A Cult-Favorite Buffet Chain Is Making A California Comeback After 6 Years

It's rare for a closed chain restaurant to get a second chance, but a long-loved buffet looks like it's coming back to its home state of California. What makes this story particularly interesting is that the chain wasn't undone by a lack of customers, but by the COVID-19 pandemic. And, unlike many buffets, it built its identity around healthier options. That's right, California: Sweet Tomatoes and Souplantation is one all-you-can-eat buffet getting a well-deserved comeback.

If you aren't familiar with the chain, Sweet Tomatoes started as Souplantation in San Diego, California in 1978. While it offered a variety of buffet items, including baked goods and pizza, the chain focused less on the heavier country-style food of many buffets, opting instead for a massive salad bar and signature soups. The Sweet Tomatoes name was eventually adopted as the chain expanded into other states, but the restaurants themselves remained the same. Sweet Tomatoes and Souplantation have been absent from California since the 2020 pandemic, but a few years ago, a new operating company bought the defunct brand and reopened the classic buffet chain at a location in Arizona.

Now it looks like the chain is ready to expand again. Currently just going by Sweet Tomatoes, the chain opened a second location in Fort Myers, Florida, in June 2026. And recently, it posted a message on Instagram announcing its return to California.

Unfortunately for Sweet Tomatoes and Souplantation fans, there isn't much info in the announcement. The brand only posted a short video showing a welcome to California sign and the message "coming soon." There was no announcement of any specific location, city, or even a vague date for the reopening of this once defunct chain restaurant. The announcement did show both the Sweet Tomatoes and Souplantation logos, though, suggesting that the latter could be making a comeback as well.

It's still great news for what was once a popular local chain. Operating under the original name of Souplantation in Southern California, while using the newer Sweet Tomatoes name everywhere else, the chain grew to 97 locations, with 44 in California. Unfortunately, the company was in a terrible position to survive the Coronavirus. Buffets were hit particularly hard, with the Food & Drug Administration specifically targeting self-serve restaurants as a potential health risk throughout the pandemic. With nowhere to pivot, the chain recognized that people might be suspicious of buffets even after coming out of lockdown. Only a few months into the pandemic, Sweet Tomatoes and Souplantation filed for bankruptcy and closed all 97 locations, despite having been in a strong, profitable position.

The menu at the new Sweet Tomatoes (or Souplantation) should look pretty similar to what fans remember. There are premade salads like Joan's Broccoli Madness, Tuna Tarragon, and Wonton Happiness, along with focaccia, cornbread, and the chain's popular blueberry muffins. For California diners looking for an affordable, healthy meal, the news couldn't be better.