Eating Your Way Around Mauritius
Planning a trip to Mauritius? This local food guide reveals where to eat, what to expect, and how to experience the island’s culture through flavour.
This is part of my “Mauritius Unlocked” series — a local’s guide to staying, doing, and eating on the island I call home.
In Mauritius, food isn’t just part of the trip – it is the trip. The island’s history, culture, and soul all show up on the plate: Indian biryani spiced with jaffran, Creole curries bubbling with garlic and thyme, Chinese noodles tossed in a hot wok, and French pastries with a tropical twist.
Some of my strongest childhood memories are wrapped up in food. Waiting in line for hot dholl puris, still warm in the paper. Sneaking pink napolitaines before dinner (my Mom makes the best of those!). Sharing biryani on special occasions. Food has always been how Mauritians celebrate, connect, and welcome others.
So if you want to experience Mauritius properly, eat like a local. Here are the flavours and places I recommend most.
Street Food & Everyday Eats
Dholl Puri
If Mauritius had a national dish, this would be it. Soft flatbreads made from yellow split peas, rolled up with curries, chutneys, and a dash of chilli. Messy, cheap, and absolutely delicious. You’ll miss it the second you leave.
Fritters on Royal Road, Moka
There’s a lady in Moka who has been selling fritters from the same roadside stall for decades. Pakoras, gato piments, gato arouille (taro fritters)… hot, crunchy, dipped in chilli sauce. For me, this is Mauritius in its purest form – no menu, no fuss, just flavour. The OGs will have those with some deliciously buttered baguette or pain maison.
Riz Frit Spécial
Mauritian fried rice, smoky from the wok and flecked with bits of egg, prawns, and Chinese sausage. Every chef has a secret ratio of soy to oyster sauce, and every diner swears theirs is the best. It’s the dish you order when you can’t decide what you want – because it’s everything at once. Even better when enjoyed on the beach!
Mine Frire & Mine Bouilli
Two noodle dishes you’ll find everywhere. Mine frire is wok-fried with soy and veg; mine bouilli is the boiled version with a lighter, broth-like feel. Humble, filling, and best eaten late at night.
Boulette
Little dumplings, usually stuffed with fish or chayote, steamed and served in a light broth with garlic sauce and chilli. You’ll find them in every Chinese snack house across the island, especially in Port Louis and Rose Hill. They’re the kind of thing locals crave on a grey day – soothing, humble, and endlessly customisable. This is usually one of the first dishes I go out hunting for soon after we land.
Bol Renversé
Literally “upside-down bowl,” and a Mauritian classic. Stir-fried chicken, vegetables, and a fried egg are cooked in soy sauce, then flipped dramatically over a mound of rice. It’s theatrical and comforting at once – a perfect symbol of how Mauritian food turns the familiar into something entirely its own. You can have it with prawns, beef, chicken or pork. I often re-create this dish when back in the UK because it's got that truly Mauritian feel no matter where your kitchen is located!
Food Courts & Low-Budget Gems
Tribeca Food Hall (Ebène)
A lifesaver if you’re with a group and everyone craves something different. My pick is the Thai spot for dim sum and flavourful curries. My husband and the kids are a big fan of the American-style burger spots!
Jumbo Phoenix Food Court
Another great all-rounder. Affordable, no-frills, and plenty of choice. It’s the kind of place locals eat when they don’t feel like cooking – and that says a lot.
Restaurants Worth The Detour
La Falaise Rouge (South)
Perched on a red cliff overlooking the coast, it feels like a hidden postcard come to life. Scenic, dramatic, and the perfect first or last stop near the airport.
King Snack Seafood Corner (Flic en Flac)
Don’t be fooled by the name. This small seaside spot serves some of the best seafood on the island. You pick your seafood, your lobster gets weighed and then your choice of meat gets grilled and side dishes prepared. It doesn't get any fresher than that.
Beach Grill at Marriott Bonvoy
For steak lovers: this is heaven. Juicy cuts served with the ocean right in front of you. If you’re lucky, dolphins might pass by while you eat.
Kangan (The Westin Turtle Bay)
An Indian restaurant with dishes that are bold, refined, and unforgettable. If you want something beyond hotel buffets, this is a standout. Honestly one of the finest Indian restaurants I have been to – even beats Asha's in Birmingham by a mile. The hospitality is impeccable too – service that makes you feel like royalty.
Wapalapam (Port Louis)
Vibrant, colourful dishes that celebrate Mauritian flavours with a twist in Port Louis. My favourite dish from the menu is the seafood pasta. Exquisite. The ambience in the courtyard is really lovely too, especially at night. Before or after your meal, you could walk along the marina at Caudan Waterfront – it's not too far away from there, by foot.
The BBQs (Mauritius Magic)
Catamaran
Spend the day sailing, swimming, and snorkelling, then tuck into grilled chicken, fish, and salads on deck. It’s not just food – it’s the whole salty, sun-soaked experience.
Zilwa Hotel’s Islet
BBQ on Gran Zil at Zilwa Attitude. This one is special: lunch cooked and served on a private islet, with your feet in the sand and the lagoon all around. Pure joy.
Sweet Treats
Napolitaines
Pink, jam-filled biscuits with a soft shortbread bite. For Mauritians, they taste like childhood.
Alouda
A sweet, milky drink with basil seeds, usually found at the Port Louis market. Cold, colourful, and refreshing. A signature Mauritian beverage, perfect on a hot day.
Gateaux Zinli
Golden sesame balls that crunch when you bite in, revealing a sweet, chewy centre that’s still warm and sticky. Made from glutinous rice flour and fried to perfection, they’re part of the island’s Chinese-Mauritian heritage – simple, joyful, and impossible to stop at one. My favourite can be sourced from the Chinese quarter in Port Louis.
Macatia coco
Sweet, pillowy buns stuffed with grated coconut, sometimes warm from the bakery. They’re simple, comforting, and deeply nostalgic. My kids absolutely love this one! Always a joy to find a street food vendor selling some.
Don't miss out!
If you eat only at your hotel, you’ll miss the island’s heartbeat.
Food in Mauritius isn’t just about appetite – it’s an act of translation. Every dish tells a story of arrival and adaptation, of what stayed and what changed. In it, you’ll find the island’s quiet truth: that belonging isn’t fixed. It’s tasted, shared, and passed along – one meal at a time.
About me...I'm Lorna Rose and, by day, I work in the tech industry, but in my heart of hearts, I've always been fascinated by the story that food tells. The magic of a well-cooked meal, the way a simple dish can bring people together, spark conversation, and create lasting memories. On Happy Bellies, I set out to explore and find hidden gems, so that I can indulge in telling stories around food that will make you want to go out and create your own foodie adventures.
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Lorna Rose
Lorna Rose
