Iconic Pea Soup Andersen’s in Buellton Shuts Doors

Considered a significant part of California’s culinary history, Pea Soup Andersen’s, an almost century-old staple in Buellton, has closed its doors out of the blue. Known for its delectable split pea soup, this roadside restaurant had become engrained in the itinerary of many tourists, wine enthusiasts, salespeople, and truckers cruising through the Santa Ynez Valley.

This unexpected closure is not a farewell, though. The restaurant is undergoing a much-needed redevelopment project. While patrons must wait for their favorite split pea soup, there isn’t a set reopening date just yet. In the meantime, the connected hotel, Pea Soup Andersen’s Inn, is still welcoming guests.

Pea Soup Andersen’s carries with it a rich backstory. In 1924, after the arrival of electricity in the Santa Ynez Valley, Anton and Juliette Andersen launched Andersen’s Electric Cafe. Anton brought his robust culinary expertise from Europe and New York to the table, but it was Juliette’s split pea soup that transformed the restaurant’s identity. Their simple cafe soon became Pea Soup Andersen’s, home of the famous split pea soup, a title it proudly still carries.

In just three years, demand for Juliette’s soup rocketed, leading to pea orders by the ton, an overwhelming amount for that time. They capitalized on this by proudly displaying a ton of peas in the restaurant’s window, hence the slogan “The Home of Split Pea Soup.”

Pea Soup Andersen’s is set on a landmark property owned by Milt Guggia Enterprises. The property was up for grabs at $4.7 million in August 2020, and a sale is underway. It’s expected that the antiquated structure will be demolished as part of the redevelopment. The future of the restaurant — whether it continues as Pea Soup Andersen’s or takes a new direction — is still up in the air.

With plans for new construction on the 3.36-acre property, there’s speculation that the space might be used for housing. Meanwhile, pea soup enthusiasts need not despair. There’s another Pea Soup Andersen’s, established in Santa Nella in 1976, where the restaurant’s beloved home-cooked meals are still being served.