Nando’s Vegan Menu South Africa 2026

Introduction

Did you know that Nando’s South Africa is now one of the most vegan-friendly chain restaurants?

I’ll never forget the first time I tried their Great Pretender burger. It changed how I view fast-food plant-based options!

Finding plant-based options on Nando’s menu can be tough. This is true whether you’re a committed vegan, trying Veganuary, or want to eat less meat.

Here’s the exciting part: Nando’s South Africa has many more vegan options than most people know.

Savour deliciousness with their flame-grilled plant-based patties and popular PERi-PERi chips.

In this guide, I’ll cover all the vegan options at Nando’s South Africa. I’ll also highlight some hidden gems not clearly marked on the menu.

I’ll share insider tips from my many visits on how to customise your order. You can achieve maximum flavour without using any animal products!

Nando’s Vegan Main Dishes in South Africa

The Great Pretender Burger

Let me tell you, when Nando’s launched The Great Pretender burger, I was sceptical.

After years of disappointing veggie burgers at chain restaurants, I wasn’t expecting much. But wow, was I wrong!

The Great Pretender is honestly a game-changer.

It’s a thick, juicy plant-based patty that actually has that chargrilled flavour Nando’s is famous for.

The texture?

Surprisingly meaty! My omnivore husband couldn’t tell the difference when he took a bite.

The burger costs about R89.90 (prices may vary by province). This is similar to their chicken options, which seem fair given the quality.

What really gets me excited is how they prepare it.

The patty gets the same flame-grilled treatment as the others. This gives it beautiful char marks and a smoky flavour.

I’ve seen them make it a few times now (yes, I’m that person). They use a different part of the grill. This helps with cross-contamination issues.

The wrap situation is where things get interesting. You can absolutely get a vegan wrap – ask for The Great Pretender patty in a wrap instead!

I usually load mine up with lettuce, tomato, onion, and that heavenly PERi-PERi sauce.

Pro tip: ask for extra sauce on the side because the wrap can get a bit dry otherwise. The wraps are vegan-friendly. I’ve confirmed this with several locations. Still, it’s good to double-check, as suppliers can change.

Vegan Bowls at Nandos

Now, let’s talk about the bowls. This is actually my favourite hack that nobody seems to know about! Make an amazing vegan bowl by mixing spicy rice, chopped The Great Pretender patty, salad, and roasted veggies.

It’s filling, nutritious, and costs about R95-110 depending on your add-ons. I’ve been ordering this combo for months, and it never gets old.

Availability can be a bit tricky.

Most major spots in Joburg, Cape Town, and Durban always have plant-based options. However, I’ve faced problems at smaller branches.

One time in Bloemfontein, they were out of the vegan patties for a whole week! Always worth calling ahead if you’re travelling to a smaller town.

The Sandton, V&A Waterfront, and Gateway stores usually have everything in stock. This is likely due to higher demand.

Complete List of Vegan Sides at Nando’s SA

Peri-Peri Chips

Okay, can we take a moment to appreciate those PERi-PERi chips?

They’re just perfect—crispy outside, fluffy inside, and that spice blend? It’s so addictive!

The regular portion (R34.90) is decent for one person, but honestly, I always go large (R44.90) because they’re that good. And yes, they’re 100% vegan! They’re cooked in vegetable oil, not animal fat like some other chains do.

The Spicy Rice

The spicy rice has become my go-to base for everything. It’s fragrant, has a nice kick, and at R34.90, it’s reasonable. The ingredients are simple – rice, spices, vegetables, and oil. No butter, no chicken stock.

I checked with their head office. I felt worried after discovering that another restaurant’s rice contained chicken powder.

Source: scrumptiously.com

Mixed Salad at Nandos

Mixed salad is where you need to be careful, though. The standard one comes with feta, which isn’t vegan.

But here’s what I do – I ask for it without cheese and add extra tomatoes and onions instead.

Most servers don’t even charge for the extra veggies!

Sometimes they offer mayo-based dressings. Stick with olive oil and balsamic. Even better, try the PERi-PERi sauce as a dressing.

The Corn on the Cob

The corn on the cob is a revelation when done right. Ask for it without butter (super important!) and have them baste it with a lemon-and-herb marinade instead. Game changer! It’s sweet, tangy, and at R29.90, pretty affordable.

Nandos Vegan Menu: Roasted Vegetables

Their roasted vegetables deserve more hype.

You’ll enjoy a mix of peppers, onions, and sometimes butternut. They’re all chargrilled to perfection. The portion is generous for R42.90, and I often order two portions to make a meal with some rice. Just make sure they don’t add butter during grilling – some branches do this automatically.

The Vegan Portuguese Roll

Portuguese rolls are generally vegan, but I’ve learned always to ask. Some locations brush them with butter before toasting. When they’re done dairy-free, they’re perfect for making chip rolls (slap chips on a roll with sauce – trust me on this one!).

Vegan-Friendly Sauces and Seasonings

This is where my Nando’s obsession really shows.

