Six years after a beloved all-you-can-eat buffet chain shuttered amid the COVID-19 pandemic, it's slated to return to the Golden State.
Sweet Tomatoes, which operated as Souplantation in Southern California, is coming to Orange County's Fountain Valley in 2027, the company announced in a Wednesday, Oct. 7, Instagram post.
"The wait is almost over! California, WE’RE COMING BACK!" the company said.
Marlee Lossing, Sweet Tomatoes’ director of corporate affairs, confirmed in an Oct. 7 email to USA TODAY Co. that a "comeback to California" is in the works. USA TODAY CO. has reached out to the company to clarify whether the new California eatery plans to operate as "Souplantation" or "Sweet Tomatoes."
Fans reacted quickly on social media, with some calling
the chain's Golden State comeback "a miracle."
"This is one of the best days of my life. Welcome home, Souplantation. Fountain Valley has missed you," another Instagram user commented.
Instagram reel sparks excitement. 'DREAMS do come true'
Sweet Tomatoes initially sparked excitement among fans when it teased a California return in 2027 in a Monday, Oct. 5, Instagram Reel captioned, "Stay tuned..."
The video features the classic Souplantation and Sweet Tomatoes logos alongside the year 2027 as it moves through California imagery, including fields of poppies, beaches, and rows of palm trees, before arriving at a "Welcome to California" sign.
"Coming soon," the video's final screen reads.
Social media users were quick to share their enthusiasm, with one commenting, "YOU BETTER NOT BE PLAYING."
"DREAMS do come true," another wrote.
The first Souplantation opened in San Diego County in 1978, according to Eater San Diego. The chain grew to 97 locations, known as Sweet Tomatoes outside of Southern California, nationwide, before shuttering in 2020.
"When the COVID-19 pandemic forced the closure of buffets, in 2020, Sweet Tomatoes suffered from the loss of business," the company wrote in a news release. "The chain filed for bankruptcy protection and permanently closed all of its 97 locations."
Four years later, Sweet Tomatoes opened under new ownership, with its first location in Tucson, Arizona. In May 2026, the eatery added a second location in Fort Myers, Florida.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Beloved buffet chain plans California comeback. Here's where
