocolate.

Address: 1644 Hillside Ave. 

Purdy’s Chocolatier 

The Vancouver-based company has introduced a luxurious new treat to select locations: the Dubai Bark. Inspired by the viral Dubai chocolate bar, this handcrafted confection features a centre of pistachio cream and crispy kataifi pastry, enveloped in layers of velvety milk chocolate. 

In Victoria, the Dubai Bar will be available starting May 7 at the Purdy’s Shop at Mayfair Shopping Centre. 

Address: 3147 Douglas St.

Showcase

You can find Canadian-made Oasis Treasures Dubai Chocolate bars at Showcase in Hillside Shopping Centre and Tillicum Centre. Flavours include chocolate pistachio kataifi, cookies and cream, red velvet, Arabica coffee, and more. 

Address: 1644 Hillside Ave. and 3170 Tillicum Rd.