Last checked: 16 October 2026, against Nando's UK online menu. Menus change, so always confirm with staff on the day.
Nando's doesn't use the word "vegan" on its UK menu. Instead it marks dishes plant-based, and there are a lot of them: a plant-based main, a plant-based fillet you can add to other dishes, more than ten sides, dips, a dessert and plenty of drinks. Dishes marked vegetarian, such as the Beanie Burger and PERi-PERi Mac, aren't plant-based, so stick to the plant-based label.
What's plant-based at Nando's
Mains
- The Great Imitator Wrap: the PERi-Plant Fillet, grilled in your choice of PERi-PERi spice and sliced, with Garlic PERinaise, lettuce and Chilli Jam
- Spicy Rice Bowl: Nando's spicy rice with Tenderstem broccoli, rainbow slaw, pickled cauliflower and houmous topped with PERi-PERi seeds
- PERi-Plant Fillet: listed as a plant-based extra, so you can add it to the Spicy Rice Bowl to make it a fuller meal
Starters
- Houmous with PERi-PERi Drizzle, served with warm pitta triangles
- Sweet Potato Wedges, served with Garlic PERinaise
- Spicy Mixed Olives, with garlic, peppers and mushrooms
- PERi-PERi Nuts: almonds, cashews and macadamias
Sides
- Chips, PERi-Salted Chips and Tombstone Chips
- Garlic Bread
- Spicy Rice
- Charred Corn, in a creamy, garlicky sauce
- Tenderstem Broccoli, dressed in garlic and lemon oil
- Macho Peas, with mint and a bit of chilli
- Rainbow Slaw, in a tangy dressing
- Portuguese Tomato Salad
- Hearty Grains, with green chickpeas and butternut squash
Not plant-based
Some sides and extras you might expect to be vegan are marked vegetarian, so skip these:
- Corn on the Cob on the main menu, which is served with butter
- Coleslaw and Creamy Mash
- Plain PERinaise and PERi-Honey (the Garlic PERinaise is plant-based)
- The Toasted Pitta, Portuguese Roll and Tortilla Wrap sold as extras, so you can't swap the plant-based fillet into a pitta or roll
- Every dessert except the Mango Gelado
Dips and extras
- Garlic PERinaise, Chilli Jam and PERi-PERi Drizzle, a smoky PERi-PERi infused oil
- Half an avocado, Grilled Pineapple and the Herby Pickle Bowl
Dessert
- Mango Gelado, a mango ice cream and currently the only plant-based dessert
Drinks
- Soft drinks: the bottomless Diet Coke, Coke Zero, Sprite Zero and Fanta Zero, plus Coca-Cola Classic, cloudy lemonade, RUBRO iced teas, Karma Gingerella, MOMO kombucha and Pip Organic juices and smoothies, are all marked plant-based.
- Beer, cider and wine: Sagres, Sxollie cider, BERO and Freedom Pils, Beavertown Lazer Crush, Black's Kinsale Pale Ale and the Creative Block 2 and 5 wines are marked plant-based.
Kids
There's no plant-based main on the Nandinos menu at the moment, and the Bottomless Soft Swirl is made with dairy. The kids' chips, corn on the cob, cucumber sticks and spicy rice are marked plant-based, along with the Pip Organic apple juice and smoothie, so ask your server what they can put together.
How to order with confidence
- Look for "plant-based", not "vegetarian". Nando's vegetarian dishes can contain dairy or egg.
- Ask about the PERi-PERi spice if shellac matters to you. Nando's has said that some of its PERi-ometer spices contain shellac, a coating made from insects that's sometimes used on citrus fruit. Ask your server which heat levels are suitable.
- Ask about the grill if it matters to you. Nando's says it uses a specific part of the grill, separate utensils and separate bottles of baste for its non-meat products, but it isn't a vegan kitchen.
- Check the allergen information. Nando's notes that allergens have changed for the PERi-Plant Fillet and that PERinaise recipes vary, so ask for the allergen book in the restaurant if you need it.
Allergies: plant-based isn't the same as allergy-safe. If you have an allergy, tell your server and ask to see Nando's allergen information.
Nando's vegan FAQs
Here are quick answers to the questions vegans ask most about eating at Nando's.
Is Nando's vegan-friendly?
Yes, more than many people expect. The Great Imitator Wrap, the PERi-Plant Fillet and more than ten sides are marked plant-based on the UK menu, along with a dessert and plenty of drinks.
Is The Great Imitator Wrap vegan?
It's marked plant-based. It's a PERi-Plant Fillet with Garlic PERinaise, lettuce and Chilli Jam. Nando's has said some of its PERi-PERi spices contain shellac, so ask which heat level to choose if that matters to you.
Are Nando's chips vegan?
The Chips, PERi-Salted Chips and Tombstone Chips are all marked plant-based. If shared fryers matter to you, ask your server how they're cooked.
Is Garlic PERinaise vegan?
The restaurant Garlic PERinaise is marked plant-based. Nando's notes that PERinaise recipes vary, so check the label on any bottle you buy to take home.
Is there a vegan dessert at Nando's?
Yes, the Mango Gelado, which is currently the only plant-based dessert on the UK menu.
Make every meal out a good one
Chains are getting better, but plenty of places still leave vegans with one token option. The Vegan Eating-Out Toolkit shows you how to check any venue in five minutes, spot hidden animal ingredients and ask staff the right questions.
Planning a meal out in January? See every UK chain's Veganuary menu.
Sources: Nando's UK menu, Nando's help centre: suitable for vegans.