By Wesley Yuan
Boston University News Service
One of the newest spots at the George Sherman Union this year is Tawa Indian Kitchen, which opened on September 9th, 2026. Here, you can get great Indian food packed with flavor and freshness for a great price.
Here, you have a fantastic variety of options that will satisfy any craving you have. Whether you’re a huge meat eater, vegetarian, vegan, or new to Indian cuisine, there is something for everyone. There are some Chef Curated Bowls which feature a main with a sauce along with fresh vegetables and naan atop a steaming bowl of basmati rice. There is also the option of Build Your Own Rice Bowl or Salad Bowl where you can explore all of their amazing options. From tandoori chicken dressed in rich butter sauce to fiery and nutty alu chole, you can always mix and match whatever you want.
Food Review
When I went to Tawa for lunch, I found great quality in the cuisine they serve. Once you get your bowl, you can immediately smell the blend of spices and herbs wafting up to you, inviting you to dig in. I got a bowl for lunch which included tandoori chicken dressed with creamy butter sauce, along with a piece of naan and a scoop of fresh kachumber salad, resting on a warm bed of basmati rice. The chicken was quite soft and tender, with a thin coat of aromatic spices. The butter sauce had a mild spiciness and a subtle tang that greatly complemented the rice and chicken. The naan was quite soft, acting as the perfect vessel for scooping up any remaining sauce. The kachumber salad was a blend of diced cucumbers, tomatoes and onions. It was the perfect touch of acidity.
Two days later, I returned to sample the Captain’s Catch Bowl. This was a bowl featuring a fillet of freshly grilled salmon smothered in butter sauce, served with a scoop of palak paneer over basmati rice and garnished with fresh vegetables, chutney and a piece of naan. The salmon was very well cooked, not too dry and was an excellent pairing with Tawa’s rich butter sauce. Palak paneer is a curry composed of spinach, spices, and Indian style cottage cheese. It was soft, creamy and packed with a delicious blend of spices. Both bowls were made with high-quality ingredients, freshness and delicious spices.
Students’ Review
Now that we’ve finished our review, let’s see what other students have to say about TAWA. Liza Odikaze, a junior, ordered a tandoori bowl with tandoori chicken and shared her opinions about the food.
”I like that you get a lot of protein and it’s healthy for a good price,” Odikaze said. “I think it’s a good addition because it makes you have more diverse options, so you don’t have the same things over and over again, and we didn’t have any Indian spots around here.”
But like any new dining spot, there are always improvements to be made to it. Ercole LiPuma, a sophomore, who had the Captain’s Catch bowl, also shared his review of the food, including the quality and presentation.
“I liked the salmon more than I expected…I was expecting it to be pretty dry,” LiPuma said. “They put a bunch of stuff together, so it doesn’t always work together. They use big pieces of onions and big pieces of jalapeños…. Overall, having Indian food is better than not having it.”
Rhett’s Diner and The Coop Merging
With this addition, one of the GSU’s most popular landmarks, The Coop, has now merged with Rhett’s Diner. Now, the two can be found together with their menus combined. However, students have already noticed significant changes to their favorite dining spot. Carson Macklin, a sophomore, who ordered a bowl with chicken, rice, tikka masala sauce, and naan, commented on the recent menu changes to Rhett’s and The Coop.
“Rhett’s has The Coop’s menu from last year, and I’m sad that some things are lost,” Macklin said. “Either the cheese and steak sandwich and shoe string fries.”
Even though The Coop’s building remains, its menu saw many changes over the summer. And while Tawa has brought fresh new diversity, students are missing the hit favorites from The Coop due to this recent merger. Anurag Mithews, a junior, who ordered the tandoori bowl with tandoori chicken, commented on the changes.
“I was so sad because I loved the Coop,” Mithews said. “I always got the Nashville Hot Chicken.”
The Future for Tawa
Tawa has received good reactions from students who value the new level of diversity it adds to the GSU. Here you can find a great blend of freshness, aromatic spices, textures and more without having to travel too far around campus. Macklin expressed his thoughts on the quality and convenience of Tawa.
“It’s a place to get better food and for a decent deal,” Macklin said. “I like having something like this on campus. It’s nice to not have to go all the way to Allston. I really appreciate it.”
Hopefully, Tawa has a bright future at GSU. Time will tell if any improvements down the road help make it stand out amongst the other GSU dining spots. With its tasty bowls and mouth-watering spices, it will definitely leave you coming back for more.
