Skip to main content
Nando's Home
Order Now

Nando’s Story

Add the assistive text here

PERi-PERi is the heart & soul of Nando's. Its story is our story. For centuries, the people of Southeast Africa have used PERi-PERi to bring fire to their food. It is in Mozambique's rich soil and blistering sunshing that the African Bird's Eye Chili grows into its fiery best. When Portuguese explorers arrived there, they were enchanted by its flavour. They added a squeeze of lemon and a kick of garlic and turned PERi-PERi into a very well-travelled spice. Which is how, many years later, it ended up in Rosetteenville, Johannesburg. One afternoon in 1987, two friends went for lunch at a humble Portuguese eatery. As their meal drew to a close, they knew they'd tasted something that had to be shared. PERi-PERi was about to make one more journey — from Rosettenville to the world. Thank you for sharing it with us. As they say in Mozambique, bom preveito!

1987

Robbie Brozin and Fernando Duarte buy a Johannesburg eatery called Chickenland for R354,000 and rename it Nando's. Best decision ever.

Vintage black-and-white photo of two smiling young men, archival style.
Nando's restaurant interior with wood paneling and red accent decor

1990s

Rapid expansion across South Africa. We found our voice, and it showed up on the walls and in the menu.

Vintage black-and-white photo of two men cooking in a kitchen, archival style.
Nando's "Chickenland" vintage-style storefront exterior with a red roof
Black and white photo of a person in chef whites working in a kitchen or production facility

1992-1993

First international restaurant opens in the UK. One country in, infinite to go.

Exterior of a vintage white Nando's restaurant storefront building.

1998

Malaysia opens. Turns out PERi-PERi chicken translates everywhere.

Archival-style photo of a group of people in formal attire outside a "Nando's Flame Grilled" storefront

2000

500+ restaurants. Still just getting started.

Illustrated night scene of the Nando's Canal Walk restaurant storefront
Exterior of a Nando's restaurant storefront with a green awning reading "Restoran" and red signage.
Street-level view of a Nando's restaurant on a corner building in an urban setting

2008

Nando's lands in the US. America had no idea what was coming.

Nando's restaurant exterior entrance at night with a green awning and plants

2010

India opens. Different country, same chicken, same heat.

Nando's restaurant storefront with signage reading "Flame-Grilled PERi-PERi Chicken."

2013

No Chuckin' Our Chicken launches. Because good food shouldn't go to waste, and neither should good intentions.

Two men standing beside a red neon sign shaped like a rooster and heart, one wearing a high-visibility yellow jacket.
Three men standing together smiling on a cobblestone street outdoors.

2015

First restaurant in Chicago opened (West loop)

2017

To help us celebrate our very first restaurant opening in his hometown of Chicago, IL, Chance the Rapper took over the grills for the day at Nando's Michigan Avenue

2020

1,200+ flame-grilled PERi-PERi chicken restaurants worldwide. The chili that started in one backstreet Johannesburg kitchen is everywhere now. You're welcome.

Nando's restaurant interior with colorful hanging fabric ceiling decor and framed wall art.
Nando's restaurant interior with an open kitchen, pendant lighting, and dark decor
Nando's "PERi-Peri Chicken" storefront exterior

2021

Pop star Olivia O'Brien worked a shift as an honorary Nandoca at Nando's West Loop before hitting the stage for the Lollapalooza Festival in Chicago, IL

2023

First restaurant in Texas opened (Post Oak)

Nando's restaurant interior with exposed wood beam ceiling and red patterned booth seating.

2024

First restaurant in Atlanta opened (Perimeter)

Today

We're in 30 countries now, and the things that matter still hit home. The chicken is still fresh, still flame-grilled, still full of fiery flavor. And there's a lot more to us than what's on the plate.

Overhead view of a plate of grilled skewers and salad on a red striped tablecloth with a drink
Overhead shot of a holiday table spread with roast chicken, mashed potatoes, and red napkins and flowers, hands plating food.
Group of four smiling people wearing "Who We Are" themed shirts with a heart icon