The Match Plate with the peri saka sauce has me in a chokehold. That's Nando's location is also very consistent. Always provides service with a smile, restaurant is always clean and seating is always available. read more

Nando's Peri-Peri - Match plate - peri saka chicken, cucumber and tomato salad, Portuguese rice - South African Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

The service at this Nando's was AWESOME. We received our food quick and employees checked up on us often. Also the food was delicious! Well definitely come back. read more

Yikes, in short, ripoff on the app, won't honor loyalty rewards and a "manager" Skyler who has no business running a store or being in hospitality . 1. I earned a free appetizer (garlic sticks) through money spent at Nando's. I attempted to order on the app but it wasn't working (see below) so I went to the store. I got the QR code for the $4.99 item for free ready and the cashier said it wasn't working and he would talk to his manager on how to get it to work. I also had a free regular chips (fries) that they also wouldn't happen and soon expires. The cashier came back and said the "manager" Skyler said their QR reader to use the reward I earned not working and they would not take it off the bill. It was a take it or leave it and the customer is always wrong situation. I asked to speak with Skyler and that was not honored. 2. See the attached pictures, the app has funny math, where for those four items I was planning to order, the total should be $19 and change, then the discount, but it was coming up at $24 and change, or a $5 ripoff in their own app. I should report to the Virginia Attorney General. So this store is run by a manager who does not care about the customer, does not care about loyalty (it's funny they advertise the app and its rewards on the front door, but then you can't redeem any rewards you earn) and has an app that rips you off. I walked out without ordering anything and went to another restaurant in Ballston that values its customers and has competent management. You should go elsewhere too. Besides the food is just average at Nando's but I had a craving for it. That quickly went away when I see how they, and especially their management (i.e. Skyler), treats the customers. read more

See all

Nando's is a great fast-casual chain and this location is no different. We came for a quick lunch on a Sunday and it was pretty empty. I'm assuming this is why the service was as attentive as it was because we were constantly checked on by different servers, but everyone was nice about it. I ordered a spicy chicken caesar wrap and it's a solid lunch. The wrap was well-filled and everything inside was covered in just enough dressing. The croutons and lettuce were crunchy, the chicken was well-seasoned, and the pickled onions were a nice touch. Solid lunch that's reasonably priced for the area and a good alternative if you don't want to eat only chicken. read more

Nando's Peri-Peri - Spicy Chicken Caesar Wrap - South African Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

It's a solid nando's and conveniently located in Ballston. I ordered 2 (1/2 chickens) and a side of fries for each. The mango and lemon herb are very well flavored but the fries were soggy so I deducted a star for it. Service was amazing. I ordered online for takeout and my food was ready sooner than I expected. I was nearing closing time so the restaurant was empty. But still clean and beautifully decorated since each nando's has its own unique design. read more

Nando's Peri-Peri - South African Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

First time dining in at this location, as I usually get Nando's via GrubHub. The staff was really friendly and helpful. The food was plentiful and delicious as expected. read more

I've only been to nandos twice before and it was good but after being able to try all the food here, I feel like I've really been missing out! The fries were crunchy and had some nice seasoning on them. Their dessert was tasty as well, nice flakey crust and sweet interior but wasn't too sweet. Their chicken was so good though! Both the inside and outside of the chicken were tasty and tasted even better with their sauces. Cooked just right as well. They have this garlic sauce that was basically great with everything, chicken and fries because it was that good. Overall, had a great experience with the food and staff were nice as well. I would come again if I was craving this sort of food. read more

Nando's Peri-Peri - South African Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

See all

Ordered on UberEat for self pick up on a cold Saturday night (somewhat past dinner time). Food was ready and well packaged quickly. Efficient and nice. However, the fries are so soggy! Totally messed up by the trapped humidity. They should not have boxed the fries right away and so tightly. Soggy soft fries are the worst. Corn on the cob is really nice though. read more

See all

if I could give this zero stars I would. service is absolutely horrible and you ran out of everythin.

