Nando's
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Nando's is a global Portuguese-themed fast-food restaurant chain originating from South Africa.
Nando's specializes in chicken dishes with either lemon and herb, mild, medium, hot or extra hot peri-peri marinades (properly known as Galinha à Africana). Side dishes such as spicy rice, chips, coleslaw and potato wedges are also available. A particular favourite with customers are their "perinaise" - a peri-peri mayonnaise in which the chips or potato wedges are dipped. Both "eat in" and "take away" options are usually available.
A few Nando's stores offer halal meat.
History
The name Nando's comes from Fernando, the name of one of the founders of the chain - Fernando Duarte. He and a friend, Robert Brozin, bought a restaurant called Chickenland in Rosettenville, south of Johannesburg, South Africa in 1987. This became the first Nando's restaurant, which incorporated influences by former Portuguese colonists from Mozambique, many of whom had settled on the south-eastern side of Johannesburg. As a result, Nando's is sometimes still referred to as Nando's Chickenland. There is also one kosher Nando's in Waverley, Johannesburg, South Africa
A global franchise from Africa
Pizza Express owns Nandos but most Nando's stores are franchises. However in the United Kingdom Nando's is a limited company with 131 stores.
UK (131)
There are now franchises in (number of stores in December 2002 given in brackets):
Angola (1)
Australia (113)
Bahrain (1)
Botswana (5)
Canada (15)
Cyprus
Fiji
Ghana (1)
India
Israel
Ivory Coast (1)
Indonesia (2)
Kenya (6)
Lebanon
Lesotho (1)
Malawi (1)
Malaysia (20)
Mozambique (1)
Namibia (5)
New Zealand (15)
Nigeria
Oman (5)
Pakistan (5)
Qatar (2)
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
South Africa (183) -- One kosher restaurant
Sri Lanka
Swaziland
Uganda (1)
United Arab Emirates
United States
Zambia (2)
Zimbabwe (18)
It is the first major fast food franchise from Africa, and one of the few examples of commercial brand-based globalisation originating from Africa.
Notable Nando's customers
- Chris McDermott, a former Australian rules footballer in Australia, is known for his love of Nando's.
- Humanitarian and talk show host Oprah Winfrey is also known for her love of Nando's which she acquired on trips to South Africa.
- Sale Sharks rugby union star winger, Mark Cueto, lists Nando's as his favourite food.
See also
- Oporto - An Australian-based Portuguese themed restaurant.