Bon appétit !
What to Eat in Mauritius: Street Food and Island Flavours
Mauritian food mixes Indian, Creole, Chinese and French cooking. The dishes to try are dholl puri (flatbread filled with split peas), gateaux piment (chilli fritters), boulettes (dumplings), rougaille (tomato Creole stew), biryani, vindaye (mustard and turmeric pickle) and alouda, a cold milky drink with basil seeds.
Some of the best meals in Mauritius are cheap and simple, sold from market stalls and roadside vans. Here is what to look for.
Street food
- Dholl puri: soft flatbread filled with ground yellow split peas, served with bean curry, rougaille and chutney. The island’s favourite snack.
- Farata (paratha) and roti: flaky breads wrapped around curries.
- Gateaux piment: crunchy fritters made from split peas and chilli, often eaten in a buttered bread roll.
- Boulettes: steamed Chinese-style dumplings in a light broth.
- Samoussas and mine frit: samosas and fried noodles, sold almost everywhere.
Main dishes
- Rougaille: a tomato, garlic and thyme Creole stew, cooked with fish, sausage or chicken.
- Cari: Mauritian curries, including octopus curry (cari ourite) on the coast.
- Biryani: a serious dish in Mauritius, often served at celebrations.
- Vindaye: fish or octopus with mustard seed, turmeric and garlic.
- Fresh seafood: grilled fish and prawns with lime and chilli are easy to find by the sea.
Sweets and drinks
Look for alouda, a cold sweet milk drink with basil seeds and agar jelly, and fresh pineapple sold with chilli and salt. Local rum is a popular souvenir, and you can taste it at the Rhumerie de Chamarel. Vanilla tea from the Bois Cheri tea estate makes a good gift.
Where to eat
- The Central Market in Port Louis for dholl puri, alouda and fruit.
- Grand Baie and Flic en Flac for restaurants and beach snack stalls.
- Roadside vans in towns and villages for a quick, cheap lunch.
- A table d’hote (home-cooked set meal) in a guest house for real Mauritian home cooking.
Chilli is often served on the side. If you prefer mild food, ask for it “pa pima” (no chilli). Busy stalls are the best sign of fresh food.
Frequently asked questions
What is the national dish of Mauritius?
Dholl puri is the most popular everyday dish, and many people consider it the national favourite. Rougaille and biryani are also classics.
Is Mauritian food spicy?
It can be, but most chilli is served on the side as a paste or pickle, so you can choose how hot to make it.
Is it easy to eat vegetarian in Mauritius?
Yes. Many dishes come from Indian cooking, so vegetarian curries, dholl puri, farata and snacks are everywhere.
Is street food safe to eat in Mauritius?
Generally yes. Choose busy stalls where food is cooked fresh, and drink bottled or filtered water if you prefer.
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