Came here for the Nando's National hot sauce day. I got a quarter dark and added Brussel sprouts and some livers. As always the food tasted great. I walked here since I'm in the area, however if your it from the area I highly advise you to take an Uber here or else you will have to fight for street parking depending on when you get here. As with all the Nando's restaurants I've been to so far, the waiters were nice and the all store was clean and refreshing. I definitely will be back sooner then later. read more

Nando's Peri-Peri - 1/4 Chicken Leg Braised Brussels Sprouts Livers - South African Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Placed an order at 5:16pm for delivery at 6:45-7:15pm. At 6:33 I get a notification that Nando's canceled my order....thanks for, literally nothing. PART 2. Placed an order for pickup...arrived by the time the app said meals would be ready...surprise, they are not. 0 for 2 read more

Ambiance: (5/5) There is so much seating both indoor and outdoor. I love the art around the restaurant as well. Price: (4/5) Prices seem average for the area. Food: (4/5) I highly recommend the chicken bowl. It has flavorful rice, hummus, corn, arugula, and of course chicken. The chicken was soft and I like their sauce. I will say the portions are fairly small, so I would recommend getting something else to supplement the meal. Service: (5/5) Staff is very friendly and service is really fast. I really like the QR code option where you can order food directly to your table. read more

Nando's Peri-Peri - South African Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

We love Nando's! Right when you walk in the door someone greets you with enthusiasm to ask if you are eating in or taking out. The chicken is amazing and the sides are wonderful. We love the French fries and peas. Brussels sprouts are also good. You can DIY your sauce and put on as much as you want. Lots of seating inside for small and large groups, as well as 8 tables to sit outside. read more

With at least 15 different fast-casuals in the DMV area, I can understand why Nando's hopped onto the overcrowded fast-casual train by offering their own version, the chicken tender rice bowl. I've lived in Ballston for over nine months and have never stopped by this Nando's location since I wasn't impressed by their overpriced chicken from nearby locations in the past. But one of my friends really like their chicken rice bowls and I had some Grubhub credit so I figured I give it a try for lunch today. PERI-PERI CHICKEN TENDER BOWL - 12.19 I got the Portuguese Rice for my base and "Plain...ish" heat for my PERi-PERi chicken. Overall, this was a satisfactory chicken rice bowl and a decent lunch option. There wasn't a lot of chicken, but the pieces in my bowl were seasoned well, tasty and surprisingly not as dry as they looked. I love the grilled corn and it's a "must have". The humus was creamy and delicious. You also get a good amount of arugula so it feels "healthy". The rice was flavorful enough to eat on its own but much tastier if you eat a whole bite with all the toppings. However, I found the rice to be a bit too greasy so I only ate half of my rice (there was a lot). This chicken bowl is similar to ones you can get at the CAVA two blocks away (the hummus and grilled corn reminded me of it) but with much less customization. If you order off Grubhub, you'll be charged $14.59 for the same bowl so I'd recommend ordering off their website/app if you want it at the actual price. To note, there's no way to choose between the Portuguese Rice and Romaine Lettuce for the base of your chicken bowl on the Grubhub app, so you're kind of stuck with rice. read more

Nando's Peri-Peri - PERi-PERi Chicken Tender Bowl - South African Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

I love Nando's!! Every time I come here I love the chicken, although sometimes the wings can be smaller than an average chicken wing. I love how nice everyone is including the workers! I love the t-shirts! Inside the restaurant is huge. I love the sink being outside in the open! read more

The halloumi and sweet potato pita is the best! Excellent wings. Fries are a bit soggy, but flavorful. The cauliflower was tasty and the other sides are good too. Overall a solid choice. read more

VERY FLAVORFUL AND GOOD VALUE: If you're a fan of Peruvian chicken, you should give Nando's a try. Their Portuguese style rotisserie chicken is more flavorful than the Peruvian variety and their large selection of sauces ups the ante. If you're new to Portuguese chicken, I recommend getting the Lemon & Herb chicken and then experimenting with their selection of sauces. If you like spiciness, you can achieve that via their spicy sauces rather than ordering their chicken cooked in a spicy marinade. There are a bunch of good side dishes here. The Portuguese Rice and Macho peas are the most distinctive choices representing this cuisine. In regard to non-Portuguese sides, the Brussel Sprouts, Garlic Bread, and Seasoned Fries (Peri Chips) are all solid, tasty choices. The Sangria's here are well executed and taste authentic. That was a nice surprise for a casual restaurant. Overall, Nando's provides good value for the dollar if you're looking for healthy, tasty food. read more

Been hooked on this place ever since I tried it here in Ballston. All flavors are delicious, but the lemon and herb is my favorite. The meat is soft and juicy! I highly recommend buying their sauce and pairing it with the chicken. I'm not a sauce gal, but here I'll gladly spend extra on having it with my meal. The fries aren't plain and are seasoned as well. Compliments the chicken perfectly. read more

See all

Decent prices for very well seasoned chicken dishes. Relatively fast service, very african themed foodstyle and ambiance.

