Spice and Sizzle at Tawa

by Iyath Adam

Our newest food adventure was at Tawa – a recently opened restaurant in Hulhumalé Phase I. Located on Nirolhu Magu, just where you go into the city from the bridge, Tawa is a cosy spot with two decks and indoor and outdoor seating.

We decided to sit upstairs, in the air-conditioned indoor area. The servers were attentive and fast and within minutes, we had our menus.

The Tawa menu is quite extensive! Other than sandwiches, pasta, rice, noodles and kottu dishes, they also had their own tandoori grilled platters – available both in individual portions and larger sizes as sharing platters. The drinks menu was also quite varied, with everything from different types of iced lattes to mojitos and milkshakes.

We decided to go for an Indian/Middle Eastern tandoori-style vibe with kulcha naan, chicken kebab skewers, chicken 65 and chilli beef. For drinks, we went for something different with a mocktail called ‘Blueberry Jojo.’

We started off with the drink – a tangy mixture of blueberries, lemon juice and ginger beer. The sharp fizz of ginger blended well with the sweetness of the blueberries, and it created a refreshing and unique drink that helped with the spicy notes of the main dishes.

On to the food now!

The kulcha naan arrived warm and golden, sprinkled with white and black sesame seeds on top. The texture was spot-on – soft enough to soak up sauces, but firm enough to hold its shape – and the earthiness paired beautifully with the richer, spicier dishes that came afterwards.

The chicken kebab skewers were smoky and lightly spiced; simple yet flavourful, it went great with the onion salad (which came as a small side).

The chicken 65 was another standout. Each piece of chicken was fried to a gorgeous reddish-gold, crisp on the outside and juicy on the inside with a mildly spicy flavour.

The chilli beef was spicy, sweet, and tender; the thin slices of beef were coated in a glossy, chilli-garlic-soy sauce, full of bold, hearty flavours.

All in all, whether you’re stopping by for a quick bite, a casual dinner with friends, or a platter to share with family, Tawa delivers exactly what you’d hope for – good food, lovely service, and a genuinely enjoyable evening. If you find yourself in Hulhumale’, we highly recommend that you check it out!