B.J. Novak's 'Chain' Is Opening A Food Court Pop-Up In An LA Mall With An All-Star Chef Lineup

Chain is taking its nostalgic angle on American fast food to the mall.

The pop cuisine brand founded by B.J. Novak is opening a six-month pop-up at Topanga Social inside Westfield Topanga in Southern California beginning Sept. 2, transforming the classic food court into a chef-driven dining experience.

To bring the concept to life, Chain recruited an all-star lineup of chefs, each creating an exclusive take on a nostalgic chain-food favorite available only during the residency.

The inaugural lineup includes:

Roy Choi, the chef behind Kogi BBQ and one of Los Angeles’ most influential culinary voices.
Mei Lin, Top Chef winner and Tournament of Champions IV champion.
Calvin Eng, chef-owner of Brooklyn’s Bonnie’s and a Food & Wine Best New Chef.
Mason Hereford, the chef behind New Orleans favorite Turkey and the Wolf.

Chain is also partnering with General Mills to develop limited-edition snacks and desserts inspired by some of the company’s most recognizable cereal brands. Specific menu items and additional collaborations will be announced in the coming weeks.

“The same way people have a deep-down primal love for the chains of our childhoods, we feel that way about the malls that have always featured them,” founder B.J. Novak said. “We love malls and we love chains. Celebrating mall food courts felt like the next step for us, and Westfield is the perfect partner to reimagine the food, brands and memories that shaped American pop culture.”

Chain opens Sept. 2 at Topanga Social inside Westfield Topanga in Los Angeles, where it will run as a limited six-month residency.