Bakeries in Kigali are expanding to meet the need for pastries and whole breads to accompany the tasty Rwandan coffee and tea.

Among the new bakeries is RZ Manna Bakery and Cafe, located at Nyarutarama next to the SP Station.

RZ Manna offers a wide variety of freshly baked breads and pastries. Established in 2013, the bakery was set up by nine Korean partners with the support of Korea International Co-operation Agency and Handgong Global University in Korea, which later transferred the ownership to the Integrated Polytechnic Regional Centre Kigali.

A wide variety of breads and pastries welcomes you as you enter the café that has a black, grey and beige themed interior.

The attendants are usually friendly and welcoming, with efficient service.

The bakery’s Bulgogi Burger, a lunch special, is a must try. It is served with a generous helping of mildly hot and soft chips, salted to taste.

The burger buns are fresh, served with a tenderised grilled marinated minced beef patty, topped with Bulgogi sauce. A Korean specialty, the Bulgogi burger also has kimchi mayo and brine, and lettuce to make it a visual feast.

Their fruits waffle is made from leavened batter or dough, cooked between two plates that are patterned to give it a specific size, shape and surface impression. It is served with toppings of fruits; banana, avocado, mango, tomato, pineapple, strawberry and whipped cream. It is delightfully sweet and filling.

In addition to the indoor seating, RZ Manna has an outdoor area with a bistro that serves lunch strictly from 12pm to 3pm.

You can enjoy either fillet mignon steak or pasta, with an accompanying sauce of your choice (cream, tomato, olive oil, or a fusion) with a salad bar option and bread, soup of the day, fresh vegetable, fruits and desserts.

RZ Manna also has a coffee bar. The manna-chinos are RZ Manna’s best kept secret. They come in varieties of flavours, from fresh mango to Oreo.

The bakery has ample parking, is quiet and not far from the central business district, making it ideal for catching up with friends or business meetings.

RZ Manna trains people in the making of different types of fresh bread, pastries, coffee and milkshakes. Part of their profits goes to the community in the form of funding initiatives like sanitation projects.