Nando's – Peri Me Away | Singapore Food Blog

08/09/09 Nando’s – Peri Me Away | Singapore F…

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Nando’s – Peri Me Away JUL Posted by Veron · Food · 1,631 views 33 responses 14 Tags: african, chicken, halal, kuala lumpur, malaysia, 2009 portuguese

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i was in kuala lumpur, malaysia, for a short trip last week. one 91 visitors currently online of the things on my checklist was to dine at nando’s , the UK Welcome to Sparklette Singapore Food Blog. If you like w hat you read fast food franchise specialising in the afro-portuguese peri here, subscribe to receive the latest peri (or piri piri) chicken. (whoa, that’s one multi-national blog posts! chicken!)

we don’t have any nando’s restaurant here in singapore (but we used to). my first peri peri experience was at aj’s piri piri chicken, another UK franchise that is modeled after (read:

copied) nando’s. their chicken didn’t wow me. so i was very much looking forward to Subscribe to RSS feed [?] checking out one of the many nando’s outlets scattered across malaysia. Subscribe via email Email address Send the spicy chicken here even comes with a cute little flag that indicates the spiciness level on Follow me on Twitter the “peri-o-meter”. that’s like what some people do for burgers!

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Animals (23) Art (8) Christmas (49) Contests (8) Design (46) Events (32) Food (246) Fun (10) Heritage (15) News (11) Ramblings (6) ¼ chicken with 2 sidelines Tech (5) Price: RM$14.50 + 10% service charge + 5% government tax Travel (58) Dish rating: Trivia (9) http://sparklette.net/food/nandos/ 1/12 08/09/09 Nando’s – Peri Me Away | Singapore F…

like before, i order the classic chicken to get a taste of the peri peri sauce. for a quarter chicken, the size is ample. even though there may be no visible sauce on the dish, the meat certainly is packed with flavor, the result of 24 hours of marination before being flame-grilled

to perfection. jalapeno on Ananda Bhavan Restaurant – Wholesome Thosai: if you like your food salty, sour and spicy, then you would absolutely love peri peri chicken. Pleasure! :) There’s... for me personally, i do prefer some sweetness in my spices and curries, so i haven’t really Kyo on List of Restaurants That taken a liking to it. i’m just glad that the sweetness of the coleslaw balances out the Do Not Serve Free Water: I think you sourness. may have to flip the...

Edmund Ng on Bangkok (Day 3) – as indicated by the colored flag, the “mild” spiciness level is really comfortable. i think most Chokchai Steakhouse & Manchester people, first-timers included, can handle the next degree of spiciness, “hot”, well. United Restaurant and Bar: ...

Amit on Share What You Like About INQmobile and Win $200!: Runs on my Mac…just fine!

neo on Bangkok (Day 3) – Chokchai Steakhouse & Manchester United Restaurant and Bar: ...

38 mins ago: Funny story. Oh he w ants me to delete all his comments, too.

39 mins ago: He replied that 1) it w asn't him but one of his managers 2) said manager has been fired 3) he's offering me a $20 meal voucher as apology

41 mins ago: Those w ho follow ed my tw eets from yesterday: I emailed the all chicken meals here come with two side dishes. i choose peri chips and coleslaw, restaurant guy w ho left comments on my blog like he's a satisfied customer. among others like old style chips, mediterranean rice, peri corn, peri potato salad, grilled veggies and fresh salad. 3 hrs ago: The list is not dead. It's been constantly updated ;) the chips are sprinkled with peri powder. if you are like me, you would definitely need some http://bit.ly/oh4kL

sauce to dip the chips. 20 hrs ago: Simply leave a comment on my blog and you may win S$200! Very good chances. Details here: http://pea.to/inqsk

(Mor e )

My name is Veron and I am a foodie, traveler and CSS enthusiast. When I'm not at my job as a w eb developer for the government, I am likely to be out dining, traveling, or playing w ith Snowy, my beautiful Ragdoll kitten. Most of the time, I am armed w ith my trusty Canon camera , w hich is responsible for the photographs you see on this blog. each table comes with four different types of sauce — ketchup, extra hot, hot and garlic peri peri sauces. after sampling the latter three, i find that they aren’t THAT spicy!

