Rwanda: Traditional Dishes

There are many excellent restaurants in Kigali that serve traditional dishes, as well as many smaller vendors throughout the country.

What to Eat

Isombe: is super popular - mashed cassava leaves boiled and salted. Then mixed with vegetables like eggplant, onion, or spinach. Rwanda made from cassava leaves. Sometimes peanut butter or palm oil, the paste is often served with white rice. 

Umutsima: Ground cassava and corn mixed together into a sort of flour cake.

Mizuzu: Fried plantains cut into inch thick pieces that are drizzled with honey - sweet and golden brown, they are amazing.

Matoke: A starchy green banana, that often takes the place of potatoes in Rwandan stews.

Akabenz: Roasted pork barbecue dish, special to Rwanda. Eat this one at Come Again bar in Kigali.

Where to eat: Repub Lounge, Come Again, Fantastic Restaurant, Chez John, and Afrika Bite in Kigali; Amafu Ya Huye, E-Bis in Huye.

You‘ll find these Rwandan snacks and desserts in the streets and restaurants alike. Rwandans have their own local favorite shop or favorite cafe.

Brochettes: Rwandan barbecue kebabs. From street food to upscale restaurants - all you need is a charcoal stove, the meat and vegetables to skewer. Beef, goat, bananas even! Also served with a half potato and a strong helping of salt.

Sambusas: An African parallel to the Indian samosa - with a bit thinner crust. The inside gets stuffed with potatoes and vegetables or meat. You can find sambusas in corner store shops or restauran appetizers. You won’t go wrong here.

Mandazi: Fried dough, donuts - topped with powdered sugar. A staple dessert of East Africa, as well as in Tanzania, Kenya, Burundi, and Uganda.

Akabanga salsa: Akabanga salsa will be on every table in Rwanda. A reddish to orange sauce, in a little plastic hot sauce bottle. It’s hot chili sauce. Use it your own risk - it’s hot!