Update (Oct. 25, 2026): We added the exact Fountain Valley address, what the company says the new restaurant will serve, the latest on the Fort Myers and Tucson revival, and a checklist for fans who want to be first in line.
Quick answer: Yes, Souplantation is coming back. As of Oct. 25, 2026, the company plans to reopen one restaurant in Fountain Valley, California, in 2027, at its old site at 11179 Talbert Ave. No opening date, menu or prices have been announced, and no other California locations are confirmed yet.
| Question | What we know (Oct. 25, 2026) |
|---|---|
| Is it really coming back? | Yes. A company spokesperson confirmed the 2027 plan to local TV and business outlets. |
| Where? | 11179 Talbert Ave., Fountain Valley, in The Shoppes at Costco Plaza (Orange County) |
| When? | Sometime in 2027. No exact date yet. |
| Same format? | The company says yes: all-you-can-eat salad bar, soups, breads and desserts |
| Other California cities? | None announced. San Diego and Los Angeles are not confirmed. |
| Open now elsewhere? | Sweet Tomatoes in Tucson, Ariz. (2024) and Fort Myers, Fla. (2026) |
Souplantation is coming back. The salad-buffet chain that closed all of its restaurants during the COVID-19 pandemic plans to reopen in California in 2027, with its first location in Fountain Valley in Orange County. For millions of Southern Californians who grew up on its salad bar, muffins and soups, it is the comeback they have asked for since 2020.
Quick facts
- What: Souplantation (called Sweet Tomatoes outside California) is returning to California.
- Where: Fountain Valley, Orange County, at its former site on Talbert Avenue near Newhope Street.
- When: 2027. No exact opening date has been announced.
- How many: Only one California location has been announced so far.
- Already open: Sweet Tomatoes restaurants in Tucson, Arizona, and Fort Myers, Florida.
📱 In a hurry? Swipe through our quick Web Story on this.
How the comeback was announced
On Oct. 5, Sweet Tomatoes posted a teaser on Instagram: a palm-tree image with a “Welcome to California” sign and the caption “Stay tuned…” Within days the company confirmed it plans one California restaurant in 2027. Company officials confirmed the Fountain Valley plan to Nation’s Restaurant News, and local reports name the old Fountain Valley site on Talbert Avenue, a building of about 7,800 square feet.
A company representative said that “for now,” only one location has been announced. Menus, hours and a construction timeline have not been released.
Why Souplantation closed in 2020
Souplantation opened in San Diego in 1978 and grew to 97 restaurants, most of them in California. Its all-you-can-eat, self-serve model was hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, when health rules shut down buffets and salad bars. In May 2020 the chain permanently closed every location, and many fans assumed it was gone for good.
The Sweet Tomatoes revival so far
The brand has been rebuilding outside California first. Under the Sweet Tomatoes name it now runs restaurants in Tucson, Arizona, and Fort Myers, Florida. Those openings drew long lines, which helped make the case for a return to the brand’s home state.
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1978 | First Souplantation opens in San Diego |
| 2019 | Chain reaches about 97 locations |
| May 2020 | All restaurants close permanently during the pandemic |
| Recent years | Sweet Tomatoes reopens in Tucson, AZ, and Fort Myers, FL |
| Oct. 2026 | California return announced; Fountain Valley named |
| 2027 | Planned opening of the first new California Souplantation |
Will Souplantation come back to San Diego or Los Angeles?
Not yet announced. San Diego, where the chain was born, has no confirmed location, and neither does Los Angeles County. Fans can follow Sweet Tomatoes’ social media for updates, since the company used Instagram for its first announcement.
Restaurant chains are making very different bets right now: some are coming back, while others are closing stores. Read our report on Crumbl Cookies closures and Starbucks’ smaller-store test.
What the new Fountain Valley Souplantation will look like
The new restaurant goes back into the brand’s former building at 11179 Talbert Ave., in The Shoppes at Costco Plaza. Reports put the space at about 7,800 square feet.
Company spokesperson Marlee Lossing told local outlets the restaurant will keep the original all-you-can-eat format. That means the long salad bar, hot soups, breads and muffins, and desserts, according to KTVU/Fox.
