Sometimes, life’s surprises are hidden right around the corner. Tucked inside a strip mall on Manchester Road, Port of Peri Peri is not just any Portuguese- and Mediterranean-inspired restaurant; it’s the story of Amosh and Courtney Kumar, and their goal to not only nourish the body but also their community.
In 2017, Amosh Kumar walked into Port of Peri Peri’s Chicago location with a job application in hand. Within two years, he climbed up the corporate ladder to become the franchisee of their St. Louis location at 13951 Manchester Road in West County.
That same determination that took Kumar from dishwasher to franchisee is evident in each dish, which is brushed with their proprietary peri peri sauce, a popular spice blend with roots in Portuguese and African culinary traditions. Like its namesake, the food packs a punchy kick.
The menu centers on halal chicken: wings, tenders, shawarma, burgers, burritos, and rice bowls, all brushed with their proprietary peri peri sauce made from bird’s-eye chiles. Diners can adjust the spice level to personal preference, ranging from lemon‑and‑herb mild to extra hot. Aside from chicken, the restaurant offers marinated and grilled lamb chops and chuck short ribs. For vegetarians, the menu offers falafel and paneer as primary protein options, which can be built into salads, sandwiches, wraps, or rice bowls.
Grab a seat at one of the barrel tables that were sanded and painted by Kumar himself. Other pieces of decor tell the couple’s story: a 30-year-old plant by the window that Kumar jokingly calls his “dowry” plant; and a lending library filled to the brim with books of their shared past. With a designated play space for children, complete with a foosball table, the restaurant is designed as a gathering space, not just a takeout restaurant.
None of this would exist without Kumar’s wife, Courtney, who balances the restaurant’s books, paperwork, and charity outreach activities with a full-time career as a social worker.
The duo regularly sends out trays of food to St. Louis nonprofits, sometimes 50 to 100 meals at a time, and stepped up during the 2025 tornado disaster.
“We [help the] church, [the] mosque, [and] the temple. We try to connect with them. This is how we can give back to the community,” Kumar says.
Schools are part of that network too; from donating meals for Teacher Appreciation Week to hosting field trips.
“Yeah, the restaurant is not all about the business. It is also about how I can support the [community], the young generations and teaching them [about] diversity.”
Visit Port of Peri Peri, open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Sundays from noon to 10 p.m. Follow their Instagram and Facebook for more updates.