Dubai's viral chocolate burger divides the internet: culinary genius or just a sugar bomb?

IOL News

3 days ago

This sweet creation, a mashup of cake and chocolate, has quickly gone viral on social media, sparking both excitement and debate.
Image: Zehra A Syed Instagram
Food has long been a powerful connector of cultures, communities and cravings. And in Dubai - a city known for pushing the boundaries of luxury and indulgence - food isn't just nourishment, it's a spectacle.
From gold-dusted cappuccinos to oversized milkshakes, the Emirate has firmly cemented itself as the global capital of culinary extravagance.
The latest creation to stir online frenzy? A chocolate burger so outrageous it's splitting the internet in half.
The so-called "Dubai Chocolate Burger" has gone viral, first appearing in an Instagram reel that has since amassed thousands of views and sparked heated debate across social media.
Created by B Laban, a UAE-based dessert chain renowned for its bold, Middle Eastern-inspired sweets, the burger is unlike anything seen before.
What's in this sweet 'burger'? Forget beef patties and cheese - this dessert is built for the bold.
Sandwiched between two halves of soft, golden English cake is a decadent combination of pistachio mousse (rich and nutty), crispy kunafa (adding a delicate crunch) and a Belgian chocolate brownie that's dense and fudgy.
To top it all off, the dessert is served with a warm container of flowing Belgian chocolate, allowing diners to drizzle or dip at will - depending on how far they want to take the indulgence.
At AED 30 (about R150), the burger is relatively affordable for Dubai's food scene.
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Reactions to the dessert have been as layered as the treat itself. Some viewers were captivated by its indulgent appeal and artistic presentation.
"Why does it look so satisfying?" one Instagram user commented.
"Such an amazing experience," wrote another.
"I want to try this at least once in my life."
However, others weren't so easily convinced. Critics questioned its health implications and extreme sugar levels.
"Nooooo!!! Too much!" exclaimed a viewer.
"One word: diabetes," one user joked.
Another wrote, "Add insulin to that burger."
Beyond the chocolate burger, Dubai's dessert obsession is going global - thanks to another viral treat. A milk chocolate bar stuffed with pistachio cream, tahini, and crispy kadayif has taken TikTok and Instagram by storm over the past year.
Dubbed 'Dubai chocolate' by fans, this layered sweet has become a must-try for content creators, dessert shops and online candy resellers.
However, the hype came crashing down recently due to serious food safety concerns.
On July 14, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and World Market issued a recall for a product called Spread Pistachio Cacao Cream with Kadayif, manufactured by Turkish company Emek Gıda. The cause? Potential Salmonella contamination.
The affected product, prominently labelled 'Dubai' and sold at World Market, closely mirrors the viral chocolate bar in its ingredients: milk chocolate, pistachio-tahini cream and shredded filo pastry.
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture conducted testing as part of an investigation into imported pistachio spread products. Their findings confirmed Salmonella in product samples, prompting the recall.
That's not the only issue. In the UK, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) issued an urgent recall for the Noesis Schokolade Love of Dubai bar, not for contamination, but because it contained undeclared peanuts - a severe allergy risk for consumers.
Tempted or terrified, one thing's for sure: Dubai knows how to serve dessert - and drama - like no one else.