What is still missing: the menu, the price per person, the hours and a construction schedule. We will add those when the company releases them.
How the Sweet Tomatoes comeback got here
The original company closed every restaurant in May 2020 and went through liquidation. New owners later bought the brand and started small.
- Tucson, Arizona (2024): the first Sweet Tomatoes to reopen. It proved fans would still line up for a salad buffet.
- Fort Myers, Florida (May 2026): the second location, at 14080 S. Tamiami Trail. The Business Observer reported it opened to large crowds.
- Fountain Valley, California (2027): the third planned location and the first in the brand’s home state.
Each opening has been a single store, not a wave. That slow pace matters. It suggests the owners want each restaurant to make money before they sign the next lease.
Who is involved in the comeback
| Who | Role |
|---|---|
| Sweet Tomatoes (new owners) | Run the revived brand. Business filings list the Tucson store as ST Three LLC and the Fort Myers store as ST Four LLC, per the Business Observer. |
| Marlee Lossing | Company spokesperson who confirmed the 2027 Fountain Valley plan |
| City of Fountain Valley | Handles building permits and inspections for the Talbert Avenue site |
| Fans | Drove the comeback with years of social media requests and long opening-day lines |
The old Souplantation name stays in California, where fans grew up with it. In other states, the same restaurant uses the Sweet Tomatoes name. It is one brand with two signs.
Why a buffet comeback is harder than it looks
Self-serve buffets carry costs that a regular restaurant does not. Food waste is higher, because trays must stay full. Labor is constant, because bars need cleaning and restocking all day.
Food prices also matter. Fresh produce is the heart of the Souplantation menu, and produce costs swing with weather and trade policy. That is one reason the company has not promised a price yet.
Other chains show how tough the market is. Some are shrinking, like the cookie chain in our Crumbl closures report. Others are testing smaller stores to cut costs. A one-store-at-a-time approach is a cautious bet in that climate.
Made-up example (for illustration only)
These are made-up examples. Maria, who lives in Huntington Beach, wants to take her parents on opening week. Fountain Valley is a short drive, so she follows the brand’s Instagram and plans a weekday lunch to skip the weekend lines. Kevin in San Diego is out of luck for now. Until a San Diego store is announced, his closest option will be a drive to Orange County.
How to be first in line: a fan checklist
- Follow Sweet Tomatoes on Instagram. The company used Instagram for its first California teaser on Oct. 5, 2026.
- Check the official website for a “coming soon” or email sign-up page.
- Watch Orange County news. Local outlets broke the address and the 2027 timing.
- Plan for crowds. The Fort Myers opening drew big lines, so expect the same in Fountain Valley.
- Ignore “free buffet” giveaways on social media. Fake restaurant giveaways are a common scam. Only trust posts from the verified brand account.
Also read: How to spot a text message scam, including the fake coupon and giveaway tricks that follow big restaurant news.
What happens next
Three things to watch over the coming months:
- Building permits and a construction start at the Talbert Avenue site
- An opening date, likely announced on social media first
- Any second California location, with San Diego the most requested by fans
Until then, treat any specific date you see online as a rumor unless it comes from the company.
Frequently asked questions
Is Souplantation coming back?
Yes. The company plans to reopen one Souplantation in Fountain Valley, California, in 2027.
When will the new Souplantation open?
Sometime in 2027. No exact date has been announced.
Where is the new Souplantation?
At its former Fountain Valley site on Talbert Avenue near Newhope Street in Orange County.
Are Souplantation and Sweet Tomatoes the same?
Yes. It was the same chain: Souplantation in California and Sweet Tomatoes in other states.
Sources: Nation’s Restaurant News, Tasting Table, chain history, and Sweet Tomatoes’ Instagram announcement.
Bottom line
Souplantation is really coming back, but slowly. One restaurant is planned for Fountain Valley in 2027, at the chain’s old Talbert Avenue site, with the classic salad bar, soups and muffins. There is no date, no price and no second California store yet. Follow the brand’s official accounts and be wary of fake giveaways until it opens.
Last reviewed: Oct. 25, 2026
Sources: KTVU/Fox, NBC San Diego, Orange County Business Journal, Restaurant Dive, Business Observer, Nation’s Restaurant News.
