Fremont lands California’s first Port of Peri Peri spicy chicken restaurant
From Africa came the bird’s eye chili. From Portugal came the flame-grilled chicken. And now … from the state of Illinois comes The Port of Peri Peri.
The rapidly expanding fast-casual chain has just opened its first California restaurant in Fremont. On deck is a Southern California location in Fullerton. And there are more locations envisioned throughout the Bay Area, with Dublin, San Francisco and Sacramento already on the company’s radar, according to President/CEO Syed Pasha, whose domain has grown to 19 restaurants since 2017.
Not familiar with peri peri chicken (often spelled piri piri)? As legend goes, Portuguese sailors brought those very hot chiles from Africa back to their country; chicken became the culinary canvas.
Pasha says the Port of Peri Peri restaurants use fresh, all-natural, antibiotic-free chicken that is marinated for 24 hours, then grilled. The chile-spiked herb sauces are free of gluten, MSG and nuts.
Customers can have their peri chicken many ways: the whole bird, pieces, tenders, or in wraps, sandwiches, pitas and salads. And you can control the level of heat, from “mild and mellow” to “extra hot and spicy.”
Peri goes vegetarian with a falafel pita and paneer and veggie patty wraps. Sides include red-skinned potato salad, regular and cassava fries and grilled corn.
Details: The Port of Peri Peri is open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m. to midnight on Friday and Saturday and noon to 10 p.m. Sunday at 3283 Walnut Ave., Fremont. www.myperiperi.com