First off we drive by 2 Nando's just to go to this one because of the service and the food. Art is always greets us and goes over and beyond for every customer that walks in is heart warming. It's always clean and the view to the Main Street is nice. Thank you Art and I hope your fire burns forever! read more

Nando's Peri-Peri - South African Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

We're visiting DC and VA from LA. We had Nandos in Pentagon City and loved it so we decided to have it again before we head home. We found Nandos in Ballston and did not disappoint!!! The ambiance is a plus but what really impressed us are the staff! Very friendly and attentive! Shout out to Matthew who went by our table twice to make sure everything was okay with our order. Every single one of the staff had a smile on their faces like they are really enjoying their jobs. I wish i can visit this place more often but it's time to go home but would definitely come back here whenever we're back in VA. read more

Nando's Peri-Peri - PERi Chips with PERinaise PERi Mac Coleslaw Peri chicken - South African Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

This is a sweet spot to hang out with your friends or alone. They have a wide variety of music playing, not too loud and that's great. They have tables and booths and it's a real chill atmosphere. The service at this location in Arlington VA on Wilson Blvd has been better. This must be the laid back Sunday crew..some are young inexperienced servers that still have to learn the art of customer service,but the manager is on point. Okay let's skip to the food part! The food!!!! I usually have the same thing, the half grilled chicken with Portuguese rice and mushy peas- heat flavor HOT! I like it spicy Today I was flying solo and opted for the Rainbow chicken bowl with grilled chicken breast, flavor Mango. This bowl has delicious Portuguese rice, tomato & cucumber with pickled onions salad, avocado, hummus, turmeric crunchy pickles cauliflower, a sprinkle of feta and some nutty seed crunch on the hummus all served in a bowl. Ohhhh man!!! I have a new favorite. I am familiar with Nandos from South Africa so I know what it should be like. It delivered!!! They offer additional sauces and my two favorites are garlic peri-peri and wild herb peri-peri, which I poured all over my chicken, cos remember I like it hot n spicy. The Sangria is fantastic! Just get the pitcher That is why they only getting 4 stars and not 5 * because people need to learn to be better at interfacing with customers. So room for improvement. I have been to several locations in the DMV and will always opt for Nandos if possible because their food is fresh. read more

Nando's Peri-Peri - PERi Chicken Rainbow Bowl - South African Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

See all

Great chicken (portuguese style with South African sauces). I loved their new very American (with a bit of SA spices) sauce, their version of a Ranch sauces. Fries are crispy on the outside and tasty on the inside. If you have room left, their Nata's (egg custard pastries) are delicious. Everyone in my house loved them. read more

Nando's Peri-Peri - South African Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Great service and food today. My last interaction was completely different. Hope was the person that got my order. The food came out in about 15 minutes. The chicken sandwich was great but small portions of chicken breast unless you order double chicken. Seasoned Fries and Cole slaw were great. Hope came to check on the table which was nice. She was like a hurricane doing everything from taking orders, delivering food and bussing tables. She deserves employee of the month. Bravo to her! read more

Nando's Peri-Peri - Chicken breast sandwich, fries and Cole slaw - South African Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

This is soooo late! However, better late than never. 1 Star = It's Not Good 2 Stars = Something's Missing 3 Stars = It's Ok 4 Stars = It's Good 5 Stars = it's Bangin! By time I made it to my party the chicken was torn apart and not picture worthy. Nando's chicken is good. You can't go wrong with any piece. The only thing I'm not to excited about is that the pieces are in quarters. For some reason, pieces quarters works for Supper Pollo, but for some reason it's irritating at Nando's. My plate: Chicken quarter dark - It's good. The garlic and herb seasoning is what makes Nando's chicken, Nando's chicken. It's a good family outing. I suggest getting the family size platters and if possible, request for the quarter pieces to be cut. The reason why.......to make it easier to DIP IT in that NANDOs RANCH Fries - Care less - they taste like they were frozen rather than cut - my favorite fries are 5 guys Cajun. Pita bread w/ hummus - This bread right here....Bangin! I could eat this by itself. Wings - Bangin! These wings are real. No hormones, no oversized super robot chicken. These are real and tasty! Peri Ranch! PLEASE BRING THIS TO EVERY PERI PERI. I LOVE this sauce. The relationship is to up and up and down, but I will definitely keep Nando's on my fast food rotation. read more

See all

Ordered delivery from this Nando's 3 times and I love the food, despite some inconsistencies. Always ordered a whole chicken platter that comes with 2 large sides. The chicken and sides at Nando are great overall, the meat is always tender, juicy, with great flavors, and the mashed potatoes and macho peas sides are delicious (I suspect made with a lot of butter!). Inconsistencies: --size of the chicken varies, sometimes the chicken I get is 1.5x the size of the chicken I get from another order --salt level varies greatly. sometimes I wish Nando's will include more sauce with the chicken and some times chicken is so salty I need to wipe off the extra sauce read more

