Nando's PERi-PERi

Name of the restaurant was Bluejacket. Cheeseburger and sweet potato fries were great, eating near the street was fun, and the price was incredibly competitive for the serving and quality. Loved eating here and will be back the next time we are in DC.

I visited Washington, DC on official duty! On this day, I was craving good chicken! So, I used a random online search and found the restaurant! The restaurant looks amazing, great hostesses and good food! And, oh, a wide variety of sauces from house-made sauces to others. It was lovely! And, you get to have options of other places to chill at, adjacent to it, just along the Washington Navy Yard! It also felt safe and secure, as numerous uniformed officers walk around the yard!

Very welcoming! When they found out it was the first time we were trying Nando's, the manager Ben came out to fully explain what peri peri was and give us recommendations on what to try! I wish we had Nando's in Florida

Our first time at Nando’s. The manager, Maria, was very friendly and a sweetheart. The food was delicious and we took home these two souvenirs. Officially our go-to Nando’s location now.

Food came out hot/fresh; option to order at counter or via QR code.

Always get the mango lime chicken sandwich. Easily my favorite menu item. I'm not a big fan of spicy so it's perfect with nice flavor. The sweet potato side is a must get as well. My daughter could live on it.

4-Star seems fair. The chicken was good. I liked the lemon herb chicken and would consider making something similar at home. It tasted like the chicken was brined and that made it juicy. While it was cooked on direct flame (huge plus for flavor and presentation), the skin was not at all crispy like I enjoy when I make chicken. They likely transfer directly from brine to the grill and do not allow time for the skin to dry and crisp when cooking. The Mac and cheese was above average but less than average portion. They could have doubled the amount and it would have felt correct. The garlic bread was ok at best. It was buttery and toasted. It did not taste like fresh cut garlic and could have been amazing with just a hint of crusted/melted cheese. The fact they said my order was ready and then took another 5minutes to make it because the staff “messed up” with no apology or extra anything partially removed the 5-star. The small Mac and cheese portion and $20 for a chicken thigh and breast portion felt high from similar chicken restaurants. I liked their sauce and bought a bottle to experiment with on wings at home. The bird’s eye chili they use is a nice balanced heat.

Honestly, I did not know what to expect. Came here an hour before they closed and went in blind. But boy did they blow my expectation out of the park. Got their hummus which was great and gave me a generous amount of pita, then had their half chicken which was not only crispy, but juicy as well. This grilled chicken was delicious with their signature sauce. The staff was super friendly and the atmosphere was great as well. Would recommend if your looking to try something new.

Major improvement in portion size than my last visit. It looked like they cut one of the thighs in half and called it two. I was cheated out last time and didn't want to come back. I couldn't stay away because that chicken is so good. They fixed that problem. Service was ready and food was perfect in every way. Thank you!

Without a doubt the smallest chicken wings I've ever seen in my life. Ordered 12 wings but they were so small it felt like eating 4 regular wings.

The food was tasty and excellent and customer service was great! I would eat here again!

Service was friendly and fast. Place was relatively clean. Outdoor seating area is nice but compact. Has a mix of different seating types from high tops to tables, benches to stools, and pergola to umbrella style shade. Menus are no through scanning a QR code there's no menu to be physically govern or even hanging on the walls. Presentation of the food is nicely done with colorful plates and well presented meals. Quantity is as expected so it's nice they didn't try to skip but it's also not overly abundant. The hummus can probably feed 2 people that have an appetite and more if you're willing to share and it's just a starter. The veggie burger was fantastic; flavorful and nicely topped. I removed 1 star because the price point is high, but then again everything has shot up in price from before.

I LOVEEEEE nandos ! They never disappoint and the customer service is super nice and patient every time because I swear i forget my order almost every visit lol, but nonetheless the flavors hit the same each time. Never a long wait for the food so I usually double park because Navy yard parking is absolutely horrible for picking up food, but they also have an outdoor patio area along with indoor dining. So if you're ever looking for something fresh , flavor packed, grilled, and a little exotic do not skip past them please

The portion sizes have gotten way too small. These are pretty expensive meal prices and we should actually be getting a whole meal. It has been a recurring problem in the last few months. Another time was getting a tiny piece of chicken on the sandwich that was less than half of the size of the bread. I'm shocked by how much different and smaller my bowl ended up being from Nando's. And for almost $20 after tax!!! This location is not at all what it used to be and something needs to be changed. I'm extremely disappointed by this rip off.

