Zaid A.
Yelp
Dish ordered: Dubai Chocolate Ice Cream, Arabic Ice Cream, Lotus Ice Cream
Also tried: Dubai Chocolate Crêpe, Oreo Crêpe, Chocolate Mousse "Bear"
TLDR: best overall dessert spot in Houston
I stopped by Royal Roastery and ended up trying way more than planned because everything looked too good to walk away from. The ice cream alone had a surprising range of flavors, each with a different texture and vibe. The Dubai Chocolate Ice Cream was the standout for me. It had a deep cocoa flavor, not just sugary sweetness, and the texture was creamy without feeling heavy. The Arabic Ice Cream was stretchy, chewy, and had that classic elastic texture you usually only find at specialty Middle Eastern spots, which was a nice touch of authenticity. The Lotus gelato tasted exactly like Biscoff blended into a cold dessert and would be perfect if you like caramel-cookie flavors.
We also ordered two crêpes, the Dubai Chocolate Crêpe and the Oreo Crêpe, and if you are someone who likes warm + cold combinations, I would definitely recommend adding ice cream on the side or on top. The crêpes were soft, warm, and filled generously, not dry or overly thin. Dessert spots sometimes get too sweet to the point where flavors blend together, but here each item still had its own profile. The Dubai chocolate crepe was one that I have ordered several times now.
The Chocolate Mousse Bear was okay, nothing special. It was smooth and creamy, not overly gelatin-forward like some mousse desserts. This is more for the presentation and pics more than the flavor.
If you're here on a weekend night be prepared for long lines, barely any space to sit with the crowd, and not much service. I waited around 30 min on a Saturday night, which was to be expected.
Overall, the menu leans strongly toward chocolate lovers, but they're also a roastery, so you can get nuts, spices, candy, Turkish delights, knafe, etc. I would come back again, especially with friends, since it is more fun to share and try different items rather than stick to just one. Vibes were immaculate though. Parking was such a hassle as well.
If you're in the area, have a sweet tooth, or like Middle Eastern dessert flavors, this is a great spot. I've been here countless times now and would highly recommend to everyone.