I'm still annoyed by the lack of the pineapple whip and the lack of flexibility on substitutions, but I've been back a couple times over the years, and it deserves more than my old one star review. So, here's a review based solely on the food I did eat. 1). The chicken is good when you want something other than Peruvian chicken, and I like that you can vary the spiciness. However, the size of the chicken pieces you get are entirely inconsistent - sometimes a quarter chicken is plenty and others a half is smaller than the quarter. I never know what to order. 2). The garlic mashed are probably the best thing on the menu - always delicious, but they run out sometimes. 3). The Macha peas are very good, as well, though are sometimes lacking seasoning. 4). When the have it, the butternut squash side is also very good. 5). The fries and corn are meh, and the Portuguese rice is tasteless. 6). They need to bring the pineapple whip back! read more

I ordered a Uber eats from Nandos which was a buy one get one free but only received one order. I called and spoke to the manager who said she would get back with me but never did. I called the next day and was hung up on. A few days later I received a email stating I would get a voucher in the mail which I never got. In my opinion the customer service is terrible. read more

Our last visit probably wasn't meant to be. After ordering, we sat down at the table assigned to us. The chair I sat in was broken. When our food came, he didn't get what he thought he ordered. And we never received any water. We've had other visits here, which were much better overall. read more

This location is the pinnacle of mediocrity. I'll start by discussing the appearance and ambience which--let me make absolutely clear--is not usually a significant factor in my reviews. But I want to give this place some credit. It's nice inside. It's cute, not too loud. It's a pleasant place to be, I'll give it two (2) stars for that. But then we get to the food. I'll be candid: when I go to a restaurant for a meal, the primary purpose of doing so is generally to put food into my carcass. Yes, there is often a social element, or a "this is a nice thing" element, but the primary objective is to ingest satiating, flavorful, nutritive products. I would like to offer this joint one (1) star for providing sustenance. The food is edible and quite decent. But every time I've gone, I feel incomplete. It's that deep, slightly scratchy feeling of existence in a state close to--but not completely at--transient contentedness. I enjoy the food when I eat it because the chicken is good. But it's something I could easily cook in my own home. Roasted chicken breast is something I cook, and I produce chicken breast whose quality is at least as good--usually better--than that of PERi-PERi chicken. And I can make it at a lower price point without much effort. The sides that I have tried are fine. The portions are mediocre. Some are healthy, but mediocre for the price you are paying. Where am I going with this? We arrive to the general sense--not necessarily by means of logic, but by means of pure desire to sustain our bodies--that Nando's provides no nutritive or gustatory advantage, as its offerings are akin to those I keep in my own home and purchase at a lower price, and that all it has going for it is its pleasant ambience. So why would one come here, why would those who strive for excellence impose mediocrity upon themselves? I can name ten possible reasons: (1) urgent hunger, (2) lack of food in the home, (3) animalistic desire for the hen's flesh and inability to procure it using other means, (4) convenience of the location to meet an associate, (5) lack of time, (6) a Nando's coupon, (7) a deep yearning for the fast-food of South Africa, (8) lack of desire for excellence, (9) desire to meet new people at a local high-end fast-food location, and (10) interest in the venue's music playlist. If you are now asking yourself whether you should go to Nando's now, answer the following question: --Do I want to do better, do I want to be better in this moment? If you answered yes, don't go to Nando's. You'll be disappointed. If you answered no, go. You won't be disappointed. Photos courtesy of Eloise C. read more

Nando's Peri-Peri - The counter. - South African Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

See all

Always a great experience at this Nandos. The dining area is clean the food is delicious and the service is great.

Great spot with options of outdoor and indoor seating with nice servers. I arrived about 30 min after the place opened and the server was so kind in helping me to make my selection since this was my first time at Nando's. The place was inviting and clean. The server gave me the choice of dining indoors or outdoors. If you let them know it's your first time, they provide a voucher to return for a free appetizer. For those who enjoy spicy food in general, "hot" is probably medium for you. The unique flavor that is found in "hot" spice is a tangy note and is much more acidic than the "medium." Enjoy your meal with a pineapple lemonade. It's a nice added touch of sweetness to your meal. read more

