The Galaxy Buddha Bowl ($11.99) is Galaxy Cafe’s best selling entree, a mix of rice and steamed vegetables with chicken served with sauce. A weekly special variant adds roasted vegetables.[/caption]With gluten-free and antibiotic-free terminology becoming standard with food, the original Galaxy Cafe in Southwest Austin has been offering those types of ingredients and dietary needs since 2004.
Co-owner Kelly Chappell said he and his co-owner Chris Courtney worked in and managed restaurants for years before deciding to venture off into opening their own fast-casual restaurant concept with an emphasis on fresh and local ingredients.
The duo decided to make Galaxy Cafe fast-casual to remove obstacles between customers and the food, a place where customers can come with eight of their friends and everybody can find something to eat, pay on their own and spend as much as they want, Chappell said.
The Galaxy Buddha Bowl ($11.99) is Galaxy Cafe’s best selling entree, a mix of rice and steamed vegetables with chicken served with sauce. A weekly special variant adds roasted vegetables.[/caption]“After we decided what we wanted to do, we looked around town and rolled the dice on coming this far south because 12 1/2 years ago, there was nothing healthy down here at all,” Chappell said. “We were surrounded by chicken-fried steak, tacos and big bowls of pasta.”
A third co-owner, Jay Bunda, joined Chappell and Courtney on a full-time basis two years later to expand Galaxy Cafe north. The trio now owns a total of four Galaxy Cafes, Mexican restaurant Zocalo Cafe and Top Notch Hamburgers.
“We treat the restaurants like children,” Chappell said. “They all have different personalities. [The Brodie Lane location] was our firstborn, and it will always be in our hearts.”
Galaxy Cafe’s menu offers both healthy items, such as salads and wraps, in contrast with comfort food, including macaroni and cheese ($3.59) and sweet potato fries ($3.99).
The restaurant’s best-selling item is not a comfort item, but the Galaxy Buddha Bowl ($11.99), a mix of lentils, brown rice, vegetables and either chicken or seasonal vegetables.
“People always ask who our target market is, and we say, ‘Everyone,’” Chappell said. “We wanted to offer something for everyone.”
Galaxy Cafe’s secret menu
Over the years, Galaxy Cafe has removed items from its menu, but regular customers continued to order the item after the removal, co-owner Kelly Chappell said.
Co-owners Kelly Chappell and Chris Courtney (not pictured) opened the restaurant in 2004.[/caption]“Regulars would come in and order the same item without even knowing it was off the menu,” Chappell said.
The chicken salad salad, which is chicken salad on top of a salad, is one example of an off-the-menu item that can still be ordered, he said.
In addition to off-the-menu items, dinner specials, normally served after 5 p.m., can be ordered for lunch, Chappell said.
Dinner special examples include grilled salmon ($13.99), served with butter, rice, steamed seasonal vegetables and a salad or soup.
Galaxy Cafe, 9911 Brodie Lane, Austin
512-233-6000
www.galaxycafeaustin.com
Hours: Sun.-Sat. 7 a.m.-10 p.m.
