Review: Giggling Squid perfect for first time Thai foodies

The Winchester restaurant opened in 2022, and spans two floors. Going along on a Friday afternoon, I was mildly surprised to see the window was already packed as we were guided to a small, out-of-the-way table.

Despite this, service was impressively prompt and we were able to order drinks and food almost right away.

And drinks are a fantastic place to start. We had heard that Giggling Squid had launched some new cocktails, so we thought we would give those a try. Neither myself nor my dining companion really drink, so we eventually decided on a Strawberry Cooler and a Chilli Mocktail respectively.

L-R: Strawberry Cooler and Chilli Mocktail (Image: Chris Atkinson)

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Alongside looking absolutely stunning, the drinks were delicious, the Strawberry Cooler had a refreshing, fizzy taste. Meanwhile, the Chilli Mocktail had a unique kick that I don’t think I’ve experienced anywhere else.

For our main course, I ordered a Sticky Chicken Stir Fry, while my partner ordered a vegetable Massaman Curry. We also ordered some Roti, Sticky Rice and a Thai Fresh Salad to share.

Sticky Chicken (Image: Chris Atkinson)

The Sticky Chicken Stir Fry was a delight, if a bit simple. The chicken itself was crunchy, covered in a lovely sauce which had elements of barbeque, a real delight for the senses. However, it seemed a bit bare, being served with nothing more than some spring onions. It made me jealous of my partner’s curry, which came in a large bowl filled to the brim with food and which they enjoyed immensely, even if the tofu was not prepared in the way they preferred.

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But this was a minor concern, especially since we were sharing the Roti (baked to perfection), the salad (which had a delicious crunch to it) and the rice. The sticky rice was lovely, being a real treat to eat – however, the way it was presented to us was a bit strange. It was served to us in a small wicker box, inside of which there was a small bag of rice. While we were later told that this was deliberate, we still felt it strange at the time.

After our main course came our dessert, a gorgeously prepared mango cake served with some ice cream for me, and a pair of sorbets for my partner. The mango cake was absolutely beautiful, baked to perfection with the ice cream providing an amazing contrast. Meanwhile, my partner’s sorbets were beautifully refreshing, hitting the spot perfectly.

Top: The sorbets. Bottom: Mango cake (Image: Chris Atkinson)

It’s likely that we will be returning to The Giggling Squid soon. If you get the chance to go, I would heartily recommend it.