The New Way to Enjoy Thai Food

Giggling Squid | Alderley Edge

There’s nothing funny or giggly about this new Alderley Edge Restaurant - It’s opened to great reviews and it doesn’t seem to be slowing down.

Ok, it’s no longer brand new as Giggling Squid opened in Summer 2022, but it is a relatively new food concept; Thai Tapas.

As a fully fledged indecisive fatty this is a tapas concept that really speaks to me; Sadly I was fat shamed by a waitress for ordering two mains (because I couldn’t decide which to have) from a popular local Thai chain in Wilmslow (haven’t been back since). At Giggling Squid however my gluttony is celebrated and you get to enjoy lots of tapas style dishes with unique Thai tastes. Perfect for a quick lunch or a light bite in the evening with friends.

We were invited on a rainy & dull Saturday afternoon. Giggling Squid sure does brighten up London Road with its beautifully bright front terrace. Can’t wait to see that in full use come Summer! The good vibes didn’t stop at the door. We were given the warmest Welcome by our host Brooke. Who immediately made us feel at home, explained the menu and let us walk around the restaurant to do our thang.. though she was always on hand with any questions.. When it came to the food, we had plenty.

When reviewing food sometimes things can get very samey-samey, so when something like a Thai Tapas comes along, we’re immediately listening. On this occasion we asked Brooke and the Giggling Squid team for their recommendations. They didn’t disappoint.

Our bountiful banquet was delivered to the table at the same time, because we love to bounce between plates like heathens.

From the Tapas Sets (the plates split into four quarters) we had; The Royal Squid which has Lamb Massaman Curry, Yummy Duck Spring Rolls, Samui Zingy Prawns and Jasmine Rice. We also had the Two Giggling Squid. Which has Chicken Massaman Curry, Salt & Pepper Squid, Giggling Wings and Jasmine Rice. Massaman curry is my all time favourite Thai curry, so you can imagine the excitement levels when they hit the table. The Tapas sets are great if you can’t quite decide on one dish alone. They’re a lovely little taster, perfect for a quick lunch too.

From the additional Tapas Menu we had; The Sleeping Honey Duck (Brookes fave & her recommendation). A delicious duck breast covered in sweet honey! My personal favourite - The Som Tam Papaya Salad. A Green papaya salad with a satisfying crunch. Lots of fresh chilli, Thai Garlic, Fish sauce and lime(?). Served in a clay mortar and packing a powerfully vibrant punch. We also had Hawker Style Moo Ping; Garlic and coriander marinated pork skewers seared over charcoal for that juicy, chargrilled texture of bbq street food. Finally, we also enjoyed crunching our way through a bowl of Pak Choi & Tenderstem Broccoli. Another winning dish in our eyes.

The Giggling Squid has a very relaxed vibe, but fits right in with its Alderley neighbours. It’d be a great spot for a quick lunch or for an evening light bite before heading out for more drinkies. Thank you so much for having us, we had a beautiful lunch!