Nando's PERi-PERi brings South African-Portuguese flame-grilled chicken to 40+ US locations, letting diners choose their heat from cooling Lemon & Herb all the way up to the fiery XX Hot. Every bird is marinated for 24 hours before hitting the grill, making Nando's one of the few fast-casual chains where the chicken — not the sauce applied after cooking — carries the flavor.
Signature items
Best-seller across all US locations
Best entry-level meal deal at Nando's US
The most popular combo — feeds one hungry diner
Quick-service combo, good for lunch
Feeds 3-4 people; spice level chosen at ordering
PERi Chips topped with grilled chicken strips, jalapeños, and house sauce — available at select locations.
$9.99Flame-grilled chicken is leaner than fried alternatives. Calorie estimates are based on Nando's US nutritional data.
| Item | Calories (approx.) | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 1/4 Chicken (Leg) | 370 | $9.99 |
| 1/4 Chicken (Breast) | 290 | $10.49 |
| 1/2 Chicken | 710 | $16.49 |
| Classic Chicken Sandwich | 540 | $12.99 |
| Chicken Wrap | 520 | $12.99 |
| Chicken Wings (6 pc) | 460 | $10.99 |
| PERi Chips | 380 | $4.49 |
| Macho Peas | 170 | $4.49 |
| Coconut Milk Soft Serve | 220 | $4.99 |
Like-for-like price comparison for chicken entrees, sides, and value at fast-casual and fast-food chicken chains.
| Category | Nando's PERi-PERi | El Pollo Loco | Pollo Tropical | Wingstop |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quarter chicken / individual piece | $9.99 | $7.99 | $6.99 | N/A |
| Half chicken / combo entree | $16.49 | $13.49 | $11.99 | N/A |
| Chicken sandwich | $12.99 | $9.49 | $8.99 | $9.99 |
| Wings (6 pc) | $10.99 | N/A | N/A | $10.49 |
| Signature side (fries/chips) | $4.49 | $3.49 | $3.29 | $4.49 |
| Vegetarian / plant option | $11.99 | $8.99 | $8.49 | N/A |
Nando's was born in 1987 in Johannesburg, South Africa, when Robbie Brozin and Fernando Duarte stumbled upon a Portuguese-style chicken shack and liked it so much they bought the place. The secret was African Bird's Eye chili — known as PERi-PERi — a small, intensely flavored chile native to sub-Saharan Africa. Nando's marinates every chicken in PERi-PERi sauce for 24 hours, then finishes it over a flame grill, a method that locks moisture in while delivering genuine depth of flavor rather than just surface heat.
The chain expanded through Southern Africa and into the UK in the 1990s, where it became a genuine cultural institution. US expansion began in the late 2000s, with Nando's now operating more than 40 locations concentrated in mid-Atlantic cities — Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia make up the densest cluster — plus outposts in Chicago, Atlanta, Houston, and other metros. The US menu closely mirrors the global core: whole, half, and quarter chickens served in one of seven spice levels, chicken sandwiches and wraps, and a tight roster of Portuguese-inspired sides like spicy rice, macho peas, and PERi chips.
Nando's occupies an unusual spot in American dining — it is sit-down fast casual with counter ordering, full table service, and a distinctly non-chain atmosphere inside each restaurant, which are individually decorated with South African art. The coconut milk soft serve dessert and the Limonada have developed their own cult followings, and the chain's willingness to cater to dietary needs — a long vegan menu, gluten-free chicken options, halal certification at many locations — has broadened its audience well beyond the South African expat community that first put it on the map.
Find your nearest US location, check today's hours, and confirm current prices — plus choose your spice level before you go.
Find a Nando's near youNando's US locations offer seven heat levels: Lemon & Herb (no heat, citrusy), 1/4 Lemon & Herb (very mild), Mild, Medium, Hot, Extra Hot, and XX Hot (the hottest, made with extra PERi-PERi concentrate). You choose your level when you order any chicken dish. Most first-timers are recommended to start with Medium.
A 1/2 Chicken at Nando's PERi-PERi costs approximately $16.49 at most US locations. A 1/4 Chicken (leg quarter) starts at around $9.99, and a whole chicken runs about $27.99. Prices can vary slightly by city.
Yes. Nando's US offers a Veggie Burger, Halloumi Wrap, Hummus & Pita, and several vegan-friendly sides including PERi Chips, Spicy Rice, Macho Peas, Corn on the Cob, and the Coconut Milk Soft Serve dessert. The vegan soft serve is one of Nando's most talked-about menu items.
The flame-grilled chicken itself (whole, half, quarter) is gluten-free, as is PERi-PERi sauce. Several sides including PERi Chips, Spicy Rice, Macho Peas, and Corn on the Cob are also gluten-free. However, sandwiches and wraps contain gluten, and cross-contamination is possible in shared kitchens — those with celiac disease should confirm with their location.
Nando's PERi-PERi has more than 40 US locations as of 2026. The largest concentration is in the Washington DC metro area (DC, Maryland, Virginia), which was the first US market. Other cities include Chicago, Atlanta, Houston, Miami, and Boston. New locations continue to open in major metros.
PERi-PERi (also spelled piri-piri) sauce is made from African Bird's Eye chilis, lemon, garlic, and herbs. Unlike vinegar-forward US hot sauces, it has a fruity, rounded heat with citrus depth. At Nando's, the chicken is marinated in the sauce for 24 hours before grilling, so the flavor permeates the meat rather than sitting on the surface.
Nando's operates on a counter-order model at most US locations — you order at the counter, receive a table number, and food is brought out. Reservations are generally not taken, though some busier locations may allow call-ahead seating. Walk-in waits are common during peak lunch and dinner hours, especially on weekends.
The 1/2 Chicken in Hot spice level is consistently Nando's top seller. Other fan favorites include PERi Chips (the seasoned skin-on fries), Macho Peas, the Classic Chicken Sandwich, and Coconut Milk Soft Serve. The Portuguese Roll — a simple doughy bread roll served alongside — has its own devoted following.
Many Nando's US locations serve halal-certified chicken, but not all. Nando's maintains a location finder on its website that identifies which restaurants are halal-certified. The brand has a long history of serving halal chicken globally — it is standard in all UK and South African locations — and most US metro-area stores carry halal certification.