When Souplantation closed its doors for the last time in 2020, it left a void in the hearts of buffet lovers across California. Known outside of California as Sweet Tomatoes, the chain ended its 42 years of endless salads, soups, and baked goods. Fast forward to 2024, and the Inland Empire is now home to Soup ‘n Fresh, the latest take on the buffet model.
Located in Rancho Cucamonga, Soup ‘n Fresh quickly caught the attention of former Souplantation patrons since its soft opening on February 28. Since then, social media has been abuzz with Californians documenting their journeys, some driving hours to the Inland Empire, to grab a bite at Soup ‘n Fresh. TikTok users have shared their experiences of waiting in line, for as long as one to three hours, to satiate their nostalgia for the buffet-style dining experience. Fortunately, many of them noted that it brought back found memories and lived up to their expectations.
Despite not being affiliated with Souplantation, Soup ‘n Fresh said on their Instagram account, “We are an independent company inspired by [their] concept and will have many similar foods.” Their layout mirrors Souplantation’s, with a menu that feels like a blast from the past, offering a similiar all-you-can-eat buffet featuring salads, soups, pizza, and blueberry muffins among other baked goods.
Currently, lunch is from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. for $16.99 per adult, and dinner is from 4 p.m. to close for $18.99 per adult. The restaurant is currently in soft opening mode until its grand opening on April 2. For the latest updates, you can follow Soup ‘n Fresh on Instagram.
📍 Location: 8966 Foothill Blvd., Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730, located in the Thomas Winery Pizza
🕓 Soft Opening Hours: 10:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. from Sunday to Thursday, and 10:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Fridays and Sundays.
🏷️ Discounts: Soup ‘n Fresh offers a discount of 10% to veterans and first responders, with those in uniform receiving 25% off, extending the same gratitude to healthcare professionals.