Nandos

The bright, glowing red letters that spelled out NANDOS immediately caught my attention.

The door swings wide open. The pleasant aromas of spices and chicken fill the air as I race to the open booth, where all my friends are waiting. After what felt like hours to decide on what to order, our food finally arrived. There, sitting in front of us in all its glory, are the different yet delectable chicken dishes. We had dishes from Chicken Legs to Peri-Peri wings. I watched in awe as I saw the crispy wings being placed in front of me. Its magnificent appearance lit up my eyes and I was eager to munch them down.

The Red Skin Mashed Potatoes reminded me of my mom’s signature mashed potatoes dish she was known for. It was as if I was being served a little piece of home in my dish. The mashed potatoes instantly melted in my mouth as I quickly ate them as fast as I could, still savoring every bite. To my friends, I looked like a kid eating candy for the first time.

I could come to this restaurant every single day, and I swear I would never leave disappointed.

The various Portuguese decorations that fill up the restaurant made me feel as if I was strolling through the streets of Lisbon myself. The music that played in the background seemed a bit boisterous at times, but the colorful Portueguese decorations made up for it. The perfectly dimmed lights clearly set the mood of the restaurant and made me feel as if I was sitting in a very professional but mellow environment. The tiles on the floor, the olive green booths, and the acacia wood tables all had the perfect pattern of colors that was soothing for the naked eye. My favorite part about the restaurant’s appearance is the hanging baskets that encircle the booths, making me feel closed in and comfortable.

Now on to the chicken itself.

The Chicken Breast at Nandos is by far the best food I’ve ever eaten at a restaurant, and that is a fact. The dedication and effort that Nandos puts into every single piece of chicken is clearly evident. I’ve been to this restaurant more than fifteen times, and the chicken to this day still has the same juicy, scrumptious taste. The smoke rising from the chicken, the light-brownish glaze sizzling off of its skin, and the fiery hot sauce dripping down are all elements that make Nando’s chicken as amazing as it is.

Its juicy, tender taste is always vibrant in my head. Not a single time has the chicken ever tasted dry or lacked flavor like it does in other restaurants. Every bite out of Nando’s chicken allows me to feel senses of pleasure and gratification. Each bite has its own unique taste, creating a lasting, memorable effect. Whether it’s chicken breasts, legs, or thighs, the chicken served in this restaurant will never disappoint.

Eating Nando’s food makes me feel as if I’ve just won the chicken lottery.

Nandos gives its customers the luxury to choose what sauce they would like to have on their chicken. The choice of a wide range of sauces is an amazing aspect of the restaurant. Each sauce has its own distinctive taste that make them unique in their own way. Personally, I recommend staying away from the lemon herb sauce as its distinctive sour taste did not amuse me. The Wild Herb Sauce is by far the tastiest sauce Nandos has to offer in my opinion. It contains the perfect balance of spicy and rich flavor that makes one’s taste buds feel as if they’re in heaven.

Along with its famous Peri-Peri Chicken, Nandos also offers a variety of other meals such as wraps, salads, and sandwiches.

Nandos’s Portobello Mushroom & Halloumi Wrap is a dish that showcases the wide-ranging menu that Nandos has to offer. This wrap taught me that Nandos does not need chicken to impress its customers as the mushrooms were most definitely enough to blow me away. These freshly grown Portobello mushrooms add a chewy, but not rubbery munch to the wrap, and they act as a delectable base to the zesty and salty flavors of the Halloumi cheese. The Halloumi and the roasted Portobello mushrooms may be a better combination than Aladdin and Jasmine.

The sides served with the entrees always leave an everlasting impression on customers.

The fries are always crisp and warm and are made from fresh-cut potatoes. The Peri-Peri chili powder on the fries are what make the fries at Nandos stand out from fries at other restaurants. As soon as the chili powder hits my tastebuds, I felt as if I had risen to a new level in the food world. The Flame-Grilled Corn on the Cob is always grilled to perfection, and brings back memories of the delicious corn on the cob I eat in my hometown in India. Personally, I think the garlic bread is one of the weaker links of the sides served. The garlic bread is overdosed with an abundance of garlic and the bread is a bit soggy, definitely not at the crispy standard that is expected. The quality and savory taste of the rice, however, overshadows the faults of the garlic bread, making it a distant memory. I’m always able to stuff my mouth with rice without ever getting bored of its taste. The sides served at Nandos, excluding the garlic bread, are perfect complements to the entrees.

The service at Nandos is top-notch.

Every single worker at Nandos always greet their customers with a glowing smile on their face. During dinner with my friends last week, our waiter greeted all of us with an enthusiastic tone. He was having conversations with us about how are day was going, if it was our first time at Nandos, and so on. Whenever I go to Nandos, I feel like I am always able to build personal relationships with the workers as they are always warm and welcoming. Call me lazy, but I find it annoying at times when I have to go order the food myself at the cash register. However, my food always arrives in a quick, rapid time that makes up for my frustration. Waiters at Nandos always check on customers’ food and see if their customers are satisfied.

The deserts and drinks are another component of Nandos that makes it stand out from its competitors.

Nandos shows its Portueguese culture through its Naughty Natas, a crusted warm tart served with the perfect dose of cinnamon and sugar. Its sweet, soft nature makes customers go crazy. It is the perfect finishing to a proper meal at Nandos. My personal favorite refreshment at Nandos is the Blood Orange and Mango Lemonade. It has become a tradition for me to always get this drink whenever I visit Nandos. Its perfect blend of orange and mango flavor is as balanced as Angelina Jolie’s diet.

Many restaurants charge a ridiculous amount for food that lack quality.

Many restaurants do not put dedication into the foods they serve.

Many restaurants have an unwelcoming atmosphere.

Many restaurants lack the service that is required to make a customer’s time at a restaurant memorable.

But Nandos isn’t like these restaurants. These reasons separate Nandos from other restaurants that serve similar styles of food.

For $13.69, I am getting a bargain for the quality chicken being served. Every single person working at Nandos works joyfully with a smile on their faces. Every single chef in the kitchen works with pure dedication, and most importantly, the ambiance at Nandos always makes me feel welcomed.

Whether it's the wide-ranging menu, the service, the juicy, mind-blowing chicken cooked to perfection, or the atmosphere in the restaurant, Nandos is, without a doubt, the perfect place to dine.

Nandos

20556 Easthampton Plaza,

Ashburn, VA 20147