Had an early dinner here last night. We got a table inside by the window. There was also a outside patio area. We placed our order by cell phone. It took a while to come up. The waitress brought us glasses for our drinks. The drinks were self serve and there were quite a few options to choose from. There was also an area to choose your own peri peri sauces. Everything from mild to hot. Our meals were all tasty. Chicken had a fantastic spicy taste that lingers in the mouth after you're done eating. Definitely a place to try. They also have takeout.

It has been nearly a decade since I first ate Nando's in London. A British institution that sadly, has not made its way to the West Coast (or at least to the neighborhood I am in on the West Coast). After happy hour, I persuaded several co-workers to stop by here for dinner. It was fairly empty when we came around 8:30 PM. We sat outside because there is honestly nothing better then light balmy weather before the DC humidity hits hard in July. Staff said we can order online via the QR code on the table and then they would bring the food over to us. I got the peri-peri chicken bowl, lightly mild. I don't remember this bowl option from before so I was excited to see the new options. The chicken was as tender as I remember and paired well with the roasted peppers and hummus. I believe I ordered it without the arugula. Anyways, protein and vegetables - healthy and delicious! I know Nando's is considered fast food but in my opinion, it's good fast food that isn't too expensive. It definitely hits the spot for when I want something flavorful but also healthy-ish without breaking the bank.

Hate hate hate having to leave 'bad' reviews. But, I'm a truth teller. My job ordered from here for lunch today actually and me and one of my colleagues don't eat meat. She ordered a bowl without meat, I made the mistake of ordering the veggie burger with a side of cauliflower. The cauliflower was decent tasting with the sweet chili sauce, but watery. There was like a puddle of watery sauce at the bottom of the to go box and it leaked onto the table. The veggie burger was simply not good and I know that every place that has meat on the menu does not do non-meat well. I also put on my order none of the sauce that comes on the burger and no tomato, both were put on there anyway. So the end result was a soggy, nasty veggie burger. Two stars to be nice, but this is definitely not ever something I would order or eat again.

I'll start with my experience with the chicken. The leg had a hot taste in my mouth and pairs with the crispy french fries. The wings were a bit too charcoaled and portion was quite small. The atmosphere is casual and inviting. It's ideal for a night out with friends or family. The staff was friendly and had great energy.

Great food and great service as I've come to expect from most Nando's. The place was practically empty at around 2 pm on a nice Sunday. There is indoor and outdoor seating. The space was very neat and well kept. Condiment/utensil/fountain drink area was very neat and organized. Food was ordered via scanning a QR code and through the app/website. You pay (and tip) through the app/site as well. The servers brought our food over in about 10-15 minutes. Food (wings, fries, rice and skewers) were all very good. Overall a good experience, my only issue/recommendation was more bathrooms. They currently have two (2) gender neutral bathrooms. When I was about ready to leave, I had to wait about 10-15 minutes for a bathroom to become available (both were seemingly occupied by employees). This was when the restaurant was empty....I can't imagine how long that wait would be if the restaurant was busier. The area is nice with a lot of eating options. Parking can be tough, but there is a reasonably-priced outdoor lot at Water Street and 4th Street. ($2-$3 per hour)

Something different for me while traveling in DC for business. I've never had African food or peri-peri but I really enjoyed my meal from this growing chain of restaurants. The chicken was marinated with so much flavor from the peri-peri sauce and then it had good char from grilling. Very tender as well. The variation of flavors from the sides on my Peri-Peri Chicken Rainbow Bowl were great to later keep tasting the pepper sauce. I really enjoyed the side of Macho Peas and the hummus served on my entree as well. The Roasted Brussel Sprouts were also tasty. The service was a little complicated having to order and checkout from an app, but the people working were friendly and helpful.

I enjoyed Nando's during my time in Cape Town and I'm so happy that they are in the DMV area. This is a regular go to for me.

