Found a hidden gem in the City of Orange--an ice cream lab called Filo. It was a hot day, and I was tired of the usual spots with their overhyped, copy-paste flavors. This place was different. Filo blends Arabic, Mediterranean, and Western flavors into something bold and unexpected. I ordered the Istanbul Coffee and Desert Rose Strawberry. Don't let the names fool you--these aren't your average scoops. The coffee was rich and spiced, the strawberry floral and haunting. The shop itself is beautifully designed. You walk in and feel like you've stepped into another country. The service? Warm and welcoming. If you're looking for something new--something with soul--this is the ice cream magic you need. #HiddenGem #IceCreamWithSoul read more

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I came here after a very mediocre dinner, desperate for a good finish. I had never heard of this spot before, but a friend recommended it and it was close by. I sampled a few flavors before my sister ordered the knafooza with vanilla ice cream. It's a large dessert, so plan for 3-4 people to split it. The ambiance is cute, well lit and spacious. The employees were patient with us as we decided our flavors, and accommodating when I asked for extra forks. The knafooza was mind-blowing. Honestly one of the best desserts I've had in a long time. The texture of the crumbled knafeh was incredible. I almost wish they had made it wider and flatter so there was more crunchy surface area, but that's just my personal preference. It was delicate (in taste and texture) and not too sweet, with simple syrup on the table if you wanted more. We didn't add any to ours, it was perfection as is. Although I'm sure any ice cream flavor would have been great, the vanilla was a really nice pairing and didn't overpower the magic of the knafeh. If I wasn't so stuffed afterwards, I would have gone home to pick up my mom, and come right back so she could try it too. read more

Filo Dessert - Knafooza with vanilla ice cream - Desserts Near Me - Orange, California

The offerings here are so unique! Lots of seating too with an upstairs, clean and spacious. Service went above and beyond, the woman who helped us was so nice and lively. We really enjoyed what we ordered. The ice cream is a really nice texture, with really unique flavor offerings. We accidentally left a bag here and they were really nice about helping us get it back the next day. read more

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Yum... So, I've gone here two times now with my cousins, and this place has hit every time, and always with something new. The first time, we tried: - Baklava: delicious - Dubai Bar - Strawberry, Biscoff, and Pistachio Ice Cream: All ice creams tasted so good! - Rice Pudding with Biscoff Ice Cream on top: became an instant favorite - Mocha and Espresso Beverages Then the second time, we got: - Biscoff Tres Leches: Sooo delicious and an instant favorite - Dubai Bar - Pistachio & Biscoff ice Creams We are total fans of this shop and have now since gone here for dessert after we eat at another restaurant beforehand. Everything tastes really good and fresh. The Staff is wonderful and very nice. My favorite items are the Biscoff Tres Leches and the Rice Pudding. I can see why they tend to sell out, because they are so good! Thank you Filo Dessert! read more

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What a hidden gem! Great little dessert place next to Orange Circle. If you love baklava and other middle eastern desserts this is the place. Ice cream flavors like Jujuberry, Mistika Mastic and Istanbul Coffee that you won't find anywhere else. And the guys behind the counter were great at providing suggestions to try. read more

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Amazing Ice cream flavors. Love their knafeh! It's very buttery and savory! Staff are very helpful and nice. Vibe is genuine. read more

Filo Dessert - Amazing selection - Desserts Near Me - Orange, California

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I visited Filo on a Tuesday evening & instantly loved the interior design. I also appreciated the display showcasing some of their desserts. They offer a wide array of treats, so we had a hard time deciding what to get, but the worker was very kind & let us sample the ice cream flavors we were interested in. I ended up ordering a scoop of the baklava crunch ice cream, while my sister got the lavender ice cream. We both thought everything we tried was delicious, & we're already planning our next visit to try more of their authentic persian treats, like the baklavas & knafeh, as well as their fusion desserts, such as the boozalava & basbooza. read more

