A former Goodwill building on Brighton Avenue, now twenty thousand square feet of counters, a stage, and sixteen kitchens running at once. Novo Marketplace's official grand opening lands in Allston on September 12, and Tabla Express Boston is ready for its own grand opening alongside.
This guide covers what's actually on the counter, what the grand opening weekend looks like, and where else to eat if you're standing in Novo trying to decide between sixteen different smells at once.
Quick Summary
Tabla Express Boston operates inside Novo Marketplace at 122 Brighton Ave, Allston, serving Indian and Indo-Chinese food. Novo Marketplace's official grand opening is September 12, 2026, with live performances and the full 16-vendor lineup running. Tabla Express Boston's menu includes Chicken Biryani Bowl, Cholle Kulcha, and Chicken Tikka, with hours running 11 AM to 10 or 11 PM daily.
The Fast Lunch That Doesn't Taste Like a Compromise
Some days lunch has to happen in under fifteen minutes, and quick-service food usually means picking between speed and flavor. Tabla Express Boston built its counter around not making you choose.
The Chicken Biryani Bowl comes out layered, saffron rice on the bottom, marinated chicken and fried onions stacked on top instead of stirred through. Cholle Kulcha pairs stewed chickpeas with a stuffed flatbread that holds its shape through a walk back to the office. Neither dish asks you to slow down to enjoy it.
Grand Opening Highlights
Opening day comes with a few things worth timing your visit around. The offers below run for the September 12 grand opening at Tabla Express Boston inside Novo Marketplace.
| Offer | Details | |
| Free Mango Lassi | First 100 orders over $20 | |
| Free dessert | Rice pudding with every order | |
| 10% off | First 20 orders with a valid student ID |
Two of the three offers will run out sooner than you expect. The mango lassi caps at 100 qualifying orders and the student discount stops at 20, so the earlier half of the day is where those actually land. The rice pudding comes with every order regardless of when you show up.
Indian Food in Boston, Minus the Wait for a Table
Sit-down Indian restaurants in Boston mean a menu, a wait, and a check at the end. Tabla Express Boston skips straight to the food, which matters most on a weeknight when nobody in the group wants to commit to an hour at a table.
The counter-service format inside Novo Marketplace works the way a food court is supposed to. Order, get a number, and the Chicken Tikka or a plate of Hakka Noodles shows up faster than most kitchens can fire a starter course.
Grand Opening Weekend at Novo Marketplace
September 12 is the marketplace's official grand opening day. The full lineup of vendors runs at once, and the marketplace has live performances scheduled as part of the celebration.
What to expect that weekend:
- All 16 permanent vendors operating, Tabla Express Boston included
- Live entertainment on Novo's stage
- The food hall's board games, seating, and WiFi available as usual, just with a bigger crowd around them
Tabla Express Boston is part of the full lineup running that day, serving its usual menu of Indian and Indo-Chinese dishes to a grand opening crowd.
A Short Walk From Boston University
Brighton Avenue sits within walking distance of Boston University's west end, which puts Tabla Express Boston inside the daily orbit of a few thousand students looking for Indian food near Boston University when they need something between a dining hall swipe and a delivery order.
The format suits that crowd. Rice bowls and wraps travel well back to a dorm or a library table, portions land on the heavier side, and the counter moves fast enough to fit inside a gap between classes. Nobody eating here is budgeting an hour for lunch.
Novo Marketplace helps too. Free WiFi, board games, seating for two hundred, and a room that stays open late gives students somewhere to sit with a plate of Hakka Noodles long after the food is gone.
Indian Food Takeout Boston Regulars Already Know
Not everyone eating from Tabla Express Boston is doing it in the food hall. Indian food takeout Boston searches turn up Tabla Express Boston's Toast and Grubhub listings alongside the in-person counter, and plenty of Allston regulars order ahead and grab it on the way home.
That matters most on grand opening weekend, when the in-person line is likely to be longer than usual. Ordering ahead online skips the crowd entirely.
Who Else Is Worth Trying Nearby
Novo Marketplace itself is stacked with other reasons to linger. Molly Tea handles the drink side for anyone pairing food with something cold and sweet, and Mi-Nori's sushi push pops have become one of the food hall's more talked-about novelty orders. Fluffy Fluffy draws its own line for pancakes stacked taller than most people expect.
How to Order
| Method | Details | |
| In-person | Order at the counter inside Novo Marketplace, 122 Brighton Ave, Allston | |
| Takeout | Available directly through the counter | |
| Delivery | Available through Toast and Grubhub | |
| Hours | Mon to Thu and Sun, 11 AM to 10 PM; Fri and Sat, 11 AM to 11 PM | |
| Phone | (617) 780-4461 |
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Where is Tabla Express Boston located?
Tabla Express Boston is located at 122 Brighton Ave, Allston, MA 02134, inside Novo Marketplace.
2. Is Tabla Express Boston a new restaurant?
Tabla Express Boston is part of the Tabla Indian restaurant brand, now operating inside Novo Marketplace ahead of the marketplace's official grand opening on September 12.
3. What is Novo Marketplace's grand opening date?
Novo Marketplace's official grand opening is September 12, 2026.
4. What kind of food does Tabla Express Boston serve?
Tabla Express Boston serves Indian and Indo-Chinese dishes including Chicken Biryani Bowl, Cholle Kulcha, Chicken Tikka, Kurkure Momo, and Hakka Noodles.
5. Does Tabla Express Boston offer Indian food takeout in Boston?
Yes, takeout is available directly at the counter, and delivery orders can be placed through Toast and Grubhub.
6. What are Tabla Express Boston's hours?
Tabla Express Boston is open 11 AM to 10 PM Monday through Thursday and Sunday, and 11 AM to 11 PM Friday and Saturday.
7. Is Tabla Express Boston a sit-down restaurant or quick-service food?
Tabla Express Boston is a quick-service, counter-order format inside a food hall, not a sit-down restaurant.
8. Can I order Tabla Express Boston online for delivery?
Yes, Tabla Express Boston is available for delivery through Toast and Grubhub.
9. What other vendors are at Novo Marketplace alongside Tabla Express Boston?
Novo Marketplace includes 16 permanent vendors such as Molly Tea, Fluffy Fluffy, Mi-Nori, and Cotti Coffee, alongside Tabla Express Boston.
Walk into Novo Marketplace on September 12 and the whole room will be running at once, sixteen counters, a stage, and the smell of a dozen different countries' worth of cooking. Order the Chicken Biryani Bowl at Tabla Express Boston, grab a seat near the stage, and see what the rest of the building smells like on its loudest weekend yet.
Vasu Kohli
Vasu is a food and hospitality writer passionate about sharing the stories behind Tabla Restaurant. Through engaging content, she highlights Tabla’s authentic cuisine, unique dining experiences, and commitment to exceptional hospitality, helping guests discover what makes every visit memorable.