A new Thai restaurant is set to open in Cardiff this summer. Giggling Squid will open its first Welsh branch in the city centre after months of work on transforming the massive new venue, with another restaurant in Cardiff Bay set to follow next year.
Offering a range of 'Thai tapas' dishes, as well as curries, stir-fries and an array of creative cocktails, the chain has restaurants all over the country, but has never ventured into Wales since being founded by husband and wife team Pranee and Andy Laurillard over 20 years ago.
The new restaurant will open on St David's shopping centre on the Hayes, taking over three units previously occupied by Crabtree & Evelyn, Links of London and Radley. Get the latest restaurant news and reviews from Cardiff and beyond sent straight to your inbox for free by signing up to our dedicated Food and Drink newsletter.
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Hoardings around the site have teased its upcoming launch for months, with Giggling Squid revealing on its website that the restaurant is finally set to open in June this year. However, the exact opening date is yet to be revealed.
And there's more good news for Cardiff's diners, with the chain also set to open a second branch in the Bay, taking over the Mermaid Quay site previously occupied by Bayside Brasserie and Bellini's restaurants. While details about the new restaurant are limited, it is due to open in 2024.
Giggling Squid's expansive menu is divided into tapas, starters, ‘from the water’, ‘from the land’, stir-fries, curries and noodles, with dishes including turmeric grilled squid, mah kwan pepper pork belly, and betel leaf, ginger and lime salmon. Dishes 'from the water’ include giant butterfly king prawn pad Thai and royal fishing boat curry, while those 'from the land’ include confit duck with tangy tamarind sauce and lamb shank massaman curry.
The restaurant also 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.
The new city centre venue will be joined on the Hayes by sustainable steak restaurant Gaucho, which is set to open in May, while it also follows the opening of Ivy Asia last year. Giggling Squid will also add to the ever-expanding offerings of Thai cuisine across the capital, with Rosa's Thai also opening in Church Street last year, joining other local favourites including Moo Moo and Malai Thai
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