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Santa Nella, CA

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Pea Soup Andersen's Restaurant

3.4 (2k reviews)
Open • 8:00 am - 9:00 pm
Updated 2 months ago

Pea Soup Andersen's Restaurant Photos

PEA SOUP ANDERSEN'S RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Casual
Touristy
Good for kids

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Recommended Reviews - Pea Soup Andersen's Restaurant

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Menu 2 of 5
James H. L.

PSA has been around for near a century from one place to a dozen locations and now back down to just 2 - the other being along the 101 near Solvang. Back in the heyday, the soup had smoked ham bits and a bit thicker chunky split pea with a very deep flavor. These days, costs have driven down the cooking style to very modest versions of the originals but the essence is still there if but a whisper of the original. Pastries and breads are still good and fresh but definitely smaller than they used to be. Service is more sedated and simple with less of the homespun hospitality they used to welcome guests with feeling like visiting a little slice of Sweden. Now it's a little more like a travel magazine version to generally describe what it was like back then. If they kept up the original quality, their prices would have killed their business focus on roadside travelers, so they've kept prices down by downsizing and simplifying recipes. You can still get their famous soup kits in the general store area and add back in your own ham hocks to recreate history back home. But these days, it's simple a good enough place to take a break from the long drive and maybe pick up a few souvenirs than a must see attraction of the past. There's a lot of history still here but mostly in museum format.

Chocolate cream on top of a cookie. Covered in chocolate!
Amy H.

We were traveling stopped by to use the restroom and stretch our legs. We looked around the gift shop. Then I found there desserts. Omg the one we got was so very yummy! I want to go back and get more!

Pea Soup.
Rob D.

Pea Soup Andersen's is a special place. It saddens me that their other location has closed down. I hope that this location is getting the necessary amount of business, because it is a perfect stop on long drive. They have a fantastic, large menu with lots of comfort food, including of course their famous pea soup. Meat loaf, turkey dinner, sandwiches, grilled shrimp - you name it! The service is solid. There are multiple dining rooms and a bar. The ambience is sort Danish-influenced Americana mixed with classic roadside souvenir shop vibes (and a dash of theme park magic). Outside there is a big windmill, which is fun to see as you approach. A simply charming place; highly recommended for families or people traveling through town.

Alex K.

I can't even tell you the last time I was here. It has to be over 10 years or so. Of course it's a major stop for people who know about it. The other location in Buellton closed a while ago so I think this maybe the only one left. Could be the original but I'm not sure. Just off the 5 heading north. We stopped by for a quick bite before heading back on the road. Mid week which wasn't that busy. It's been so long ago that I didn't remember what the inside looked like. As we had our little pup with us, they were able to accommodate us. There's three entrance from the front area. Main being the one that leads you to the restaurant. Another is from the gift shop side and we also noticed people coming in from the side of the bar. One side is the restaurant which we looked at but ended up at the bar section. Which happened to be happy hour happening. Didn't know they had that to offer. Bar area was pretty quiet when we were there but it did pick up. There's also patio seating right outside there. Main menu pretty much has as everything but we just opted for some happy hour bites for now. Drink special was offered both for draft and bottle as well as cocktails and wine. Food menu, they were limited on that but the usual were offered. Both cup or bowl of the famous soup was available. Half order of the potatoes skin, onion rings and wings were available as well as the quesadillas. Soup was decent but could have been hotter. Onion rings, and the wings were ok. Good nothing major to rave about. Both served with ranch sauce. I also picked up some dessert from the counter which looked great. Happy hour items were decent for the price. The service for the whole place was great. All The staff and waitress were very friendly and helpful. Our waitress who was also the bartender was a major doll. She was very sweet. As well as all the ladies on the restaurant side. Very accommodating to us. Overall, it was a cute stop off for a quick bite. Cute gift shop that's worth a wandering around. Plenty of parking available.

Traveler's special
EJ F.

(+) Pea soup, it's in the name so it better be good. Learned it's also vegetarian and dairy free. (+) Had a bowl with the Traveler's Special. Decent amount of food for $19.99 and it comes with unlimited pancakes! (+) Service was really good, it was fairly busy too on a Friday late morning. Kids meal comes with a drink including hot chocolate. (+) Plenty of bathrooms and they were clean The gift shop is dated, much like the interior but maybe that's what they intend to keep. A bit of nostalgia if you were a kid on road trips and your family would stop here. I hated the pea soup back then, but now I enjoy it!

California omelette with side of bacon and veggie omelette.
Amy S.

The service here was great. Maria was our server and answered all our questions. They serve breakfast all day, so we ordered omelets. The hash browns were perfectly crispy, and the omelet was great. My friend mentioned that they put a mountain of bacon in her dish, and I had a decent amount of cheese in mine, but that can be a plus, depending on who you are. I recommend this place and the bakery here. The Napoleon pastry is great!

Their famous split pea soup
Brian T.

I kept seeing billboards along state highway 152 & I-5 while en route to SoCal, which I've been pondering, I'm trying out this place one of these days! There was a sign along the 101 towards Santa Barbara & Lompoc; unfortunately their Buellton location closed down two years ago for property redevelopment. You can't go wrong with their famous split pea soup, which is a must before each lunch or dinner favorite.

Bar area
Regina N.

