Food · Mauritius
What to eat in Mauritius
The dishes, drinks and food experiences that define Mauritius, and where locals actually eat them.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: "dronepicr", CC BY 2.0
.jpg){kind=link}
Quick answer
Start with Dholl puri, Farata and Gâteaux piments. Work your way from dholl puri outside the Central Market to boulettes in Chinatown and an alouda to finish; a full lunch costs very little. Street food is safe to try at busy stalls with a quick turnover; locals' queues are the best guide.
Key facts
- Signature dish
- Dholl puri
- Vegetarian-friendly picks
- 6
- Tipping
- Tipping is appreciated but not obligatory.
- Food experiences
- 4
12 foods to try
Street food · Vegetarian
1.Dholl puri
Two thin flatbreads stuffed with ground yellow split peas, wrapped around butter-bean curry, rougaille and pickled chutney. It is the island's favourite snack, eaten on the go.
Where: Street stalls around Port Louis Central Market and in every town; locals queue at well-known vendors at lunchtime.
Street food · Vegetarian
2.Farata
A soft, flaky Mauritian paratha, rolled around curry, beans or rougaille like a wrap. It is often sold at the same stalls as dholl puri.
Where: Street stalls and snack vans in Port Louis, Rose-Hill and beach car parks.
Snack · Vegetarian
3.Gâteaux piments
Small fried balls of ground split peas with chilli, onion and coriander, eaten hot and crunchy, often stuffed in a buttered baguette for breakfast.
Where: Roadside vendors and markets across the island, especially in the morning.
Dish
4.Rougaille
The Creole kitchen's basic tomato sauce, cooked with onion, garlic, ginger, thyme and chilli, and served with sausages, salted fish, prawns or octopus.
Where: Creole restaurants and table d'hôte dinners; ask for 'rougaille saucisses' or 'rougaille poisson salé'.
Dish
5.Mauritian curry (Cari)
Mauritian curries are lighter than Indian ones and often flavoured with curry leaves and fresh thyme; octopus curry (cari ourite) and chicken curry are classics, served with rice, lentils and chutneys.
Where: Family-run restaurants and roadside canteens; octopus curry is common on the west and south coasts.
Dish
6.Vindaye
Fish or octopus marinated in mustard seed, turmeric, garlic and vinegar, served cold or warm. It keeps well and is a favourite for beach picnics.
Where: Creole restaurants and as a side dish at markets and family celebrations.
Street food
7.Boulettes
Sino-Mauritian steamed dumplings of fish, prawn, chicken or chayote (chouchou), served in a clear broth with chilli sauce.
Where: Port Louis Chinatown and snack stalls around the island.
Street food
8.Mine frite
Stir-fried egg noodles with vegetables, chicken or prawns and soy sauce, one of the Chinese-Mauritian dishes found on every snack menu.
Where: Snack bars, food vans and Chinese restaurants across the island.
Dish
9.Briani
The Mauritian biryani, layered with rice, meat or fish, potatoes and spices; it is the centrepiece of weddings and family celebrations.
Where: Specialist briani shops in Port Louis and the larger towns, often sold by the portion at lunchtime.
Drink · Vegetarian
10.Alouda
A sweet, cold milk drink with basil seeds, agar jelly and vanilla or rose syrup, a refresher after a market visit.
Where: Alouda stalls at Port Louis Central Market and in town centres.
Dessert · Vegetarian
11.Napolitaines
Two shortbread rounds sandwiched with jam and topped with pink icing; a teatime favourite sold at bakeries everywhere.
Where: Pastry shops and supermarkets across the island.
Drink · Vegetarian
12.Mauritian rum
Mauritius produces both molasses rum and 'rhum agricole' distilled from fresh cane juice, often infused with vanilla, coffee or fruit as rhum arrangé.
Where: Distillery tastings such as Rhumerie de Chamarel, and bars and supermarkets everywhere.
Food experiences
Port Louis street-food lunch
Work your way from dholl puri outside the Central Market to boulettes in Chinatown and an alouda to finish; a full lunch costs very little.
Rum distillery tasting
Distilleries such as the Rhumerie de Chamarel and sugar-estate museums run tours that end with tastings of cane-juice and spiced rums.
Table d'hôte dinner
Family-run guesthouses and small restaurants serve set Creole dinners of curry, rougaille, lentils and chutneys, a welcome change from resort buffets.
Sunday beach picnic
Mauritian families spend Sundays at public beaches with pots of briani and curry; join the atmosphere at Mont Choisy or Flic en Flac with your own picnic.
Quick bites and street food
- Dholl puri — Street stalls around Port Louis Central Market and in every town; locals queue at well-known vendors at lunchtime.
- Farata — Street stalls and snack vans in Port Louis, Rose-Hill and beach car parks.
- Gâteaux piments — Roadside vendors and markets across the island, especially in the morning.
- Boulettes — Port Louis Chinatown and snack stalls around the island.
- Mine frite — Snack bars, food vans and Chinese restaurants across the island.
Vegetarian options
Of the 12 foods in this guide, 6 are usually vegetarian: Dholl puri, Farata, Gâteaux piments, Alouda, Napolitaines and Mauritian rum. Check preparation with staff, as stocks and fats vary.
Eating out: tips and etiquette
- Street food is safe to try at busy stalls with a quick turnover; locals' queues are the best guide.
- Ask how hot a dish is; Mauritian chilli pastes can be fierce, and chutneys are served on the side.
- Half-board resort packages limit you to one restaurant; leave some evenings free for local places.
- Many local restaurants close early in the evening, especially outside Grand Baie and Flic en Flac.
- A small tip of about 10% is appreciated in restaurants if service is not included.
Tipping
Tipping is appreciated but not obligatory. About 10% in restaurants where service is not included, and a small amount for guides, boat crews and hotel staff, is generous.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Bonzour | Hello / good morning (Creole) |
| Ki manyer? | How are you? |
| Mersi | Thank you |
| Kombien sa? | How much is it? |
| Pa gagn problem | No problem |
| Orevwar | Goodbye |
Questions travellers ask
+What food is Mauritius famous for?
Dholl puri, Farata, Gâteaux piments and Rougaille. Two thin flatbreads stuffed with ground yellow split peas, wrapped around butter-bean curry, rougaille and pickled chutney.
+Is Mauritius good for vegetarians?
Several local staples are meat-free, including Dholl puri, Farata and Gâteaux piments.
+Do you tip in restaurants in Mauritius?
Tipping is appreciated but not obligatory. About 10% in restaurants where service is not included, and a small amount for guides, boat crews and hotel staff, is generous.