If you find yourself at Gunwharf Quays with a craving for Thai, Giggling Squid is the obvious place to land. It sits in the heart of the outlet centre, inside the historic Vulcan Building — the old home of Loch Fyne — and it is hard to miss, with the Spinnaker Tower and the ferry services close by and Portsmouth Harbour station within easy reach. The address is Vulcan Buildings, Gunwharf Quays, PO1 3BF, and the phone is 023 9200 4799.
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The first thing you notice is the room. It has a signature botanical interior, a separate bar area for cocktails, and a large outdoor terrace for eating al fresco, which the restaurant calls 'Thai under the sky'. There are private seating areas, it is family-friendly, there are vegetarian and vegan options, and there is step-free access. Indoors it holds around 130 people, with another 120 spaces outside, so it is built to handle a busy Gunwharf lunch or dinner.
As for the food, it is cooked by experienced Thai chefs using authentic ingredients, and the menu runs to vegetarian and gluten-free options. A few names stand out: the Salt & Pepper Squid, the Sticky Chicken, and a Pad Thai that comes with five different protein choices. The Rising Star Red Duck Curry, with star fruit, pineapple and pea aubergine, is the founder Andy's favourite, and the Salt & Pepper Chilli Mushrooms make a meat-free alternative to the squid. Rounding things out are the Caramelised Pork Belly, Crispy Squid Bits, the North Eastern Papaya Salad and a plant-based starter. At the bar, the Raspberry & Elderflower Daiquiri blends passion fruit, mango and elderflower gin, the Pattaya Martini is a Thai take on a Pornstar Martini, the Silky Pink pairs Kavka vodka with jasmine tea and house lychee liqueur, and the Lychee Angel is the alcohol-free option.
It is the sort of place that works for almost any occasion, from a family meal on a comfortable bench to a romantic dinner for two or a quick lunch after a bit of shopping. Opening hours are 11:00 to 22:00 Monday to Wednesday and Sunday, and 11:00 to 22:30 Thursday to Saturday, so it is open late enough for dinner on the busier nights.
There are a few ways to make it cheaper. The Blue Light Discount takes 15% off food from Sunday to Thursday on the All Day and Lunch menus, excluding bank holidays and special days like Christmas, New Year, Valentine's, Easter and Mother's and Father's Day. The Social Offer gives you a free starter or side with a main if you quote 'NEW MENU' when booking online, and it is for dine-in only. If you sign up and give your date of birth, you get a complimentary birthday tipple — a glass of prosecco or a non-alcoholic drink, excluding virgin cocktails — via email, valid for 60 days. Gift cards work across all Giggling Squid restaurants and last for 365 days from their last use, and the Golden Giggler scheme rewards people who book or order takeaway three times in a year with exclusive perks and quarterly prizes. The Deliveroo feedback card, a £5 voucher for eating in, ran until the end of May, so that one has passed.
