Memories of the now-closed 100-year-old restaurant
Gab Chabrán
covers what's happening in food and culture for LAist.
Published January 12, 2024 5:00 AM
Andersen's Split Pea Soup Restaurant in Buellton, California, closed its doors this week.
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George Rose
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Getty Images
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Topline:
The roadside restaurant Andersen's Pea Soup, located off the 101 Freeway near Santa Barabra, closed its doors this week. The 100-year-old restaurant most recently had seen better days, but is remembered fondly by many who have distinct memories of its heyday.
Why it matters: From honeymoon visits to photos with cartoon chefs Hap-pea and Pea-wee, we've pulled together memories of the beloved roadside restaurant.
Why now: The age of fast-casual restaurants makes it hard for a destination like Pea Soup Andersen's to thrive as it once did. However, losing the mid-century era family restaurant doesn't sting any less — and it will no doubt be sorely missed.
The news of the sudden closure of Andersen's Pea Soup restaurant caught the surprise of many who frequented the roadside family restaurant. 2024 marks the 100th year of the restaurant being in business.
Located in the city of Buellton in Santa Barbara County, Andersen's, in its heyday, served as a stop along the 101 Freeway for many families on road trips who were looking for a bite to eat and have some family fun.
The restaurant has been serving thick green pea soup ever since Danish immigrant Anton Andersen and his wife Juliette opened the restaurant. But Juliette’s tasty homemade pea soup from a recipe she’d learned in her native France couldn’t alone lure enough customers into the restaurant. So Anton and Juliette opened an inn, and Pea Soup Andersen’s became the stop for travelers through Central California.
Many who visited as children recall sticking their heads through the cutouts of the restaurant's cartoon chefs, Hap-pea and Pea-wee.
The two mascots became part of California's iconography due to the large billboards along the freeway, showing how many miles were left north of Santa Barbara or south of Santa Maria until you reached the restaurant, where a hot bowl of pea soup would be waiting for you.
The land where Andersen's is located is slated for redevelopment, so there is a chance the restaurant may return in some form. However, the location in Santa Nella remains open.
We collected memories from callers into LAist 89.3's AirTalk, LAist staff and pea soup lovers online about visiting Andersen's, and what made it so special.
Larry Mantle, Host of AirTalk
"I first went to Anderson's back in the 1960s. My grandparents took me on a short road trip up Highway 101 to visit California's missions. It was part of our elementary school program. We stopped at Andersen's and had a sandwich and split pea soup and a number of times over the years, I also stopped to eat there.
"It's been a while since I've had a meal at Anderson's, but I think for many of us, it's just been part of the landscape, and to think of it being closed seems very odd."
Mary, Glendora
"My memories of Pea Soup Andersen's were on a Wednesday, September 29th. 1954. It was our honeymoon trip, and we stopped there and had lunch at the counter, a bowl of split pea soup, and I think, meatloaf sandwiches. What I remember the most was I ordered a glass of milk. The waitress went over and pulled a handle and it was milk on tap and it was ice cold and delicious".
"One, the billboards telling you about the restaurant .... you could find your way to San Francisco with them. Two, unlimited split pea soup. It was all-you-could-eat when you got the sort of package meal. Also after eating, you'd be desperate to find a roadside exit around Salinas afterward."
John Rabe's treasured Andersen's mug
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John Rabe/LAist
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John Rabe, Production and Promotions Director
In honor of Andersen's, LAist's John Rabe made split pea soup last night from the recipe printed on his souvenir Andersen's mug.
"There was just something so evocative about Andersen's. I don't even know what the other food was like. I only ever had pea soup there. And it was delicious. And having soup at a wayside inn on a road trip just brings back memories of childhood and warmth and coming in out of the cold. And I'm going to miss Andersen's."
"My husband, being Canadian, and I, being Californian, drive our five kids up to Canada every year to visit family and pass by the Split Pea Soup. And I love Split Pea. None of my kids liked it, so for many years, they'd just say, no, don't pull over.
"And finally, two years ago, it was just my husband and I said, let's stop at the Split Pea Restaurant. And anyway, it was a flop for him. I enjoyed it, but it was almost empty. It was like being in a ghost town. So I could only imagine what it was like in its heyday. And sorry that it's closed for those that love split pea, but it's an easy recipe and I make it myself."
