Korea's Latest Craze - The Viral Dubai Chewy Cookie (and Where to Find It Near Osan Air Base)
If your social media feeds were filled with Dubai chocolate in summer 2024, then no doubt you’ve already seen South Korea’s new obsession: the Dubai chewy cookie.
Back then, pistachio- and kadif-filled chocolate bars inspired by Middle Eastern desserts went viral across TikTok and Instagram, selling out across South Korea almost overnight. Even convenience stores couldn’t keep them on the shelves — they were gone as soon as they restocked.
Fast forward a year, and the latest craze is the Dubai chewy cookie — a dense, rich, pull-apart dessert filled with pistachio cream and shredded kadif pastry, wrapped in marshmallow and dusted with cocoa powder. Known locally as dujjonku or 두쫀쿠, it’s indulgent, ultra-chewy, and exactly the kind of dessert South Korea loves to turn into a viral obsession. This trending treat has been popping up in cafés across the country and has now made its way to Songtan and the area near Osan Air Base. It’s so popular that it even has its own map! The Dubai Chew Cookie map launched earlier this year - click here to find Dubai chewy cookies near you!
Personally, I was a big fan of the Dubai chocolate bars, so this was a trend I was quick to hop on. It’s definitely rich and savory — the kind of dessert where a little goes a long way!
Here are the ones I’ve tried and others I’m hunting down locally.
Cafe Mollick
Dubai Chewy Cookies at Cafe Mollick in Songtan.
This was the first Dubai chewy cookie I tried locally near Osan Air Base, and it’s the perfect amount without being overwhelming. Rich, chewy, and indulgent, it’s definitely a dessert you savor rather than rush through. Each cookie is priced at 7,000 KRW, and customers are limited to two per person, which makes sense once you taste it.
Don’t stop with the cookie, though. Their other desserts are just as beautiful as they are delicious, and the café itself is absolutely stunning — the kind of place you’ll want to linger with a coffee and soak in the atmosphere. If you stop by, stick around… and tell them Sarah sent you!
Click here for another time I blogged about Cafe Mollick
Prefer In Forest
If you’ve been around Osan Air Base for a minute, you’ve no doubt heard about Prefer, and they’ve recently added their own version of the Dubai chewy cookie to the lineup, and it’s a little different from the first one I tried. In my opinion, this version is crunchier and has more marshmallow flavor. It’s still rich and chewy, but the balance of flavors makes it feel slightly lighter.
Each cookie is priced at 8,000 KRW, and availability is limited — they only stock 20 cookies per weekday and 40 on weekends. They’ve also expanded the trend beyond desserts by adding a Dubai chocolate latte to their menu, making it a fun stop if you want to try multiple Dubai-inspired treats in one visit.
If you want to learn more about the café itself, you can read the full blog post and article I wrote about Prefer, where I share more about the space, the coffee, and why it’s become my go-to spot near Osan Air Base.
Ewharo 256
Image screenshot from Ewharo 256’s instagram
Another local café worth checking out is Ewharo 256, which currently offers two different versions of the Dubai chewy cookie. In addition to a classic Dubai chewy cookie, they also have a version filled with an almond–cashew spread that’s ground in-house by the owners themselves. I especially love Ewharo 256 for their outdoor space and their Monte Cristo sandwich, so it’s absolutely worth stopping by even beyond the Dubai chewy cookies.
National Café Chains to Check for the Dubai Chewy Cookie
I’ve seen it available at Paris Baguette’s around Seoul, but not at my local Paris Baguette. Large café chains like Twosome Place and Paris Baguette are often among the first to roll out viral dessert trends in South Korea, making them worth checking as the Dubai chewy cookie trend continues to spread.
Other places I’ll be keeping an eye on:
A Twosome Place
Tous Les Jours
Mega Coffee
Convenience Stores
Screenshot from GS’s Youtube video - click the image to visit!
Just like with the original Dubai chocolate trend, Korean convenience stores are again part of the Dubai dessert hunt— and they’re one of the easiest places to spot new variations first.
Hong Qi, the viral fruit sorbet bars that have been everywhere over the last year, has a Dubai chocolate version of frozen sorbet-style treat that looks surprisingly like an avocado. I’m regularly stalking my local GS25 and CU hoping to spot one in the freezer.
Beyond that, you’ll find a growing selection of Dubai chocolate–inspired treats at major Korean convenience stores like GS25, CU, and 7-Eleven, including:
Dubai chocolate dessert cups
Ice cream bars and frozen treats
Pistachio-filled chocolate snacks
Availability changes quickly, and many of these items sell out fast, so checking often is key. If the Dubai chewy cookie itself is hard to find, convenience stores are an easy way to still get a taste of the trend.
Even Starbucks Korea has joined the trend!
Image screenshot from Starbucks Korea instagram. Six Seoul locations are listed for the Dubai chewy roll.
When Starbucks Korea jumps on a dessert trend, you know it’s gone fully mainstream. They’ve recently added a Dubai chocolate–inspired dessert to select locations — but it’s very limited. Right now, it’s only available at six Starbucks stores around Seoul, making it more of a destination treat than an everyday find. Like many Dubai-inspired desserts in Korea, availability is limited, and sell-outs are common.
This post reflects my firsthand experiences and I’ll do my best to update locations as they appear around Songtan and Osan Air Base. If you’ve already found your favorite Dubai chewy cookie around Songtan and Osan Air Base, but I haven’t listed it here, share it in the comments! We love to support local businesses!
