Nando’s Peri-Peri opened its first Austin restaurant Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, on the ground floor of the Origin Hotel in Mueller at 1825 McBee Street, with service running 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, according to Eater Austin.

The South African chain starts with dine-in service only. Takeout and delivery will roll out later, according to Eater Austin. The restaurant sits inside the Origin Hotel at the corner of McBee Street in Mueller.

Opening details

The Austin restaurant marks another Texas move for the brand. Houston got the state’s first location in 2023, Dallas followed later that year, and Katy debuted in February 2024, according to Eater Austin. A company press release cited by Eater Austin says a third Houston-area restaurant is slated for Montrose in 2025.

Nando’s hours are 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. The company is seating guests for dine-in now, with takeout and delivery to be added, according to Eater Austin.

What’s on the menu

Nando’s centers its menu on flame-grilled chicken marinated in peri-peri, also known as African bird’s eye chile. The kitchen serves the poultry in multiple formats, according to Eater Austin:

  • Whole chicken, wings, breasts, thighs, legs, and livers
  • Chicken rice bowls and salads
  • Chicken sandwiches
  • Platters with chips (fries)

Sides include mac and cheese, roasted cauliflower, Portuguese rice, and sweet potatoes. Desserts include Naughty Natas (Portuguese custards), brownies, and raspberry cheesecakes. The sauces list covers peri-peri flavors such as lemon-herb and garlic. Drinks include draft beers, wines, cocktails, and sodas, according to Eater Austin.

Design and space

Austin architect Michael Hsu designed the Mueller dining room, which features yellow tile, wood details, and pendant lights that reference the Johannesburg skyline, according to Eater Austin. The walls display contemporary South African artwork through a partnership with Creative Block. Seating spans an indoor dining room and an outdoor patio facing McBee Street, according to Eater Austin.

The restaurant’s address is 1825 McBee Street, Suite 110, inside the Origin Hotel. The hotel opened in June 2022 and includes its own restaurant, Blue Lacy, according to Eater Austin.

Brand background

Nando’s began in 1987 in Johannesburg, South Africa, according to Nando's. The company grew into a global chain with a menu built around peri-peri chicken and sauces.

In the United States, Nando’s entered the market in 2008 with a Washington, D.C., restaurant, according to Wikipedia. The Texas expansion followed later, with the Houston, Dallas, and Katy openings arriving across 2023 and 2024, according to Eater Austin.

What it means for Mueller

The new restaurant adds another sit-down option at the hotel node on McBee Street and gives day and evening diners a ground-floor location next to hotel traffic. New restaurants also tend to add jobs and spur spending at nearby businesses, reporting by the Austin Chronicle notes. The opening puts an international brand inside Mueller’s town center and locates it within the Origin Hotel, which pulls visitors and neighborhood residents.

The design approach links the dining room to the brand’s South African roots through art and lighting motifs, according to Eater Austin. The patio and indoor seating offer a flexible setup for hotel guests, neighbors, and office workers moving through the district.

Service now and next

For now, Nando’s Austin runs as a dine-in restaurant from 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. each day. The company plans to add takeout and delivery after opening, according to Eater Austin.

The menu remains centered on peri-peri chicken in multiple formats, with sauces in a range of heat levels, plus sides and desserts. Beer, wine, cocktails, and soft drinks round out the beverage list, according to Eater Austin.

Nando’s entry into Mueller gives the neighborhood a new national name with roots in Johannesburg. The hotel setting at 1825 McBee Street puts the restaurant in a visible spot for residents, travelers, and workers, while the Texas rollout shows the brand’s steady move across major markets, according to Nando's and Wikipedia.

Read the press release on austin.eater.com.