There is a particular joy in eating your way around Azuri, in the North-East of Mauritius, where every little shopfront and roadside stall carries a story of the many cultures that shaped the island. If you are wondering where to eat around Azuri, this short trail is a delicious place to begin. A short drive takes you past family kitchens and a lively village market where Indian, Creole, Chinese and French flavours all meet on the same plate. Here is a taste of that journey, from one welcoming table to the next.
Roti Velou, Rivière du Rempart
Our first stop sits in the heart of Rivière du Rempart, right opposite the bus stop and next to the market. For anyone new to it, a roti is a soft flatbread of Indian origin, usually wrapped around generous spoonfuls of curry and eaten warm with your hands. What makes Roti Velou stand out is the roti blanc, a paler and noticeably bigger version of the everyday roti. It is soft, comforting and perfect for soaking up sauce. Fold it around one or many of their yummy curries and you have the ideal way to begin the day.
Good to know:
- Roti Velou is at VMRV+RCV in Rivière du Rempart.
- Telephone: (230) 5507-1140.
- Open every day except Sunday, from 7 am to 1.30 pm.
Street fritters at the market
Just next door, the market is where you slow down for a proper Mauritian snack. This is the home of gato deluile, the golden fritters fried fresh in oil that so many Mauritians grew up on. Think crisp little chilli and split pea cakes and other savoury bites, the kind of fritures de rue you find on every busy corner of the island. Served hot with a bright, tangy chutney, they are simple, moreish and full of character.
The village market
A few steps on, the market is a real stop and stare moment. The stalls spill over with colourful fruits and vegetables, artisanal crafts and fresh coconut waiting to be split open in front of you. The atmosphere is warm and cosy, with people chatting from one stall to the next and vendors calling out the day's best finds. It is busy and full of life, exactly the kind of place where you feel the everyday rhythm of the North.
Le Pride Briani house
Still in Rivière du Rempart, our next stop is all about briani. This much-loved dish is a fragrant layered rice, cooked slowly with tender meat, potatoes and a whole chorus of spices until every grain is packed with flavour. A good briani is a labour of patience, and here it shows. What makes Le Pride Briani house even more special is the owner, who welcomes you with real warmth and makes you feel like you have been coming for years. It is the sort of place you leave already planning your return.
Good to know:
- Le Pride Briani house is on Route Royale in Rivière du Rempart, at the end of the lane opposite Magasin Utchanah.
- Call (230) 5762-3212 to book.
- Lunch is served Monday to Friday, and on Saturday from 10.30 am for lunch and from 4.30 pm for dinner.
Ti Rol, Poudre d'Or
For our final stop we head to Poudre d'Or, about fifteen minutes by car from Azuri and just a step away from the police station. Ti Rol is where you settle in for typical Mauritian home cooking. The menu reads like a love letter to the island's kitchens, with fried and boiled noodles, rice served with cooked dry beans, and a rich, spicy salmi of duck or chicken. Salmi is a deeply flavoured stew of French Creole heritage, simmered gently until the meat is meltingly tender and the sauce is dark and aromatic. There are dumplings too, the boulettes we know and love here in Mauritius. The service is lovely and the owner could not be more welcoming. Best of all, guests eat out in the garden, a peaceful spot where a good meal turns into a proper moment to linger.
Good to know:
- Ti Rol is at WMPJ+676 in Poudre d'Or, steps away from the police station.
- Telephone: (230) 5988-5520.
- Open every day except Sunday, from 11 am to 7.30 pm.
One island, many tables
What ties all of these stops together is the story they tell about Mauritius itself. In a single afternoon around Azuri, you can taste the Indian roots of the roti, the Creole soul of a salmi, the Chinese touch in a plate of boulettes and the shared island spirit that brings them all together. Each place has its own flavour and its own welcome, and together they make the North-East a wonderful place to discover authentic Mauritian food, one dish at a time.