Roy Choi Brings Exclusive Menu to Westfield Topanga

Chef Roy Choi and three other culinary stars are launching limited-edition dishes during a six-month residency in Los Angeles.

Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Dining Out

Gouache-painted editorial illustration of a modern fusion teriyaki bowl, depicting high-end culinary craft in a contemporary food-hall setting. — Chef Roy Choi and other culinary stars have launched limited-edition dishes during a six-month residency at Westfield Topanga's social food hall. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Do you prefer when malls feature exclusive menu items from high-profile chefs?

Chef Roy Choi has teamed up with the brand Chain to introduce an exclusive menu item at the Topanga Social food hall in Westfield Topanga. This residency features unique dishes from four renowned chefs and will run for six months.

Why it matters

The residency highlights a unique collaboration bringing high-profile culinary talent to a mall food hall setting. This project allows chefs to experiment with nostalgic or creative concepts outside of their permanent restaurant locations.

The residency includes four exclusive dishes available to shoppers at the Topanga Social food hall for the next 6 months. These offerings include Roy Choi's charred chicken teriyaki bowl, Mason Hereford's spicy chicken sandwich, Mei Lin's mapo wagyu, and Calvin Eng's fish sandwich.

The players

Roy Choi

A pioneering chef known for launching the Kogi Korean BBQ food truck in 2008.

Mason Hereford

A featured chef in the residency known for creating a spicy chicken sandwich.

Mei Lin

A contributing chef for the residency who developed a mapo wagyu dish.

Calvin Eng

A participating chef who created a Cantonese fish sandwich featuring cod and shrimp.

Chain

The brand organizing the culinary residency at the Topanga Social food hall.

The details

Roy Choi developed his teriyaki bowl by drawing inspiration from childhood memories of sampling mall food court items. The pop-up also showcases Mason Hereford's habanero-spiced chicken, Mei Lin's fusion-style mapo wagyu in a flour tortilla, and Calvin Eng's seafood-focused Cantonese fish sandwich.

Roy Choi launched the Kogi Korean BBQ concept in 2008.
The article covering the residency was published in October 2026.

Culture Shift

This collaboration reflects the ongoing shift in the retail landscape where mall food halls are increasingly utilized as platforms for high-end culinary pop-ups. It signals a move away from standard fast-food options toward curated, chef-driven experiences for modern shoppers.

Local visitors to Westfield Topanga can now access exclusive chef-crafted dishes at the Topanga Social food hall for the duration of the six-month event. These limited-time menu additions provide shoppers with new dining options that diverge from traditional mall fare.

The takeaway

Culinary pop-ups offer a low-stakes way for diners to sample high-end flavors in a casual environment. Readers looking to experience these dishes should prioritize visiting Topanga Social before the residency concludes in early 2027.