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Our friends took us here after lunch & it was my first time in the Orange circle. Its a really nice area to hang out since there are so many different options. Filo itself has tons of great items. The flavors are different and the knafeh is so good here. Might be one of the best I've ever tried. parking can get a little crazy but if you're lucky or have great patience, you'll find something. read more

my friends and i were fiending for a sweet treat, so we decided to try out filo dessert! the workers were so sweet and immediately offered ice cream samples when we stepped into the shop and started looking at the menu unsure of what to try. we eventually decided to go with a walnut baklava and two cups of ice cream with 2 scoops each. for the flavors, we chose beiruti vanilla, antep pistachio, baklava crunch, and lotus biscoff, and i think the antep pistachio was definitely my fave! it wasn't too sweet, was creamy, and tasted freshly made with a lot of pistachio flavor. the walnut baklava was definitely on the sweet side, and i think it would pair really well with a hot tea. the store itself is very nice and clean, and they have seating on the first and second floor for you to enjoy your desserts. we went on a thursday night around 9 pm and it was fairly busy, but we were able to find street parking right outside the store and the line moved fast. read more

Filo Dessert - walnut baklava, ice cream (flavors: antep pistachio, beiruti vanilla, baklava crunch, lotus biscoff) - Desserts Near Me - Orange, California

Filo has amazing desserts! The mastic ice cream tasted like my childhood! The Kanefah is a must and the roz is mouth watering. Best customer service, Mimo is so kind. The decoration and the seating are so so cute. This is a must try! read more

Filo Dessert - Roz Bi Haleeb Knafooza Kishneh - Desserts Near Me - Orange, California

Really cute spot tucked away from the main busy street of the Orange Circle. Arabic style ice cream/dessert. Nice decor. A but small so. It a lot of seating, although it did look like they may have had seating upstairs. Very friendly staff helpful and willing to let you taste any of their very unique flavors of ice cream. I ordered the Biscoff ice cream that they made into and ice cream sandwich, sandwiched inside baklava..... to order!!! They had a few other pastry options you could order alone or with scoops of ice cream. They also make coffee and have my favorite spearmint tea, which was super yummy! It was only after I was done, and way too full to order anything else that I saw they had this savory kind of dessert that had gooey cheese in the middle of it. And you also can eat it with ice cream! I dont remember what it was called, but I so wanted to try it that I will definitely have to come back again. Loved this place, and definitely recommend. read more

Filo Dessert - Biscoff ice cream sandwiches between Baklava! - Desserts Near Me - Orange, California

What a gorgeous, delicious dessert spot at the Circle! It smells so good right when you walk in, and customer service is amazing. She started handing us samples as my son debated what flavor booza he wanted! The owner, Mo, is so kind and helpful. We came upstairs to enjoy our treats and get out of the heat. I'm so happy to know about this spot and will definitely be back! I prefer this to the other options at the Circle! read more

Filo Dessert - Upstairs! - Desserts Near Me - Orange, California

The inside of the store is cute. I came here for the first time with the hubby. We've always been curious to try something here since they first opened but never made the time. Came here after dinner in the Orange Circle on. Saturday at 7:30 pm. It was empty. The worker was very patient with us while we were trying to decide what we wanted. He recommended the fruity flavors as well as the biscoff ice cream and what do we do? We pick something he didn't recommend. Lol! We got the Boozalava which is baklava topped with ice cream. We chose the pistachio ice cream that wasn't one of the choices the worker recommended. I personally really enjoyed it because the ice cream was actually pistachios without coloring and fake flavors. I enjoy ice cream because of the creamy milkiness. Therefore, the only downside of it was it wasn't creamy enough for me but that's just preference. It was still good. The hubby didn't really enjoy the ice cream because it was not sweet enough. I'm Asian and he's white. So, it not being too sweet is a compliment. He enjoyed the baklava though because it was sweet. We should have gotten an ice cream flavor that the worker recommended. Maybe we'll come back another time to try it. read more

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Extremely rude. The minute I walk in the Hispanic server and blonde woman scowl and then walk away. I did not say anything or do anything to deserve such treatment. It's like they don't want to serve customers. Will never patronize here nor recommend to anyone. read more

LOVED the ambiance of the store, it was gorgeous. Tried the boozalava which was insane. Baklava was crispy and sweet. The booza really stood out to me -- got pistachio and it was natural pistachio tasting with chopped pistachio bits. Super thick and stretchy. Barely a hint of sweetness which complimented the baklava so well. Knafeh was amazing! We thought it was one of the best we've had in a while. Crisp and cheesy with a hint of rose. read more

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WOW, this place is SOOO good!! We got the Knafooza with Biscoff ice cream - I have never had anything like this before and it was unbelievably delicious! We also got Affogato which was incredible as well! When you walk in, this place has such great vibes and I love the upstairs seating area - it is super cozy and truly a wonderful spot to enjoy your dessert and hang out with friends. To top everything off, the service here was so friendly and wonderful. I have nothing but great things to say about this place! read more