http://sparklette.net/food/nandos/ 2/12 08/09/09 Nando’s – Peri Me Away | Singapore F…

[email protected]

I am w ell-versed in CSS, XHTML, WordPress and Photoshop, and have designed for the Singapore government, universities, various businesses and Web 2.0 companies. If you w ould like to hire my services in w eb design or consultation, please feel free to email me.

here’s the aforementioned peri-o-meter that allows you to “choose your heat before you eat”. despite what they say, the “mild” sauce is unexciting and does not provide much of an adventure. i find myself reaching for the extra hot peri peri sauce most of the time! The castle featured in this layout is the surreal Schloss Neuschw anstein in Germany. Going along a fairy tale theme, I have made the website look as dreamy as possible w ith the use of my favorite lilac and lavender hues.

Read more on this layout View my past layouts

XHTML CSS

Link to Sparklette Singapore Food Blog w ith one of these buttons!

80 x 15

88 x 31 i think i must be among the minority that aren’t a fan of the peri peri chicken. heck, they don’t need my business anyway; the restaurants are already packed all the time!

Click to enlarge http://sparklette.net/food/nandos/ 3/12 08/09/09 Nando’s – Peri Me Away | Singapore F… attached nando’s menu here for your reference. dine happy!

Nando’s ( Halal certified) Various outlets Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia www.nandos.co.uk

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32 comments

proud mom to maximus says: Tuesday, July 14, 2009 at 9:29pm

yum yum !! im going back to Jusco bukit indah to wallop Nando’s pretty soon!

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Jeff says: Tuesday, July 14, 2009 at 9:29pm

I miss Nandos. Always made it a point to buy back a pack of the sauces.

Reply to this comment

Veron says: Tuesday, July 14, 2009 at 11:59pm

I didn’t realise they sell the sauces too!

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Jeff says: Thursday, July 16, 2009 at 3:38am

That pict of those 4 sauces. You should be able to buy a pack of those at the counter (unless they’ve stopped selling them). http://sparklette.net/food/nandos/ 4/12 08/09/09 Nando’s – Peri Me Away | Singapore F…

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Bobo says: Tuesday, July 14, 2009 at 11:07pm

We used to have a Nando’s in Marina Square once upon a time…

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Veron says: Tuesday, July 14, 2009 at 11:59pm

I heard about that. It must have been before the revamp of the mall.

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ida says: Tuesday, July 14, 2009 at 11:25pm

hi veron, seeing that u love chicken so much, thought i reccommend u Charco’s. :)

Charco’s The Flaming Chicken Blk 608, Ang Mo Kio Ave 5 #01-2771 Tel/Fax : 6455 3711

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Veron says: Wednesday, July 15, 2009 at 12:06am

Thanks! proud mom to maximus also recommended Charco’s so the food must be really good!

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XWings says: Wednesday, July 15, 2009 at 9:32am

What time was the last pic taken ? It doesn’t seem like its that packed or crowded ?

Reply to this comment

Veron says: Wednesday, July 15, 2009 at 10:12pm

That was dinner time. Actually there is a whole big crowded section that can’t be seen from the picture. Most people chose to sit there rather than the area near the exit where passers-by can watch them eating.

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http://sparklette.net/food/nandos/ 5/12 08/09/09 Nando’s – Peri Me Away | Singapore F…

chelley says: Wednesday, July 15, 2009 at 12:04pm

I fell in love with nandos when I wa sstudying in perth for 4 years and wa sstuffing myself when I wen tto Kl…… but GOOD NEWS!! NANDOS IS HITTING SINGAPORE THIS OCTOBER!!!!!! http://www.btimes.co.za/97/0817/comp/comp9.htm

LOOK OUT FOR IT GUYS!!!

p.s. and i love your blog! Been following it for a long time!

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Veron says: Wednesday, July 15, 2009 at 10:14pm

“Nando’s plans to open 20 branches in Singapore over the next four years, but also to use Singapore as a springboard into the Pacific Rim.”

