Shake Shack has always been a fan of food trends. In order to turn the coveted treat on its head, the chain soft-launched the Dubai Chocolate Pistachio Shake in April, and only for a very select few customers. The rest of us, however, are free to indulge in a little hype. Previously limited to a few cities across three states, the popular dessert will now be available at all burger restaurants starting Tuesday, June 24.
Originally popular in the United Arab Emirates, the glittering candy bar is a perfect model for restaurants looking to create novelties that are TikTok-worthy. The treat features three key components: pistachios, tahini, and brittle strands of phyllo dough called kataifi, all of which are packed inside a chocolate block. Developed in Dubai, Shake Shack’s tribute swirls pistachio butter with its renowned vanilla custard, pours it into a cup coated in chocolate, and garnishes it with toasted phyllo and crushed pistachios before serving.
Although my scrolling has reached a profane level, I haven’t really tried the crave-worthy bar that’s making the rounds online. Since this is my first attempt at making this opulent treat, I was interested to see how the textural components would function in a melted dessert. When I RSVP’d to try the shake at a West Village location in NYC, I got to the bottom of the cup (and gladly so!). Would it be a gimmick or a sweet explosion of genius?
Price and availability
Given Dubai’s abundance of gold-dripping extravagance and the infamously expensive recipe and labor required to make them, we can anticipate paying a little bit more for Shake Shack’s tribute. This time, the business is charging $9.49, which is one dollar more than the standard rate throughout the initial testing phase. Where can I find a block of Dubai chocolate in the United States? S. . charge in the single digits (before tax, at least) is a much lighter blow to your wallet than racking up $20 or more. In addition to being more expensive, an all-too-gourmet treat made with expensive ingredients could be more expensive. After all, isn’t the goal to treat oneself?
There are Shake Shack restaurants in 34 states, with more than 350 dining rooms overall. It’s obvious that many more of us will have proximity and opportunity to try one because so many establishments are located in the well-known cities. Naturally, Shake Shack has made it clear that it is only temporary, and eateries won’t be producing a ton of them. The innovation team purposefully increased the daily supply to give chocolate lovers a fair chance at acquisition, aiming for about 50, though that depends on the location. Those unfortunate people who were not fortunate enough to get one the first time now have a better chance of doing so during this roll-out.
Nutritional information
The use of premium dairy products explains why Shake Shack is still a costly fast food establishment. Having said that, Dubai is known for its royal dining, and this shake delivers a king-sized nutritional boost that truly indulges. The Dubai Chocolate Pistachio Shake has 1,170 calories, according to the nutritional data Shake Shack posts online. In addition to the enormous calorie count, there are 60 grams of fat and 89 grams of sugar. These amounts undoubtedly surpass our daily intake levels in every nutritional category, but shouldn’t that be the case for any food that is marketed as a luxury? The density surpasses the traditional Vanilla Shake (680 calories), but the sweeter options from the burger lineup are expected to have more dietary punch. The Loaded Chocolate Cookies and Cream Shake, which has 1,160 calories, is by no means an exception.
Taste test
Although I don’t need any convincing to eat ice cream, Shake Shack consistently produces delicious and decadent milkshakes; in terms of quality, the chain is far superior to other fast food options. I could not stop my culinary quest for pleasure once I saw the Dubai Chocolate Pistachio Shake. Getting a spoon in addition to the required green straw was all you needed to fully enjoy this shake, and I did.
The chocolate shell was a really entertaining touch. Eventually, the hardened chocolate layer on the inside cracked off when you lifted the cup with your palm. The enormous pieces of ice cream that had splintered off ended up mixing with the melted custard when you dug through it. Whatever words sprang to mind—heavenly, blissful—they probably raced through my head as I nearly ran out of 16 ounces in a matter of minutes.
Final thoughts
Though I won’t pretend there aren’t some hit-or-miss milkshakes on the menu, I’m always a fan of Shake Shack’s desserts. I would wait in line for my next order of the Dubai Chocolate Pistachio Shake if it meant consuming it all at once. In order to replicate the renowned chocolate, Shake Shack’s team used a lot of labor, and they were able to perfectly replicate the flavor profile. It wouldn’t have the same Hulk green ooze as the packaged bar, of course, but the components did hit the notes I would anticipate from the solidified version. I was drawn in by the cool custard’s crumbly garnishes and continued to sip until the very end.