B.J. Novak Launches Gourmet Chain Restaurant Food Festival ChainFEST

B.J. Novak is continuing to invest in his love for chain restaurants, following up his Chain pop-up concept by launching the world’s first chain food festival.

ChainFEST, set to take place Dec. 1 and 2 at Hollywood’s Nya Studios, will feature one reimagined, iconic menu item inspired by each classic chain restaurant, including Chili’s Grill and Bar, Dunkin’, Jack in the Box, Panda Express, Pizza Hut, Sonic Drive-In and Red Robin. The one-of-a-kind food and beverages will only be available during the two-day event and will be paired with beverages from Pepsi and specialty cocktails from Diageo brands Guinness, Smirnoff, Crown Royal and Captain Morgan. Postmates will offer on-site delivery.

Chain was started in 2021 by Novak and Otium head chef Tim Hollingsworth as a way to tap into the nostalgia consumers feel for chain restaurants. They launched by cooking up homages to childhood favorites in abandoned L.A. alleys during COVID and have since amassed a 20,000-person waitlist of those trying to attend one of their exclusive events, hosted in a secret location among a collection of chain-restaurant relics and memorabilia.

“I love chain food. It’s as worthy of celebration as any other type of cuisine, and it’s high time it got the respect it deserves,” Novak said in a statement.

Hollingsworth added, “Chain is a reflection of my background as a chef, working at those one-of-a-kind Michelin restaurants around the world while always cherishing the chain restaurants that I grew up going to. It’s a pursuit of excellence through a reimagining of the iconic, easy-eating dishes that everyone loves.”

Single-day, all-food-inclusive tickets are available here for presale. All food and beverage is included with the price of entry.