Unsuspectingly nestled in the heart of an Los Angeles neighborhood is Chain, a culinary sanctum like no other. If you live outside of the Los Angeles area, you may never have heard of the fast food fabricating facility, but that’s likely about to change.
The brainchild of Actor B.J. Novak and producer Nicholas Kraft, Chain started as a series of pop-ups. Each one would put a gourmet spin on a classic fast food staple. When we say gourmet we MEAN it, award winning Michelin-starred chef and restaurateur Tim Hollingsworth is the maestro of taste for Chain.
Chain has steadily grown in popularity since founding. Having Hollywood roots didn’t hurt the restaurant. Posts from all manner of celebrities dining at the collaborations are the best organic marketing one could ask for.
However the events are generally not as gate kept as you would think. To attend one of the regular pop ups you submit your phone number to a fairly simplified website.
Then randomly you’ll get a surprise text to RSVP, which sparks a frenzy of attempting to get tickets before they sell out. While not nearly in the same price bracket as say the dollar menu at a particularly well known golden arched place, they aren’t Michelin 3 star dining prices.
ChainFEST
After success with the individual events came the inaugural ChainFEST in 2023. A confluence of several of the pop-ups and collaborations all centralized in one 20,000ft space. General Admission tickets were $75 and for the first time available to groups en masse. Foodies showed up in droves. The menu consisted of takes on dishes from Jack in the Box, Red Robin, Sonic, Chilli’s, Panda Express, Pizza Hut, Pepsi, and Dunkin’.
We actually happened to attend ChainFEST as our first Chain event. The crowd was amped, and though the line to get in wrapped around the block, folks were united in a common cause: their taste buds. Mascots roamed the grounds of the event, and there were photo opportunities packed into every space.
The Documentary Special
If all of this sounds like an LA fever dream, the proof is now in the (moving) pictures. Roku Channel put together a special that documents the whole process. Part fast-food franchise history lesson, part salivation inspiration, with a pinch of showing off some of those famous friends. Chef Hollingsworth (and the hilarious Chef Philip Hall) walk through some of the secrets of the dishes (though many sadly remain trade secrets). There’s also a considerable amount of franchise facts packed into the hour long doc.
The rest is filled with musings from famous Chain fans like Chrissy Tiegen, Rachel Bloom, Josh Peck, Crystal Kung Minkoff, and more. There are also a handful of interviews from the actual ChainFEST (also mostly with notable attendees).
A word to the wise: our experience at the actual ChainFEST was less star-studded. Most of the soundbites seem to have been captured at a preview night or from the VIP section (which ran $200 and included things like access to a separate entrance and area, as well as two alcoholic drinks). We bring it up because if they hold the event again in the future and the documentary inspires you to attend, just adjust your expectations. Remember: the food is the real star.
It’s a must watch making-of for anyone who has attended a Chain event and for food aficionados in general. Just make sure to have snacks on hand as you watch, as it will surely leave you hungry.
“Chain Food: All-Star Dishes” is streaming free on The Roku Channel.