Flavourful chicken
The Lemon & Herb chicken is described as juicy and perfectly grilled, while peri-peri sauces add plenty of flavour.
Nando's Dubai Festival City Mall
Dubai Festival City
Nando’s Dubai Festival City is a chicken restaurant specialising in Portuguese-style, flame-grilled chicken with PERi-PERi marinades. Reviews point to juicy Lemon & Herb chicken, chicken espetada and a relaxed setting with views of the fountains.
Reputation Score
4.4
★★★★☆
2,320 ratings
Source: Google Maps
The Good Stuff
Fountain views
Outdoor seating can give you a view of the dancing fountains and fireworks, although popular times may bring a wait.
Attentive service
Many reviews describe warm welcomes, regular check-ins and helpful menu guidance without intrusive service.
Sharing portions
Reviews describe the portions as big and generous, with some dishes working well for sharing.
Late dining
One late-night visit stood out for maintaining food quality, service and energy even when it was the final order.
What to Eat at Nando's Dubai Festival City Mall How we choose these items We use AI to find praise and criticism of specific foods and drinks in a selection of Google reviews. For Nando's Dubai Festival City Mall, this list is based on 50 reviews, not every review of the restaurant. The score is positive reviews minus negative reviews. For example, two positive reviews and one negative review give +1. Each review counts once per item; neutral comments do not change the score. A zero score is not a positive recommendation. “Only neutral feedback” means there are no positive or negative votes. “Mixed feedback” means equal numbers of positive and negative votes. The quotes are examples of what people said, not every comment we counted. We use different reviews where we can. We normally show up to 10 foods and 5 drinks with non-negative scores. Items with the same score stay together. If a tied group would go past the limit, that group and the lower non-negative scores go into Honorable mentions. If an overflowing positive top tie would leave the list empty, we show up to 10 items from that tie and keep the rest in Honorable mentions. Foods and drinks with a negative score are under What to Avoid. Use this as a guide to what reviewers liked, not a guarantee that you will like it too.
These items at Nando's Dubai Festival City Mall got the most positive mentions in user reviews. Check them out!
Food 9
-
Lemon & herb chicken Net +2
“super yummy! been going to this place since childhood and they’ve never failed me! my comfort food: nando’s lemon and herb chicken 🫶🏻 thank you, nando’s dfc! the staffs are very approachable as well.”
Positive 2Negative 0
Review excerpts
“super yummy! been going to this place since childhood and they’ve never failed me! my comfort food: nando’s lemon and herb chicken 🫶🏻 thank you, nando’s dfc! the staffs are very approachable as well.”July 2026
“The chicken liver appetizer was delicious, and the Lemon & Herb chicken was perfectly grilled and juicy.”August 2026
-
Peri-peri chicken Net +2
“The peri-peri chicken was perfectly grilled, juicy, and full of flavor.”
Positive 2Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The peri-peri chicken was perfectly grilled, juicy, and full of flavor.”December 2025
“The highlight unquestionably was their delicious peri peri chicken - juicy, flavorful, and perfectly cooked.”November 2023
-
Cheese loaded garlic bread Net +1
“Above all I would like to appreciate efforts from Sheela who served us food it was quick , pleasant , hot and appetizing, The espetada with sides was a steal at that price and cheese loaded garlic bread and mighty chicken and mushroom burger were amazing .”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Above all I would like to appreciate efforts from Sheela who served us food it was quick , pleasant , hot and appetizing, The espetada with sides was a steal at that price and cheese loaded garlic bread and mighty chicken and mushroom burger were amazing .”June 2026
-
Chicken liver appetizer Net +1
“The chicken liver appetizer was delicious, and the Lemon & Herb chicken was perfectly grilled and juicy.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The chicken liver appetizer was delicious, and the Lemon & Herb chicken was perfectly grilled and juicy.”August 2026
-
Chicken seekers Net +1
“We ordered the Chicken Espetada and Chicken Seekers, and both were perfectly grilled with Nando’s signature peri-peri flavor — juicy, tender, and full of spice.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We ordered the Chicken Espetada and Chicken Seekers, and both were perfectly grilled with Nando’s signature peri-peri flavor — juicy, tender, and full of spice.”October 2025
-
Espetada with sides Net +1
“Above all I would like to appreciate efforts from Sheela who served us food it was quick , pleasant , hot and appetizing, The espetada with sides was a steal at that price and cheese loaded garlic bread and mighty chicken and mushroom burger were amazing .”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Above all I would like to appreciate efforts from Sheela who served us food it was quick , pleasant , hot and appetizing, The espetada with sides was a steal at that price and cheese loaded garlic bread and mighty chicken and mushroom burger were amazing .”June 2026
-
Mighty chicken and mushroom burger Net +1
