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    Pea Soup Andersen's Restaurant

    3.4 (2k reviews)
    Closed 8:00 am - 9:00 pm

    Pea Soup Andersen's Restaurant Photos

    PEA SOUP ANDERSEN'S RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Touristy
    Moderate noise
    Happy hour specials

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    Recommended Reviews - Pea Soup Andersen's Restaurant

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    The Danish veal & pork meatballs with potatoes and red cabbage. $21. Arguably the best order here.
    Stephen P.

    The main dining hall feels unloved. The staff are pretty good, but the kitchen is a little slow. No matter... my Danish veal and pork meatballs with potatoes and red cabbage was the best! 10/10. Well seasoned and covered in the delicious (homemade) gravy. Order that! I didn't try the soup. I did ask the waitress what's the best on the ever menu. I was dismayed to be recommended : fish & chips, fried chicken, chicken teriyaki. In that order. Then she adds , Danish meatballs last. I doubt the fried foods are going to be the top choice here. If you have a need for a private party you might be able to book the dining room with the hanging banners. It looks like something out of Monty Python!

    Jack R.

    This is not an April Fools 2026 joke. This place is still here even though their other location closed. Nostalgia and their split pea soup gets me every time. Service sucks so be warned. Want napkins? No Want more water? No Where's our bread? Keep waiting What about the sides we ordered for our soup? Nope Okay back to the positives. Still a really good stop along the way to Los Angeles with plenty of seating and American eats. The soup and sald combo is great. My friends like the club sandwich, but this time went for the chicken fried steak. Classic and decent. I had the meatloaf. Average, but filling. Decent prices for your travels. My other friend had the Traveler's special which includes soup and salad and a milkshake. The milkshake was super sugary. So not sure what kind of cheap ice cream they used. Stick to the classic soup and onion rolls and you'll be fine. There's a reason why their soup is sold in stores.

    This is the photo of the front of the place.
    Johnnie M.

    I've been wanting to go to this restaurant for 50 yrs. When we used to go to Disneyland on the way back, I'd always say mom, dad, can we stop there and have dinner? Every time my parents would say no, so as yours went on, it kind of went in the back burner never thought of it. Every time we would go to put flowers on my uncle's graves. I drive by, say, 1 day, I'm going to eat there. Today we did. The food was awesome.The waitress there was funny and made us feel at home. So , it took 50 years we finally did it.

    Myra G.

    Had a blast this past weekend with my mom stopping here in the to Elk Grove from Fresno. We wanted to stop somewhere even though we knew staying in 99 would be more direct. My mom and I wanted to have a cup of Split Pea soup since we are never in the area. We both had a cup and enjoyed it. We were visiting family in Elk Grove and Sacramento so we bought several buckets of soup to give. Everyone was happy with their buckets of soup. Would have been nice to try other dishes but we were meeting up with family for a meal. So we opted for a cup of soup. Delicious! Love that it's made fresh daily. My mom wanted to try the liver and onion special. It was good but my mom doesn't like it over cooked. She forgot to tell them how she wanted it cooked. But they didn't ask either. At least if next time she knows to request it how she likes it. They have a huge gift shop love the books they had too. I was able to get a book for my mom that I'm using right now. It's called Praying in the Names of God. A 52-week workbook. I love it and I know she would too.

    Amruta D.

    Finally, I made it here !!! For so many years I have passed this place and always wanted to stop by but it never worked out, somehow. This place is iconic and situated next to freeway , makes it impossible to miss. I am so happy to say that this place had lived up the hype!! First of all, this place have that amazing old charm which is very hard to find these days. It is very big place. Staff is very nice. My server was super lovely. Pea soup is absolutely humble. I bet that's how they made it in old days. No fancy ingredients. Simple pea soup ... yet very delicious! I had Fried chicken with mashed potatoes: OMG ... those were the best mashed potatoes I ever had! Please try it. Fried chicken has great taste and huge portion. And how come even boiled vegetables can taste so good ! My daughter had shrimp Alfredo, again amazing white sauce, I think it has hint of nutmeg that makes it so intoxicating! This dish is very rich and you feel full in few bites ! I am definitely coming back to try more dishes !!!

