Little-known Nando’s menu hacks that can save you up to £74.55 from Martin Lewis’ MSE
NANDO’S fans stand to save £74.55 with little-known menu hacks, the experts at Martin Lewis’ Money Saving Expert have revealed.
Eating out at the chicken chain can quickly add up especially for families and when hungry kids are involved.
But keeping down the cost of eating out with a couple of tricks can make a big difference.
From free food to looking at the cheaper menu, here’s what the experts at MSE suggest to enjoy chicken on the cheap.
SHARE WITH FAMILY OR FRIENDS – SAVE £10.10
A platter to share works out cheaper when there are several of you dining together, compared to buying individual meals.
The MSE team gave the example of a family platter, which works out up to £10.10 cheaper.
You get the equivalent of two whole chickens (it comes in quarters to share) and five large sides for £49.95.
That compares to the same order as separate meals that would set you back £60.65.
Other platters include the boneless, full platter and wing platter, which can save you between £2 and £4 versus the individual meals.
Do remember that prices can vary depending on location, so the exact prices and savings may be different.
Sharing platter savings explained
Here's all the ways a Nando's sharing platter could save you money...
XL Wing Platter (15 chicken wings and two large sides)
Sharing price – £26.75
Individual price – £32.50
Savings – £5.75
Full Platter (A whole chicken and two large sides)
Sharing price – £26.75
Individual price – £28.95
Savings – £2.20
Boneless Platter (Chicken butterfly, four boneless thighs and two large sides)
Sharing price – £27.75
Individual price – £32
Savings – £4.25
Family Platter (Two whole chickens and five large sides)
Sharing price – £55
Individual price – £64.40
Savings – £9.40
Based on prices as of May 14, 2024
GET THE KIDS’ MENU – SAVE UP TO £7.50
A chicken burger is a popular option at Nando’s costing around £7.75 for the standard burger alone, or £13.45 with two regular sides.
But take a look at the kids’ “Nandino’s” menu and you can pick up the similar burger meal for just £5.95.
It comes with a burger and two mini sides plus a drink.
There’s little difference between the burger itself, apart from the bun which is brioche instead of a Portugese roll.
In fact the MSE team put this to the test and found the chicken in a Nandinos burger weighed in at 110g and the adult burger at 85g, though remember sizes can vary from one order to the next.
Though the sides are smaller you do get a drink which you don’t get with the adult meal.
Comparing the burgers alone, you’ll save £1.80 making the switch and get sides and a drink on top.
Or, compared to the adult meal you can save £7.50. The overall amount of food you get might be less taking into account the sizes of sides, but you do get the drink.
The MSE team does note that technically the Nandino’s menu is for under 10s, but ordering for home delivery, or even when dining in and ordering via the app, means there’s little way of knowing who exactly is getting what.
ORDER EXTRAS – SAVE 75p
It may sound counterintuitive, but try ordering extras to save the pennies.
Start with a chicken breast for £3.50 and a garlic bread for the same price.
Put them together and you have your very own DIY burger costing £7.00 – 75p less than ordering the standard Nando’s burger.
Of course, as the MSE team notes, you won’t get the salad and sauce, but if you’re ordering at home you can simply add yourself.
FREE FOOD – SAVE £29.45
Nando’s loyalty scheme rewards chicken fans with a host of free food – it’s no wonder the MSE team called it a “no-brainer”.
Regular diners get a chilli every time they order and spend £7 or more.
Once you hit three chillis, you get a green reward – a free quarter chicken, 3 wings or any starter.
After another three visits picking up chillis, you can get a yellow reward – a free half chicken or single burger, wrap or pitta.
Then after collecting a further four chillis you hit a red reward and can enjoy an entire chicken or meal with a regular side or salad totally free.
Normally you’d pay £5.25 for a quarter chicken, £8.95 for a half chicken and £15.25 for a whole chicken – so savings £29.45 in total.
The MSE team also reminds Nando’s fans these rewards must be redeemed within a year, or you’ll lose them.
Nando's Rewards
DEALS expert Jordon Cox explains how you can earn Nando’s rewards and how much you need to earn to get freebies.
Nando’s Rewards is free to sign up to – enter your details online and get your own digital loyalty card, which you can add to your Apple wallet.
Every time you spend £7+ on food, you’ll be rewarded with one chilli. You can exchange those stamps for free food once you hit three, six or 10 total chillies.
When you’ve collected three chillies (£21 minimum spend), you can unlock a green reward, which is a choice of starter or a 1/4 chicken. This is worth around £3-5 in value.
Once you’ve collected six chillies (£42 minimum spend), you get an orange reward – a wrap, burger, pitta or 1/2 chicken. This is worth around £7-8.