Was slightly underwhelmed by the hype surrounding Nando's Peri-Peri. The photos on the menu make it seem like you'll get more meat/food but ended up with less then 4 oz of chicken. The flavor of the mango and lime seasoning was good. We got there with plenty of open tables and took about 35 minutes to get our food from time of order. Overall, had an alright experience.

Ordering is a pain in the ass. I have no patience for trying to order a new season sandwich that has a flier on the table but not online. The app is useless. It's not convenient. Wait too way long. 45 minutes for a chicken in a chicken restaurant. You kidding me. Poor service as in no service. Never again. Food mediocre at best.

I LOVE THE FOOD HERE!! Nandos is one of my favorite chain and I've had it multiple times. But the reason for the low rating is the service. Took me a long time to even have someone greeted us when the sign said "wait to be seated" and when someone finally got to us (the restaurant was empty - maybe 2 other seats?), she mumbled and told me to come closer with the hand motion. No words. Then she asked if I'm dining in or to-go, I said dine in. She walked me to my table, told me to order onljne. So I did, then the website to order doesn't work. I tried 3 times so I finally went up to order and she gave me a frown. No apologizing, no acknowledgement and said in the most annoyed voice "what do you want". I said please, thank you, all of that - and she definitely wasn't nice back to me. The rest of the staff was just talking in the kitchen, minding their business. I don't know her name but I am incredibly disappointed in the bad hiring at this location. I've never had a problem at all of the other nandos location I've been (and I've been to a lot). Oh, and the fountain drink machines BARELY works... I'm incredibly annoyed and will NOT be coming back at this location.

Very cute, inviting atmosphere with lots of seating inside and out. A worker took several minutes unprompted to walk us through the menu and favorites which was very kind. The food was very flavorful and healthy which was nice on vacation when we're eating out a lot. We got the rainbow bowl.

We came to dine in today at the yard, and we had an amazing experience with the service. Maria who was the manager on duty was very helpful with all our request. She went above and beyond to assist our needs and request including putting smile on my three children faces. We ordered the full jumbo platter with fries and garlic bread and the came presentable and delicious. We will definitely come back and enjoy again. Thank you Maria!!!!

I've heard such great things about Nando's and I was SO excited to try the famed peri-peri sauce, but unfortunately my experience at the Navy Yard location was awful. I placed an order of wings and garlic bread for pickup. I arrived at my pick-up time and my order wasn't ready yet. I waited for almost a half hour (after my pick-up time) for my small, but expensive order. It was chaotic in there! There was also no pick-up line... Finally, I got my order and the wings were cold, very small, and had no seasoning! They were just plain wings!! They somehow forgot the sauce...by this point I was way too exhausted to go back...so I ate very expensive plain chicken wings.

Some of the juiciest chicken I've ever tasted. Also a little suspicious that it's SO perfect. I ordered the 1/4 chicken with mash potatoes and rice. Kind of wish there was a rice and beans option. Definitely recommend the mash potatoes and fries, the rice may taste like it was just thawed out and then cooked.

While visiting DC, a friend sent me a message on Facebook and told me that I needed to find a Nando's...the rest is history :) After a Nationals game, we ventured off into "the Yards" and found a Nando's! When we walked in, we were given a table marker number and some menus to look over. We first took a seat and reviewed the menu. Everything looked super delicious and a little different than your typical grilled chicken establishment like let's say... Pollo Tropical. We settled for the Sharing Platter for 2-3 people. We were a party of 4 (2 adults, 2 kids). This comes with a whole chicken (4 pieces) and choice of 2 large sides. I think we could have ordered an appetizer in addition to this, but it was a good amount of food without anything else. When you order chicken, you can request what sauce you'd like. The choices were Plain-ish, Lemon & Herb, Mango & Lime, Medium, Hot or Xtra Hot. We chose the Medium and it was perfect with just a nice little kick and on top of that, we grabbed a bottle of both the Lemon & Herb and Garlic sauces. Divine! As far as the sides, I picked the Garlic Bread (realllly tasty) and the Macho Peas. I am a fan of peas and this took peas to a whole 'nother level. This was a bowl of whole peas (not mashed), parsley, mint and chilli. It seriously was a flavor masterpiece when you combine it with the chicken. What sets this "chicken" place aside from others I am used to, is that they offer alcohol. They have an array of sangria, spiked lemonades, beer and wine. I didn't partake, so I guess that means I'll have to make another visit...now to find the closest one to me since they don't have one in Florida :(

Great fast casual spot serving grilled chicken items with a variety of sauces and a hip and open dining area to eat. Have been coming to Nandos since 2013 and it doesn't disappoint. Order the peri peri sauce to add to the flavor, trust.