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Small, cozy dessert shop with nice interior seating upstairs and downstairs. Tables and seating for parties and single parties looking to do work/study. I came here solely for the dubai chocolate bar which is hard to find in OC! - dubai chocolate bar: 5.5/10. (~$16) The ratio of chocolate to pistachio knafeh filling is very good, but this chocolate bar is way too sweet. I've tried the dubai chocolate from several other places, and this one was exceedingly sweet. They also shaped it in a circle as opposed to a bar which made it a little bit harder to break/eat? Overall, very expensive and overly sweet dubai chocolate bar :( Lots of other people ordered drinks, coffees, ice creams, and other pastries so maybe those are better but would not recommend the dubai chocolate. read more

Filo Dessert - dubai chocolate - Desserts Near Me - Orange, California

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Great food and service! The owner and staff always make one feels home! The Orange location is one of a kind!

Two story dessert shop with parking in the back. I love their non traditional desserts specifically their ice cream such as the biscoff flavor! read more

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Delicious place for Middle Eastern desserts and coffee in beautifully decorated space that transports you to another country. We had warm knafeh with lotus biscoff ice cream. Amazing flavors and balance of sweetness! The only negative was the server, who could have been more informative about the ethnic menu items for us to understand and order from. Plenty of sitting areas, inching a second floor to enjoy your dessert. read more

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We came here after lunch to relax and found it to be a nice little spot to grab dessert and relax. The ice cream is different than your normal flavors and the pastries as well. Also got the Krak tea which a nice edition. The three guys behind the counter were nice and kind even though we had lots of questions about the menu since it was our first time trying their food. read more

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Great location in the middle of the Orange circle. We had the Instanbul blend - delicious dark Turkish coffee. The wait for our order wasn't too long. I especially liked the evil eye decorations that were displayed on the wall. read more

Filo Dessert - Desserts Near Me - Orange, California

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I had read some great things about Filo Dessert and i had been looking forward to trying them out for myself. They have 2 locations. One in Orange and one in Anaheim. So, earlier today, I went to the Orange location with my parents. It is Located in Old Town Orange at the Circle off of Chapman ave in the City of Orange. There is plenty of parking but it is a busy area. Filo Dessert is a small dessert shop that offers some of the classic Middle Eastern desserts such as Knafeh, baklava and Ashtah. They also offer some delicious ice cream flavors such as Pistachio, Baklava, Coffee as well as the classic Mediterranean Mistaka or (Mastic) ice cream. Mastic is a plant resin that gives the ice cream its unique chewy and stretchy texture, and salep (or sahlab), a powder from the ground root of an orchid that acts as a thickener and enhances the chewiness. It is a unique flavor that you will probably not find anywhere else. And it is delicious. They also serve Turkish coffee and so much more. The menu is cleverly designed with the classic Middle Eastern desserts in their original recipe as well as some very tasteful combinations. The space is small and cozy, but also fun and inviting with comfortable lighting and great tunes playing in the background which greatly enhances the experience and the overall mood. The noise level is high enough to disguise your conversation from others but not too loud so to still hear others in your party. There are various seating areas including a Mezzanine. The interior decor is a mix of modern and classic middle eastern interior design with beautiful tile work, woodwork and brass pendants. I had the Knafeh with cheese. It was topped with crushed pistachios. The knafeh was warm, as it should be and the cheese was stretchy and topped with a light simple syrup that gave it the perfect level of sweetness. It was truly THE BEST Knafeh I've ever had in the US in the past 30 years. I also ordered the Dubai chocolate with a scoop of Biscoff Ice Cream (sold separately) and which they kindly agreed to place on top of the Dubai chocolate per my request. It was a delicious match made in heaven. The service is excellent and everyone is so friendly. Prices are reasonable given the quality of their products. I will definitely be back to try some of the other items on the menu. I highly recommend Filo Dessert. It is a must have. Shukran (Thank you) to the really nice lady behind the counter, who i believe is the owner and to the staff members for making our first visit a memorable experience. :) Khaled- read more