    Shalini G.

    In the 1970s and 1980s pea soup, Anderson's was a staple roadside stop, just like Bob's big boy was. My family and I drove across the country between California and Florida and everywhere in between. I believe these were mostly in California, but it's what my memory is from my younger years. My daughter and I were doing a California coastal road trip for spring break this year. On our way home my car routed us to the charging station that happened to be at pea soup Anderson's. Well I guess we'll take this opportunity to revisit and her first visit here. We were seated immediately the staff was superduper friendly. The menu is quite large. Neither of us were especially hungry so we opted to go with a bowl of pea soup. I also ordered a salad. The soup was quite tasty The salad was crisp and fresh There were some fun spices on the table none of which we had any used for, but I tasted them on my hand The thing that bothered me here was the water. I always order a tapwater. I'm not picky, but there was something definitely wrong with this water. I attempted a couple more sips and just couldn't then I got in my head that they use that same water to cook the soup, but I'm sure it's fine because that's boiled right? We also were given some rolls. I've been into something that wasn't supposed to be in there. Maybe it was paper. Maybe it was plastic maybe it was something else I'm not sure I didn't wanna look. I'm glad we went. It was super nostalgic and had a fun gift shop and of course, a bar, who doesn't need a bar when driving down the five freeway Not sure if I would come back to eat, but maybe grab a drink if I'm not the driver and use the bathrooms, which were quite nice

    Mster M.

    This place has been around 1924 , I think . If you haven't been here , you need to check it out. It's so nostalgic. The have a shop with all kinds of Knick' Knac's to see . It's fun looking . You might find a rarity .

    Danish meatballs
    Janice A.

    Came here on two different occasions coming back from Vegas and Los Angeles. Pea soup is delicious and so is some of the other food. I ordered their Reuben Originale . Chicken tenders were a little dry for me. Husband ordered the Danish meatballs that I did not care for. Service was OK if you need to get anything from the bakery expect to wait in line because they are very busy. Inside is old and outdated but clean. Plenty of parking and they also have charging stations. It's now become a stop on the way home to charge the car and refuel our tummies.

    Mr C.

    The frikadeller was awesome--like, "order it again before you leave" good. The potatoes, though... felt like they clocked out a little early. Slightly undercooked and completely forgot seasoning exists--bring your own salt and you'll be fine. The pea soup was legit. Like actually good. And this is coming from my buddy we call "The Great Dane"--who is, in fact, from Denmark--so that's basically an official certification. The place itself is a whole experience. Windmill, pastries, random shop--it's like a roadside time capsule in the best way. Great spot if you're trying to escape the highway and stumble into something different. Also heard they have meatloaf, which I'm 100% coming back for. If it's anything like the frikadeller, I might accidentally become a regular.

    The soup is the same rich, creamy, pea forward goodness it's always been!
    Cindy P.

    They deserve 5 stars for so many reasons! Nostalgia is the first one, they've been around since 1924 and are still getting it right! The Santa Nella location opened in 1976 but you'd never guess it's been around that long. The restaurant is clean, the bathrooms are clean and the areas of the kitchen we could see were also very clean and orderly. I've seen 2 year old restaurants that are run down and dirty, not Pea Soup Andersen's! Yes, the decor is dated but that's part of the charm! The soup hasn't changed, it's still the same rich, pea forward deliciousness it's always been! I got soup and salad and hubby got soup and a sandwich. His sandwich was made fresh and of course the soup was piping hot! Service was very friendly and kind from the greeting when we arrived to the counter where we paid! Although we weren't there long, our server was attentive and quick, we never waited for anything. So many times in the older restaurants the staff seem as tired as the building, not at Pea Soup Andersen's, they were all as upbeat as can be! We'll definitely be back and if you're in the area, definitely stop by for some soup and souvenirs!

    Meatloaf
    Wesley W.