Wow! That’s awesome news for many people :D And despite what I said, I would check it out too.

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Julien says: Friday, August 21, 2009 at 1:47am

Actually the article you posted is 3 years old. I read that three years ago and was excited at the prospect of having Nando’s in Singapore. Till today, there is still no Nando’s in Singapore. They probably think that Nando’s won’t work in Singapore, for the same reasons there aren’t any Nando’s in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, South Korea and Japan.

I think there are some Asians/Orientals who like Nando’s, me included, but there are just not enough yet to justify Nando’s entering the Chinese/Korean/Japanese market.

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takeuaway says: Friday, July 17, 2009 at 10:42pm

Hey, that looks exactly like barcelos in vivo city and holland v. Even the sauces are the same.

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Julien says: Friday, August 21, 2009 at 2:04am

Yeah, but Nando’s was established before Barcelos, so who do you think copied from whom? I tried Barcelos at Vivocity, its ok but it pales in comparison to Nando’s. Its not as tasty or juicy and the sauces are rather bland, I thought. Nando’s is definitely better. Nando’s operates as a restaurant, serving a whole range of drinks whereas Barcelos is more like a fast food outlet with restaurant prices. When I tried to order beer at Barcelos, they told me they don’t serve alcohol because they are Halal. Halal? In Singapore where 80% are Chinese? What kind of http://sparklette.net/food/nandos/ 6/12 08/09/09 Nando’s – Peri Me Away | Singapore F… a business model is that?

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Veron says: Friday, August 21, 2009 at 11:35pm

Yeah. I haven’t been to Barcelos, but if the concept is identical, then it’s pretty likely that they are emulating the more famous Nando’s. With these similar concept restaurants opening up in Singapore, I wonder why Nando’s hasn’t (re)opened an outlet here!

Oh I actually feel that Barcelos is following a good business model by not serving alcohol. This way, they are catering to 100% of the population. In fact more restaurants are doing that these days. Even the Aussie-run Charco’s!

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Arno says: Wednesday, July 22, 2009 at 1:48pm

I love Nando’s too.

Just to make things straight. Nando’s is from South Africa and the Peri-Peri sauce has a Portuguese feel since it first came from Angola (ex Portuguese colony).

Enjoy

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Fernanado says: Monday, July 27, 2009 at 12:05pm

mmm…love your blog. can’t wait ’till there’s a nandos on every corner in sg.

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guan says: Monday, August 3, 2009 at 8:30pm

i use to stay in penang, been eating nandos for many years. after moving back to singapore, was sad that nandos did not exist in singapore. recently i went to johor, and i finaly get to eat nandos. i notice the standard dropped a lot. and level of the spicyness has also dropped.

however the nandos in australia is still good! they even sell the nandos sauce at the supermakets

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Veron says: Monday, August 3, 2009 at 11:05pm

Wow, both you and Kyo agree that the Nando’s in Australia is good!

The one in Malaysia is the first and only Nando’s I have visited in the http://sparklette.net/food/nandos/ 7/12 08/09/09 Nando’s – Peri Me Away | Singapore F… world, so I can’t comment on anything beyond that. Like you, I also noticed that the food isn’t really spicy. Not even the spiciest sauce is spicy enough! I’m looking forward to the day when I can visit a Nando’s restaurant that serves truly great-tasting food :)

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Julien says: Friday, August 21, 2009 at 1:54am

If you go to any Nando’s in South Africa, UK and Australia, the taste is very good. But, for some reason, the taste is not as good in Malaysia. I lived in Australia for more than 10 years and once went to Penang and KL with an Aussie friend and also a relative from the UK, and we all felt that the Nando’s in Malaysia was a big letdown and different from Nando’s elsewhere. I don’t know why. We also liked to eat our chicken with wine and beer which we do at every Nando’s except Malaysia, where they don’t serve alcohol.

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guan says: Friday, August 21, 2009 at 6:43pm

i agree that aussie nandos is good. When Nandos just started in Penang, the quality was nearly the same as Australia’s. but now im not sure because haven went back to penang for ages. and hell yeah! they should allow us to drink wine!

