Curtis Hopson, co-owner of Chan’s Thai Kitchen, at his newly remodeled Auke Bay restuarant on Friday, Nov. 22, 2019. The popular restuarant has reopened with a reduced menu and only evening hours. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Curtis Hopson, co-owner of Chan’s Thai Kitchen, at his newly remodeled Auke Bay restuarant on Friday, Nov. 22, 2019. The popular restuarant has reopened with a reduced menu and only evening hours. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Fan-favorite restaurant returns in streamlined form

Chan’s Thai Kitchen is back

After a roughly 10-month break, a local Thai food institution is open again.

Chan’s Thai Kitchen closed to little fanfare but much wailing and gnashing of teeth in January as the owners took a hiatus to focus on themselves, and decide what the future of the restaurant would be.

The popular restaurant quietly reopened earlier this month and is again serving food at the same Auke Bay location it has occupied for more than two decades.

“We were pretty quiet about reopening,” said co-owner Curtis Hopson in a telephone interview. “We wanted to ease into the new system.”

Chan’s will have all of the old favorites but trimmed down, and now in a takeout-focused setting. The menu will still include popular dishes such as cashew chicken, pad thai, and spring rolls.

The restaurant itself will no longer offer table service.

That cuts down on dishes to be washed, one of the largest time sinks in the old format. The restaurant will also be operating on more limited hours. Chan’s will be open Tuesday through Saturday from 5-8 p.m.

“We’re cutting down on the menu and that helps,” Hopson said.

With the new, leaner menu and the more takeout-oriented process, the restaurant will be less labor intensive for Hopson and his wife, Chan, a major factor in the decision to take a break and reevaluate.

So far, Hopson is pleased with the changes, even if running a two-person shop is still pretty busy.

“It’s just me and my wife again. We have a lot of hats to wear,” Hopson said. “I’m glad we did the soft opening.”

Hungry yet?

Chan’s doesn’t have an official website, Hopson said, but they’ll do their best to update everyone about major changes through their Facebook.


• Contact reporter Michael S. Lockett at 757-621-1197 or mlockett@juneauempire.com.


More in News

The Norwegian Bliss arrives in Juneau on Monday, April 14, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)
Ships in port for the week of May 11

This information comes from the Cruise Line Agencies of Alaska’s 2024 schedule.… Continue reading

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Tuesday, May 13, 2025

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Monday, May 12, 2025

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

A sign for a store that accepts food stamps and exchange benefits transfer cards is seen in this 2019 photo. (Scott Heins/Getty Images)
Alaska gives food stamp recipients’ personal information to federal officials

Data sharing part of nationwide request by Trump administration; appears to be targeting migrants.

Rep. Jeremy Bynum, R-Ketchikan, speaks to Rep. Calvin Schrage, I-Anchorage, during a vote on amendments to the state’s capital budget on Monday, May 12, 2025. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
Amid budget struggle, Alaska has little money for new construction or renovation

State’s capital budget about to pass Legislature with no projects for individual legislators’ districts.

Sen. Bert Stedman, R-Sitka, at center, sits among senators during a joint session of the Alaska Legislature on Wednesday, May 14, 2025. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
Most Alaskans nominated for state boards and commissions get Legislature’s approval this year

One nominee was rejected on a 0-60 vote, which may be a first for the Alaska Legislature.

A person uses a garden hose in an effort to save a neighboring home from catching fire during the Eaton Fire on Jan. 8, 2025 in Altadena, California. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)
Dozens of members of Congress from both parties plead with Trump to unfreeze FEMA grants

Sen. Murkowski part of group drafting letter urging FEMA to begin spending already OK’d by Congress.

The six members of a joint House-Senate conference committee appointed to resolve differences in their versions of next year’s proposed state budget sign documents at their initial meeting Tuesday, May 13, 2025, at the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
PFD of $1,000 or $1,400? Ban on abortion funds or not? Fate of state’s budget now in hands of six legislators

Conference committee seeks to resolve 400 differences in House, Senate budgets as session nears end.

Boxes of sugary cereal, including those from General Mills, fill a store’s shelves on April 16, 2025, in Miami, Florida. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
US House Republican plan would force states to pay for a portion of SNAP benefits

State costs would increase with higher error rates — Alaska currently has the highest.

Most Read