Eat · Chinatown & Jummah Mosque
Boulettes in ChinatownBoulettes
Chinese-Mauritian steamed dumplings in a light broth (boulettes), sold from small shops and carts in Chinatown: a warm, cheap lunch on a weekday.
Key facts
- Per person
- MUR 100–250
- Chinese-Mauritian
- Hours
- unknown
- see note below
- Walk in
- 11:00–14:00
- easiest window
- Seating
- counter
- Card
- no
- carry cash
- Getting there
- Chinatown streets near the Jummah Mosque and Kwan Tee Pagoda
- 3 min walk
Go now?
Open?
Hours vary; lunch is the safest window
Busy this hour
Estimate by hour below
Easiest walk-in
11:00–14:00
Reservations
Walk-in, no reservation
Paying
Cash only
Per person
MUR 100–2502026 estimate · check
- Chinese-Mauritian
- Dumplings
- Cheap lunch
- Order: Boulettes (dumpling soup)
- Counter seating
- Walk-in window: 11:00–14:00
- Queue risk: before 10:30
- Cash only
Highlights come from Voykit's own data and desk notes, not from reviews. Hover a tag to see its source.
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- Port Louis ↗Sunday is quiet: many shops and stalls close or shorten their hours, so plan visits Monday to Saturday and check hours locally.
Map & directions
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Plan
When you can walk in, what to order, how to pay
Walk-in windows
A walk-in lunch is only planned as primary when your arrival lands outside the “impossible” window.
When to go, hour by hour
Quietest listed hour: 15:00 (quiet).
- 11:00lightlittle or no wait
- 12:00heavyexpect a line
- 13:00heavyexpect a line
- 14:00lightlittle or no wait
- 15:00quietlittle or no wait
Desk estimate of crowd on a weekday; weekends and holidays run one level higher. Not live data. No line length is on file, so waits are in words.
How to order here
The order of play at the counter or table, what to say, how much to order and how to pay.
- 1Choose a busy counter.
No shared language? Tap dishes in the order builder below and show the waiter the full-screen list in the local script. For a printed menu, translate a photo of it.
What to say
| In English | Say or show | Sounds like |
|---|---|---|
| How are you? | Ki manyer? | kee man-yair |
| How much is this? | Konbien sa? | kom-byen sa |
| Not spicy, please | Pena piman, souple | pe-na pee-man soo-play |
| No meat, please | Pena lavian, souple | pe-na la-vyan soo-play |
| Help | Lekour | le-koor |
| Hello | Bonzour | bon-zoor |
| Thank you | Mersi | mair-see |
Portions and sharing
- Say the filling you want.
Extras, condiments and what costs extra
- Add chilli sauce yourself.
- Ask about chilli: say 'pena piman' for none.
Paying and tipping
Sit-down restaurants: about 5–10%, less than the 15–20% US norm.
- Pay in cash.
- Ask the price of extras.
- Cash (rupees).
- Carry small notes; street stalls do not give change for big ones.
At the table
- Eat where the turnover is fast and the food is hot.
Price and paying
- Typical spend
- Rs 100–250 per person
Paying
Accepted everywhere; the only method at most stalls.
Not accepted at street stalls.
Not used.
Mobile wallets at some shops (check).
Diet and allergies
Yes means there is something for you; ask means possible with care; no means go elsewhere.
- Vegetarianask
Vegetable boulettes; ask about broth.
Show: I am vegetarian.
- Veganno
Broth and egg are common.
- Halalno
Pork is common (check).
Show: No pork.
- Gluten-freeno
Wheat wrappers and noodles.
- Nut allergyask
Ask about oils.
- Allergynot on file
Shellfish, soy, egg and wheat are common; show a written note.
Show: I am allergic to ___.
What is in the dishes
- Boulettes: fish, chicken or vegetable dumplings in brothBoulettesfish
- Fried noodles (mine frite)Mine friteshellfish · egg
Read from the menu names and notes; recipes vary and cross-contact is not tested. Check with the kitchen.
Who it suits, booking, closures
- How to book
- Walk-in only.
- How far ahead
- Not needed
- No-show / cancel fee
- Not applicable
- Dress code
- Casual.
| When | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Sundays | check before you go | Many shops are shut. |
| Afternoons | check before you go | Shops close early. |
On the ground
Hygiene and comfort
- Seating
- Counter seats
- Kids
- Ask for mild and no shellfish
- Access
- step-free: partial · Small shops with steps at some
Hygiene
- Choose a busy shop with fast turnover.
- Eat while hot; avoid ice.
Facts
- Reservations
- Not taken — Walk-in.
- Capabilities
- food
- Getting there
- Chinatown streets near the Jummah Mosque and Kwan Tee Pagoda · ~3 min walk
Cons
- Fish and pork are common; not for vegetarians or halal diets.
- Small counters; hours are not fixed.
- Cash only.
Ordering helpDish glossary · Price check
Dish glossary
| On the menu | What it is | Order it how |
|---|---|---|
| Boulettes | Steamed dumplings in broth. | Say "boulettes" and the filling. |
| Mine frite | Fried noodles. | Say the protein. |
| Sauce piment | Chilli sauce. | Ask on the side. |
Price check
- locals pay
- A bowl is Rs 50–120 for everyone (2026 estimate).
- tourist price
- No known two-tier pricing.
- rule
- Ask the price of extras.
Deep dive
Questions, nearby food and sources
Questions and answers
What are boulettes?
Steamed Chinese-style dumplings in broth; a Mauritian favourite.
Checked 2026-09-29 · Voykit desk
Are they spicy?
Add chilli sauce yourself.
Checked 2026-09-29 · Voykit desk
Nearby alternatives
If it is closed or the line is too long
- Alouda and cane-juice stalls6 min walkA cold drink.
- Briani lunch canteens1 min walkMauritian biryani (briani) with chicken, mutton or vegetables at small lunch canteens near the market and mosque: a filling Rs 150–300 plate.
- Dholl puri stalls (Central Market area)6 min walkStreet snacks near the Central Market: dholl puri (a thin flatbread with split-pea filling) and gato piment; go before 13:00 when the stalls are still stocked.Street snacks near the Central Market: dholl puri (a thin flatbread with split-pea filling) and gato piment; go before 1:00 PM when the stalls are still stocked.
- Gato piment and snack stalls6 min walkFried snacks by the piece: gato piment (chilli fritters), samosas, gato arouille (taro fritters) and bread rolls with chutney; a Rs 50–150 mid-morning bite in the market streets.
Places without an authored walk are ranked by straight-line distance × 1.3 at 5 km/h3 mph.
All places to eat in Port Louis, with filters →
Nearby
Straight-line distance; walk time adds 30% for streets.
Used as a seated rest node in Port Louis in 4 days.
Sources
- secondaryWikivoyage — Port Louis