    Anderson's restaurant in Santa Nella was one of our lunch stops when headed to LA. We thought that it was closed due to the pandemic. The news we heard was incorrect. It was the Anderson's restaurant off of 101 that closed. We stopped off to charge our EV, and discovered it was open! The decor is classic with an old school vibe. There's a Danish bakery, boutique shop and restaurant under one roof. Anderson's split pea soup in bread bow l- 5/5 The classic Anderson's split peas soup in a sourdough bread bowl was excellent. The split pea soup was greet delicious as ever. The top of the sourdough bread was toasted, and gave a nice crunch when combined with the tasty split pea soup. A side of mashed potatoes was included for extra carb intake. Lol Danish Style Meatloaf - 3/5 Danish meatloaf according to the menu consists of ground beef and pork seasoned with herbs and spices. I want used to this combination, but I'm sure it's very good for those who are familiar with this style of meatloaf. I'll used to meatloaf made only with ground beef, egg, and bread over tomato glaze and sauce. I would recommend this to individuals who are familiar with this style meatloaf. We're happy that Anderson's Restaurant in Santa Nella is still open. I recommend visiting this classical restaurant, home to the infamous split pea soup.

    Front of location
    Lorna K.

    Anderson's restaurant located in Santa Nella. It is only one left. The other is located in Buellton, California is permanently closed.This restaurant was famously known for its split pea soup. There are other items in the menu that are delicious. One of my favorites is the fried chicken so much food that I had to take some home more pictures will be posted once our meal arrives if you're looking for any Coke products keep in mind they don't. They only serve Pepsi Services quick people are friendly. The ambience is gorgeous.

    Onion rings appetizer
    Philip J.

    Sad this place has gone away, but I used to love eating the split pea soup here. They also had a split pea bread bowl. I'm hoping someone invests in retrofitting this place and reopens it. I only have this one shot of the onion rings.

    Pea Soup (instagram: wooneats)

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    14 days ago

    Can't wait to go to this place since i missed out on the other location. Please support these locations as they are COMING BACK INTO STYLE

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    2 days ago

    Great food! The pea soup is excellent and so is the chicken fried steak. Fun atmosphere as well.

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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?!

    View All 8 Questions

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    We stopped her to get some take-out pizza because we'd been having trouble finding anything…read moregluten-free in the area. We called about 20 mins in advance on our way from Casa de Fruta (where I could eat nothing). We'd never been there, always stopping for a pit-stop at Pea Soup Anderson's when going through that area. So first of all, the hotel grounds are beautiful, totally unexpected in this middle of nowhere hotel. The outdoor dining area for the restaurant is gorgeous and relaxing. The staff aware all polite and helpful. I had to wait a bit longer than expected but I grabbed the pizzas and took them to the car and was first of all shocked at how beautiful the pizza was. I got the California veggie pizza without mushrooms and added pepperoni, with gluten free crust. My husband got the same but not gluten free. This was one of the best gluten free pizzas I've EVER had. Everything as clearly freshly made. Amazing. Sad it's so far away from where I live! On the way out I checked out prices for the hotel...about 200 bucks a night. Totally reasonable. We'll be back here next time we're heading through this area!

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    So this is a popular spot for locals. Had to hit it up. Older building but quaint and clean…read more Great atmosphere, bar is always packed and jolly. Seating is family style so a great way to meet people. I ordered the tri tip and my friend ordered the baked chicken. It comes with a bottle of wine and all the sides. I LOVED the salad!!! So fresh and crispy. Homemade garlic ranch dressing. It was delicious. Bread was good and fresh. Ranch beans were yummy, a bit cold but still very tasty. French fries were old and cool. Didn't love those. They also serve lamb stew. I don't love lamb so I didn't try that. My friend did and he said it was really good (ate my portion too!) Our meat came and the tri tip was flavorful but over cooked and saturated in gravy. I would try again but ask for more rare and no gravy. Gravy wasn't bad, I don't like over sauced food. The baked chicken was very tasty and very farm to table like. Service was great. People were happy and conversing. Waiter was very attentive. The experience was good. I need to try again and see now that I know how it works if I can try something different! For sure get the salad though!!

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    Wool Growers Restaurant - The vegetable soup

    The vegetable soup

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    Black Bear Diner Los Banos
    Black Bear Diner Los Banos

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

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