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Benson says: Saturday, August 22, 2009 at 2:00pm

Hi guys,

I see there is a huge discussion about Barcelos and Nandos here. A couple things I’d like to mention.

Nandos originated in South Africa Barcelos originated in South Africa

No one copied anyone here guys, it the same as saying Burger King copied Macdonalds, or Carls Junior copied them both.

It is Brands competing with each other. Historically Nandos has been around longer than Barcelos, however Barcelos do have round about a hundred franchises worldwide. I know Nandos is much bigger, but they are also more expensive than Barcelos in terms of pricing and Nandos portions are smaller, I know this as I have eaten both in SA and in LDN.

Both brands are good it all comes down to personal preference and what the taste buds fancy. Personally I prefer Barcelos.

Barcelos has two outlets in SGP now, one in Vivo and the other in Hol V, I hear they are opening another one soon not sure where. Also the rumour is Barcelos is here to stay and not heading off anywhere, the word is they will have 6-8 outlets by end next year. They even planing to go to HK soon and then Malaysia.

Anyway thought I’ll give you all some insight.

Reply to this comment http://sparklette.net/food/nandos/ 8/12 08/09/09 Nando’s – Peri Me Away | Singapore F…

Teck Seng says: Monday, August 24, 2009 at 11:38pm

Benson, Burger King may serve burgers but they don’t have the same menu, same logo etc. as McDonalds. Barcelos and Nando’s have the same logo, same chicken, same sauce, same number of sauces, same look etc. Like someone said on another blog, Barcelos is a Nando’s clone.

More importantly, most people on the internet and real world who have tried both Nando’s and Barcelos say that Nando’s has tastier chicken and sauces. To each his own of course, but you are definitely in the minority.

Regarding price and portions, I can only speak for Nando’s Malaysia and Barcelos Singapore, and I think the portions are the same but Nando’s Malaysia is cheaper, even after accounting exchange rates.

Honestly, I can’t see Barcelos doing too well if Nando’s ever opens in Singapore.

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Vincent says: Tuesday, August 25, 2009 at 1:44am

I went for a movie at Vivocity and walked by Barcelos and did a doubletake. I thought it was Nando’s but called Barcelos only in Singapore. I mean, it looks exactly the same! My wife’s Malaysian so I am quite familiar with Nando’s and thus walked into Barcelos with high expectations of the food. It was a letdown. Its not quite the same. The chicken and sauce (I had supa peri) is just not as nice. Even the chips are lousy compared to Nando’s.

Why isn’t there any Nando’s in Singapore yet?

Reply to this comment

Benson says: Friday, August 28, 2009 at 12:09pm

Hi Seng,

Obviously you havn’t eaten at Nandos or Barcelos, maybe one of the two, you saying the sauces are the same??? There is a huge diffrence between the sauces in taste.

The logo’s i.e. the cockerles is way diffrent from each other, it might be two cockerles but they do look diffrent.

I agree the two are simular, but I don’t think any of them copied each other, I don’t argu with the fact that I’m in the minority, doesn’t matter how small it still counts, and it is personal preference, which was my original point I made.

About price and portions between Malaysia and SGP: It is some what single minded and predictable from someone like you just to convert and take exchange rates in to considderation, what about:

1) Rentals 2) Labour cost 3) Local produce, SGP has none, Barcelos import all their http://sparklette.net/food/nandos/ 9/12 08/09/09 Nando’s – Peri Me Away | Singapore F… goods, since SGP has no farms for various products etc. 4) Utilities, i.e. gas is more expensive here than MY.

Anyway this is my last reply unless you can have a more sencible conversation.

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Julien says: Monday, August 31, 2009 at 10:50pm

Yeah, the sauces for Nando’s and Barcelos are way different in taste, Nando’s is far tastier, the Barcelos sauce, as I mentioned before, is rather bland.

LOL! Come on lah, this guy, Benson, sounds like one of those guys who operate those Starbucks copycat ripoffs in China. No, no, they didn’t copy from Starbucks, they just happened to have similar look, menu, products, logo etc. ‘Its all coincidence, just brands in competition.’ Yeah, right. Any idiot can tell that they copied from Starbucks. At first glance, it looks like Starbucks but upon tasting their coffee, you know its not Starbucks.