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I wanted to explore some unique deserts than what I eat every weekend, so I searched for some deserts in the area after finished a long hike today, and I found Filo. Everything look great in the photo so I decided to check it out, and I'm so glad I did. Their Baklava is so thin and crunchy, almost melt in my mouth, it tastes amazing with their pistachios ice cream! Their Knafeh is warm, crunchy, cheesy but in a perfect complexity of sweet and savory at the same time. I definitely enjoy them all while buoying the cutesy interior designs of this shop. Their upstairs has two open tables and a few stools to sit and look at the overview of the shop. Filo Desert has its oun parking at the back if the street parking is a hustle. They also close late around 11pm, so it's great place for a days after dinner! read more

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Always amazing!! Very welcoming and great vibes! Thank you Emtiyaz for your beautiful smile you always make our visit special! read more

Filo Dessert - Desserts Near Me - Orange, California

Saw this place all over social media & knew I had to stop by with my friends. I've tried knafeh at a few places before but wow, the one here with ICE CREAM? amazing. They bake it once you order it so it can take some time but totally worth it. So decadent, so delicious. I also tried the dubai mocha & it was pretty good. a little strong for me but i'm also a little weak to caffeine. We parked in a lot a few streets over and spent the afternoon walking around all the shops afterwards. The store itself is also really beautiful. I love the little pieces that add such a nice touch. read more

Great and friendly service - Memo is the best! Delicious baklava and ice cream Get the Lulu Lavender ice cream. read more

Came in to try their vegan ice cream, of which they currently have two flavors: kasbah peach and juju berry. As I had never been here before, I was planning to ask the server which of the two he recommends because I only wanted one scoop. He very kindly tells me that he can do a split scoop, which is priced at about a dollar more than the single scoop; the total comes out to $7.49 with tax. - Kasbah peach tasted like it was made with real peaches. It was stretchy and soft, as Turkish ice cream should be. It was definitely a bit sweet (for my taste), but it was so much yummier than any peach ice cream or sorbet I've had because it did not have any of that nasty artificial peach flavoring. It was also very slightly icy, but for a vegan ice cream it was remarkably creamy. - Juju berry was my favorite of the two; a blueberry ice cream which was super rich and flavorful. You could see the blueberry skins throughout the ice cream, and they contributed a very mild, pleasant textural contrast. There was none of that bitter, tannin-y flavor that comes with the inclusion of blueberry skins in other low-quality desserts. Overall it was like eating a gigantic, soft and stretchy frozen blueberry, and it was one of the most unique ice creams I've ever had. It was also less icy than the peach flavor. 10/10 would definitely get this again. Also, I asked the employee and it's definitely blueberry. I think it's called "juju" because it's named after the owner. The portions are also massive here; I was half-convinced that this was actually two scoops because of how much ice cream there was. They use real fruit and formulate their own ice cream with traditional recipes. You can also buy a pint of ice cream to take home. The interior is warm, homey, and hits you with a blast of delicious, spiced coffee-scented air as soon as you open the door. The first floor is where you order and feast your eyes on the variety of ice cream, baklava, rice pudding, and other desserts they have on display, and the second floor is where you go to enjoy them. Decor is whimsical, with beautiful enameled mosaic glass lamps hanging from the ceiling, geometric tilework, and a gorgeous wooden staircase. We came in at around 9 pm and it was still bustling. Many people came to stay and enjoy the ambience and dessert, and others were students attracted by the prospect of a sweet treat and a place to study late into the night. My friend and I talked well into the night, and the relative privacy afforded by the upstairs seating area was a huge plus. I also wanted to try their basbooza but they don't sell it anymore? Kind of unclear whether it was sold out or they just don't offer it anymore. Absolutely would return to try their other desserts. read more

Filo Dessert - kasbah peach - Desserts Near Me - Orange, California

First, the esthetic in here is gorgeous! Intricate tile pieces, gold and wood accents, and beautiful bras lamps. Stunning. Memo was super pleasant as well! Got the pistachio ice cream and it had a really nice pull. The knafeh was nicely balanced, sweet and savory with a crunchy outside. The Istanbul coffee was the best! Not very floral but still strong. Would come again! read more

Filo Dessert - Food! - Desserts Near Me - Orange, California

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My friend wanted to try this place so we came here after hiking in the area in the early afternoon of a Saturday. This place is located in downtown Orange near the roundabout street. It's a cute little shop with upstairs seating. There were a few people there when I visited. My friend and I decided to share the baklava with ice cream (lavender and pistachio). It was interesting as I've not had baklava nor Arabic ice cream however the dessert did not disappoint. I like how it wasn't too sweet and the ice cream wasn't too creamy and heavy. I think of it as something in between regular American ice cream and gelato. I'm glad to stop by this place and I'd definitely come by to try the other desserts and ice cream flavors. read more