First time in this one. I love chicken, love the Arlington Peruvian chicken spots. I decided to give Nando's a try. So this is just about a single order. I ordered two leg quarters. I did not get any sides because none of the sides that come free are low carb. If you want a salad or roasted vegetables you're going to pay more. I got vegetables in my refrigerator. I'm not going to pay more for a green vegetable. I ordered the lemon sauce. The chicken was pretty darn good. It was juicy and had a charcoal flavor. It was pretty impressed. It was Saturday and I could easily find street parking on that neck of Wilson avenue. It's a little bit expensive for this area with all the chicken choices we have. But to take a break from the usual, it was pretty good. read more

See all

I am a huge fan of Nando's, however this location really missed the mark. I walked in was immediately greeted and my order was taken, this is where the issues began. Cashier asked me to wait in the foyer or outside, since I was not dining in. To ensure proper social distancing, I decided to wait outside, I was assured that cashier would bring my food outside once it was ready. Ten minutes later I went inside to check on my food, no cashier, someone had to come from the grill and look for my order which was ready. When I asked why no one brought my food outside, his response was no one told the kitchen I was waiting outside. Once I got home, I discovered container with chicken was not properly closed and the chicken was dry, mashed potatoes were good. Definitely will not repeat at this location. read more

I dream of Nando's... I'm hoping they expand into more of the US soon! Everything here is so good but my go-to are the Chicken Thighs Extra Hot - so juicy and flavorful! All of the sides are delicious especially the fries with perinaise, Portuguese rice, brussels sprouts, and halloumi cheese. The Mango & Lime Wings, Nandoca's Choice, and Thigh & Mighty sandwich are also great if you want to try something different. I've only ever gotten take out here but wouldn't be opposed to dining in as this location is quite large and spacious. Ordering ahead of time through the app is always a breeze as well. read more

Janice was amazing! ThAt style of service is a lost art. I was so comfortable with her I let her order for me without even really looking at the menu! I'll be back! read more

YUUUUGE It's been ages since I've had some Nando's, had the pleasure of introducing my plus one to the legendary experience. Perhaps one of my favorite parts of visiting the DMV! Heads up though, their family-style combo is a true beast. Way too much for the two of us, and that's a good thing! Come hungry, and I mean it. Skip breakfast, heck dinner the night before if you have to :) read more

First time having a cheeky Nandos. Got the peri-peri bowl and chips with ranch. I was also comped an order of hummus for my first time, so that was a plus. Everything was fresh and pretty good. They have a wide variety of sauces they cook the chicken in, and you can try them beforehand. Everything was pretty on point, not the best thing I've ever had, but I can see why this took off. My only minor complaint is that the fries were a bit too salty - I'd ask for light or no salt next time. The real standout at my trip was the service. The gentleman at the counter was very helpful and made sure I knew what I was doing. One of the most polite and friendly people I've met in a while. I'd say give it a try. read more

I try to come to this spot everytime I'm in the DC/Northern Virgina neighborhood. Their chicken is grilled and seasoned to perfection. All their peri peri sauces are really good and they have a variety of flavors and spice levels to pick and choose from. I'd recommend ordering the chicken with a Medium heat level. You can always add sauce after if you prefer spicy. The Xtra hot sauce is super spicy so be careful if you're using that sauce. I usually just order the peri peri chicken when I'm here. I've yet to order a salad or sandwich. For chicken, I usually stick to either the 1/2 chicken, breast or legs. If you have a big group of people, I'd recommend ordering one of the platters. For sides, the fries, Portuguese rice and red skin mashed potatoes are my favorite. read more

Nando's Peri-Peri - Full platter with sides - Portuguese rice and red skin mashed potatoes - South African Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

I ate at Nandos for the first time two days ago. I bite my nails. Not my best quality, but don't judge me, you are probably gross in your own ways. I'm a nail biter. Yesterday, while gnawing at my little rat claws, I tasted a hint of that splendid Peri Peri sauce, a relic of my previous day's meal. It was just a hint, but even a hint of that capsaicin-saturated yum is enough to drive a man wild. And let me tell you, boy was I driven wild. I only have one beef with this endorphin-flooded establishment--the macho peas. My whole life, I've searched for a rugged pea-mash that could quell my aching soul. I've searched high and low, near and far. I yearn to taste garlic, parsley, and chili in my pea-seed-salad. After several nibbles of my succulent chicken breast two days ago, my attention turned to my macho pea mash. Could it deliver? Could it set my heart aflame? Could it cure me of my years of lonely solitude? Maybe these are high expectations for a humble pea pudding, but they were my expectations nonetheless. And much to my chagrin, Nandos Macho-peas failed to fill this mantle. If you are stuck in the rat race and need an endorphin kick, be sure to visit Nandos. Maybe you'll learn from me and stash some Peri Peri under your fingernails for later. But a warning, Nandos cannot fill the void; it can merely distract you from it. read more