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A new late-night dessert joint has opened in Selden — and it’s serving up sweet treats with a Pakistani flair.
Chocolate Wala, located at 1228A Middle Country Road, offers a wide variety of rich and savory desserts, including crepes, waffles, fruit cups and housemade Dubai chocolate bars.
Hassan Akbar of Lake Grove transformed his family’s former restaurant, Red Chili, into what he calls a dessert lover’s dream. His parents, Yasmeen and Javed, originally ran the Pakistani restaurant before deciding to downsize. Akbar, who also owns Holy Cow Burgers in Selden, saw the opportunity to bring a Desi- and South Asian-inspired café to the area.
Over the last few months, he completely renovated the space, adding two large murals that reflect his cultural roots.
“I was looking around and the demographics around here and we don’t have a place like this at all,” he said. “And then I wanted to incorporate where I’m from, my roots.”
The menu features crepes and waffles topped with goodies like Nutella, Fruity Pebbles, Reese’s, Oreos and Biscoff cookies. There are also cheesecakes, handcrafted shakes and drinks, fruit and chocolate kebobs, and signature Dubai chocolate bars filled with pistachios imported from Italy and matcha from Japan. For authentic Pakistani flavors, Chocolate Wala also serves chai and homemade kulfi.
As for the name — “wala” means “the one who does or is associated with” in Pakistani culture.
So, Akbar wants to be the chocolate wala of Selden.
But it’s not just about dessert. Akbar said they’re still offering his family’s beloved Pakistani dishes.
“We still have a clientele for that, and the kitchen is huge, so it would have been a waste,” he said.
The dinner food is listed on what he calls the “secret menu,” which includes chicken seekh kebobs, various naan options, different karhais and traditional Pakistani street food.
Chocolate Wala is open daily from 1 p.m. to midnight, and Akbar said he hopes to eventually expand the hours so students and night owls have a place to grab a late-night treat.
“Once you have a taste you’re going to want to come back,” he said. “So, give us a try.”
