Cancel culture strikes again, and this time it’s a complete freeze-out.
The latest casualty? The Choco Taco, that chocolate-dipped, nut-dotted, ice cream-stuffed, waffle-cradled summer treat. It’s gone, kaput, finito, discontinued by cold-hearted Klondike after nearly 40 years in production, due to a post-pandemic redistribution of increasingly scarce and ever-more expensive resources.
Even colder: news of the folded cult fave’s demise was dropped on ice-cream chasers like a bomb pop, smack in the middle of a brutal heatwave.
Fans responded icily to the crushing news, calling Klondike’s decision more than a little nuts.
“What would I do for a Klondike Bar? Not much, it’s just an ice cream bar. I would do many questionable things for a Choco Taco,” tweeted one loyal dessert lover.
But, what’s this? (Cue the imaginary “Rocky” music.) The famed square bar’s quirky, underrated sibling could be poised for a thrilling comeback, at least if New Yorkers have anything to say about it.
From taquerias to tony cocktail bars, tributes to the gone-too-soon chilly confection are being poured out — into fresh waffles — all over, as local businesses capitalize on the nostalgia-nudging news. Even legendary East 60th Street dessert parlor Serendipity 3 is good for a not-at-all-outrageous offering of their own: an edible, 24K gold-flecked ice cream taco, available for a mere $100, for one day only (October 4).
No need, however, to break the bank while waiting to see if Klondike comes to its senses, and they might yet — there are already rumblings that the Choco Taco might come back at some point. For the time being, we’ve rounded up five of the most excellent homages to the original. Some of them, dare we say it, might be better than the real thing.
Bruno Bakery
Husband and wife pastry chefs Joseph and Daniela Settepani were on a recent vacation in Daniela’s hometown of Puebla, Mexico, when they dreamt up the Valle di Gelato ($4.50) as a way to combine their love of pastry with a nod toward their Mexican and Sicilian backgrounds. They pipe fluffy, light homemade waffles full of Joseph’s fine, house-made gelato, which comes in two flavors: a rum-tinged vanilla gelato dipped in 60% dark chocolate and covered in tiny bits of crunchy, chopped almonds — or pistachio gelato with sour cherries dipped in white chocolate dotted with Sicilian pistachios. Sold on Tuesdays only, look for the Settepanis to add more Valle di Gelato flavors in the future, including an upcoming affogato riff. “I wanted to create something that was a nod to both of our cultures, but was a little fun and playful, too,” Joseph said.
1650 Hylan Blvd., Staten Island; 718-987-5859, BrunosNYC.com
Comfortland
This bite-sized, biscuit-centered breakfast and lunch spot in Astoria is known for nostalgic sweet treats, so it’s no surprise to learn that owner Donnie D’Alessio has a thing for Choco Tacos. He has been cranking out the occasional ode for a couple of years now. Lately, he’s had to streamline the creative process to keep up with demand for his vanilla and chocolate soft-serve stuffed homemade waffle tacos, dipped in snappy hard-shell chocolate and topped with sprinkles and crushed M&Ms. And while the price may sound steep ($13 for one), keep in mind each shell is filled with over a pint of ice cream.
40-09 30th Ave., Astoria; 631-457-9815, ComfortlandNYC.com
Who’s Jac W.?
“I remember eating Choco Tacos when I was a kid, and I wanted to take them to the next level,” said Joel Reiss, chef/owner of the whimsically named Upper East Side restaurant known for modern comfort fare. For Reiss, that meant digging into the decadent details, like adding cocoa powder to his waffle batter. The shells are filled to order with house-made caramel corn ice cream before bathing in melted chocolate. The final flourish? A showering of toasted, crushed macadamia nuts. At $3 each — take two, they’re small — Reiss’s creations are part of the restaurant’s robust Taco Tuesday offering.
1626 2nd Ave., Manhattan; 917-388-3687, WhosJacW.com
Fat Taco
At this year-old modern take on the taqueria in Hoboken, chef Jason Herrera wanted to stick close to the classic, give-the-people-what-they-want energy. Fresh, house-made waffles are generously filled with vanilla ice cream, dipped in a swath of milk chocolate, and practically buried under salty, crunchy peanut halves. “We have been going viral on social media featuring trendy things like the Choco Taco,” said Cara Kirschner, general manager for the restaurant’s managing company. “We’ll keep it as long as there’s demand.” Right now, it’s a special item sold daily at $5.99 for one, or three for $14.99.
32 Newark St., Hoboken, NJ; 201-253-0401, FatTacoHoboken.com
Amy Fontaine’s
Bar whiz Cody Goldstein’s decadent Tacotini is an espresso martini-ish expression of the Klondike frozen treat, conjuring the familiar flavors and ingredients via a chilly mix of Tequila Cazadores Blanco, chicory cold brew coffee, heavy cream, Averna Amaro, waffle cone syrup and sea salt. Shaken and served in a coupe glass rimmed with fudge shell chocolate — and rolled in crushed, dry roasted peanuts — the grown-up tribute to the kids-of-all-ages favorite is making quite a splash at the casual Midtown East brunch spot. “I have had an affinity for Choco Taco dating back to my younger years,” Goldstein confessed. “The beauty of the ice cream was it almost never dripped, being essentially a stuffed ice cream cone covered in chocolate and peanuts. It was always easy to eat on the go and the foil wrapper certainly helped keep any mess at bay. It is the ultimate ice cream sandwich.” Try Goldstein’s homage for $16, from now through the end of the month.
922 3rd Ave., Manhattan; 917-261-7644, AmyFontainesNYC.com