I’ve tried every sauce combo. So, I know what’s vegan and what’s not.

Most of the PERi-PERi sauces are vegan!

The Lemon & Herb, Medium, Hot, and Extra Hot are all plant-based.

They’re made with African Bird’s Eye chilli, lemon, garlic, onion, and spices. No dairy, no eggs, nothing funky. The Extra Hot is my favourite. It has a slow-burning build that doesn’t overwhelm your taste buds right away.

But here’s the heartbreaker – the Garlic sauce isn’t vegan. It contains mayo and dairy. I learned this the hard way after drowning my chips in it for months. The Mild sauce is also questionable at some locations, so I avoid it.

The Lemon & Herb Marinade

The Lemon & Herb marinade is basically my everything sauce now. It’s tangy and herby, adding moisture to everything. I get it on my veggie burgers, drizzled over roasted vegetables, even mixed into my rice sometimes. And yes, confirmed vegan!

The Peri-Peri Sprinkle

The PERi-PERi sprinkle (that magical red dust) is completely plant-based. I always ask for extra sachets to take home. It transforms everything – popcorn, roasted chickpeas, even avo toast. No joke, I’ve got about 20 packets in my kitchen drawer right now.

When ordering, always ask for sauces on the side.

Some servers can be heavy-handed. There’s nothing worse than a meal swimming in sauce when you just wanted a drizzle.

Plus, having them on the side lets you mix flavours.

My current favourite combo?

Half Lemon & Herb, half Hot. It’s perfectly balanced, as all things should be.

How to Order Vegan at Nando’s South Africa

After three years of being vegan and eating at Nando’s a lot, I’ve created a smooth system for ordering.

First thing – don’t just say “I’m vegan.” I’ve found that some servers panic or immediately say they can’t help. Instead, I say, “I’d like the Great Pretender burger meal, no mayo, extra tomato, please.” Specific is better. Then I might add, “I don’t eat dairy or eggs, so no cheese or butter on anything, please.”

Cross-contamination is something you need to decide on based on your comfort level. They share the grills, though they use different sections. If you’re strict about it, ask them to clean the grill section first or use a pan.

Most kitchens are accommodating, especially during quieter times. I don’t stress about it too much, but that’s just me.

The Nando’s app actually makes life easier. You can add notes to each item, and I always write “VEGAN – no butter, no cheese, no mayo” in caps. Seems aggressive, but it works!

The app shows ingredients for most items. This helps a lot when checking new menu additions.

Avoid peak lunchtime (12–2 p.m.) and the dinner rush (6–8 p.m.) if you’re making special requests. The kitchen’s slammed, and mistakes happen more often.

I learned this after getting a butter-slathered corn during a Friday night rush. Tuesday afternoons around 3 p.m.? Perfect. The staff have time to get your order exactly right.

Nutritional Information for Vegan Options

Alright, let’s talk numbers because I track everything (recovering gym bro here, don’t judge).

The Great Pretender Patty has about 17 grams of protein. That honestly surprised me. That’s solid for a plant-based option.

The patty has about 250 calories, which is less than that of a chicken breast. Add a bun and you’re at about 450 calories total.

The spicy rice packs about 200 calories per portion and 4 grams of protein. Not massive on protein, but the fibre content is decent at 3 grams. I usually pair it with the patty or beans to bump up the protein content.

Speaking of which, did you know you can add black beans to most dishes? Game changer for protein – adds another 7 grams.

Those PERi-PERi chips everyone raves about? Regular is 280 calories, large is 420. Not exactly health food, but hey, we’re not here to eat lettuce all day.

The fat in these chips is typical, but it comes from vegetable oil instead of saturated animal fats.

The roasted vegetables are the nutrition heroes here. Only about 120 calories per portion, but packed with vitamins A and C, plus decent fibre. I’ve started ordering double portions instead of chips sometimes (I said sometimes, okay?).

Vegan options usually have more fibre than meat-based meals. That’s interesting!

My typical order of the Great Pretender bowl with rice and veggies gives me about 12 grams of fibre. That’s almost half your daily requirement! Try getting that from a chicken burger.

For my gym crew tracking macros: A Great Pretender burger, large spicy rice, and roasted veggies provide about 35g protein, 85g carbs, and 20g fat.

That’s a balanced meal, especially post-workout.

Vegan Menu Prices at Nando’s South Africa 2026

Let’s talk money because eating out as a vegan in South Africa can get expensive fast. I’ve been tracking Nando’s prices for a while now (spreadsheet nerd alert), and here’s the real deal.

The Great Pretender burger alone costs R89.90 in most locations, but I’ve seen it at R94.90 in the V&A Waterfront. The meal, which includes regular chips and a drink, costs about R134.90. That’s R5 less than the chicken butterfly meal. Small victories!

For the best value, try this combo: Great Pretender patty (no bun), large spicy rice, and roasted veg. It costs about R165. It’s filling, nutritious, and cheaper than most of their “proper” meals. Plus, you get more food than the standard burger meal.

