Welcome to Nando’s 18th Street, home of the legendary South African flame-grilled PERi-PERi chicken restaurants. Whether you’re dining in, grabbing takeout, or prefer delivery, our restaurant is the best place to eat in Washington for spicy flame-grilled chicken, flavorful sandwiches, refreshing salads and more. Always fresh, never frozen, our chicken is marinated in PERi-PERi chili peppers for 24-hours, and flame-grilled to order in the heat level of your choice. Nando’s originated in South Africa in 1987 and has grown to include locations across the globe, including our Nando’s 18th Street restaurant in Washington. The vibrant ambience in our restaurant is great for last-minute dinner ideas. Don’t forget to check out our lunch specials.
Afro-Portuguese chain for flame-grilled peri-peri chicken in African bird’s-eye chilli at different heat flavours.
Locations – Nando’s Peri-Peri
Our restaurants are located throughout Washington, DC, Virginia, Maryland, Chicago, Houston and Dallas. Use our restaurant locator to find your nearest Nando’s.
E D
We were in DC running an errand and right around the corner we saw Nando’s. The chicken was excellent! The service was different from other typical Nando’s I’ve been to. You could order at your table using your phone and a QR code or go to the counter. We ordered from the phone. 15 minutes or so later we stopped an employee and ended up asking about our food. She looked up our order and said she would be bringing it next. When it came it was minus our drinks. Overall, we enjoyed our lunch!
… moreJosue Sierra
The chicken was delicious all on its own. And they offer a variety of sauces with varied levels of heat. Fries are delicious. Staff was hospitable, prompt and profesional. Ordering is easy from your table and food came out incredibly fast.
… moreMetehra
Food here is exceptional. The signature flavours are consistent over the world. I’ve now had Nando’s in 5 countries and the taste never disappoints. My go to order is 2 1/4 leg with two sides. Chips and garlic bread. Added sides mash and avocado.
My favourite dressing is lemon and herb and I get the medium hot sauce on the side for dipping.
NB. The sauce pots here for delivery are actually quite large or they just hold quite a bit of sauce. I ordered 4 but didn’t even scratch the surface of 1.
I was so excited to dig in I forgot I needed to take good photos for a potential review.
… moreMelinda Chris
I loooove the food here. Visited dc for a show, went here 2x. Consecutive days. Both days the food was superb. Flavors on point. Chicken so tender. The sides were delicious too. Loved the mango limeade. Wait time was about 20 minutes entry to food on table. We had the whole chicken with 2 sides plus fries.
… moreSabbir Ahmed
I stopped by Nando’s while I was in D.C., and they totally pulled it off. The peri-peri chicken blew me away
juicy, flavorful, and cooked to perfection. That sauce really kicked things up a notch! The platter was spot on, and the whole place had a cool, laid-back vibe. Honestly, they knocked it out of the park. This meal rounded out my D.C. trip perfectly.
… moreKing Kon Adventure
Craving something bold and unforgettable? This Afro-Portuguese flame-grilled chicken spot delivers flavor that hits all the right notes. The chicken is juicy, tender, and grilled to perfection—no dryness here! Each bite is infused with a spicy chili sauce that’s full of character. I went for the super spicy—and while it didn’t blow my heat-loving mind, it still packed a flavorful punch.
The staff? Absolutely awesome—welcoming, attentive, and genuinely friendly. The process is simple: wait a seat, check out the menu, and either scan the QR code to order or walk up and do it the old-school way.
If you’re ready to step outside your usual comfort zone, this place is a must. Life’s too short for bland meals—let your taste buds take a little adventure!
… moreS Motz
People were nice and helpful (4 stars). The food tasted good as always (4.5 stars). But the place was dirty. Not that busy, but dirty tables, used napkins just sitting at the check in counter. Lots of used dirty dishes on the shelving behind the check in which I think is for people get to go bags. The shelf was too full of dirty dishes so the to go bag is on the floor. The handle on the front door is supposed to be yellow but it is black with a thousand hands touching it. Not visually appealing to walk in and your first impression is dirty.
… moreVic Arro
I’m going to be honest—when I came in, I didn’t know what type of food it was (I’m not from DC). I’m so happy I stayed because I ended up enjoying a very delicious meal!
The staff was super friendly, from the greeter to the manager, Nicole. She was friendly, knowledgeable, and very helpful when it came to ordering. The chef even came out to ask how the food was and to check in, which I really appreciated.
If you like spices, this is your place. I ordered the peri-peri wings, which were unique and delicious, and the CLT sandwich I had was splendid—just the right amount of food.
I will definitely be coming back soon. Thank you, Peri-Peri, for the wonderful experience!
… moreChester Chua
Not too sure I understand the negative reviews on here. I was greeted and served very warmly by this tall black lady, whose name I unfortunately didn’t get; she was fantastic, and proactively helped me to navigate the menu and restaurant upon learning that it’s my first visit.
I ordered a half chicken and was surprised at how large the serving was. I’m quite a big eater and had difficulty finishing it. For the price, it’s really good value.
… moreLeslie Cozens
Disappointing. Nandos, YOU CAN DO BETTER. NO sauce in the chicken liver meal, NO to-go cups for customers, NO chili sauce for the halloumi cheese, NO mixer in soda machine for Dr Pepper, and a simple order took 45 minutes because you forgot about me. AND THE HOST SIMPLY SMILED….. Yet they will gladly ask for a tip.
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