When Is Nando’s Opening in Atlanta? Here’s What We Know So Far

If you live in Atlanta and you’ve traveled to cities that already have Nando’s (the South African/Portuguese-style peri-peri chicken chain), you may be wondering: “When is Nando’s opening in Atlanta?”

As of the latest publicly available information, Nando’s has not officially announced an opening date or confirmed a specific Atlanta location. There is no verified Nando’s restaurant open in Atlanta, Georgia, yet.

However, there are a few useful things Atlanta residents and visitors can do if they’re hoping to see Nando’s arrive, plus some good local alternatives to try in the meantime.

Is Nando’s Coming to Atlanta?

Current status

• No confirmed Atlanta location yet.
• No official opening date has been released for any Nando’s in metro Atlanta.
• The brand has been expanding in the United States, but Atlanta has not been officially added to the list of opened markets as of now.

Restaurant chains often explore potential markets for months or years before announcing anything publicly. That means:

• There could be behind-the-scenes market research going on in Atlanta.
• Until Nando’s itself lists an Atlanta address or opening announcement, everything else is speculation.

How to Check If a Nando’s Atlanta Location Has Been Announced

If you want to be one of the first to know when Nando’s opens in Atlanta, it helps to check a few reliable sources periodically.

1. Official Nando’s restaurant locator

Most major chains maintain a store locator on their official website. When Nando’s confirms an Atlanta restaurant, it will normally appear there first with:

• The street address
• The status (coming soon vs. open)
• Basic details like hours once it opens

Tip: Search by ZIP codes in central Atlanta, such as 30303, 30308, 30309, and 30313, and then try a few suburban ZIP codes like 30328 (Sandy Springs) or 30080 (Smyrna) if you suspect a first location might land in a mixed-use development outside the core.

2. Local development and permitting records

New restaurants in Atlanta usually go through city or county permitting, zoning, and inspection processes.

If Nando’s chooses a site inside the City of Atlanta, information may eventually appear in public records such as:

• Office of Buildings – City of Atlanta
  • 55 Trinity Avenue SW
  • Atlanta, GA 30303
  • Main phone: 404-330-6150

You would typically look for:

• Building permits mentioning “Nando’s”
• Sign permits for commercial signage at a shopping center or street address

If a location is planned just outside the city limits, similar records could show up with:

• Fulton County (for areas like unincorporated South Fulton)
• DeKalb County, Cobb County, or Gwinnett County (if a first Atlanta-area location opens in a major mixed-use project like a town center or lifestyle center)

These records don’t always list the brand name early on, but sometimes they do—especially for recognizable national or international chains.

3. Local business news and development coverage

In Atlanta, new “big name” restaurant openings are often covered by:

• Business or development journalists tracking new retail and restaurant tenants
• Neighborhood-focused outlets that follow projects like Ponce City Market, Atlantic Station, The Battery Atlanta, or West Midtown developments

If Nando’s signs a lease in a major Atlanta project, there is a good chance local outlets will report it once it becomes public.

Where Would a Nando’s Likely Open in Atlanta?

While there is no confirmed location yet, patterns from other cities offer clues about where a first Atlanta Nando’s might reasonably land if and when it’s announced.

Chains like Nando’s often choose areas with:

• High foot traffic
• Strong daytime and evening populations
• A mix of residential, office, and tourism

In Atlanta, that might include:

• Midtown Atlanta
  Near Peachtree Street, Tech Square, or around 14th–17th Street, where there is a mix of office buildings, apartments, and nightlife.

• Downtown & Centennial Park area
  Convenient to Georgia State University, the Georgia World Congress Center, and tourist attractions like the Georgia Aquarium and World of Coca-Cola.

• Buckhead
  Particularly around Lenox Square and Phipps Plaza, or new mixed-use developments that draw both locals and out-of-town visitors.

• West Midtown / Howell Mill / Westside Provisions
  An area already known for popular restaurants and a strong weekend dining crowd.

• The Battery Atlanta (near Truist Park in Cobb County)
  A major entertainment and dining district that often attracts recognizable restaurant brands.

These are educated possibilities, not confirmed plans. Until Nando’s itself lists a specific Atlanta address, none of these areas should be considered definite.

Quick Reference: Nando’s in Atlanta – What We Know

What to Do if You’re Craving Nando’s-Style Food in Atlanta

Until Nando’s officially opens in Atlanta, many locals look for peri-peri–style flavors or grilled chicken with spicy marinades at restaurants already operating in the metro area.

You might consider:

• Peri-peri or piri-piri inspired spots
  Some independent or small-chain restaurants in Atlanta offer peri-peri chicken or similar grilled and marinated options, often labeled as Portuguese, South African-inspired, or Afro-fusion. Menus may use terms like “peri-peri,” “piri-piri,” or “spicy lemon chili.”

• Global food halls and markets
  Places like Ponce City Market or Krog Street Market occasionally feature vendors with grilled chicken, flame-grilled skewers, or spicy sauce-driven menus. These won’t be Nando’s, but they can scratch a similar itch.

• Make peri-peri at home
  Many Atlanta grocery stores and international markets carry:

  • Bottled peri-peri sauces
  • Portuguese-style spice blends
  • Fresh chiles and citrus you can use to build your own marinade

Look for these in larger supermarkets or international stores along corridors like Buford Highway, where a wide range of global ingredients are available.

How Visitors to Atlanta Can Check on a Future Nando’s

If you’re visiting Atlanta and wondering whether you’ll be able to get Nando’s during your trip:

1. Check for locations by searching “Atlanta, GA” on the Nando’s restaurant finder a few days before you arrive.
2. Look up “new restaurant openings in Atlanta” or “coming soon restaurants Atlanta” to see if a Nando’s announcement has appeared.
3. If you’re staying near major hubs like Downtown, Midtown, Buckhead, or Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, ask hotel staff if they’ve heard of any confirmed openings nearby. Hotel concierges often track high-interest restaurant arrivals.

If nothing appears in these checks, you can assume there is still no open or officially announced Nando’s in Atlanta during your visit.

How Atlanta Residents Can Stay Ahead of Any Announcement

If you’re local and really want to be early in line should Nando’s open here:

• ✅ Periodically search for “Nando’s Atlanta opening” in your browser to see if reputable Atlanta outlets are covering a new lease or upcoming launch.
• ✅ Monitor major new mixed-use developments near you; the tenant lists often get released in stages, and recognizable names tend to be highlighted.
• ✅ Glance at local government permit records once in a while if you already follow development news. A building permit with “Nando’s” listed as the tenant is usually one of the first formal signs of a real project.

Bottom line for Atlanta:
As of now, Nando’s has not opened in Atlanta and has not publicly confirmed an opening date or site. If and when that changes, the most reliable early indicators will be the official Nando’s restaurant locator, local business news, and public permitting records in the Atlanta area.