Student discounts are a thing! Show your student card and get 10% off, but here’s the catch – it doesn’t work on specials or through the app. Still, every bit helps when you’re living on that NSFAS budget.

The family platters are trickier for vegans, but I’ve managed to make it work.

The Full Platter costs R479.90. You can’t replace all the chicken with plant-based options, but you can order sides-only platters.

Four people can share:

• Two large rice dishes.
• Two large chips.
• Four corn cobs.
• Two roasted veggie portions.

All for about R280.

Add some Great Pretender patties separately and you’re still under R500 for four people.

Price differences between provinces are fundamental. Cape Town is generally R5-10 more expensive per item than Johannesburg. Durban sits somewhere in the middle.

The airport locations? Don’t even get me started – add 20% to everything.

Secret Vegan Hacks and Customisations

Okay, lean in close because these are the tricks that took me years to figure out.

First hack: Order The Great Pretender patty on its own (R54.90) and add it to a large garden salad. Ask them to chop it up and mix it in. Boom – you’ve got a protein-packed salad for under R100 that’s twice the size of their standard offerings.

The double veggie burger isn’t on the menu, but most locations will make it. Two patties, extra veg, special sauce arrangement. It’s around R130, but it’s massive and keeps me full for hours. The Rosebank branch makes this perfectly every single time.

Here’s something wild – you can ask for your chips to be “extra PERi-PERi’d” at no extra charge. They’ll dust them multiple times. I discovered this by accident when a server misheard me, and now I can’t go back to regular chips.

Seasonal specials are where it gets interesting.

Last winter, they offered a butternut and sweet potato dish. It wasn’t labelled vegan, but it was once I checked the ingredients. Always ask about limited-time sides – they often forget to mention the vegan ones.

For birthday meals, they used to limit vegan options. Now, most branches will give you a free Great Pretender if you’re in their database. Just mention it’s your birthday when ordering and show ID. Got my free burger last month!

Catering is easier than you think.

I organised a year-end function and had them set up a “build your own bowl” station with rice, veggies, and plant patties on the side. Fed 30 people for under R2000, and even the meat-eaters were happy.

Nando’s Vegan Menu vs Other SA Chains

Right, let’s get honest about how Nando’s stacks up against other chains because I’ve done the research (and gained the weight to prove it).

Compared to Spur, Nando’s wins hands down.

Spur’s vegan burger is sad – I’m sorry, but it is. It tastes like cardboard and costs MORE than Nando’s. Plus, Spur’s sides are limited unless you want to live on chips and onion rings. Their chips are good, though, I’ll give them that.

Ocean Basket is trying with its plant-based sushi options, but it’s hit-or-miss. Their vegan rolls are R85 for four pieces – highway robbery if you ask me. Plus, you need to order like three rolls to feel full. At Nando’s, one meal actually fills you up.

RocoMamas has that Beyond Meat option, which is pretty good, not gonna lie. But it’s R125 just for the burger! Add chips and a drink, and you’re pushing R200. Their variety is also limited – it’s basically burger or nothing. At least Nando’s lets you get creative with combinations.

Mugg & Bean offers more vegan cakes, especially the vegan chocolate cake! However, their main meals are pricey and not very filling. R145 for a Buddha bowl that’s mostly lettuce?

No thanks.

Please give me a Nando’s bowl with actual substance for less money.

Fast food-wise, Nando’s is killing it in SA.

McDonald’s doesn’t even try here (where’s our McPlant, McDonald’s SA??). KFC’s vegan burger was a limited-time thing that disappeared.

Burger King has that Veggie Whopper, but it’s cooked on the same grill as meat with no separate section.

Accessibility across provinces varies wildly, though.

Western Cape and Gauteng lead in availability. Almost every Nando’s offers vegan options. KwaZulu-Natal is getting better, especially in Durban.

But good luck finding consistent vegan options in Limpopo or Mpumalanga chains. When I visited Polokwane, the Nando’s didn’t even have The Great Pretender on their system yet.

The price comparison really shows Nando’s value. A filling vegan meal at Nando’s: R130-150. Spur: R160-180. Ocean Basket: R180-220. RocoMamas: R180-200. Mugg & Bean: R150-195. For a chain restaurant with consistent quality and actual flavour? Nando’s takes the crown.

Conclusion

Gone are the days when vegans had to settle for just chips and a salad at Nando’s!

South Africa’s favourite flame-grilled chicken spot has upped its plant-based menu. They now serve protein-packed burgers and those tempting PERi-PERi chips we all love.

The best part?

You don’t have to sacrifice that iconic Nando’s flavour when choosing vegan options.

You can mix and match ingredients to make meals that are just as satisfying. Often, these meals are even more colourful and nutritious than meat-based ones.

Whether you’re dining in Johannesburg or ordering from the app in Cape Town, these vegan options are always available across South Africa.

Ready to try Nando’s vegan menu for yourself?

Try the Great Pretender burger combo. Trust me, your meat-eating friends will be impressed!

Don’t hesitate to ask the staff for changes. They are usually very accommodating with dietary needs.