Happy Rajah is one of those names most Mauritians already know. It has been serving Indian food in Mauritius since 2006, and today has three locations across the island. For this edition of We Tried It, the Restaurants.mu team headed to the Grand Baie branch with a fairly simple question:
When you are craving Indian food in the north, is Happy Rajah still worth putting on the shortlist?
First Impression: Familiar, Comfortable, Easy
Happy Rajah Grand Baie sits on the first floor of Grand Baie Coeur de Ville, right in the middle of one of the busiest parts of Grand Baie. The restaurant offers dine-in, outdoor seating and takeaway, so it works whether you are planning a proper dinner or simply happen to be in the area and feel like Indian food.
Inside, it feels unmistakably Indian without becoming overly formal. The Grand Baie restaurant has a warm look, with traditional decorative touches and a setting that feels comfortable enough for both a casual family meal and a slightly more dressed-up dinner.
It is the kind of place where you can bring parents, children or a group of friends without overthinking whether the restaurant “fits” the occasion.
So, What Kind of Indian Food Are We Talking About?
Happy Rajah is not focused on just one part of India. One thing worth knowing before looking at the menu is that Happy Rajah's kitchen is built around a team of Indian chefs working with North and South Indian recipes and traditional cooking methods.
You can have something familiar and comforting like Butter Chicken , then put a dish such as Lamb Andhra beside it, where chilli pickle, mustard and curry leaves bring a completely different flavour profile. Add something from the tandoor, rice and breads, and suddenly the table has much more going on than three variations of curry.
For us, that variety is one of Happy Rajah's biggest strengths.
A royal feast: Authentic Indian thali spread at Happy Rajah. — Restaurants.mu
What We’d Order Again
If you are going to Happy Rajah, the safer bets are the classics.
Murgh Tikka
This is the kind of starter that makes sense here. The murgh tikka was tender, juicy and full of those familiar tandoori flavours you expect from the dish. A solid starter that gets the meal going in the right direction.
Happy Rajah itself highlights Murg Tikka among its signature dishes, and after trying it, we understand why it has an easy place at the start of the meal.
Butter Chicken (Murgh Makhani)
The Butter Chicken (Murgh Makhani) was one of the dishes we were most curious to try.
It is probably the first dish many people think of when they hear “Indian restaurant” — and also one of the easiest dishes to judge because so many restaurants have their own version.
At Happy Rajah, it sits firmly in the comforting side of Indian cuisine. The sauce is rich, smooth and built around that familiar combination of tomato, cream and spices that makes Butter Chicken such a crowd favourite.
Dal Makhani
The dal makhani was one of the dishes that stayed with us.
Rich, comforting and made for scooping up with fresh naan, it worked especially well if you prefer your Indian food on the warmer, creamier side rather than chasing maximum spice.
We did find it slightly sweeter than we expected, but that did not stop it from being one of the dishes we kept going back to.
The Great Naan Debate
The naan debate was probably one of the easiest parts of the meal to settle.
Some of us preferred the Plain Naan because it worked with everything on the table and did not compete with the curries. Others went straight for the Garlic Naan , which had a bit more flavour and was especially good with the richer sauces.
There was another option worth noticing: Cheese & Garlic Naan , which Happy Rajah itself lists as one of its signature menu items.
But if we had to pick one winner, Garlic Naan took it . It had just enough extra flavour to stand out, while still doing what naan is supposed to do best: scoop up every last bit of curry from the plate.
Tip: Start with one basket, but be ready to order another once the mains arrive.
Warm, freshly baked naan, perfect accompaniment to exquisite curries. — Restaurants.mu
And the Biryani?
This one divided us a little more.
The Chicken Biryani
The chicken biryani was enjoyable, but if you are going specifically for a bold, deeply spiced biryani, it was not the dish we would build the whole visit around.
Compared with some of the curries and tandoori dishes on the table, it felt a little more restrained. There are stronger reasons to come here.
The Curries Are the Safer Play
Happy Rajah makes the most sense when the table orders a few different curries, naan and starters and shares everything. That is where the menu really started working for us.
There is plenty of choice across meat and vegetarian dishes, which makes it easy to mix richer flavours with something spicier or lighter.
What We Didn’t Get to Try — But Would Next Time
There is only so much you can fit on one table.
By the time we had worked through the starters, curries, biryani and naan, there were still a couple of dishes we had to leave for another visit. Two that came highly recommended were the Gosht Rogan Josh and the Bhindi Madras Style .
Service: Usually Warm, Sometimes Slower
Our experience with the service was friendly and welcoming, and the team was helpful when it came to navigating the menu.
That said, this is not somewhere we would choose if we were trying to squeeze dinner into a tight schedule.
As the restaurant gets busier, the pace can slow down a little, so it makes more sense to treat Happy Rajah as a proper sit-down meal rather than somewhere you rush in and out of. If you are coming for dinner with family or friends, give yourself the time to enjoy it.
Advice: If you are going at a busy dinner time, be sure to book a table beforehand and allow a little extra time rather than a quick stop.
Elegant Indian interiors, a welcoming ambiance in Grand Baie. — Restaurants.mu
What About Value?
Happy Rajah is not really a “cheap eats” kind of restaurant.
For us, the value comes more from the setting, the variety of the menu and the ability to build a full Indian meal around several dishes.
Some portions lend themselves naturally to sharing more than others, which is why we think the restaurant works particularly well when you are eating as a group.
If value matters to you, sharing starters, curries, breads and rice across the table is probably the smarter way to order.
What If You’re Vegetarian?
You are not going to be stuck choosing between one salad and one side dish.
Happy Rajah is listed as vegetarian-friendly , with vegan and gluten-free options also available. That makes it particularly useful for groups where dietary preferences differ.
You can have meat eaters, vegetarians and someone looking for a vegan option around the same table without the restaurant choice becoming an argument before you even leave home.
If you have an allergy or strict dietary requirement, though, we would still mention it clearly to the team before ordering.
Is Happy Rajah Halal?
This will matter to plenty of diners in Mauritius.
The Grand Baie restaurant is listed as offering Halal options . It also serves alcohol, so if you follow specific halal requirements or need clarification around preparation and certification, it is worth confirming directly with the restaurant before your visit.
Our Verdict
Would we go back? Yes, especially with a group.
Would we recommend it? Yes, if you want a proper Indian sit-down meal in Grand Baie without overthinking the choice.
Happy Rajah may not be the most experimental Indian restaurant on the island, but that is not really the point. It is one of those places you choose when you want familiar Indian flavours done in a way that feels reliable, comfortable and easy to share.
We tried it. Now it’s your turn.
Happy Rajah Grand Baie Restaurant Info
Address: Royal Road, Grand Baie, Mauritius
Phone: +230 263 2599
Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday, lunch and dinner service (opening hours may vary, we recommend checking before visiting)
Price Range: Approximately Rs 500–1,500 per person depending on dishes ordered
Cuisine: Indian Cuisine (North & South Indian specialities, Tandoori dishes, Curries, Vegetarian options)
Halal: Halal options available
Website: happyrajah.com
Locations: Happy Rajah also has branches in Phoenix and Rivière-Noire
Facilities: Wheelchair accessible, outdoor seating, takeaway, reservations, highchairs available
Best For: Family dinners, group dining, sharing meals, Indian food lovers