Shake Shack’s Dubai Chocolate Pistachio Shake features a cup lined with a crackly, dark chocolate magic shell filled with a blend of vanilla frozen custard, milk, pistachio paste, salted honey, and toasted shredded phyllo dough (AKA kataifi or kadayif), then topped with more toasted shredded phyllo dough and chopped pistachios.
The limited-time shake is only available at select locations in New York City, the Miami area, and Los Angeles County, and only in limited quantities each day. I paid $8.49 for one, and it took me two attempts to get it (they only make about 25 of the shakes each day and run out one or two hours after opening). I was told by the manager that he didn’t even get to try it.
My particular shake was pretty liquid and wasn’t cold enough to keep the dark chocolate solid to crack. I tried scraping off the chocolate layer, but it was pretty thin except along the bottom, where I was finally able to get a good taste of it. The sampling that I managed offered a rich and full-bodied dark chocolate flavor.
The shake itself sported the taste of creamy vanilla with very mild notes of pistachio. The kadayif added a crispy texture, especially on top. The taste of the kadayif reminded me of shredded wheat cereal, except slightly richer and with a strong toasty note. You really need a spoon to enjoy it, though (or at least a wider straw).
While I enjoyed Shake Shack’s Dubai Chocolate Pistachio Shake, it seemed like a work-in-progress (which it might be). It could do with a bolder pistachio component and a less gimmicky chocolate aspect (chocolate chips or shards would probably do the trick).
