El Churro is the first of its kind, a dedicated churro bar in Dhaka, created to fill the gap for authentic churros in the city.
Brothers and co-founders Mahzuz Monir and Tazveed Shahid wanted to give Dhaka a taste of authentic churros that they had in Australia especially since they wanted to replicate the experience of San Churro- a franchise there.
“We’re not saying we’re the first to serve churros, but we’re definitely the first to have a dedicated churro bar in Dhaka,” said one of the co-founders Mahzuz Monir.
Food
We began our indulgence with the set of three boxes for the original churros, which offered three churros per box. Each was accompanied by one dip per box, and we tried all three distinctive dips: Dark chocolate, white chocolate, and Nutella.
We were eager to dive into all three, and the churros did not disappoint. Crisp and light, yet tender on the inside, each churro was served warm, making for delectable bites.
The dips themselves were nothing short of delightful, but it was the dark chocolate dip that stood out. It complemented the churros effortlessly, adding a deep chocolate flavour that was not overly sweet but indulgent and classic.
While the white chocolate and Nutella dips were also impressive, they did not quite steal the spotlight from the dark chocolate. They both were equally well made, with the consistency of each dip being thick and authentic.
Even if you are a Nutella fan, you will still agree that the white and dark chocolate dips genuinely elevate the experience, overshadowing Nutella in the best way possible, which is a testament to their balance and flavour.
We next sampled the highly anticipated, filled churros which are soon to be available on the menu. We had the chance to try all three varieties. Each set was filled with either the dark chocolate ganache, white chocolate ganache or Nutella. The dark chocolate ganache-filled churros were absolutely divine, not too sweet, but rich in texture and flavour.
The white chocolate ganache had a subtle sweetness balanced by its masterful consistency, while the Nutella-filled churros delivered that familiar, beloved chocolate flavour.
One standout feature in each one of the filled churros was the restraint in the filling; none of the churros were overloaded, allowing the crisp texture of the churros to shine through while counterplaying effortlessly with the filling.
We then tried the Tri-Way, which consisted of a trio of churro balls arranged on a tray. Each ball was topped with a generous layer of one of three dips: white chocolate ganache, dark chocolate ganache, and Nutella. While all the dips were enjoyable, we found the white chocolate-dipped churro balls to be our clear favourite.
The churro balls were airy and had a delightful crunch, and when paired with the rich white chocolate ganache, they created an irresistible bite.
Our next treat was Spanish hot chocolate, a thick, velvety drink that elevates the concept of hot chocolate to new heights. Its slight bitterness contrasts wonderfully with the rich chocolate flavour, making this Spanish hot chocolate a true game-changer.
After experiencing this soul-warming version, it will be hard to return to regular hot chocolate. It is both thick and drinkable, making it the perfect winter beverage.
For one of our last ones, we had the red velvet-filled churros, another future addition to the menu, with a red velvet churro shell and a creamy cream cheese filling. The aroma of red velvet engulfed our senses as we took the first bite.
The cream cheese filling was well-balanced, light, smooth and a delicious contrast to the richness of the red velvet. This creative amalgamation delivered diligently left us feeling eager for its official debut.
They will also be introducing two other items. One of them, called "Banana Heaven," features a combination of bananas and churro balls, topped with all three dips. However, to truly enjoy this dish, you need to be a banana enthusiast.
The official menu currently features original churros and churro balls, with the filled churros and banana heaven set to be introduced soon. We were lucky enough to sample these upcoming filled churros ahead of their release, allowing us to share our thoughts with you all.
They will also soon introduce a party box consisting of churros, strawberries and marshmallows.
The price range at El Churro is Tk190 to Tk390, including VAT.
Ambience
El Churro is located in Banani. This cozy spot is perfect for casual hangouts with friends, intimate dates, or family time over delicious churros and hot chocolate. The seating includes a few comfortable couches, and the churro bar is conveniently set up at the front.
Challenges
The bar was opened in December 2024. El Churro started by serving churros, a niche product; however, Monir aspires to appeal to a broader audience rather than remain limited to this specific niche.
“The product itself is a challenge because not many people are familiar with churros, but once that barrier breaks, I do not want to stick catering to a niche market, but I want to reach the masses with these churros and hot chocolate,” he said.
During their trial and error phase, the two co-founders and brothers were in charge of making the churros. While the churros came out well, the dips were not successful. To improve the menu and perfect the dips, they brought in a professional food consultant.
“We did not get the dips right until the food consultant came in, and she worked on the whole menu as well,” Monir added.
They will consider themselves successful once there are multiple branches across Bangladesh.
“We want to open many branches across Bangladesh, and the ultimate dream would be to branch out internationally as well”, said co-founder Tazveed Shahid.
Verdict
All the churro variations are with trying, so definitely try the churro balls and also the filled churros once they’re on the menu. Try all three dips as well, and decide which you liked better, we came out loving all three with different variations of churros.