Nando's PERi-PERi Menu Prices 2026: Chicken, Heat Levels & Sides

The Nando's 1/2 Chicken is $12.99 as of May 2026. It includes half a flame-grilled whole chicken marinated in PERi-PERi sauce at your chosen heat level, served with two sides. The 1/2 chicken is the most popular order size at Nando's — enough for a full meal, good portion of both white and dark meat, and showcases the PERi-PERi marinade best. For a solo lighter meal, the 1/4 Chicken is $7.99. For sharing, the Whole Chicken is $19.99.

Nando's offers seven heat levels for its PERi-PERi chicken and sauces: Plain (no sauce — the marinated, flame-grilled chicken base), Lemon & Herb (the mildest sauce — citrusy, no heat), Mild (gentle warmth), Medium (the most-ordered level — noticeable but approachable heat), Hot (significant heat that builds), Extra Hot (serious burn, for experienced spice eaters), and Xtra Xtra Hot (maximum heat, the menu's most extreme). Medium is the most popular choice chain-wide; Lemon & Herb is the best entry for first-timers.

PERi-PERi sauce (also spelled piri piri) is a chilli sauce made from the African Bird's Eye chilli — a small, intensely hot pepper native to sub-Saharan Africa and widely grown in Mozambique and South Africa. The sauce blends these chillies with lemon, garlic, oil, and herbs in a Portuguese-African culinary tradition. Nando's was founded in Johannesburg by a South African-Portuguese family in 1987 and built the entire chain around this single sauce tradition. The Bird's Eye chilli is the defining flavor — fruity heat rather than the smokiness of chipotle or the pepper-forward burn of cayenne.

Nando's is counter-service / fast-casual — you order at the counter, find a table, and food is brought out to you (or collected from the counter depending on location). It's not traditional table-service like Applebee's or Outback, but it's more leisurely than McDonald's or Chick-fil-A. Dine-in is the norm at most Nando's locations; the experience is designed for a sit-down meal with conversation. U.S. locations also offer takeout and delivery.

Nando's PERi-PERi operates approximately 40 U.S. locations as of 2026, concentrated in major markets including the Washington D.C. area, Chicago, Maryland, Virginia, and select other cities. The U.S. footprint is small relative to the global operation — Nando's has over 1,200 restaurants worldwide, with major presence in the UK (400+), South Africa (350+), Australia, and Canada. The brand is far better known internationally than in the U.S., which can make it feel like a discovery for American diners.

For a first visit, most regulars recommend the 1/2 Chicken at Medium heat ($12.99) — it's the most representative portion of the Nando's experience, Medium is the most popular heat level worldwide (noticeable but not punishing), and you get both white and dark meat. Add PERi-PERi Chips ($4.49) and Coleslaw ($3.49) for the classic pairing. The coleslaw is specifically good alongside peri-peri chicken — the cool creaminess offsets the heat. If you're uncertain about heat, start with Lemon & Herb or Mild and go hotter next time.

Nando's has improved its vegetarian offering significantly. In U.S. locations, the best vegetarian options are the Hummus & Pita ($5.99), the extensive sides menu (PERi-PERi Chips, Spicy Rice, Corn on the Cob, Coleslaw, Macho Peas, Garlic Bread — all vegetarian), and Macho Peas where available. Globally, Nando's has introduced a veggie patty option in several markets. U.S. menus are more chicken-focused — confirm your local store's current vegetarian entrées via their website.

Yes — Nando's whole chickens ($19.99 each) and wing platters (10 for $14.99, 20 for $24.99) are designed for group sharing. The Whole Chicken Family Platter ($29.99 — whole chicken + four sides + four sauces) is the flagship group order. For larger catering events, many U.S. Nando's locations offer catering packages — contact your local store directly for group minimums and lead times.