Barcelos

Barcelos is an Afro-Portuguese flame-grilled chicken restaurant brand born in Pretoria, South Africa in 1993. It describes itself as fast-casual dining with soul, built on traditional Portuguese flame-grilling and a 24-hour peri-peri marinade. The brand reports 30+ years of heritage, 120+ restaurants and a presence in 13+ countries, and offers franchise opportunities across South Africa and internationally.

Barcelos traces its heritage to a story of faith, flavour and flame-grilled passion that began in South Africa. The brand's name and symbol draw on the Legend of the Barcelos Rooster, in which a pilgrim passing through the town of Barcelos in Portugal, wrongfully accused and sentenced to hang, declared that a roasted rooster would get up and crow to prove his innocence — and it did. In the early 1990s, a young entrepreneur named Costa Mazzis left a career in engineering to follow his dream of cooking. In 1993 he opened a small flame-grilled chicken restaurant in the Sunnyside neighbourhood of Pretoria, South Africa, offering authentic Portuguese-style peri-peri chicken. The first Barcelos restaurant was an instant hit from day one, with locals drawn by its flame-grilled menu and welcoming atmosphere. Inspired by the 800-year-old legend, Costa adopted the vibrant rooster as the restaurant's symbol. The brand has since grown into a franchise operation reporting 30+ years of heritage, 120+ restaurants and a presence in 13+ countries.

Fast-casual dining with soul; authentic Afro-Portuguese flame-grilled chicken, not fried or boiled, positioned as a healthier choice with less oil and more flavour.

• Flame-grilled peri-peri chicken

  Chicken marinated for a full 24 hours in a secret peri-peri blend and grilled over real flames using traditional Portuguese technique.

1. 1Barcelos South Africa | Flame-Grilled Chicken Restaurantbarcelos.co.za
2. 2Our Story | The Barcelos Heritage | Barcelos South Africabarcelos.co.za