Food-court Nando’s sits airside with its own phone number
The airport directory lists this spot as Nando in the main Food Court, post-security, with phone +27 (0)11 390 3532, so you’re not dealing with some mystery franchise. It’s the peri-peri anchor of the concourse: think chicken, chips, and sides you can eat in 15–25 minutes if the line behaves.
Pricing tracks typical South African mall outlets: expect a quarter chicken and chips to land around the mid-double digits in rand, and a soft drink to add another R20–R30. That keeps a quick meal under the R150 mark for one person, which is cheaper than most sit-down options near the A and B check-in zones.
Menu focus is the usual Nando’s build: flame-grilled chicken in your pick of heat (lemon & herb up to extra hot), with chips, spicy rice, coleslaw, and corn as default sides. Chicken wraps and burgers are the better move for carry-on eating at gates A8–A20; saucy quarter chickens are messier in tight seating rows.
Independent OR Tambo customer-experience research from 2018 flags this food court tier, including Nando’s, for weak scores on promised-time service, quick correction of mistakes, and error-free orders. That means double-checking your order slip and opening the bag at the counter, especially if you customized sides or heat level.
Service speed is the main gamble: during weekday late-afternoon bank departures around 16:00–19:00, queues can stack and slip past the 20-minute mark from payment to food in hand. Earlier in the day, especially before 11:00, you’re more likely to be in and out in under 10–15 minutes.
Practical tip: If your boarding pass shows final call inside 30 minutes, skip hot mains and just grab chips and a drink; they usually hit the counter faster and travel better to gates in terminals A and B.