This Leeds Nando's has been revealed to be one of the top five in the UK - but where is it?
It may be ‘cheeky,’ but one Nando’s restaurant in Leeds has been crowned in the top five best establishments in the country.
In a world of Michelin stars and artisanal sourdough, there remains one constant in the British psyche: the siren call of the peri-peri drizzle.
There must be a reason why there are queues to enter a Nando’s in Leeds every weekend, right?
It’s attained a cult-like status, and while some might call it ‘fast food,’ to the connoisseur, it’s a high-stakes search for the perfect butterfly chicken.
But as any veteran of the lemon-and-herb trenches knows, not all outposts are created equal.
Some offer a lukewarm experience, while others provide a culinary spiritual awakening - so I’ve been told by afficio-Nando’s around the city, anyway.
According to a new study of Tripadvisor data by BingoWebsites, though, it turns out one of the true ‘Holy Grails’ of flame-grilled chicken is sitting right on our doorstep...
… though it might require a quick hop onto the M1.
Where is the best Nando's situated in Leeds?
That honour is bestowed upon the brand situated at Leeds Skelton Lake; and it isn't just ‘good for a service station’ either - it’s officially the joint fourth-best Nando's in the entire UK.
With an average rating of 4.3 stars and a massive 77.8% "excellent" review rate, it has managed to turn the humble pit stop into a destination in its own right.
Reviewers frequently rave about the "friendly staff," "quick service," and a level of cleanliness that puts most high-street competitors to shame.
It shares its fourth-place crown with Winchester, making it the highest-rated non-London location in the top five.
While Leeds has every right to puff out its chest, a handful of southern overachievers did manage to sneak onto the higher rungs of the peri-peri ladder.
If you are the kind of completionist who won't rest until you’ve visited the absolute summit of the mountain, you’ll need to point your sat-nav toward London.
Standing unchallenged at the very top is the Waterloo branch, the undisputed king of the UK scene with a staggering 94.3% excellence rate. Boasting a near-perfect 4.9 rating, it has achieved the kind of statistical anomaly where almost every single person who walks through the door feels compelled to leave a glowing report.
Not far behind is the London heavyweight in South Woodford, which maintains its silver medal with an 83.3% score thanks to a reputation for "amazing" service and remarkably consistent kitchen standards.
Finally, rounding out the podium is the Orpington Walnuts Centre, a rare beast in the hospitality world that has managed to record a total of zero average, poor, or terrible reviews.
The top 10 ‘best’ Nando’s restaurants in the United Kingdom
- Waterloo, London – 94.3% excellent reviews
- South Woodford, London – 83.3% excellent reviews
- Orpington, Walnuts Centre – 80% excellent reviews
- Leeds Skelton Lake – 77.8% excellent reviews
- Winchester – 77.8% excellent reviews
- Battersea Power Station, London – 73.7% excellent reviews
- Peckham, London – 71.4% excellent reviews
- Goodmayes Retail Park, Romford – 69.4% excellent reviews
- Bognor Regis, Arun Retail Park – 66.7% excellent reviews
- North Finchley, High Road – 66.7% excellent reviews