Munchies anyone? Lunch anyone? Dinner anyone? With spots riddled throughout the entire D.M.V area #nandosperiperi is a new go to spot. Moderately priced with "Good customer service, good food, and horrible parking"- @omarthomas117 ( The reviewer at their location at 300 Tingey St., S.E. #150 Washington D.C. 20003). They have whole chicken, half chicken, quarter chicken...AYE!! The extra hot wings and garlic herb redskin mashed potatoes combo (pictured), will run you about $16 bucks...but you're coming back!! They have a slight vegan menu and spiked lemonades, just be ready to search for parking if you're going to the aforementioned location...that's it.

Came here to try the infamous chicken and sauces with a friend. Got the 1/2 chicken (both thighs) with a side of fries. Got the Mango & lime seasoning on one thigh and lemon & herb on the other. The chicken itself was good but a little saltier than I would have liked. It was moist and very filling! Fries were crunchy and seasoned well. Service was quick and easy. The host gave a great rundown of the menu and recommendations and I received the food hot at my table in less than 10 minutes after I ordered. Restaurant wasn't that busy so that probably helped with the quickness. Either way, this place is clean with a positive and chill vibe.

They took 35 minutes to get my food out and not even an apology or acknowledgment but it was late. Very bad service.

Super bomb food. I had the peri peri chicken with peas abs cauliflower lentil . My wife had the marinated halumi salad. All were cooked presented beautifully. All the staff was super cool and extra attentive We went here June 11 at 11 am .

The service was awful , the cashier didn't won't to take my order unless I used the Barcode. My phone was having a moment so I attempted to place my order with cashier. Straight ATTITUDE

First visit ever to a nando's. I had no idea there were u.s. locations. I heard English friends talk about this place. I visited this location because I was in d.c. for the weekend I decided to order and eat outside. My glass of sangria got invaded by a bee. The server kindly made me another and I covered it with a napkin. The ordered a quarter piece of chicken with a side of grilled corn. Nothing much. I like the sauce options.

Tried a couple of times. Ordered online using their website. Good always 10-15 minutes late. Lots of food seems made and just sits there in boxes under the lamp.

I love nando's but I would hate to have rate this place a 3 stars! One of my favorites was their sangria. I normally order the white sangria that comes with mango and peach. But this time the sangria was a disappointment because it tasted watery and mostly with sprit in it. They don't make it consistent throughout their stores. Depending on which location you go to, they taste slightly different every time. We were a party of 5 and we ordered 2 full platters and hummus. We had a huge order and the order was place properly, which is always nice. The hummus came pretty quick and it was delicious. While there was still some food left on the hummus, the server came and took the food away without asking if we were still working on it. The staff were not super attentive, even thought the concept is mostly self serve. During the whole visit, there was no staff came to check on how we were doing. Even thought I love nando's, but unfortunately I don't love going to this location.

It's a Nando's, and some of the experience is going to depend on whether you like Nando's or not. I find the chicken a tad dry myself but that's not specific to this location. The sauce is pretty good and the food portions are generous. I actually really like the staff at this one (and I've eaten at Nando's across DC); the times I've been they're super friendly and considerate. I also like the surplus of sauces they have available to you. No, it's not fancy, but the price is right and it's reliably good.

Service is extremely slow at this location. Come here with lots of time or don't come at all.

Customer service was friendly and professional however the food was not what we expected. Torn between 1/4 chicken breast and the full chicken breast, a couple dollars difference price point.. we were hungry so we each got the whole chicken breast. We received smaller portion than we expected. Rice was burnt and cold..? All in all, while the chicken was tasty, I dont think the portion is worth the price. You could literally go to any Peruvian rotisserie chicken joint in the city, pay a couple dollars less and get at least twice the portion.

Probably my favorite restaurant to visit when in DC. Always feels like home. Superb food, service, and music all wrapped in one amazing experience. Not to mention price point is affordable.

