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Local Dubai chocolate operation grows to multiple states

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Dubai chocolate bars at Sahara Middle Eastern Eatery in Albuquerque in March. Calvin Khalil, manager of the family-owned business, said Sahara's chocolate operation has expanded exponentially since then.
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Sahara Middle Eastern Eatery’s new vending machine inside the Las Vegas South Premium Outlets mall in Nevada in July. Sahara’s Dubai chocolate products are now in malls and casinos across New Mexico, Nevada, Texas and Colorado.
Kylie Garcia
Kylie Garcia Staff Writer
Published Modified

Trends come and go, but one sweet trend has had an enduring impact on a local Middle Eastern eatery with big dreams.

Sahara Middle Eastern Eatery, a family-owned business that has been serving up Mediterranean cuisine at its restaurant at 2622 Central SE in Albuquerque since 2007, is swiftly expanding a Dubai chocolate operation it launched in July 2024.

It started as a small kitchen operation producing about 20 bars a day and has since evolved into a multistate operation that sells at least 1,000 bars through vending machines and kiosks in 10 malls and casinos across New Mexico, Colorado, Texas and Nevada.

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Calvin Khalil, manager of Sahara Middle Eastern Eatery, poses by the business' Dubai chocolate kiosk at Albuquerque's Coronado Center in March. The business has since set up vending machines and kiosks in three other states.

Sahara’s chocolate venture was confined to New Mexico as recently as March. The expansion into three new states took place just over the last five months.

“It’s just incredible to see our expansion with it,” said Calvin Khalil, manager of Sahara Middle Eastern Eatery. “I really had no clue that we would ever reach this capacity, and this is honestly just the beginning.”

Dubai chocolate — made of crispy kataifi shredded filo dough, tahini paste and pistachio cream encased in chocolate — took the world by storm when it was highlighted in a viral social media post in 2023.

The trend hit Albuquerque last year, and the owners of Sahara Middle Eastern Eatery, inspired by a family trip to Dubai, quickly jumped on board.

Since last year, the business has expanded its offerings from just the milk and dark chocolate bars to truffles, baklavas and bars with unique flavors such as cotton candy, Kinder’s Bueno and marshmallow crunch.

The business directly employs five people to make about 70% of its chocolate creations in-house and indirectly supports 100 people who make the business’ specialty treats in a factory in Dubai.

The business is in talks with malls in California and Arizona, and is also set to open five new vending machines across Texas; Las Vegas, Nevada; and New Mexico, including on Kirtland Air Force Base.

“It’s definitely come a long way,” Khalil said.

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