Nearly one in five Mauritians is Muslim, about 18% of the population at the 2022 census. Most of these families came from India in the 19th century, on the same ships that brought our own ancestors, and they brought their cooking with them.
So halal food here is not a special menu kept at the back. It is part of everyday island cooking.
Why the food will feel familiar
Mauritian food is built on masala: coriander, cumin, turmeric, fenugreek and chilli, roasted and ground together. If you grew up with Indian, Pakistani or Gulf home cooking, a lot of it will taste close to home.
Then the island adds its own touch. Creole tomato sauces, Chinese noodles, French bread, and a lot of fresh fish.
Dishes to look for
Biryani. Mauritian style, with potatoes, usually chicken or mutton. It is the dish of weddings and Eid.
Dholl puri. A thin flatbread filled with ground yellow split peas, served with bean curry and chutney. The island’s favourite street food.
Farata. Soft layered flatbread, eaten with curries.
Halim. A spiced soup of lentils and meat, much loved in Port Louis and during Ramadan.
Fish curry and rougaille. Fish cooked in masala, or in a sauce of tomato, garlic and thyme.
Samosas and gateaux piments. Fried snacks sold at every corner.
How to make sure it is halal
Many restaurants and takeaways show their halal certificate near the counter. If you do not see one, just ask. People here are used to the question and will tell you honestly.
Seafood is everywhere, and most hotels can prepare halal meals if you ask when you book. Supermarkets sell halal-certified meat if your villa has a kitchen.
For Friday prayer, the Jummah Mosque in Port Louis, built in the 1850s, is worth a visit in its own right.
Where to taste it in the south
At Heritage Spice House in Riambel, our tastings are halal.
You grind masala by hand on a volcanic stone, the way our grandmothers did, then taste traditional dishes cooked with our family’s hand-ground spices, with a cup of herbal tea.
Our evening Mauritian cooking class is halal-friendly too. Fish curry is the main dish, and alcohol-free drinks are always available.
The tasting is part of every full visit
Visits begin at 09:00, 11:00, 13:00, 15:00 and 17:00, every day except Wednesday. Adults MUR 375, children MUR 200.
Come and see it today
MUR 200
Museum, grinding demonstration, herbal tea and the boutique.
MUR 375
Museum, ancestral kitchen, spice garden, hand-grinding and tastings. Children MUR 200.
Thu – Tue
Last entry 17:00. Free onsite parking at the gate.
Walk in and join the next start time, or book ahead to hold your place. Open every day except Wednesday.