Iconic Pea Soup Andersen's Has Closed. Here Are Your Memories

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".

Rob, Mid-Wilshire

"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."

Susan, Whittier

"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."