And finally, if you make it to 10 chillies (£70 minimum spend), you unlock a red reward of a full combo meal of your choice or a whole chicken. This is worth up to £15 in value.
To redeem your rewards, simply scan your QR code when paying, or place an order using your freebie.
While the top reward is good, it takes a long time to reach it. You can only collect one chilli a day, so you’d have to eat at Nando’s on 10 separate occasions to earn enough chillies for the top reward.
It’s also difficult to spend the minimum of £7 when eating at Nando’s – meals are typically at least £10.
If you regularly dine with a partner or friend, get a rewards card each and order separately – that way, you can double your rewards and not waste your extra spends.
Once you’ve earned a reward, you have 366 days to use it.
SHARE FRIES – SAVE £1
Fries are must-have to go with your chicken dish, and will usually cost you £3.50.
But if there are two of you, a large fried to share will set you back only £6, instead of £7 for two regular portions.
According to the MSE experts who put the hack to the test, you even get more in the larger serving, compared to the two regular ones.
CHOOSE YOUR CHICKEN CAREFULLY – SAVE 20p
Butterfly chicken fans who don’t mind bones can shave 20p on every order.
The butterfly chicken is two chicken breasts joined by crispy flame-grilled skin and costs £8.95.
Meanwhile a half chicken is one breast and one leg, flame grilled, and will set you back £8.75.
Once again the MSE put these two dishes to the test, and found that the half chicken actually had 84g more meat.
So with this hack you can save cash and get more for your money.
DITCH CHILLI JAM – SAVE £1
Ditch the chilli jam that comes with the halloumi starter and you can pay £1 less on your bill.
That’s because you can order it as a side dish for £1.75. Get two of them and you’ll spend £3.50 – less than the £4.50 starter.
When the MSE team compared the weight of the five slices of halloumi in the starter and the four slices you get ordering two extras, the latter actually offered 24 grams more.
USE A DISCOUNT – UP TO £4
NHS staff as well as emergency services workers and those in the forces can get a discount of 20% on orders up to £20.
You’ll just need to show valid ID when paying at the checkout for either dining in or taking away.
Unfortunately you won’t get the reduction when ordering online for delivery or click and collect, unless you’re an NHS worker.
Then you can get it on click and collect by registering with Nando’s online and you’ll need to verify an NHS email every six months.
It’s not the only discount that NHS and emergency services staff can get.
We explain what you can get using the Blue Light Card, which can you get you money off at Cineworld, New Look and Apple among other places.
How to save money eating out
THERE are a number of ways that you can save money when eating out. Here's how:
Discount codes – Check sites like Sun Vouchers or VoucherCodes for any discount codes you can use to get money off your order.
Tastecard – This is a members club where you pay to have access to discounts worth up to 50 per cent off at thousands of restaurants. It costs £4.99 a month or £34.99 for the year.
Loyalty schemes – Some restaurants will reward you with discounts or a free meal if you register with their loyalty scheme, such as Nando’s where you can collect a stamp with every visit. Some chains like Pizza Express will send you discounts for special occasions, such as your birthday, if you sign up to their newsletter.
Voucher schemes – Look out for voucher schemes offered by third party firms, such as Meerkat Meals. If you compare and buy a product through CompareTheMarket.com then you’ll be rewarded with access to the discount scheme. You’ll get 2 for 1 meals at certain restaurants through Sunday to Thursday.
Student discounts – If you’re in full-time education or a member of the National Students Union then you may be able to get a discount of up to 15 per cent off the bill. It’s always worth asking before you place your order.
DIY PERINAISE – SAVE 90p
Making your own perinaise sauce can save you 90p each time you order.
That’s how much it costs to order the sauce off menu.
But MSE notes that while plain mayo is no longer one of the sauces offered for free at the condiment stands in stores, you can ask for it for free.
Then all you need to do is chuck in a bit of your favourite (free) peri peri sauce.
While you might not always get it, says MSE, it’s worth asking.
GO DIET – SAVE 20p
Full-fat drinks are subject to the sugar tax, and applies t fizzy favourites like Coke, Sprite and Fanta.
Opt for the diet versions which are sugar-free (often branded Zero) and you’ll pay 20p less at Nando’s.
DIY DINNER – SAVE £19.45
The MSE team compared the cost of a Nando’s to making your own at home.
While it may not taste exactly the same (depending on your cooking skills), getting supermarket chicken and marinading it yourself could save as much as £19.45.
That’s for a butterfly chicken meal for two, and includes corn on the cob and rice sides.
Of course exaclty how much you save will depend on your usual order, the cost of the shop bought items at the time, as prices and offers can vary from one day to the next.