Mine Frite with Roast Pork and Chashu

Mine Frite with Roast Pork and Chashu is a hybrid street-food dish that fuses the crisp, golden fries of Belgian-Mauritian snack culture with the savory depth of Chinese roast meats. The dish is most famously served at Roger Snack in Port Louis, Mauritius, where it was documented by food traveler Mark Wiens. The name “Mine Frite” itself reflects the island’s multicultural heritage—"mine" from the Chinese word for noodles, though here the base is actually fried potatoes, not noodles.

Key ingredients include hand-cut potatoes double-fried to a shattering crunch, topped with slices of roasted pork belly and glossy, caramelized chashu (Chinese barbecued pork). A great version is distinguished by the contrast between the hot, salty fries and the tender, sweet-savory meat, often finished with a drizzle of soy-based sauce or chili oil. The pork must retain its juiciness, and the chashu should have a lacquered, slightly charred edge.

Regional variations are rare, as this dish is largely unique to Mauritius. Some vendors may substitute chicken or add a fried egg, but the Roger Snack rendition remains the benchmark. The dish exemplifies how Chinese culinary techniques were adapted by Creole and Indian-Mauritian cooks, creating a one-of-a-kind street food that is both familiar and entirely original.