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.

“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.