Three units on Cardiff's The Hayes are set to turn into a food and drink venue, with Thai restaurant Giggling Squid proposed to take over. A planning application submitted to Cardiff council to change the use of three units on The Hayes from retail to food and drink has been approved.
A cover letter, submitted with the application, proposes Giggling Squid as the tenant. The restaurant would be the first Welsh branch of the chain.
The almost 50-strong chain was founded in 2002 by husband and wife team Pranee and Andy Laurillard. Dishes on the expansive menu, which is divided into tapas, starters, ‘from the water’, ‘from the land’, stir-fries, curries and noodles include turmeric grilled squid with garlic, mah kwan pepper pork belly, and betel leaf, ginger and lime salmon.
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‘From the water’ dishes include giant butterfly king prawn pad Thai and royal fishing boat curry with mussels, prawns, squid and salmon. ‘From the land’ that appear on the menu include confit duck with tangy tamarind sauce and lamb shank massaman curry with coconut milk, cinnamon, cardamom and star anise.
The restaurant offers a wide range of creative cocktails, including a mojito-style mango and chilli mosquito to a Thai-spresso martini with coconut coffee liqueur. A Thai sabai made with rum and lime juice infused with Thai basil, also features on the extensive menu.
Giggling Squid will join other chains offering Thai-cuisine that have recently opened in Cardiff. Busaba opened on Cardiff’s Caroline Street last year. Another Thai chain, Rosa's Thai, recently opened on Church Street and was also the first Welsh branch of the chain to open.
Giggling Squid will also join another new restaurant set to open on The Hayes. The Ivy Asia will be opening in the spring this year, though an official opening date has yet to be confirmed.
