Cosmic Kitchen reopened under new ownership and management this month.
The local restaurant is now owned by Lisa and Steve “Tiny” Nolan. The couple is known for owning and operating several successful restaurants in the community, including Fat Olives. The new manager of Cosmic Kitchen, JD Nolan, was raised in Homer and returns after managing the Fat Olives Washington location for 16 years.
Cosmic Kitchen was first sold in 2020 when former owners Michelle Wilson and Sean Hogan decided to retire after 17 years of running the iconic breakfast and lunch hub. For a few years, it was known as Thai Cosmic Kitchen, making it the third Thai food place to open in Homer.
Nolan, the manager, said the new Cosmic Kitchen will pay homage to the original, with a selection of tacos and burritos, as well as burgers, sandwiches and fries. In soft opens, the burgers have been especially well-received, they said.
On Monday, April 28, the brightly colored walls inside the familiar restaurant were lit up with afternoon sunlight flooding in from the open windows. A communal shelf of hot sauces rested on a wall by the entrance and evocative, traditional masks beckoned from a corner that used to display assorted cookbooks, world music CDs, and games. The atmosphere was warm and welcoming, with plenty of seating provided for customers inside, within the covered porch area, and outside, on the spacious porch looking out onto Pioneer Avenue and the bay. Additionally, the new owners added a long bar for seating inside, making it easy to grab food and eat without worrying about where you’ll sit.
Cosmic Kitchen is now open for business Tuesday through Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Nolan said he hopes to expand their hours to include a breakfast menu soon. Any interested, prospective employees are encouraged to reach out.
Reach reporter Chloe Pleznac at chloe.pleznac@homernews.com
JD Nolan and Lisa Nolan stand outside the newly reopened Cosmic Kitchen on Monday, April 28, 2025, in Homer, Alaska. (Chloe Pleznac/Homer News)
