By restaurant reviewer, Razeena Docrat.

This year, I’ve seen a beautiful growth, in the restaurant space, which took a hard knock post-COVID. I truly believe 2025 was the year for restaurants to rebuild and flourish.

Alhamdulilah, that being said, the halaal spaces in Johannesburg are booming, with a variety of different concepts and cuisines. It’s truly fortunate for us as Muslims to have such  diverse options.

All this being said, for many, their favourite spots are where their sweet tooth found it’s satisfaction. This year, the pistachio and Kunaafa trend burst all over south Africa, in restaurants, home industries and pop up culture. The variations leaked into strawberry cups, ice-cream and even cheese cake. While many may have found “the fix” and bore from a over drawn viral moment, an equal amount still are blown away. The Kunaafa aspect seems to be fading faster than it’s pistachio pairing.

Pistachio flavoured drinks, ice creams, hot chocolates are still very much booming, as more options of quality pistachio paste and syrups hit the market.

One truly beautiful, and absolutely indulging pistachio option I found this year, was at Khans Bakery and Café, situated within the newly opened Khans Butcher in homestead park.

After being the 1^st to feature in my show, munch the menu (which airs on Salaam media), 1 of the many amazing sweet treats sampled, and recommend by head Patisserie Chef there, was the San Sebastian Pistachio Cheese Cake. It’s was truly masterful, for the chef to blend 2 of the most viral desserts into 1 epic love story for all to enjoy.

To best describe this dish, allow me to quote the restaurant themselves

“We give you our newest drop. PISTACHIO SAN SEBASTIAN Cheesecake. The creamiest, dreamiest Basque cheesecake you will ever have! This bold and decadent cheesecake has a delicious , gorgeous burnt top , the silkiest custard-like molten center and a surprise gooey and fudgy chocolate base . Called “burnt” Basque. Due to its iconic almost-scorched dark surface, this cheesecake will have you begging for more!”

True to every word, once I tried it, I was utterly blown away and knew at 1^st bite, that this was the best dessert of 2025. Found in a true hidden, cozy Café in one of the most loved butchers here in Johannesburg.

The San Sebastian cheesecake comes in at a retail costing of R100 a slice, and can be purchased as a take home indulgence, or served at the Café. If you are taking it home, I do suggest thinning down the chocolate sauce with some milk before warming up the sauce, and the pouring it onto the slice, settled side ways in its true style for enjoyment.

2026 has big shoes to fill after this, but I do believe I’ll enjoy hunting for the next best dessert. Follow my sweet adventures as I restaurant hop, discovering all the halaal spaces in South Africa by following me on my social media