Giggling Squid Bishop’s Stortford | Restaurant Review [Thai Food]

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AD | Just across the Essex border in Hertfordshire is the market town of Bishop’s Stortford. I went to check out the Giggling Squid, a Thai food restaurant with some unique flavours and beautiful decor!

Disclosure: AD PR Invite – I was invited to Giggling Squid for a complimentary meal in return for my review. As always, opinions are my own.

Giggling Squid Bishop’s Stortford Review

🗺2-4 North Street, Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire CM23 2LQ

🕖Mon to Sun: 12pm until 22.30

Giggling Squid Decor

A fun decor element at the Bishop’s Stortford Giggling Squid location are the Instagrammable ‘bird cage’ tables! There are a few dotted around the restaurant and can seat up to 4 people. The cages have heart shapes and are decorated with colourful flowers. The whole restaurant had a lovely relaxing atmosphere.

It felt like everyone was spread out which was nice as it doesn’t feel like everyone is sitting on top of each other. The restaurant has several different areas and levels which help with this. Larger tables are available for bigger groups.

Drinks

The Giggling Squid has a large selection of alcoholic drinks with flavoured spirits and liquors, gin, wines and cocktails. Because I was driving I opted for a ‘Lychee Angel’ non alcoholic cocktail which was pink and fizzy! They also have juices, smoothies, coke, tea and coffee.

Giggling Squid Menu & Food

The staff at Giggling Squid are lovely and check to make sure if there are any allergies that they should be aware of. There is an allergy version of their menu too, as well as offering gluten free items, dishes suitable for vegans, vegetarians and Halal chicken and lamb.

There are several different menus alongside their regular all day menu, including a lunch menu with tapas and 2 course deals. The all day menu consists of a selection of starters and mains with ‘land and seafood’ dishes. Main courses are mostly curries, stir fries and noodle dishes.

I visited with my sister and we found that especially with the starters and desserts, they were served in a way that allowed us to share! So we opted for different dishes and then swapped so we could try both! The food was served piping hot and in good time. The portion size was perfect for a 3 course meal, we didn’t feel like we were struggling or over-full by the end!

Starters

For starters we had:spring rolls with sweet chilli sauce dip (3 crispy spring rolls, cut into 6) and pork dumplings in a soy and rice vinegar dip. The 4 bite-sized dumplings are served in individual little bowls.

(Starters are priced around £6-£8)

Mains

My main course was the chicken Massaman curry which was mild compared to some of their more spicier offerings. I love curries that have a strong coconut flavour and it did not disappoint. Compared to some curries, I really liked the way the Giggling Squid use sliced pieces of chicken rather than large chicken chunks. It made it much easier to eat!

My sister had the Wholesome Cashew Stir Fry with chicken. It is listed as medium spiced but she said the majority of the dish wasn’t that spicy…apart from one chilli she ate that she said nearly ‘blew her head off’ (we don’t tend to eat much spicy food!).

(Mains are priced around £9.50 – £17, not including sides of rice etc)

Desserts

For desserts they have some cake type options but we wanted to try the ice cream and sorbet as there were some unique flavours! Two scoops were served in individual pots with a garnish of strawberries, kiwi and orange. We had the Jasmine & Toasted Rice Ice Cream and the Pineapple, Coconut & Mekhong Sorbet. Mekhong is a Thai spirit and together the flavours tasted just like a Pina Colada cocktail! We exchanged one bowl with each other so we could try both flavours.

(Desserts are priced around £4.95 – £8.50)

Takeaway & Delivery

Along with the sit down restaurant, Giggling Squid also have a click and collect and a delivery menu.

Parking

Giggling Squid is located in the town centre, with several car parks nearby. I parked in the Apron Road Car Park which is a couple minutes walk away. I did get a bit lost trying to find it and ended up going around the one way system a couple of times trying to find the entrance! Parking charges are in place Monday to Saturday between 7.30am – 6.30pm and it’s free to park on Sunday.

Similarly the Jackson Square Multi-storey car park is free to park on a Sunday but I believe Monday to Saturday charges are enforced until midnight.

Bishop’s Stortford is the nearest large town to London Stansted Airport.