They don't use free range chickens either.

I'm used to buying corn fed chicken from my local farm shop. Much more meat on them.

The 'fries' in Nandos are just cheap frozen oven chips cooked in a deep fat frier!

Nandos chickens are not battery but they are definitely not free range.

but ... but ... they have peri peri spice scattered on them

We've got a new Harvester in town and I must say, it's like a cross between TGIs and Nandos but better. I got an all day special of quarter chicken (which was huge), boneless spare ribs combo, bbq sauce, piri piri sauce, chips, and corn. This comes with all you can eat salad which was the best I've had. Cost was £8.50. The chicken was just like Nandos but bigger. I actually couldn't eat it all. Great value.

I use to loveeeeeee the harvester salad... Before they use to give a free salad with your main course (not sure it they do that now?) And you could refill it as much as you liked I wasn't too impressed by the main courses though but I haven't been there in years!

Really don't get the fuss about it, and I am far from a food snob I assure you.

First time I went was years ago and it left no lasting impression. Second time I went to one in Sheffield. Quite expensive, small portions and the service wasn't great. A few people on my facebook always seem to be there and tag themselves at Nando's like it's some big extravagant meal out.

They do quite a nice mushroom and halloumi burger but as others say the queues are way too long. NHS staff get 20% discount though so it's sometimes worth the wait.

Statements in bold - some people like McDonalds some like Nandos, it doesn't make them not like food or have no imagination. I doubt many people are eating at Nandos everyday. A lot of their restaurants are near to cinemas and shopping centres, so it is a good solid chain restaurant for friends to meet, knowing exactly what they are getting.

My son and his girlfriend love Nandos, but they also love lots of other places as well. As a vegetarian, it wouldn't necessarily be my first choice to eat, but if I want something fairly quick or am meeting other people I have no problem with eating there and the veggie food is really good.

Only been once, to the branch in Exeter.

It wasn't great. I got my half chicken and it was cold. There must be something fundamentally wrong when a chicken restaurant can't serve hot chicken.

Won't be rushing back to any of their branches.

I now regularly cook a piri piri spatchcock chicken at home. Tastes just as good, and perfectly cooked every time.

Whilst I think it's overpriced for what is basically chicken and chips, I don't have a problem with the taste and cooking of Nando's; it's the anorexic birds they serve.

Where do they source them from, is there a chicken Priory somewhere?

I'm planning to go some time. What's all this about queuing for you meal though?

Sometimes you have to queue to get in the place in the first place; then you always have to get up from your table and queue at the till to place your order. No orders taken at the table. Quite a palava sometimes.

First and last time was the one in Union Square Aberdeen, had the butterfly chicken, was ok not worth the money, although I do like the sauces which I use at home

I really like Nandos. I'm surprised so many people hate it! I usually order the chicken breast burger or the butterfly chicken, and it's always been a decent size. The only problem I've had is the chips being undercooked and cold, or hot and on the verge of burnt. They don't seem to be very consistent. Other than that I've usually had a good experience there, I like the drink refills, and it's a good place to go when in town and you want something a bit nicer than McD or KFC but don't want to spend a lot. The only annoying thing I find is the staff seem to pop up every 10 mins to ask if everything's okay. I can't stand when restaurants do that.

I'm surprised to hear people raving about it, Harvester has really gone downhill in recent years. Many of the mains are frozen and microwaved to order and taste like it. The only good thing about it is the salad!

I go to Nando's once every couple of weeks, the Manchester Spinningfields branch is about 5 minutes away from where I work. Always found the service great and the food is always hot and served quickly.

I do like it, we get a decent discount though, not sure I'd be happy paying full price for what it is.

South Harrow branch, Wednesday 30 January 2013, 1:35pm. Ordered a 1/4 chicken (breast piece), medium, side of fries and corn on the cob. One bottomless soft drink.



Ah yes, thanks for this. I have been thinking for ages why their chicken just doesn't taste as good as it used to.


One time when I went, I was contemplating ordering something different to my usual 1/4 chicken and 2 sides. I decided to go for the chicken burger, but as I walked to the till, it was niggling at the back of my mind that nobody else in the restaurant seemed to have ordered a chicken burger. I soon realised why. The burger was tiny, tasteless and came in a hard, awful shaped bun that was difficult to bite into. Even the waitress looked slightly unsure as I ordered it, as if to warn me not to!

Ah right thanks! I'll give it a go some time soon.

I love it.

Last time I went had Red pepper dip, a whole chicken between two and large fries and garlic bread.

Not sure what size of portion some people expect, I've never once left Nandos anything but stuffed!

Had a Halloumi & portobello mushroom wrap, completely delicious beyond my expectations. If you are thinking of trying one I would completely recommend it, very tasty and quite meaty in a vegetarian sort of way. I could almost eat another one right now

This is DS so what do you expect.

They must be doing something right as they seem to have expanded exponentially and be on every high street in the UK now and they always seem to be very busy.

I remember getting the occasional take-away in the early 90's from the Ealing Common branch which I think was the only Nando's in the UK at the time. It was pretty cheap back then as I recall.

Anyway sometimes you want something simple. At least you get proper plates and real cutlery, so I don't think you can compare it to KFC and McDonald's.

I don't mind it. The last time I went was a few months ago to one near London Bridge (I think). The staff are fine at all the places that I've been to.

The food is OK for the money. It's not bad and it's not great - look at the price and manage your expectations. The portion sizes for chips are quite small compared to when they first started appearing. The chicken is all right. Obviously, it's your free range, corn fed, organic chicken, but it doesn't pretend to be and they don't price it in such a way.

Yes, you can do better at home and for less money, but Nando's is a convenience restaurant at a price many can afford. I find it a nice place to meet as my friends with fussier eating habits are fine with chicken and chips.

For any forum members in Leeds, if you're looking for an alternative to Nando's, try Safran along Kirkgate (where the Megabus stops!). It's a small Persian restaurant that does nice skewered chicken and massive portions of fries (compared to Nando's) as well as the other stuff you'd expect from a Persian place. The price is pretty reasonable for what it is. The place isn't fancy but the food is all right. Stay away from the rip off prices on the drinks - I think it was £1.30 for a can of Coke. (The last time I went you were free to BYOB.)

Of course you can compare it. Giving you cutlery doesn't make somewhere better.

The Nando's thread in GD should be merged here.

Is that seriously your only contribution?

Bore off.