Westfield Topanga Food Hall Relaunch 2026 Brings Chef Pop Ups

Westfield Topanga Food Hall Relaunch 2026 is underway as the Los Angeles mall tries again to reinvent its dining offer. Topanga Social launched in 2023 with high end menus. Nearly all of its original restaurants have since gone. This summer the mall started over with new management, new outlets and rotating pop ups.

Westfield Topanga Food Hall Relaunch 2026 After a Difficult Start

The food hall was meant to fill part of the former Sears space with upscale dining. After the initial buzz wore off, shoppers complained about noise, prices and food quality. Many disliked the central payment system, where each customer had to order at kiosks.

The relaunch removed the centralised payment system and the centralised kitchen. It also brings in different groups to run some storefronts for a limited time. Mall General Manager Logan Abbene said the team was more intentional about food and operators. He said visitors now spend more time in the hall and the energy grows every week.

Chain Pop Up Brings Celebrity Chef Food

First up is Chain, a pop up restaurant with Hollywood links, co founded by actor and writer B.J. Novak. It will operate in the hall for at least six months. Chain turns mass market fast food favourites into celebrity chef pop up restaurants menus with help from Michelin starred chefs.

Chef Mei Lin leads the menu with the $17 Mapo Wagyu Cruncho Perfecto, a Crunchwrap style dish with Sichuan peppercorn and Wagyu beef. Chef Calvin Eng offers the $16 Crispy Cantonese Fishwich. It is a spiced wild cod and shrimp patty with scallion tartar sauce. Chain President Steve Milton said the concept taps into nostalgia and a celebration of pop cuisine.

Chain also tests branded collaborations. Cheez It Court served cracker infused dishes such as a cheesesteak and a Wagyu hot dog. A General Mills partnership turns cereals into desserts like Lucky Charms Taco Frio ice cream sandwiches. The latest addition is a Pillsbury shop with biscuit sandwiches.

Food Hall Trends Across the United States

Malls across the country are turning to food halls to draw shoppers back. Consultant Phil Colicchio said in a 2026 industry report that the category performs on par with or better than traditional restaurants. More than 450 food halls operate in the United States, with another 114 in the pipeline. Food halls now often replace space left by closed big box stores and even bank branches.

More Dining Additions at Westfield Topanga Mall Restaurants

Topanga Social will soon add Kura Revolving Sushi. The mall also plans to bring in Din Tai Fung next summer, one of the country's top grossing restaurant chains. It has removed the walls between four stores and relocated a Tesla dealership for the project. The opening is set for late next summer.

The older food court is still doing well. Panda Express is the only remaining brand from the original court, while Wetzel's Pretzels and Jamba Juice remain on the second floor. Abbene said no one stopped going to the food court.

Readers can find more details about the mall on the official Westfield website.

For more updates from the industry, read the latest restaurant news on Hospitality Career Profile. Stay tuned for more announcements on openings, pop ups and dining trends across the hospitality sector.