Dubai Chocolate Croissant & Trending Cafe Treats in Miami

The Dubai Chocolate Trend, Explained

In late 2024, a Dubai-based chocolatier named Sarah Hamouda went viral on social media with a creation that would reshape bakery menus around the world: a pistachio-filled chocolate bar layered with kataifi — the shredded filo pastry traditionally used in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean desserts. The combination of crunchy, nest-like strands of kataifi with smooth pistachio cream and rich chocolate was unlike anything most people had tasted. TikTok videos of people breaking into the bars, revealing the layers of texture inside, racked up hundreds of millions of views.

Within months, bakeries from London to Los Angeles were creating their own interpretations of the Dubai chocolate concept. Some stuck close to the original chocolate bar format. Others, including creative cafes right here in Miami, took the core flavor combination — pistachio, kataifi, and chocolate — and reimagined it in entirely new ways. The trend proved that people were hungry for something more interesting than the standard chocolate chip cookie or plain croissant, and it opened the door for cafes to experiment with textures and Middle Eastern-inspired flavors that had been underrepresented in the American bakery scene.

Our Dubai Smash Croissant ($10)

At specialTEA Lounge & Cafe on Coral Way, we took the Dubai chocolate trend and built something entirely our own. Our Dubai Smash Croissant starts with a fresh, flaky butter croissant that we fill generously with pistachio kataifi — shredded filo pastry that has been tossed with a house-made pistachio cream until every strand is coated. The filled croissant goes onto a hot press, where it is grilled until the exterior turns golden and crispy while the interior becomes warm and gooey. It is served alongside a cup of rich chocolate dipping sauce for the full experience.

The result is a study in contrasts: the audible crunch of the pressed croissant exterior gives way to the delicate, nest-like texture of the kataifi inside. The pistachio cream is nutty, slightly sweet, and unmistakably real — no artificial pistachio flavoring here. And then you dip a corner into the warm chocolate sauce, and every element comes together in a single bite that is simultaneously crunchy, creamy, flaky, nutty, and chocolatey.

It has become one of our most popular menu items since we introduced it, and it regularly sells out by early afternoon. If you have seen the Dubai chocolate trend on social media and wondered what the fuss is about, this is the way to experience it in Miami.

The Full Smash Croissant Menu

The Dubai Smash may be the headliner, but it is part of a larger concept we developed around the idea of taking a fresh butter croissant, filling it with something incredible, and grilling it on a press until it transforms into something entirely new. We call them Smash Croissants, and the full lineup offers something for every taste:

• Dubai Smash ($10): Pistachio kataifi filling with chocolate dipping sauce. The viral sensation, done right.
• Nutella Smash ($5): A generous spread of Nutella inside a butter croissant, grilled until the chocolate-hazelnut filling turns warm and molten and the exterior becomes impossibly crispy. Classic for a reason.
• Dulce de Leche Smash ($5): Sweet, caramelized dulce de leche filling that becomes warm and gooey inside the pressed croissant. A nod to Miami's deep Latin American roots and a perfect pairing with a cafe con leche.
• Guac Smash ($4.25): Homemade guacamole pressed inside a butter croissant for a savory take on the smash concept. The warm, slightly toasted guacamole inside the crispy croissant is unexpectedly delicious and has developed a loyal following.
• Caprese Smash ($5.50): Basil pesto, fresh mozzarella, and tomatoes pressed inside a croissant until the cheese melts and the pesto becomes fragrant. Italian flavors in a handheld format that works for breakfast, lunch, or a late afternoon snack.

Every Smash Croissant is made to order and pressed fresh when you ask for it. We do not pre-make them and let them sit — the whole point is that contrast between the hot, crispy exterior and the warm filling inside.

Vegan Cookies Baked Fresh Daily

While the Smash Croissants get a lot of attention on social media, our vegan cookies have quietly built their own dedicated following — especially among FIU students and health-conscious Miami locals who want a sweet treat without dairy or eggs. We bake them fresh every single day in six rotating flavors:

• Chocolate Chip: The classic, made vegan without sacrificing a single gram of flavor. Chewy center, slightly crispy edges, loaded with chocolate chips.
• Matcha Chocolate Chip: Earthy matcha green tea flavor paired with chocolate chips for a combination that has become one of our bestsellers.
• Walnut Chocolate Chip: Crunchy walnuts and chocolate chips in every bite. Nutty, rich, and deeply satisfying.
• Double Chocolate: For the serious chocolate lovers. Chocolate dough with chocolate chips — intensely rich and fudgy.
• Choco-Mallow: Chocolate cookie with marshmallow pieces that get soft and slightly toasted during baking.
• Cookies & Cream: Vanilla cookie base with crushed chocolate cookie pieces mixed throughout. Nostalgic and delicious.

Each cookie is $1.50, or you can grab a dozen for $15 — which makes them one of the best-value vegan baked goods in Miami. They are made without dairy or eggs but absolutely no compromise on taste or texture. People who do not even follow a vegan diet regularly choose these cookies simply because they are genuinely good.

Where to Find These Trending Treats in Miami

specialTEA Lounge & Cafe is located at 10766 SW 24th St on Coral Way, in the Columbia Shopping Plaza near FIU. We bake fresh daily, and our most popular items — especially the Dubai Smash Croissant — do sell out, so arriving earlier in the day gives you the best selection. Pair your pastry with a matcha latte for a green-tea-and-pistachio combination, a creamy chai tea latte for something warming and spiced, or one of our frozen coffee blends if you want something icy and energizing.

Whether you are chasing the latest food trends or just looking for a genuinely great bakery treat in Miami, the smash croissants and fresh-baked vegan cookies at specialTEA are worth the visit. And once you try the Dubai Smash with that chocolate dipping sauce, you will understand why people keep coming back for more.