They close at 10 but at 8:40 weren't taking dine in orders. The cook kept complaining OUT LOUD that she's no correcting any more wrong orders. That she's no cooking anything with special requests. Just going off on a rant. The manager in the green shirt was on her phone texting the whole time. This place is sketchy for real. I learned not to trust a place that makes it obvious they don't care about the business, their job or their customers. If they're like that out loud and up front, just think how they'll handle your food. I do not recommend this location.

OMG i am back home in Manchester UK!!! Thank you franchisee to take a license. This are hands down the BEST grilled chicken that you will get from a chain! I didn't even remembered how good they are. But the second tHe chicken tights touched my tastebuds they exploded!! So yummy I can't even replicate them near where at home. I always take the plain which has a bit of their marinade but isn't hot at all. But you can have it witH more pump and blast and choose a higher hotness but i always think it takEs away from the original taste. I also order my tights well done. That means with them there are crispier outside but still damn juicy on the inside. I like that flavor of the crispy parts. I can't stress enough that's you have to go to this South African place. And peri peri is in South Africa street food. Unfortunately the prices in the US (or in UK) are not - so it's not cheap but just good. I mentioned it already don't go for any other then the boneless chicken tights you will not regret it. If you are the first time at a nandos it will not be the last time, but here is a small guide how it goes: Choose your food from the menu that may around the register and decide how spicy you want it. They have everything from Plain-ish to Extra Hot. Then choose a table and remember or grab a table number, go to the counter to order and pay. Step3 Grab yourself the sauces and dressings you fancy, and any cutlery you need at the service station mostly near the drink station. (Eating with your fingers is heartily encouraged!) And then sit - Your order is brought to your table as speedily as possible. Forgotten anything, need extras or want dessert? Order from your table - they sort it out! I hope you enjoy it and I am so jealous and hope they open places in Cali soon. Wow this is the longest review I'll ever write I'll think but if you read so far I can tell you why it is: when I lived In UK I literally eat there eve every other day. That's how much I love them.

Nando's' claim to fame is its flame grilled chicken and its peri peri sauce. The menu features a few options, but its bright spots are the chicken dishes with some sides. You choose a heat level for your food when you order, but there are also extra peri peri sauce options available after you are served. I ordered a 1/4 chicken - leg with two sides (coleslaw and rice.) I had the chicken marinated in medium heat and then picked a couple of sauces to dip with. Note... the hot is pretty hot and the garlic is nice and sweet. The seating and ordering process is a little different. When you arrive, you are seated, but after once you've had some time with your menu then you walk up to the cashier and place your order. The issue is, the cashier is placed steps inside the front door, which is a little confusing. I dined during a busy rush after a Nationals baseball game. Some stood in line, others saved tables and still, others just kind of walked around. It was kind of confusing. Everything worked out in the end and I enjoyed my visit, but it takes a little getting used to.

UPDATE: I've given Nando's some time and I am a fan! I discovered their herb and lemon sauce (wow!) and the garlic bread, chicken, and slaw sandwich. They also have perfectly sweetened sangria and organic iced tea.

Screwed up the online order. Had very limited drinks because everything was broken but didn't bother to explain why they didn't bring the drink ordered. Brought the food with wrong sauce and wrong side. Severer just kind of stared at us when told her the problem then wandered off without saying if she was getting it fixed. Never did fix everything. Told a second person the order was messed up and got the reply "oh, I'm sorry to hear that" and she walked away with nothing more. The food we did get seemed like the chicken had been cremated it was so dry. Skip this place, and most of the others down here by the Navy Yard. Tourist level crap. I will say at least the place was well air conditioned

This place is a sit-in area so you order the food at the cash register and then they serve the food to your table. There is a variety of sauces that are offered from non spicy to spicy! The 1/4 chicken that I got was pretty good. It is similar to a jerk chicken the charness of the chicken. However the chicken was pretty salty so I didn't finish the whole thing but it was good overall. Also they had endless dole whip if you know the hype about that!

Stopped by on a not too busy Friday night and enjoyed the service and atmosphere, but the food was not the level I expected (and how my previous Nando's experiences have been). The chicken felt quite dry; the rice was well seasoned and the dish was good otherwise. Would give another chance potentially in the future, but the chicken left me wanting in this trip.

