Southern California residents who mourned the 2020 closure of Souplantation can start planning their 2027 return to the all-you-can-eat buffet line. The restaurant has confirmed it will reopen its first California location in Fountain Valley, settling back into its former spot on Talbert Avenue near Newhope Street.
A representative for Sweet Tomatoes, Souplantation’s sibling company, confirmed the Southern California return to Eater. The company specified that the restaurant would operate under the Souplantation name, a detail likely to please long-time fans. The representative noted that "the love and demand for Souplantation has never faded," acknowledging the sustained public desire for its return.
This news comes several years after the popular chain, which began in 1978, closed all 97 of its restaurants, including 44 locations across California. The decision to close in 2020 was influenced by guidance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which identified self-serve restaurants as a potential health risk during the pandemic. Prior to this, the parent company of Souplantation and Sweet Tomatoes had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2016 and was subsequently acquired by the private investment firm Perpetual Capital Partners. Many of these vacant Souplantation and Sweet Tomatoes locations have remained empty since their closure.
Despite the closures, the enduring popularity of Souplantation and Sweet Tomatoes proved resilient. This public appetite was perhaps best illustrated by the emergence of a restaurant named Soup ‘n Fresh, which opened in Rancho Cucamonga in 2024, notably taking over a former Souplantation site. This new all-you-can-eat spot, clearly aiming to fill the void, saw immediate long waits as customers lined up for baked potatoes, blueberry muffins, and, of course, soup. The demand was significant enough that Soup ‘n Fresh expanded, opening a second location in Chino Hills in 2025.
The official return was initially teased by Souplantation on Instagram, through a video showcasing various clips of California. The comments section quickly became a forum for nostalgic fans to request specific menu items and nearby locations, mentioning favorites such as Yankee Clipper clam chowder, beef chili, and tuna tarragon pasta salad. Until 2027, Souplantation and Sweet Tomatoes continue to operate a few outposts, including one in Tucson, Arizona, and another in Fort Myers, Florida. Southern California residents, however, will have to wait a bit longer to revisit their beloved buffet.
