B.J. Novak’s Chain, a former pop-up turned lifestyle brand built around reinterpreting nostalgic fast food and chain restaurants, will open its first long-term residency at Topanga Social at Westfield Topanga. Opening September 2, the residency will feature
cooking from four chefs: Roy Choi, Mason Hereford, Mei Lin, and Calvin Eng. Chain will also partner with General Mills for a menu of snacks and desserts centered on the brand’s cereals. Timothy Hollingsworth, who initially co-founded Chain with Novak and helped develop its culinary program, is not involved in the mall residency. In addition to the Westfield Topanga residency, Chain also operates a permanent space in Virgil Village for pop-ups and collaborations.
“The mall food court is one of America’s greatest dining institutions,“ Nicholas Kraft, Chain’s chief creative officer, said in a statement to Eater. “As a company that celebrates pop cuisine and shared nostalgia, this residency at Westfield Topanga was an incredible opportunity to bring so much of what Chain has developed over the last few years — the chef-driven versions of nostalgic comfort food, the culinary and merch collabs with brands we love — to such a storied place.” Although the residency is initially scheduled to run for six months, Kraft doesn’t rule out an extension. Pointing to Chain’s growth from a parking lot pop-up to today, he says that “anything is possible.”
Alongside Chain’s residency, Topanga Social has gone through a wider transformation. Multiple publications report that in early May, most of the stalls in the food hall had shuttered. In mid-June, Westfield Topanga announced it would refresh the food hall with all-new food vendors and entertainment. Topanga Social’s lineup, which will open on a rolling basis, includes Umari Hand Roll Bar, Cilantro Lime, Chubby Social, Ozzy’s Apizza, Chubby’s Cove, Kabob Social, and Pompadour Café. Din Tai Fung is also slated to open at Westfield Topanga in 2027, separate from the Topanga Social project.
Dominick’s Sunday Supper comes back to life for one night only
On Sunday, August 16, Little Dom’s founders will revive their West Hollywood restaurant, Dominick’s, for one night only. Both Little Dom’s in Los Angeles and Little Dom’s Seafood in Carpinteria will serve Dominick’s famous Sunday Supper for $21. The menu includes green salad with tomatoes, cucumbers, and red wine vinaigrette; beef braciole with roasted summer squash; and a gelato sundae. Reservations are recommended.
Anniversary dinner at Cut by Wolfgang Puck
Beverly Hills restaurant, Cut by Wolfgang Puck, is celebrating its 20-year anniversary with a one-night-only anniversary dinner on Thursday, August 20, 2026. The seven-course tasting menu will feature courses developed by executive chefs of Cut’s locations across the globe. The menu is priced at $295 per person, and reservations are available on OpenTable.
Afternoon tea inspired by a beloved classic
Chado Tea Room, which has locations in Downtown Los Angeles, Hollywood, Torrance, and Pasadena, has been hosting a seasonal afternoon tea experience called Chado In Wonderland ($69 per person), based on the beloved children’s book and movie Alice in Wonderland. The experience, which has been extended through August 31, includes savories like the Caterpillar’s “garden sandwich,” traditional English scones with strawberry preserves and clotted cream, and themed teas such as Mad Hatter’s Earl Grey Supreme. Reservations can be made on the tea shop’s website.