Filo Dessert - Baklava with lavender and pistachio ice cream about $15 - Desserts Near Me - Orange, California

As a Syrian-American, I approve of this cafe!! The boozah (ice cream) is SO good; one of the many things I miss about Syria. When I see the pistachio ice cream color like that, I know it's gonna be good. Stay away from the neon green that other places sell lol. The karak chai was piping hot which I love because I swear these days my hot drinks just come out warm lol. And it tastes great! The space is beautiful and inviting. It does get a little warm inside. The staff are very kind and they are part of the reason why the space is inviting. I am excited to come back to try their other desserts, especially their knafeh! read more

Filo Dessert - Pistachio and Mastic boozah - Desserts Near Me - Orange, California

I love their moon and stars fairy lights. Makes the place look so elegant and nostalgic. The owner must be so good at interior decorations. read more

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Quick Summary Wonderful spot to try some Mediterranean desserts! Really enjoyed the Mistika ice cream and the crispy knafeh. Plenty of seating available. Street parking available but it's a short walk from the DT Orange area Food- 5 stars Really enjoyed my first experience with Mediterranean ice cream. I wanted to try something different from the typical baklava, so tried out the Mistika ice cream and the crispy knafeh. Both were incredibly good. It was a good mix of hot and cold (ate it separately) and I really enjoyed the different textures of the knafeh (with the creamy cheese being complemented by the crispy noodle like bits). Service- 5 stars The service was great. They were helpful with samples and explaining the menu since it was our first time Bottom Line Excellent food and service. Can't wait to go back! read more

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4.5 stars. Very cool place - owner makes all the Booza ice cream himself. All the ice cream is made with I believe mistika mastic so the ice cream isn't your normal texture. It's much thicker with a pull. You can add toppings as well. I got the lotus biscoff one and that seems to be the most popular flavor. They also sell sweets like knafeh and drinks too. read more

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Our first time in the shop. Had the Biscoff ice cream, Cairo Cocoa, and a Dubai chocolate bar. All were delicious and so creamy. Lovely flavors available and we can't wait to try more. Definitely worth stopping in. read more

Filo Dessert - Dubai chocolate bar and ice creams - Desserts Near Me - Orange, California

I've been wanting to try booza and so glad we have it here in OC! This ice cream is so unique and fun to eat because of its stretchy, yet creamy texture. 'Antep Pistachio': I loved the pistachio, there's no artificial taste and you can tell they used real pistachio, with the chunks of pistachio adding a nice crunch to it! One single scoop was a pretty good size and it comes with one free topping too, I got biscoff. Got to sample a few of their flavors and everything tasted really fresh! Also, couldn't get over the ambiance of the inside of this shop, it was so pretty! And I loved that they had an upstairs area as well with a couple of tables/seating. read more

Filo Dessert - Antep Pistachio - Desserts Near Me - Orange, California

Amazing desserts, great service, and such a cute spot! The Baklava is a must-try. Highly recommend for anyone with a sweet-tooth! Thank you for the amazing service! read more

Filo Dessert - Baklava & Pistachio Ice Cream - Desserts Near Me - Orange, California

Don't ask, just order the BOOZALAVA...you can thank me later! I got the lotus cookie butter option for the ice cream and it took me to outer space but I don't think you can go wrong with any of the ice cream choices! read more

Filo Dessert - Lotus Biscoff Pint - Desserts Near Me - Orange, California

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Ice cream was really good, but the customer service completely ruined the experience. The girl with the blonde hair had a terrible attitude and acted like she didn't even want to be there. There wasn't even a simple "hello" or "how are you," and the whole interaction felt unwelcoming. Honestly, we didn't even feel comfortable asking for samples because of how cold and rude she came across. When we tried ordering, she responded with "yeah I know" in a rude tone. She was also on her phone the whole time. There weren't any customers at the moment, but I still feel like employees should be keeping up with the store and being attentive instead of sitting in the back snacking and on their phone. The ice cream itself was good, but the service definitely needs major improvement. read more

Fresh Dubai chocolate! They also make homemade unique flavor ice creams such as rose flavor. The staff is always friendly. There is an area on the 2nd floor where you can sit and enjoy these yummy desserts. read more

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