Nando's

Been to Nando's in Washington DC, so we knew what we were getting. This location was very busy, 12:30pm lunch on Saturday. Friendly and able hostess took our name, a 20-30 minute wait because we had six people. At this busy peak time, seemed more people turned around and left rather than wait to eat.

I prefer the second floor seating area if you have a choice. Lots of commotion on first floor and it was loud. The chicken was nice enough, cooked right and tasty. The cole slaw was not cold enough, more room temperature and too wet (it wasn't dodgy but close). I won't get that again, should have stayed with chips, they looked hot and fresh and loads tastier. The super grain side was different in a good way, a nice change of pace.

Nando's is decent enough. The folks working were friendly and nice. But in Leeds, shouldn't I have found a more local place to eat? Yup.

This branch of Nando's is located in the Light on The Headrow in Leeds, inside the mall, mainly a mall of eateries and a cinema, it is located below Zizzi and next to Starbucks, it is also fairly close to the escalators and Bagel Nash.

This place really didn't seem welcoming from the outside, unlike many Nando's locations in mall, it was accessed through a big, heavy door and wasn't all open like one would expect, having seen a more "open" restaurant in malls such as Manchester Trafford, Manchester Arndale and Leeds Trinity.

The staff here didn't seem great either, the overall service and friendliness was slow/poor.

This branch also didn't seem the nicest of Nando's stores inside, it was slightly darker than other stores.

Due to issues with overall feel, service and the fact they didn't sell regular chicken, instead just opting to do halal, I decided to leave this branch and for me this is a really poor Nando's store and warrants a single one-star rating.

Nandos, home of the little known four legged chicken!

Or so it seems because, correct me if I'm wrong, when you order a whole chicken you expect all it's constituent parts not a plate with four legs.

That aside, it was very cold in this restaurant and that might be why most of the staff looked so bored and fed up.

The food was, well Nandos renown sparrow sized chicken (do they have their own pygmy chicken farms) and was, as usual average. I have always felt that Nandos is not great value for money and this visit did nothing to change my mind. Even their reward card is pretty mean when you only get one 'point' for a visit even if you do spend nearly £70.

BTW. desserts are expensive and, on our visit, a take away portion was half packaged in a takeaway chicken box which left it open to the elements for our journey home in the rain.

To be perfectly honest, I think I prefer the Nandos situated in The Light much better than this one. Even though this one is undoubtedly larger and spread across two floors, I can't stand how busy it is and how close you have to sit to the other diners.

Although The Light is smaller, it seems more intimate and somehow better themed. The staff are also much politer and offer a faster service in the other.

Anyway, this one is good if you need something to eat mid-shop and because of the size, you don't normally have to wait too long for a table.

Well if you're not a fan of chicken, you're not going to be a fan of this one!

The menu is probably about 85% grilled chicken. The thing that sets this place is the sauces and marinades. I'd never tried peri-peri before, but it is immense!

It's quite pricey, always busy and if you've been to one Nandos, you've pretty much been to them all.

Although nothing beats that feeling when you fill your loyalty card up and claim your hard earned free chicken!

The food is decent enough, but the bone I have to pick with Nandos is the portions: they're small. I encourage customers to order appetizers and/or desserts if they are particularly hungry.

One dish that hit home for me is the sweet potato mash. It's great! I also have to note that they have unlimited frozen yogurt, so don't miss it. They only have one flavour per day, but it changes daily.

Overpriced and over rated!

I think that could pretty much sum up my review but I will elaborate slightly. I have always been one to think nandos was over rated but I just so happened to be with somebody who loves it so thought I would give it another go.

We ordered a platter which was a full chicken and 4 regular sides. The platter cost just under £20 which wouldn't be too bad if the portion size was decent.

The chicken here is good not bcos they know how to cook it but because the marinade is really tasty. I would say these marinades and sauces are nandos only redeeming quality. The chips are probably the only good side on offer and im guessing thats because they don't really do much with them.

The savoury rice is terrible! It is alway crunchyly undercooked and the garlic bread is toasted way too much. I would prefer the name oil bread as I don't think this had even been introduced to garlic.

And if bad food isn't enough for you then how about getting your food half an hour before the friends you are eating with.

Nandos is nothing more than a glorified fast food place. There is no quality in the food and I will not be wasting my money there any time soon.

This is the best Nandos in the universe! FACT!

I don't know what it is about this place - it could be the chicken, the hot sauce or the super-lovely staff but one thing I do know is that no other Nandos compares to this. Granted, I haven't tried them all but I've been to plenty enough and I knows good chicken!!

I'm not going to review what you get at Nandos, if you don't know then shame shame know your name!

All I'm saying is pop into The Light and get your chicken on. Don't go anywhere else in Leeds.

Mine's a half chicken medium with corn and spicy rice by the way! BOOM!!!!

I think Rachael's review is a little confusing as this LS1 8TL Nandos @ The Headrowm IS the Nandos in The Light complex. There is another Nandos in Leeds centre, it's the one on Briggate.

The Light Nandos is located just across from Brios and next to Cafe Rouge, one small ride down the escalator. This Nandos remains fond in heart due to a particularly lovely evening had here with a bunch of colleagues and friends, it was many of our first time experiencing Nandos and it really did set the bar. It's not the biggest Nandos there is, but it does it's job well, themed nicely but not too over the top, big wooden tables and lots of orange or orange wash walls.

Good menu selection, salads, burgers, pittas, all complete with chicken and the marinade of your choice, from mild, through to the extra hot. You pick your meal, you order it at the bar, if you're having a soft drink, you get a refillable glass and pointed to the dispenser, take away your rooster with a number on it, sit down and wait for your food to arrive. My personal favourite is the chicken pitta, done mildly with the strange combination of cheese and pineapple, one side comes with, I always choose fries, on a greedy day I add some spicy rice too, and it all comes in under a tenner.

The staff are lovely, nice and helpful, the food is hot and the portion sizes are good. I mention this, as other Nandos I've been to, well staff are snappy, food arrives cold when there's a large party ordering, and food always leaves me feeling hungry. This is definitely one of the better ones.

Nando's is one of my favorite places it eat in leeds! There is always a bit of a queue to get a table but its always worth the wait. Choose from all sorts of different chicken meals where you choose the heat of the chicken with the piri piri sauces. There are plenty of side order options such as rice, fries, coldslaw and salad.


Its great for groups of all sizes. If you go in a couple id recommend the whole chicken with sides and bottomless soft drinks! Mmmmmm


Overall great atmosphere and tasty food!