Its obvious that Barcelos copied from Nando’s. Any idiot can see that. But like someone said above, from a consumer point of view, we don’t really care if Barcelos copied from Nando’s, so long as they offer a better product. But sadly, that’s not the case. Most people will tell you that Barcelos pales in comparison to Nando’s. Except maybe our bro, Benson here. He obviously hasn’t tried Nando’s.

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Vincent says: Tuesday, September 1, 2009 at 11:15am

Nando’s and Barcelos? No fight man, Nando’s beats hands down. Barcelos is just an inferior copycat and wannabe. Nando’s has better tasting chicken and the chips, don’t get me started. Look at the picture of the Nando’s chips above. Its long, juicy and soft. The Barcelos chips are hard, stale and tasteless. I mean, how difficult is it to make nice chips? But I am still happy that Barcelos is in town, at least I get to eat some peri chicken (although an inferior version) before Nando’s arrives.

Any of you Nando’s lovers out there know when Nando’s is arriving? Their facebook says September, well, its already September and still no sign.

Benson says: Saturday, August 22, 2009 at 3:11pm

Check out this link on Barcelos http://sparklette.net/food/nandos/ 10/12 08/09/09 Nando’s – Peri Me Away | Singapore F… http://www.flickr.com/photos/muraleetharan/3482697625/

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Tang says: Friday, September 4, 2009 at 12:39pm

Tried Barcelos for the first time with some friends at Vivo. Never tried Nando’s so can’t really compare. Its a hit and miss for us. Some liked some items and some didn’t. I think its better than Kenny Rogers but since its just chicken, you can’t really eat it too often. But we all felt that its too expensive for fast food. We paid restaurant prices but had to order at a counter and our boyfriends even had to collect the cutlery for us. As someone else mentioned, the drinks range is also very limited. Its a pity, I rather like the chicken but we probably wouldn’t go there again unless Barcelos remedies its shortcomings.

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james says: Friday, September 4, 2009 at 2:44pm

Hi Tang,

I’ve been eating at Barcelos since they have opened, my understanding is, as the manager explained, it is not a fast food restaurant, it is a quick service restaurant that serves fresh food within 15 min, when not tooo busy!, anyway all their food is cooked from fresh, nothing is pre processed or processed food. All the veggies that goes in the recipe’s are organic.

I guess it takes time and more labour to cook food from fresh, as he explained the kitchen opens at 8am to prepare and cook all the food for lunch, then from 3 to 5 they do the same for the evening trade.

What i do like about barcelos, is they might be a little more expensive, keep in mind barcelos don’t charge a service charge, nor GST, than BK, or McD and C’Junior, but at least you get your food on a plate and not a plastic tray, and hands down i think we all can agree barcelos food is more heathier than you general fast food joint.

when I was there last Wednesday they had at least 10 different typys of drinks, i think that is quite a good mix, maybe they were out of stock on some when you were there.

Over all I like Barcelos, I think we should give them a little more credit guys, all they have to do is a good marketing campaign so that the public can really understandd what they about and how the food is done.

Thats my bit…cheers

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Tang says: Sunday, September 6, 2009 at 1:52am

Wow, James, you sure know a lot about Barcelos. Maybe they ought to hire you for their marketing compaign, haha! Reading what you wrote, I’ll give Barcleos another try. Thanks for all the information. But I still feel, that even without GST, they’re still on the expensive side since some restaurants in Vivo are cheaper. Sorry, I thought it was fast food, maybe because long John silvers is next door and they look similar. Anyhow, thanks, will try. Drinks? When I was there, they only have soft drinks, snapple which I thought was rather sweet, if they are a http://sparklette.net/food/nandos/ 11/12 08/09/09 Nando’s – Peri Me Away | Singapore F… restaurant, maybe some fresh juices and coffee/tea would be appropriate. Maybe you can tell the manager this. Thanks.

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sparklette (Veron) tweets: Tuesday, July 14, 2009 at 1:02pm

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