đż Chicago | A Belated Visit to the Charming Middle Eastern CafĂ©
I'd heard so much about this Middle Eastern cafĂ© and its famous Dubai chocolate, and Iâd been wanting to try it for agesâbut never found the time to make a special trip. Then, a few days ago, after picking up a pie at nearby Blame Butter, I thought, why not grab a coffee to go with my dessert? I did a quick search, and OUDâs name popped up right away. It felt like fateâso off I went! âïžđ« đ” Did you know? âOUDâ is named after the oud, a traditional Middle Eastern musical instrument. You can even see it symbolized in the shopâs logo (check the first photo!). How cool is that? đ° I tried their Oud Latte (photo 2), and it was a lovely, gentle introduction to Middle Eastern-style coffee. The latte had a subtle hint of cardamomâwarm and aromatic, but not overpoweringâletting the coffee beans truly shine. Compared to other Middle Eastern cafĂ©s in the city, the flavor is a bit milder, making it super approachable! đ« Now, letâs talk about the Dubai Chocolate (photo 3). Oh. My. Goodness. đ€€ This was the real star! I took a bite right there at the cafĂ©, and then another after bringing it homeâand it tasted amazing in both settings! Fresh at the cafĂ©, the chocolate was smooth and melted perfectly in the mouth, with a rich, moist pistachio filling that was intensely flavorful. Absolutely divine! đź In comparison, the tiramisu (photo 4) was just okay. Itâs not your classic Italian-style tiramisuâthough you can tell the ingredients are quality. Iâm just a traditionalist when it comes to this dessert! đ§ Photos 5 and 6 show some of the other sweets displayed at the counter. Most of them looked pretty sweetâdefinitely the type of treat youâd want to balance with a good cup of coffee. Maybe next time! đŹ Have you been to OUD before? What did you tryâwas it the Dubai chocolate or one of their drinks? Iâd love your recommendations for my next visit! Drop your favorites in the comments đđ„° đ OUD Coffee & Cafe River North: 714 N Wells St, Chicago, IL 60654 #ChicagoLife #ChicagoFoodExplorer #ChicagoEats #Chicago #CoffeeOfTheDay #ChicCafe #DubaiChocolate #MiddleEasternCoffee #CornerCafeVibes