Souplantation, the beloved all-you-can-eat soup and salad buffet chain, is officially returning to California. On October 8, 2026, company officials confirmed that the brand plans to reopen its former restaurant in Fountain Valley, Orange County, in 2027. The announcement marks a major comeback for the cult-favorite eatery, which shut down all of its locations across the country during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020.
Marlee Lossing, Souplantation’s director of corporate affairs, confirmed the expansion plans to the media following a cryptic teaser video posted to Instagram on October 5, 2026. The social media post featured a palm-tree-studded graphic with a “Welcome to California” sign and the caption “Stay tuned,” immediately generating thousands of excited comments from nostalgic fans.
Returning to Its Roots in Fountain Valley
The upcoming California restaurant will be located at 11179 Talbert Avenue near Newhope Street in Fountain Valley, occupying the site of the brand’s former restaurant. The standalone building spans approximately 7,800 square feet. While company representatives have confirmed the 2027 timeframe, an exact grand opening date has not yet been announced.
The Fountain Valley location will preserve the classic self-serve format that made the brand a household name. Diners can expect the return of the sprawling salad bar, rotating pots of hot soup, freshly baked breads, and popular desserts. Lossing noted that the restaurant will also bring back its signature monthly specials and beloved staple recipes.
Fan-Favorite Menu Items Making a Comeback
Die-hard fans who have spent years mourning the loss of the chain can look forward to the exact recipes they remember. According to corporate representatives, returning menu options will include:
- Joan’s Broccoli Madness Salad
- Wonton Happiness Salad
- Big Chunk Chicken Noodle Soup
- Classic macaroni and cheese
- Freshly baked blueberry muffins and warm focaccia pizza
The Road to Revival After 2020 Closures
Founded in San Diego in 1978, Souplantation (and its sister brand Sweet Tomatoes, which operated outside of Southern California) grew into a 97-unit powerhouse known for healthy, family-friendly, and affordable dining. However, the business faced severe challenges, filing for bankruptcy in 2016 before the pandemic dealt a final blow in 2020. Garden Fresh Restaurants, the former parent company, permanently closed all 97 locations-including 44 in California-citing the impossibility of maintaining a self-serve buffet model under pandemic restrictions.
A revival began taking shape after an acquisition by ST Three LLC, headed by Mike Malone, who previously served as Garden Fresh Restaurants’ vice president of operations. Under new management, the company brought back the Sweet Tomatoes banner in Tucson, Arizona, and Fort Myers, Florida, in 2024. The Fountain Valley site will become only the third operating location in the country, and the very first to return to California.
Could More Locations Open in California?
While Fountain Valley is currently the only California comeback officially confirmed, corporate leadership has left the door open for further expansion. Lossing indicated that the company is actively evaluating additional markets across California and other regions for future development, though leadership is deliberately taking a measured approach to ensure operational success.
For now, Southern California residents will have to wait for further construction updates and official scheduling announcements as 2027 approaches. Until then, the closest operating locations remain in Arizona and Florida.
