Nando's 1st Chicago Restaurant Set For May 20 Opening

Nando's Peri-Peri will open the doors to its first Chicago location on May 20 in the West Loop. This is part of a three-restaurant expansion into Chicago for the South African spicy grilled chicken chain.

Construction continues at the site at 953 W. Randolph St., next to the La Colombe coffee shop. It will have room for 198 — 126 seats inside and 72 seats on the outdoor patio. Right now, a 61-foot temporary sign covers the storefront. The sign contains clues for a Twitter promotion where Nando's will give away food if passers-by tweet photos and answers to the clues and send them to the restaurant's corporate Twitter account at @NandosUSA.

This is Nando's first U.S. store outside of the D.C.-Maryland-Virginia area. Meanwhile, the other two Chicago Nando's spots remain on the same opening timetable. Nando's Lakeview will open in June at 670 W. Diversey Parkway, while Nando's Lincoln Park will open September inside the New City development at 1500 N. Clybourn Ave.