Nick Roman, host of All Things Considered
"My parents stopped there when my sisters and I were kids. I can’t say I was a big fan of pea soup — it’s an acquired taste — but we liked the burgers, fries, and ice cream shakes. We also liked poking our heads through the wooden cut-out of Hap-pea and Pea-wee outside the restaurant so our parents could snap our photos.
"I stopped there less often as I got older. Now, I can’t remember the last time I stopped at Pea Soup Andersen’s.
"And now Pea Soup Andersen’s is closed, and I’m left with my memories of visits long ago. But you’re not. There is another Pea Soup Andersen’s! It’s off Interstate 5 in Santa Nella in the San Joaquin Valley. Next time I’m driving north, I’ll stop. That’s a promise."
By Christopher Weber and Amy Taxin | Associated Press
Published September 8, 2026 5:09 PM
Emergency vehicles repond to the chemical leak in LA Habra on Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026.
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Jae C. Hong
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Associated Press
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Topline:
A slow leak from a chemical tank smeared an orange cloud across the sky of a Southern California neighborhood on Tuesday, but authorities said they quickly got it under control.
Why it matters: Los Angeles County Fire Capt. Aaron Katon said authorities responded to a La Habra business that makes cleaning products after receiving a call shortly before noon about the cloud. Police evacuated a nearby middle school as a precaution, Katon said.
The chemical: They do not yet know what the chemical was, but all shelter-in-place orders have been lifted, Katon said.
What's next: The regional air quality management district has deployed staff to the area to investigate, said Connie Villanueva, a spokesperson for the South Coast Air Quality Management District.
A slow leak from a chemical tank smeared an orange cloud across the sky of a Southern California neighborhood on Tuesday, but authorities said they quickly got it under control.
Los Angeles County Fire Capt. Aaron Katon said authorities responded to a business that makes cleaning products after receiving a call shortly before noon about the cloud. Police evacuated a nearby middle school as a precaution, Katon said.
They do not yet know what the chemical was, but all shelter-in-place orders have been lifted, he said. The regional air quality management district has deployed staff to the area to investigate, said Connie Villanueva, a spokesperson for the South Coast Air Quality Management District.
The company, Shepard Bros., could not immediately be reached for comment.
Three company employees reported minor respiratory irritation and declined further treatment, Katon said.
The leak occurred in the city of La Habra near a mix of residential neighborhoods and industrial warehouses about 10 miles (16 kilometers) north of Anaheim.
Keary Godinez, who works in a nearby restaurant, said she saw what appeared to be a dark yellow cloud spread across the sky. The 20-year-old said she watched students across the street board buses to evacuate, but police told her the eatery could remain open.
“It looked like pollen dust,” Godinez said, adding she didn’t detect a smell from the cloud. “It just kind of smeared in the sky and started going away.”
La Habra Mayor Jose Medrano had urged residents to shelter in place and said some streets were being evacuated.
Luis Gomez, who manages a nearby pickleball program, said earlier Tuesday he saw the cloud, called police and was told anyone within a mile radius of the location was under an evacuation order.
Lakers head coach Phil Jackson celebrates after defeating the Boston Celtics in Game 7 of the 2010 NBA Finals.
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Christian Petersen
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Getty Images North America
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Topline:
The Los Angeles Lakers will unveil a statue of former coach Phil Jackson outside their downtown arena next year. The Lakers announced the plan Tuesday to honor Jackson, who led the Lakers to five championships and seven NBA Finals appearances during two stints totaling 11 seasons as their head coach.
The backstory: After his famed tenure leading Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls to six championships, Jackson joined the Lakers in 1999 and immediately began another era of major success for the 17-time NBA champion franchise. His first three teams in Los Angeles won championships behind the dynamic duo of Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal, and the Lakers added two more titles in 2009 and 2010 led by Bryant and Pau Gasol. His Lakers also made the NBA Finals in 2004 and 2008.
What's next: The statue will be unveiled April 9 before the Lakers’ home game against Minnesota.
The Los Angeles Lakers will unveil a statue of former coach Phil Jackson outside their downtown arena next year.
The Lakers announced the plan Tuesday to honor Jackson, who led the Lakers to five championships and seven NBA Finals appearances during two stints totaling 11 seasons as their head coach.
The statue will be unveiled April 9 before the Lakers’ home game against Minnesota.
