Soy Asian Table

Soy Asian Table is a modern South-east Asian restaurant on KN 14 Avenue that has become a favourite for group dinners and nights out. It is one of the more upmarket restaurants in a city where most eating out is casual, and it gets busy at weekends, when tables fill with groups of friends and colleagues.

The New Times has described the interior as decorated with Buddha statuettes and sea-blue walls, and the restaurant has hosted live performances by well-known Kigali vocalists on Sunday evenings. Beyond the dining room, the restaurant's own website highlights its wines of the month and wines of the world, a cigar lounge and a gallery, so it is set up for a long evening rather than a quick meal.

The food draws on the cooking of South-east Asia, which lends itself to sharing. Ordering several dishes for the table and pairing them with something from the wine list is the most enjoyable way to eat here. If you are not sure what to choose, the staff can guide you through the menu and how hot each dish is.

Soy opens every day from 11am to 11pm, which makes it a useful option for a late lunch or for dinner on a Sunday or Monday, when some other upscale restaurants are closed. Book for Friday and Saturday evenings and for groups. Prices are towards the upper end of the Kigali market, though below the tasting-menu restaurants. Call ahead if you want to know whether live music is planned on the night you visit.

With its wine list, cigar lounge and music, Soy is one of the places in Kigali where dinner easily turns into a full evening out, so it suits birthdays, celebrations and work groups. For a quieter meal, come at lunchtime or early in the week, when the room is calmer and it is easier to get a good table without booking far ahead.

KN 14 Avenue is also home to Kōzo, so it is easy to compare the two Asian-inspired restaurants on different nights. The Kimihurura bars and the Kigali Convention Centre are a short taxi ride away for drinks afterwards. Ride-hailing apps and taxis are the easiest way to get home late at night.