When I am working in DC, this joint down the street from the Navy Yard, I always stop by here to eat. I eat either the chicken wrap or the skewers. It can be a little pricey, but since they are not in Hawaii, I never complain about that part, as it is worth it to me. Also had the hummus and pita chips and the mango sangria pitcher. Since I there with some co-workers, it was a fun last night in DC.

Delicious chicken, I have tried this place multiple times and I have never been disappointed. It is not the typical chicken place where the chicken is fried, this chicken is very well seasoned and cooked directly in the flames. You can choose the sauce with which it will be seasoned, they have one of lemon and herbs which is not spicy, and you have other sauces that are a little spicy to very spicy. My favorite chicken sauce is medium, it is a bit spicy and delicious. The sides are delicious and varied, I recommend you try their fries, they are exquisite, also the corn is very good and you also have vegetables of the season. To take away or to eat there is a delicious and affordable option. The chicken is always delicious, well cooked, full of flavor and also the atmosphere of the place is quite nice and cool.

This Nando's is always good to pop into. There isn't a ton to say, but for me, that's a good thing. I've had quite a few of the menu items and almost always find the chicken to be juicy and moist. I'm a big fan of the red skin mashed potatoes, which are hard to find around DC. Sometimes, the service can seem to drag or you'll think they've forgotten about you, but for the most part, it has always been pretty solid. But do budget some time to get sauces because the sauce bottles are perpetually clogged--on multiple locations, every last sauce bottle has either been totally clogged and unusable or 90% clogged. I've watched water freeze faster than that lemon herb sauce came out of the bottle. But I digress...for some reason, I'm a sucker for the electronic drink machine that seems to have a bajillion choices...even if I usually just get water because I don't drink pop (yes, I call it pop, not soda). That's all, folks!

Fine food but CHECK ORDER before leaving when you do pick up. This is the second time I've ordered pick up and the second time they've left out two items I ordered even though they checked them off on the receipt outside the bag. Terrible quality control.

We ordered our Christmas dinner for four and had a pick-up time for 2:45 Christmas Eve. We arrived and the restaurant was closed - lights off, doors locked and no one answering the phones. We called another location and were told it was a supply chain issue. Really? We did not get a phone call or email -to give us a heads up to make alternate plans for our PREPAID Christmas meal. So now it's 3:00 Christmas Eve and we have nothing to eat for Christmas Day - we walked over Harris Teeter's and on the fly planned a menu and shopped. That evening and Christmas morning I was in the kitchen cooking and cleaning - that was not how Christmas Day was planned. I wasn't the one who did the ordering at Nando's nor was I the one who PREPAID, but it did negatively impact my Christmas. Really poor management. I know things happen, but no call, text or email? Showing up Christmas Eve to pick up the meal for Christmas Day to have the restaurant closed with no notice - unacceptable.

my review is from our experience with the food and thoughts for others doing pick up. Staff was very nice. We ordered two wraps, and there was minimal chicken in my wrap. I brought it to their attention and they apologized, saying they were running out of cooked chicken and had to make more. they quickly did and made me a wrap with fresh cooked chicken reflective of a $10+ wrap. Manager came over and apologized and made sure the wrap was to our satisfaction. We appreciated that. My other point is that think of all those who pick up made meals and received wraps with next to no chicken in them. they've left the location are stuck with what they picked up. We probably will never go there again.

I was looking for something different in the Navy Yard. Amazing experience today at Nando for lunch. Greeted by Aisha who took the time to fully explain the menu and made outstanding recommendations. I enjoyed the moist 1/4 chicken with mango sauce plus fries. Both were very nicely seasoned and cooked. My order was carry out so I took her suggestion to return in 15 minutes. Order was ready for my pick up. I will return.

The very juicy chicken has a good spice level to it by default, but you can always add more or less to it with the variety of sauces they have to offer. Get the mashed peas! Those were by far the best I've had anywhere. The chicken burger was great in flavor. Very tropical with the pineapple and pickled onions. The bread it was on was soft and chewy which gave a good texture to it all. Overall I was impressed and would rate this spot a 3.5/5.