Despite having opened just last month, this restaurant-café is already winning hearts and warming tummies. Inside, the ambience is cosy and inviting, with comfortable cushions and warm lighting.
It doesn’t try too hard to impress – and this effortless charm is exactly what makes customers feel at home.
“Giggling is about happiness, right? So, we didn’t want anything too serious,” founder David Yap told FMT Lifestyle when asked about the name.
“My wife and I wanted a place where everyone, young and old, could come to have fun, enjoy themselves, and have a giggle.”
This may be his first foray into restaurant ownership, but Yap is no stranger to the industry: the 36-year-old has worked with established brands like Dôme Café, Sukiya, and The Big Group (Ben’s Kitchen Sdn Bhd) – the latter of which he was most recently group general manager.
Motivated by the birth of his first child and a desire to create something of his own, Yap took the leap into entrepreneurship.
The menu here features a diverse mix of local and western dishes, catering to a wide range of tastes. Even the coffee spans generations, with traditional Hainan kopi served alongside espressos and lattes!
The Smoky & Spiced Chicken Chop is a crowd favourite, and one bite makes it clear why. Marinated for at least 24 hours, the pan-seared meat boasts crispy skin and tender, flavourful meat.
It’s served on a bed of creamy mashed potatoes, accompanied by grilled vegetables and a zesty mango salsa.
Another standout is the Slurpy Ipoh Hor Fun, a dish Yap perfected after travelling to the Perak capital to learn from an expert. The broth is deeply flavourful, thanks to a process that involves an eight-hour simmer and the inclusion of fried prawn shells.
The silky noodles are topped with the requisite slices of chicken and sizable tiger prawns. The crustaceans, Yap shared, are delivered live to the restaurant every two days – so you know they’re fresh!
The Giggles Nasi Lemak Ayam Berempah is a local favourite done right: fluffy basmati rice paired perfectly with piquant sambal made in-house. The fried chicken is juicy and aromatic, making this a wholly satisfying meal.
Like poke bowls? Try the Salmon Says – a generous bowl of Calrose rice topped with pan-seared salmon, onsen egg, edamame, corn, tobiko (fish roe), pickled ginger and crispy fried garlic.
Other standouts here include the Sunrise Feast, a hearty breakfast offering (until 2.30pm!) that features homemade chicken sausage, beef bacon, eggs, and avocado, among other brekky delights.
For pasta lovers, the Spaghettini con Gamberoni, which comes topped with plump tiger prawns, is a must-try.
When it comes to the beverages, the dirty latte is a coffee-lover’s dream – a silky blend of espresso and milk, with a secret ingredient Yap insists on keeping under wraps (FMT Lifestyle thinks it’s love!).
It’s best enjoyed without stirring, and Yap recommends savouring it in 3-4 sips over a minute. You won’t regret it: from a warm and slightly bitter opener, this small glass of heaven gradually gives way to a colder, sweeter finish.
For a more local touch, the Hainan kopi also packs a punch. It’s rich and smooth, with just the right balance of sweetness and creaminess.
To end your meal with something sweet, the Molten Cheesecake is this writer’s top choice: a slice of creamy goodness boasting a rich, gooey centre and a crumbly base.
Other dessert options include gelati and sorbets, as well as tarts, shortcakes and mousse.
All in all, Giggles is a place foodies will be thrilled to discover and revisit – the kind of homey establishment that will have you leaving with a smile on your face.
Giggles
19-GF, Jalan SS23/15, Taman Sea,
47300 Petaling Jaya
For location, click here. Prefer not to drive? The Taman Bahagia LRT station is only about a 15-minute walk away!
Business hours: 8am-10pm (daily)
Contact: 012-360 3131