After his famed tenure leading Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls to six championships, Jackson joined the Lakers in 1999 and immediately began another era of major success for the 17-time NBA champion franchise.
His first three teams in Los Angeles won championships behind the dynamic duo of Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal, and the Lakers added two more titles in 2009 and 2010 led by Bryant and Pau Gasol. His Lakers also made the NBA Finals in 2004 and 2008.
Jackson set the Lakers franchise record for coaches with 610 victories while leading his teams to the playoffs in every year of his tenure, which ended in 2011.
“Phil Jackson defines championship basketball for a reason,” Lakers governor Jeanie Buss said in a statement. “His masterful approach to coaching brought out the best in some of the greatest athletes to ever play the game. After he accepted my dad’s invitation to join the Lakers, Phil’s unmatched creativity and commitment to excellence restored our championship legacy, bringing five titles and setting a standard of excellence for generations to come. It is a great joy to be able to mark that achievement with the statue he so richly deserves.”
Jackson will be the ninth person associated with the Lakers to be honored with a statue in Star Plaza outside their arena. He joins Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Jerry West, Elgin Baylor, Bryant, O’Neal, broadcaster Chick Hearn and former coach Pat Riley, whose statue was unveiled earlier this year.
Jackson’s 11 championships as a head coach are the most in NBA history. The North Dakota native and former New York Knicks forward is a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame.
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Lucas Brady Woods
covers the weather and disasters, among other climate and science topics.
Published September 8, 2026 3:25 PM
Clouds form over Venice Beach in August. Tropical moisture from Hurricane Marie is currently causing extreme humidity in Southern California this week.
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Apu Gomes
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Getty Images North America
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Topline:
The National Weather Service has issued an extreme heat warning for much of Southern California from Wednesday morning through Thursday.
The details: This week’s combination of heat and humidity could be worse than it has been all summer. Forecasters say temperatures will peak on Wednesday. Highs could get up to the triple digits. Overnight lows will also stay elevated. They may only get down to the 70s in places, offering little relief from the heat.
The humidity: Climate experts say the humidity this week could be some of the highest on record in Southern California, even after a summer marked by repeated humid heatwaves. The moisture in the air, combined with the extreme heat, makes it increasingly difficult for the human body to cool down, especially when outdoors. It’s also driving scattered rain and thunderstorms that will continue for the next few days.
The backstory: The tropical moisture is due in large part to the leftovers of Hurricane Marie hundreds of miles away in the Pacific Ocean. On top of that, record high ocean temperatures off the Southern California coast are adding to the humidity.
Destiny Torres
covers all things SoCal, from breaking news to local government, with a focus on Orange County.
Published September 8, 2026 2:22 PM
Mari Barke, photographed at the California Policy Center in Irvine in 2024.
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Courtesy of Mari Barke
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Topline:
An O.C. Superior Court judge increased the economic penalties for Orange County Board of Education member Marilyn “Mari” Barke for failing to report millions of dollars in economic disclosure filings. She will now have to pay more than $100,000 in penalties, according to court documents.
Why it matters: Barke was elected in 2018 to the Orange County Board of Education, which oversees and approves the county’s education budget that serves around 450,000 students.
Background: In 2024, the Fair Political Practices Commission found Barke liable for failing to correctly report income, resulting in a $3,200 penalty. But a judge in July said the FPPC’s settlement didn’t fully address Barke’s actions.
What are the penalties? Barke will have to pay $101,800 in penalties, as well as attorney fees, for incorrectly filling out economic disclosure statements and for failure to correct amended statements. She will be credited the $3,200 paid to the FPPC. Barke’s lawyer did not immediately respond to LAist’s request for comment.
What changed? Orange County Superior Court Judge H. Shaina Colover handed the decision on Sept. 3. Colover said in a final statement on the decision that “substantial civil damages are warranted” to enforce the Political Reform Act and prevent future violations.
Officials say: The complaint was filed by Lynne Riddle, a retired judge. Riddle’s lawyers said in a statement to LAist that the court’s ruling is a “landmark” outcome for public trust and that the high penalty fees show how serious the offenses were. “We hope this result reminds every public official in California that transparency is not optional, and that the public has both the right to know and the tools to hold them accountable when transparency is ignored,” Riddle’s legal team said.
