Dubai Chocolate in Irvine: the complete guide to our pistachio-kunafa menu

If you have scrolled through food videos in the last couple of years, you have probably seen someone crack open a chocolate bar and show off a green, crunchy filling. That is Dubai chocolate, and it has become one of the most searched-for desserts around. If you are looking for it in Irvine, this guide covers what it is and every way we serve it at Le Cafe Du Parc.

What is Dubai chocolate?

Dubai chocolate is a chocolate dessert built around two ingredients: pistachio cream and kunafa. Kunafa is shredded phyllo, the thin, wiry pastry used in many Middle Eastern sweets. When it is toasted and mixed into pistachio cream, it turns into a crunchy, nutty filling. That filling goes inside or on top of chocolate.

The idea spread through social media. Short videos of the bar being snapped in half made it easy to understand at a glance: you see the green center, you hear the crunch. Cafés and dessert shops everywhere have since taken the flavor combination and applied it to other things, from crêpes to cheesecake.

At our café, "Dubai" on the menu means that same pistachio-and-kunafa pairing. It shows up on nine items, from a single chocolate bar to a take-home cup.

Where to find us

We are inside The Park at Irvine Spectrum, at 12000 Spectrum, Irvine, CA 92618. It is about a three-minute drive from Irvine Spectrum Center. There is a free parking lot, and free street parking is listed too. Seating is outdoors under trees and palms, so a dessert here feels more like a stop in a small park than a trip to a food court.

We are open Sunday through Thursday from 7 AM to 10 PM, and Friday and Saturday from 7 AM to 11 PM. That means you can have a Dubai dessert after dinner and still get a seat.

Every Dubai item on the menu

Here is the full list, with prices as they appear on our menu. Ask our team about allergens before you order, since pistachio and wheat-based pastry are central to these desserts.

Dubai Pistachio Crepe, $18

The Dubai Pistachio Crepe is the natural place to start. It is a crêpe finished in the Dubai style with pistachio and kunafa chocolate. It is the best place to start if you want to taste the combination in a dessert you can cut with a fork. It is also one of the larger items on this list, so split it if you have already eaten.

You can see the rest of our crêpes, including a plain pistachio version, on the crêpes menu.

Dubai Waffle, $18

The Dubai Waffle takes the same flavors and puts them on a waffle. A waffle eats differently from a crêpe, so the texture under the pistachio and kunafa changes. If you like a sturdier base, choose this one. The full range is on the waffles menu.

Dubai Mini Pancake cup, $16

The Dubai Mini Pancake cup is 20 mini pancakes served in a cup, Dubai pistachio style. Small pancakes are easy to eat with your fingers or a toothpick, which makes this the most natural dessert to pass around a table. It is a good pick for a group of three or four.

Dubai Cheesecake, $10

The Dubai Cheesecake is the easiest way to try the flavor without committing to a large plate. At $10 it is one of the lowest-priced Dubai items, and it is easy to carry if you want to take it with you.

Dubai Crepe Cake, $10

The Dubai Crepe Cake is also $10. A crêpe cake is built from thin crêpe layers stacked into a cake, and this version carries the Dubai flavors. It is a good option when you want the crêpe texture in a different shape.

Dubai Strawberry Cup, $16 or $21

The Dubai Strawberry Cup comes in two sizes: Regular at $16 and Large at $21. Strawberries and chocolate are a familiar pairing, and the Dubai treatment adds pistachio and kunafa. The cup format means you can eat it with a spoon while you walk around the park. Choose Large if you are sharing.

Dubai Chocolate bar, $10

The Dubai Chocolate is one bar of chocolate, nothing more. This is the original idea in its simplest form, and it is the one to buy if you want to see what all the videos were about. It is also easy to hand to someone as a small gift.

Dubai Brownie, $15

The Dubai Brownie is a brownie done in the Dubai style. It is a good choice if your favorite dessert is chocolate first and everything else second.

Cup With Pistachio Kunafa, $45

The Cup With Pistachio Kunafa is a different kind of item. It is one cup filled with pistachio kunafa chocolate, meant to be taken home. At $45 it is not an on-the-spot dessert. It makes sense when you want to bring something to a family gathering, a dinner at a friend's place, or a holiday table.

Which one should you order?

The right pick depends on who is eating and how hungry they are.

If it is your first time

Start with the Dubai Chocolate bar at $10 or the Dubai Cheesecake at $10. Both let you taste the pistachio-and-kunafa combination for a modest price. If you want something warm and plated, the Dubai Pistachio Crepe is the classic first order.

If you are sharing

• Two people: one Dubai Pistachio Crepe or one Dubai Waffle, with two forks.
• Three or four people: the Dubai Mini Pancake cup, which is easy to divide.
• A bigger group: order the Large Dubai Strawberry Cup, plus a crêpe or a waffle.

If you want a gift

• Small gift: a Dubai Chocolate bar.
• Larger gift: the Cup With Pistachio Kunafa, which is made for taking home.
• Dessert for a table at home: one or two Dubai Cheesecakes.

If you want something to go with coffee

A lighter dessert like the Dubai Crepe Cake or the Dubai Cheesecake pairs well with an espresso drink. Our coffee and tea menu has the options, from an Americano to a Spanish latte.

How to order

You have three ways to get a Dubai dessert.

• Dine in. Come to The Park at Irvine Spectrum and order at the café. The setting is casual, with outdoor seating.
• Pickup. Place an order ahead on our online ordering page and collect it when it is ready.
• Delivery. Order through the same online ordering page. Delivery has a fixed $6.99 fee.

Hot items like the crêpe and the waffle are best eaten soon after they are made, so dine-in or pickup is the better way to enjoy them. Cups, bars and cheesecakes are easier to carry.

Planning for a group or an event

If you are thinking about Dubai-style desserts for a party, our catering team handles crêpe stations, mini-pancake stations and chocolate fountains. Call the catering line at (949) 556-0443 to talk through what you have in mind.

A short summary

• Dubai chocolate means pistachio cream and kunafa (shredded phyllo) paired with chocolate.
• We serve it nine ways, from $10 to $45.
• The crêpe and the waffle are the hot, plated choices at $18 each.
• The mini pancake cup is the best for sharing.
• The bar and the take-home cup are the best for gifts.

You can browse the complete selection on our desserts menu, or read more on our Dubai chocolate in Irvine page. If you are nearby, come find us at The Park at Irvine Spectrum.