Whether you are new to the craze or a devotee who can\u2019t get enough, here are a number of Bay Area spots serving and making Dubai-style candy bars, pastries and beverages:<\/p>\n
San Jose Candy Kitchen<\/p>\n
The phone calls starting coming in sometime last year, \u201cDo you make Dubai chocolate?\u201d customer after customer would ask. Candy industry veterans Ajay and Falguni Patel, who make chocolate, brittle, fudge and more at their downtown San Jose shop, figured they had better look into what they were missing. They watched the TikTok video, researched recipes and got to work.<\/p>\n
![\"Ajay](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/SJM-L-DUBAICHOC-0208-5.jpg\")
Ajay Patel, left, and his wife, Falguni Patel, of San Jose Candy Kitchen in their shop on Jan. 29, 2026. (Dai Sugano\/Bay Area News Group)\u00a0<\/p>\n
The couple made their first Dubai chocolate bars in August 2025, and sales of the rich, authentic confections exploded. Today, Dubai chocolate in its many forms \u2014 filled bars, truffles, sundaes, cheesecake and hearts for Valentine\u2019s Day \u2014 makes up about half of their business. On many days they sell 30 to 40 of the $20 bars and truffle quartets for gifts, dinner party favors, corporate events \u2014 or just for decadent snacking.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt started there in Dubai, and now it\u2019s helping my small business here,\u201d Ajay said.<\/p>\n
Their high quality is the key. The Patels make their own pistachio cream from California-grown nuts and their cream is 80% pistachios, mixed with toasted kataifi (the shredded phyllo that adds the crunch) and just a little tahini, sesame oil and sugar. Many commercial brands, he said, are loaded with fillers and contain only 40% pistachios.<\/p>\n
Customers can tell the difference by looking at ingredient labels and tasting their version, he said. \u201cThey tell me this is the best. They personally come to the store to say that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Between the Dubai chocolate and their longtime bestseller, chocolate-dipped strawberries, this Valentine\u2019s Day season will be \u201ccrazy busy,\u201d Falguni said proudly. \u201cI\u2019ll make a lot of chocolate.\u201d<\/p>\n
Details: Open daily from noon Tuesdays-Sundays or 1 p.m. Mondays, to 8 p.m. at 200 S. First St., San Jose, with the entrance on the paseo behind Scott\u2019s Seafood. mycandykitchen.com<\/a><\/p>\n Hanna\u2019s Chocolates, Pleasanton<\/p>\n At this East Bay shop, owner and chocolatier Hanna Jueng crafts light chocolate and dark chocolate Dubai bonbons, as well as mini bars ($8) and large, half-pound Dubai bars ($35). Details: Open noon-6 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturdays. 4825 Hopyard Road, Pleasanton. hannaschocolates.com<\/a><\/p>\n Fleur de Cocoa, Los Gatos\u00a0<\/p>\n This popular patisserie makes a Dubai chocolate bar featuring dark chocolate, pistachios, kataifi and tahini. And keep an eye out for brioche or croissants with a Dubai filling \u2014 they show up when the pastry chef has extra time, owner Aline Davy said.\u00a0 Open from 8 a.m. Tuesday-Sunday until 4 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, until 9 p.m. Friday-Saturday and 5:30 p.m. Sunday. 39 N. Santa Cruz Ave., Los Gatos: www.fleurdecocoa.com<\/a><\/p>\n LeVant Lebanese Bakery and Cafe, Menlo Park<\/p>\n Pistachios play a starring role in many of the Middle Eastern pastries here. You\u2019ll find a chocolate-pistachio cheesecake, a white chocolate-fudge-pistachio log and baklava pistachio shells. Details: Open at 10 a.m. Tuesdays-Sundays, to 9 or 10 p.m. most days and 6 p.m. Sundays. 842 Santa Cruz Ave.; levantdessert.com<\/a><\/p>\n Starter Bakery, Albany and Oakland<\/p>\n Baker Brian Wood, the Bay Area\u2019s king of kouign amann, thinks \u201cthe trend seems to have mellowed,\u201d so he\u2019s tweaked Starter\u2019s version of a Dubai pastry. It\u2019s now called the chocolate pistachio kouign amann, and instead of phyllo dough, his bakery uses toasted shards of kouign amann. It\u2019s available at both retail shops. Details: Open 7 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesdays-Sundays at 11183 Solano Ave., Albany, and 7 or 7:30 a.m. the same days at 5804 College Ave., Oakland. starterbakery.com<\/a><\/p>\n Starbucks, all locations<\/p>\n This month, Starbucks is rolling out Dubai chocolate confections and drinks. Look for Dubai chocolate \u201cbites\u201d and lattes and mochas with pistachio foam. Also, slices of pistachio-chocolate loaf should be joining the banana bread and lemon loaf in the display case.<\/p>\n Mainstream brands<\/p>\n Ghirardelli, Lindt and Russell Stover have jumped on the bandwagon with what they are calling \u201cDubai style\u201d candies. You can also often find more affordable Turkish brands at grocery, drug and convenience stores.<\/p>\n Will these make a comeback?<\/p>\n Shake Shack was early to the party with a Dubai chocolate pistachio milkshake, which was available last spring and summer. More recently, Baskin Robbins put Dubai chocolate pistachio sundaes (with kadaifi) and shakes on its winter menu for a limited time.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Salted caramel isn\u2019t going away. Neither is the hot honey trend. 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