• Dubai chocolate bars, inspired by the Middle Eastern dessert knafeh, have taken social media by storm.
• Originally hard to find in the U.S., the pistachio cream-filled chocolate bars are now available in various Milwaukee cafes and shops.
• Hy-Vee, the Midwestern supermarket chain, has also started selling the viral chocolate bars in select Wisconsin locations.

Milwaukeeans can now get their hands on TikTok-famous Dubai chocolate bars. 

The viral pistachio cream-filled chocolate bars first gained popularity on social media in late 2023. Initially, they were hard to find in the U.S., but now they’re available at multiple cafés, chocolate shops and dessert restaurants in the Milwaukee area. Recently, a supermarket chain with stores in Wisconsin began carrying the chocolate bars, too.

Some Milwaukee businesses have even created shakes, croissants and more based on the chocolate.

Here’s what to know about Dubai chocolate bars and treats inspired by them, and where to find both in Milwaukee:

What is Dubai chocolate, and how did it become popular?

Dubai chocolate bars are inspired by knafeh, a Middle Eastern dessert made with kataifi spun pastry dough, sweet attar syrup and layers of pistachio and cream. The inside of the chocolate bar features a mixture of crispy knafeh bits and pistachio cream. The treat’s exterior shows off a vibrant, yellow and green hand-splatter-painted design.  

The Dubai chocolate bar trend is believed to have started in 2023 when a content creator in the United Arab Emirates posted a 1.5-minute clip of herself opening a chocolate bar, breaking it in half and dipping it in pistachio cream before sampling it. The video, by TikTok user @mariavehera257, featured a bar from Dubai-based Fix Dessert Chocolatier. The video has more than 120.5 million views and over 6.7 million likes. 

Initially, the chocolate bars were rare in the U.S. because they’re made in the United Arab Emirates. 

Where can you get Dubai chocolate in Milwaukee?

While it would be difficult to compile a complete list of where you can find Dubai chocolate bars in Milwaukee, this Reddit post and an Instagram Reel from @milwaukee_eatandplay provide some clues.

According to those social media posts, here’s where you might be able to find the treat or items inspired by its flavors:

• La Gelati: 5663 S. 27th St., Milwaukee
• Gordo’s Bubble Waffle: 1633 W. Wells St., Milwaukee, and 2301 S. Howell Ave., Milwaukee
• Haraz Coffee House: 2900 N. Oakland Ave., Milwaukee
• Melt N Dip: 7820 W. Layton Ave., Greenfield
• Qamaria: 4818 S. 76th St., Greenfield
• Paradise Roastery: 814 W. Layton Ave., Milwaukee
• Indulgence Chocolatiers: 211 S. 2nd. St., Milwaukee; 320 High St., Brookfield; and 4525 N. Oakland Ave., Shorewood
• Batter & Mac: 1100 E. Oklahoma Ave., Milwaukee, and N89W16750 Appleton Ave., Menomonee Falls

Where else can you get Dubai chocolate in Wisconsin? Hy-Vee

Hy-Vee, the Iowa-based supermarket chain with stores in Wisconsin, is selling Dubai chocolate bars at select stores.

In Wisconsin, they’re available at two Madison stores, at 3801 E. Washington Ave. and 675 S. Whitney Way, and its store in the Madison suburb of Fitchburg, at 2920 Fitchrona Road, a Hy-Vee spokesperson said in an email.

Hy-Vee has locations in eight Midwestern states. Its Wisconsin stores are in Ashwaubenon, Eau Claire, Fitchburg, Janesville, La Crosse, Madison, Oregon and Ripon. 

USA TODAY NETWORK-New England reporter Seth Jacobson contributed to this report.

MILWAUKEE – At least seven Milwaukee polling sites ran out of ballots on Tuesday night amid historic voter turnout.

What they’re saying:

Tuesday’s spring election was smooth sailing until around 6 p.m. Milwaukee voters called FOX6 News to say their polling site had run out of ballots, and there were a few reports of voters being turned away.

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“That absolutely should not happen,” said Paulina Gutierrez. “Completely unacceptable – we sent a message to our chiefs to let them know.” 

Gutierrez, the Milwaukee Election Commission executive director, gave an update from Cental Count on election night. She said at least seven polling locations across the city had a ballot shortage.

“We’ve expanded our field staff. We’ve expanded our express vote machines. We’ve taken all the express vote paper that we have,” she said. “These are the machines we use at early voting. They are en route to those locations, along with more ballots.”

Dig deeper:

Guiterrez explained it can be a slow process. The election commission uses specialized ballot printers, which can take up to an hour – plus, on Tuesday, it was rush hour.

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“We typically have 15 couriers. We expanded to another 10, so they are out there in the city,” she said.

Not every polling site gets the same number of ballots; every ward is different. In another update around 8 p.m. Tuesday, Gutierrez explained they typically order ballots based on a few things: previous elections, busy locations and registered voters. But this spring election was different.

“I think it was just a historic election with unprecedented turnout,” said Gutierrez.

By the numbers:

Gutierrez said, for a typical spring election that is nonpartisan, the election commission sees 20% to 40% voter turnout. This year, that number was nearly 50%.

What’s next:

After every election, Gutierrez said the commission reflects on what went well and what could be worked on for the next. 

MILWAUKEE — A 6-year-old was shot and killed near 51st and Hope on Tuesday night, according to Milwaukee police.

The shooting occurred around 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 1. The child was pronounced dead at the scene.

What led to the shooting and who is responsible are still under investigation.

What we know so far in the shooting investigation:

6-year-old killed in shooting near 51st and Hope

Anyone with information is asked to contact Milwaukee Police at (414) 935-7360 or, to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at (414) 224-TIPS or P3 Tips.

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