“Above all I would like to appreciate efforts from Sheela who served us food it was quick , pleasant , hot and appetizing, The espetada with sides was a steal at that price and cheese loaded garlic bread and mighty chicken and mushroom burger were amazing .”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Above all I would like to appreciate efforts from Sheela who served us food it was quick , pleasant , hot and appetizing, The espetada with sides was a steal at that price and cheese loaded garlic bread and mighty chicken and mushroom burger were amazing .”June 2026
-
Puleed chicken tigela Net +1
“We had the puleed chicken tigela which was rice served with some delicious chicken filing and the pulled chicken burger. Portions were very generous and taste was worth the hype. Looking forward to coming back here”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We had the puleed chicken tigela which was rice served with some delicious chicken filing and the pulled chicken burger. Portions were very generous and taste was worth the hype. Looking forward to coming back here”June 2025
-
Pulled chicken burger Net +1
“We had the puleed chicken tigela which was rice served with some delicious chicken filing and the pulled chicken burger. Portions were very generous and taste was worth the hype. Looking forward to coming back here”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We had the puleed chicken tigela which was rice served with some delicious chicken filing and the pulled chicken burger. Portions were very generous and taste was worth the hype. Looking forward to coming back here”June 2025
What to Avoid (2)
Food 2
-
Chicken wings appetizer Net −1
“However, we had issue with chicken wings appetizer taste. You know that raw chicken tastes, similar to that, so that’s what it felt. We asked to recook it again, but again it was the same.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“However, we had issue with chicken wings appetizer taste. You know that raw chicken tastes, similar to that, so that’s what it felt. We asked to recook it again, but again it was the same.”September 2025
-
Regular espetada Net −1
“I ordered a regular espetada and I have asked the waiter to make the chicken juicy not dry because the last 2 visits to the same branch the chicken came very dry. Last time the manager who I rarely see in this branch promised that next time he would offer better chicken quality. Today the chicken came as dry as it possibly could be, even more than the last 2 times and it was burnt.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“I ordered a regular espetada and I have asked the waiter to make the chicken juicy not dry because the last 2 visits to the same branch the chicken came very dry. Last time the manager who I rarely see in this branch promised that next time he would offer better chicken quality. Today the chicken came as dry as it possibly could be, even more than the last 2 times and it was burnt.”October 2025
Tips for a Better Visit
Test sauces. Try the sauces before adding them to your meal; the peri-peri options range from mild to spicy.
Avoid peaks. Allow extra time during weekend dinners, holidays and busy periods, when reviews mention waiting and slower service.
Confirm sides. Repeat your side choices back when ordering, especially vegetables versus wedges, to avoid an order mix-up.
Check chicken. Check that burgers and grilled chicken are properly cooked before eating, particularly after one review reported raw chicken.
Plan the visit
Practical details
Mall - Ground floor - Crescent Dr
Al Kheeran - Dubai Festival City, Dubai
| Mon | 11:00 AM – 12:00 AM |
| Tue | 11:00 AM – 12:00 AM |
| Wed | 11:00 AM – 12:00 AM |
| Thu | 11:00 AM – 12:00 AM |
| Fri | 11:00 AM – 1:00 AM |
| Sat | 11:00 AM – 1:00 AM |
| Sun | 11:00 AM – 12:00 AM |
Common Concerns
Cooking problems
One family reported receiving completely raw chicken in two burgers and said their complaint was not properly addressed.
Dry espetada
A repeat visitor reported that the espetada was burnt and drier than on two previous visits.
Crowded peaks
Weekend and holiday dinner periods can become crowded, with slower service and more difficulty getting staff attention.
Order handling
A reviewer said a mistaken wedges order was not corrected and an oily tortilla was not replaced with plain bread.
DXB
LOCAL
LOCAL
The Bottom Line
Nando’s Dubai Festival City is a casual chicken restaurant centred on Portuguese-style flame-grilled chicken and PERi-PERi sauces. The menu highlights dishes such as Chicken Espetada, Lemon & Herb chicken, peri-peri chicken and chicken liver, with sides including wedges, corn, mashed potatoes and garlic bread. Reviews often describe the chicken as juicy, well-seasoned and generously portioned, making it a practical choice for families or sharing after a mall visit.
The setting is a significant part of the appeal. Diners mention a calm, cozy atmosphere, outdoor seating, fountain views and occasional fireworks, though busy weekend evenings, holidays and peak periods can mean waiting. Service is usually described as warm, attentive and helpful, with staff checking tables regularly and explaining menu choices.
There are a few important caveats. One review reported completely raw chicken in burgers, while another described repeated dry, burnt espetada; a separate complaint involved wings that still tasted raw after being recooked. Other diners reported frustration when an incorrect side or oily tortilla could not be changed.
Check your order and chicken before eating, and confirm sides clearly. Prices are not consistently reported; one customer said the bill was 216dhiram for uncooked burgers, a cold drink and cheese bread.