Is Nando’s Portuguese?

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Written by: | Last updated on October 27, 2023 | Est. Reading Time: 3 minutes

Nandos uses the Rooster of Barcelos as part of its logo and its menu is made up of dishes such as peri-peri chicken and pastéis de nata. But is it actually Portuguese?

Ah, Nando’s! The name alone conjures up images of succulent peri-peri chicken, spicy rice, and those irresistible garlic breads. For many, a trip to Nando’s is a delightful culinary adventure, a taste of Portugal served up in a vibrant, contemporary setting.

But here lies the question that has sparked countless debates: Is Nando’s truly Portuguese? In this article, we’ll delve into the origins of this beloved restaurant chain, explore the cultural influences that have shaped its menu, and finally settle the debate on whether Nando’s can genuinely claim a Portuguese heritage.

According to Nando’s own website, the food has a Mozambican and Portuguese theme. The idea for the restaurant was conceived in 1987 after founders Fernando Duarte and Robert Brozin tried piri-piri chicken for the first time at a Portuguese takeaway in Johannesburg called Chickenland. They liked it so much that they purchased the restaurant and renamed it Nando’s after Fernando. The restaurant flourished and within two years there were four outlets: three in Johannesburg in South Africa and the other in Portugal. These days, there are no longer any Nando’s restaurants in Portugal and any Portuguese that have tried Nando’s will be quick to tell you that it’s not authentic Portuguese.

Many people say Nando’s is South African as the company headquarters are there and the company uses South African art to decorate its restaurants. In reality it’s a bit of a mish-mash of different cuisines and cultures that’s been jazzed up as a chain to compete with the likes of Pizza Hut and KFC. It’s not a bad chain (in fact, it’s a lot better than many of the alternatives) but it’s definitely not authentic Portuguese.

Saying “Portuguese-style”, as opposed to “Portuguese food“, gives you a little clue of where Nando’s stands. If you order piri-piri chicken in Portugal, for example in Guia where the dish is said to have been invented, what you’ll get is chicken, chips (or rice), and a salad. Nando’s own menu advertises something called “Portuguese rice,” but you won’t actually find this in Portugal.

In Portugal, You also don’t choose your level of spice from a spice-ometer, add extra sauces, or choose from a list of sides. You don’t choose the part of the chicken that you want to eat and there’s certainly nothing like hummus, cheesey garlic pitas, paella, or grilled corn on the menu. And it’s the same at just about every churrasqueira or restaurant throughout Portugal, which is where you’ll have to order it as you won’t find any Nando’s restaurants in Portugal.

Here are some of the menu items that are especially Portuguese-inspired:

  • Peri-Peri Chicken – Similar to piri-piri chicken, but not exactly the same.
  • Pastel de Nata – Very similar to a traditional pastel de nata, but it isn’t necessarily as good as one that you’ll get in Portugal, particularly Pastéis de Belém.

That said, sometimes it’s the closest thing you can find to Portuguese food. These days, there are Nando’s restaurants all over the world, including the UK, Canada, USA, Australia, and New Zealand. Beggars can’t be choosers after all, so if you can’t find an authentic Portuguese restaurant, this is a good substitute — and as restaurant chains go, it’s better-tasting and healthier than many of the alternatives.

nandos-menu-in-Australia
Written by

James Cave is the founder of Portugalist and the author of the bestselling book, Moving to Portugal Made Simple. He has visited just about every part of Portugal, including Madeira and all nine islands of the Azores, and lived in several parts of Portugal including Lisbon, the Algarve, and Northern Portugal.

You can contact James by emailing james@portugalist.com or via the site's contact form.

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There are 11 comments on this article. Join the conversation and add your own thoughts, reviews, and stories of life in Portugal. However, please remember to be civil.

Comments

  1. It’s unfair to compare Nando’s to Portuguese churrasqueiras. It’s not the same concept of restaurant. Nando’s is closer to a fast-food place. And it’s at the end of the day a franchise. But there are clearly plenty of common points, starting by the way to roast the chicken, open in half in a bbq. Any Portuguese churrasqueira will take pride in their home-made piri-piri sauce, often supposed to be a “special and secret” recipe.

    Reply
  2. Peri peri is the word used in South Africa but in Portuguese speaking countries we say Piri piri.

    An interesting note: in Japanese Piri Piri means spicy. There are hundreds of words in Japanese which originated in Portuguese but I am not sure it is the case or it is just a coincidence…

    Reply
  3. Nando’s is actually fully Mozambican. That’s how we make and serve chicken here, especially the sauce. Piri-piri is a Mozambican thing, the Portuguese only appropriated it, or dare I say, colonized it.

    Reply
    • This is actually not true. The best historical records we have, including from the colonial period, indicate that the Portuguese brought the “birds eye” piri-piri, or peri-peri pepper from the Americas to their colonies in Angola, and Mozambique. Mozambique culture(s) did not “invent” piri-piri chicken, and it was not “appropriated” into Portuguese cuisine. Like many things from the colonial era, cuisines, especially that of Portugal we’re developed by bringing together new experimentations of ingredient combinations from different parts of the world. It’s more of a “shared” food between Portugal and Mozambique. The chillie that is used, isn’t even native to Africa.

      Reply
  4. Flame grilled chicken is pretty common. What is not so common is the use of garlic, paprika, lemon and olive oil. These ingrediants are typical of Portuguese cuisine, and are used extensively in the ex Portuguese empire.

    Reply

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