Giggling Squid - York

Walk into Giggling Squid and you're stepping into something genuinely different for York's dining scene. The space hums with a proper buzz—you'll find yourself surrounded by locals who know their pad thai from their pad see ew, all tucked into this spot right on Lendal where the river's just round the corner. The kitchen takes Thai cooking seriously without being precious about it: expect zingy curries that don't pull punches, fresh seafood that tastes like it actually knows where the sea is, and those fragrant stir-fries that make you understand why people queue for Thai in this city. The staff get what they're doing, the prices won't leave you short for a drink after, and honestly, the 4.8-star rating isn't some fluke—people come back here properly.