I have always wanted to stop by Pea Soup Andersen's. It is iconic driving down the I-5 with its windmill towering over the surrounding landscape. Outside there is a photo op and the building looks really cool. Inside, you can find all things Danish. However, I was sad to find the shop was so much smaller than the pictures on Yelp show. Everything is connected inside - the shop, bakery, restaurant, bar, and restrooms. The restaurant is huge and there's also an eating area at the bar and a back patio, although it was dusty and cramped and I don't think many people use the patio seating. They are dog friendly and the bartender allowed us to sit in a corner of the bar with our two dogs for our dinner. We also were able to walk them around inside the shop. Split Pea Soup 3.5/5* The soup itself is boring. There's a grainy texture, good flavor, but blah. You definitely need to order the toppings to go with it, which is a weird combination of stuff that somehow makes the soup so much better. You get cheese, sliced ham, bacon, scallions, and croutons but the crunchy green onions and bacon are what makes the soup pop. It feels like eating a healthier version of chili. Country Fried Steak 2/5* Not your typical country fried steak. The batter on this is thin and isn't very textured with crunchy edges. It was like a sad limp piece of fried patty. The steak had good seasoning but the batter really did it no justice. Hashbrowns were average. The scrambled eggs were fluffy and English Muffin was perfectly toasted. I do like that they give you a whopping amount of whipped butter for your toast! The bakery had some good looking pastries. The whole experience reminded me of a piece of Solvang. Great rest stop for something different. Plus, the bathrooms are huge and clean.

Pea soup
Brian T.

A tourist spot but still pretty solid! I liked the pea soup and it tastes exactly as you'd expect. The pot roast was also really good. Tender and had the right amount of seasoning

Juan Cabrales

Stopped by 10/16/26 to grab a bite to eat. Ordered a cup of their pea soup, water, and the chicken fried steak breakfast. The service was good but to be honest the soup was gritty and had a strong chicken base flavor, the chicken fried steak isn't made fresh like the menu says (I found out after I saw the oddly perfect square shape and asked the server about it), and the prices aren't cheap. I paid $35 for the meal+tip. The building layout and gift shop was cool so I guess it kinda worked out. Will I come here again strictly for the food? Unlikely

Split Pea Soup
Mike D.

Always a favorite when headed to Vegas or SoCal. Great food, friendly service and a great old school nostalgic vibe here. Love this place.

Anderson's Chicken Sandwich
Amanda A.

I was first introduced to the place a while back thanks to my aunt, who loved coming here whenever she took a road trip down to Oakland pre-COVID. Back then, we would order the Fettuccine Alfredo and the New York Style Cheesecake and I remember really liking it. I visited here present day and loved how absolutely nothing changed about the place. Our server, Gabriela was very nice and friendly and was attentive to all our needs. The gift shop still remains and the ambiance transports you back in time. I am very glad nothing has changed about this place. I decided to try something different and ordered the Mushroom Swiss sandwich with a side of pea soup. My husband ordered the Andersen's Chicken Sandwich with french fries on the side. We thoroughly enjoyed our meals. It was time for dessert, and I confidently asked for the Cheesecake. I was then told that it was discontinued from the menu as of 6 months ago. I was sad. But nonetheless, still enjoyed my meal! I can't wait until the next time I come back!

Alan C.

Review #:900! This place is definitely deserving of the honor. I've been coming here for years and years, sometimes driving down from Sacramento just to have lunch How have I never written a review? There used to be five different pea soup Andersen's, now this is the last one. The original, near Solvang, had to close because of the condition of the building, just shy of its hundredth birthday. When it is redeveloped, they hope to put a version of the restaurant back in. The place is a lot of fun. They have souvenirs, chatchkis, all kinds of different food items... you can buy the dried peas with a recipe card, or they also sell their soup in a can. . The canned soup tastes just like the restaurant. They have the original, but they also have a canned soup with bacon. The bacon is pulverized, so there are no chunks of it in the soup, but you can definitely taste it. It plays off of the pea soup so well. The soup they sell in the restaurant is made fresh, not canned, . They have a bar, dining room, and a coffee shop. Most people eat in the coffee shop. The coffee shop has a big menu, but of course the star is the pea soup. You can get the "travelers special", which is all you can eat pea soup, with all the fixins, and your choice of beverage, including a milkshake if you want one. The soup they serve in the restaurant, is both vegetarian and vegan, but you can't tell. It is amazingly rich, and creamy. The prices are reasonable and when you check out of the restaurant, they also have cookies, pastries, and even some candies. A nice upsell for dessert. Both the chocolate chip, and the white chocolate macadamia cookies are my favorite.... I'll be back. Thanks.

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Reviews are mixed. Many praise the pea soup and enjoy the nostalgic atmosphere, with several noting generous portions and friendly service.

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6 days ago

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Pea Soup Andersen's Restaurant Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Pea Soup Andersen's Restaurant

Are dogs allowed in the outside seating area?

Yes! We stopped there with our new dog on the way home from picking her up. You have to go through the Bar to be seated out there, though. But you can get the full menu.

Is there still outdoor dining (as of July 2022)?

We ate out on the patio in early August, but it was just a few tables behind the bar, not like the big tents or anything. We sat outside to accommodate our dog coming with us.

Is there outdoor dining?

I went in March and yes there was outdoor seating only. CA has now since opened up again and indoor dining is available

I read that the Santa Nella AND Buellton restaurants were going to be closing? Is there any more information on when this is scheduled to happen?…

We were just there this past week at their Santa Nella location, and they're open back up. Not only are they open, but their front dining room and bar areas are both open.

Can anyone verify the hours? we are coming from 3 hours away for dinner in a week or two if they have gone back to normal hours.

Currently that hours are 9am-6pm everyday

How much for the unlimited split pea soup?

I believe it's $8.50 for the "Traveler's Meal" unlimited pea soup and bread. Happy travels! :)

This is the slowest restaurant I've ever been to, especially along side the interstate- how can your services be improved. My family and I stopped by today at 1130 and I'm still here in the restaurant waiting for our food?

You've been there for 6months?!

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Pea Soup Andersen's Restaurant - tradamerican - Updated October 2026

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