Nando’s originated in Johannesburg, South Africa, in 1987, even though its flavours and branding draw heavily on Portuguese and Mozambican peri‑peri chicken traditions.

Quick Scoop

  • The first Nando’s restaurant opened in the suburb of Rosettenville, Johannesburg, when Fernando Duarte and Robert Brozin bought a small Portuguese‑Mozambican takeaway called Chickenland and rebranded it as Nando’s.
  • The brand’s peri‑peri style is rooted in Mozambican and Portuguese culinary influences, but the company itself is officially a South African-born chain.

A Bit Of Story

  • In 1987, after tasting especially good peri‑peri chicken at Chickenland, the two founders decided to buy the place and turn that flavour into a dedicated restaurant concept.
  • They named it Nando’s (after Fernando’s son), keeping the Portuguese-Mozambican feel while building what became a global South African casual-dining brand.

Peri‑Peri Roots

  • Peri‑peri (or piri‑piri) sauce itself comes from African bird’s eye chilli, which was developed in Mozambique under long Portuguese colonial influence.
  • This fusion of African chilli and Portuguese techniques created the signature marinade that later defined Nando’s grilled chicken worldwide.

Fast Facts (HTML Table)

Aspect Details
Country of origin South Africa (Johannesburg)
Year founded 1987
Founders Fernando Duarte & Robert Brozin
Culinary roots Mozambican–Portuguese peri‑peri chicken
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