Food & Dining

BU Today Interns Dish on New GSU Eatery Halal Shack

The quick-service spot offers a yummy blend of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern flavors and hearty portions

Have you noticed a newcomer at the GSU?

If you’ve yet to try the Halal Shack, which opened earlier this semester in BU’s George Sherman Union food court, you should check it out. The eatery—nestled between Basho and Charles River Bread Co.—is inspired by the “halal truck” street food popular in New York City. The new spot combines Mediterranean and Middle Eastern flavors and offers many vegetarian and halal (meaning it adheres to Islamic law) options. 

Halal Shack has a few locations on other college campuses, and Dan VanAvery, director of retail dining for BU Dining Services, says his team chose to bring it to BU because of its excellent reputation and extensive menu. The food they serve “not only meets the needs of our students looking for halal options, but also of those that enjoy delicious Mediterranean food.” The new location is among the top-three GSU dining options each week, VanAvery says, and is 35 percent busier than the restaurant previously in that location.

Diners can build a variety of bowls (rice, salad, fries, or zucchini noodles, quaintly named “zoodles”) or opt for a pita sandwich (nicknamed a “naanarito,” basically a burrito wrapped with naan rather than a tortilla). To create your bowl, choose your base, then fillings and toppings. For meat-eaters, there are different types of chicken and beef to choose from, plus a mix of the two for the indecisive. Those who don’t eat meat can opt for falafel, chickpea korma, or crispy cauliflower. Be sure to factor in the $1 add-on charge for fillings like hot BBQ chicken, crispy chicken, and crispy cauliflower.

A slew of toppings, like mint-covered cucumbers, onions, and cheese, allows you to customize your meal the way you want. Finally, top it off with one of the Halal Shack’s many delicious sauces: the famous spicy white sauce, a traditional hot sauce, BBQ, tahini, and green chutney.

BU Today interns Sujena Soumyanath (COM’25) and Sam Thomas (COM’24) checked out the new GSU location and are here to give you their honest opinion. Spoiler alert: it’s all delicious.

Sam

Walking to the GSU after a full day of class and work, I was nearly shaking with anticipation to try the Halal Shack. Or was it hunger? Either way, I couldn’t wait to dig in.

I immediately gravitated towards the rice bowl with white rice and added a mix of chicken and beef. What’s better than one protein? Two, of course. 

My meal was ready within a few minutes, perfect for students balancing tight schedules and rumbling stomachs. I grabbed my order—a rice bowl plus a side of pita and hummus—in the now-classic green Choose to Reuse container. The mouth-watering smell of falafel and spices wafted through the area by the Halal Shack, and I couldn’t wait to tear into my meal.

The first thing I noticed when opening my order was the delicious smell of tahini (a paste made of sesame seeds) and spiced meats. I spread the tahini with a fork, ensuring every bite would be perfectly coated. I added lettuce, onion, mint, cucumber, and cheese as well. 

The portion size was large and filling, leaving me with a bit to reheat later on in the night. These are the best kinds of college meals: big plates that can be stretched across two sittings. My favorite protein was the halal chicken, which was cooked well, with a healthy kick of spice. The halal beef was good as well, but I would definitely lean towards the chicken next time as the beef was a bit dry. 

The rice was also well-cooked and nicely seasoned, and my side of pita and hummus didn’t skimp out on the serving of hummus. With so many restaurants raising prices and shrinking portions, the Halal Shack’s generous additions were a refreshing change. My bowl cost $12.49 and the side order was $3.99.

While at the GSU, I checked in with Fatou Mbaye (CAS‘25), who was about to place her Halal Shack order. Mbaye said she liked her previous meal (a naanarito and hummus bowl) from the Halal Shack so much that she had to return to get something else. She also added that since she is Muslim, she appreciates having a halal option available on campus. 

Sujena

I am a vegetarian, so I want you to know that if plant-based protein is more your speed, the Halal Shack has options for you, too. I ordered a pita wrap with fried cauliflower as my protein. Though the warm pita and fresh vegetables enhanced my gastronomic experience, the rich, crispy and savory cauliflower made this wrap stand out. 

Coated in golden batter, the cauliflower blended perfectly with the wrap’s tangy tahini sauce. Mint-covered cucumbers and zesty onions also complemented the wrap by adding a fresh kick to the otherwise heavy meal. Combined with a scoop of hummus (which you can add free of charge), each bite of the wrap burst with flavor. 

With wraps starting at $12.49, the Halal Shack’s options may not be the best value for the money—nearby Panda Express sells generous à la carte portions for $5.40—but the freshness and flavor of the restaurant’s food make up for it. Additionally, even plant-based options offer a filling portion. I, like Sam, picked up my order faint with post-class hunger, but finished feeling satiated. 

After my meal, I stopped Gauri Bindal (CAS‘24), who was on her way out of the GSU with a warm Halal Shack wrap, to ask her take on the new spot. Bindal said she and her friends love the new restaurant and all its variety. “It’s just my go-to whenever I go to the GSU,” she said. 

Though you may need to keep a few dollars handy for sneaky add-on charges, Bindal thinks the prices are fair. “I mean, if you add extra stuff to it, then obviously it becomes a little pricey, but I think it’s pretty good value for the money,” she said. Diners have the option of adding premium toppings like feta cheese or smashed avocado with additional charges between $.79 and $1.99, depending on the selection. 

The Halal Shack also offers a variety of salad options for meat-eaters, vegans, and vegetarians alike. Choose a bed of crisp lettuce, spinach, or hearty kale, and add flavorful toppings like sumac and crispy fried pita from there. 

I ordered my salad with falafel and chose the white sauce as the dressing. Though the tasty salad made getting my greens in easy, the falafel left something to be desired. I found the fried balls of chickpeas, herbs, and spices slightly small and bland, especially after trying the delicious fried cauliflower. Luckily, the other well-seasoned ingredients, along with the rich white sauce dressing, still made every bite enjoyable.