Food enthusiasts in the San Fernando Valley have a new culinary destination at the Westfield Topanga mall. The new Topanga Social food hall isn’t a typical mall food court. It features some of the biggest names in the Los Angeles food scene. From Hawaiian shrimp to Detroit-style pizza, Topanga Social aims to elevate the food court model and create a new community gathering place.

One of the vendors at Topanga Social is Adrienne Borlongan, the chef and owner of Wanderlust Creamery. She spoke about how establishing her business in Topanga Social is a full-circle moment.

"We actually started in the Valley, and this is now our eighth location," Borlongan said. "But to be able to open here in Westfield in a mall that I grew up going to, it's kind of touching. When we first started eight years ago, our flavors were a little too esoteric for some people, and for us to be here in a Westfield's location kind of speaks to the food landscape of Los Angeles and how it's challenging and evolving."

Nicholas Hammond is the director of operations for the group that owns Tail O' the Pup, the West Hollywood staple hotdog stand. He talked about expanding the brand into the Valley.

"The way that I've described this to people that didn't know what it was, I just kept saying 'high-end food court on steroids,'" he said. "And then I make sure they know that it's all-local California concept. That's just what makes them stand out and stand apart from everywhere else. Being here has really gotten us to have more people see it and be able to experience it, and not have to make the trek over to West Hollywood."

Topanga Social was a special project for Kimberly Brewer, senior vice president of Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield. She said she wanted to revamp the idea of the traditional food court. 

“We wanted to create an experience that was very local," she said. "We wanted to bring in local chefs with diverse backgrounds. We wanted it to be flexible. We wanted it to be changeable. To be relevant really requires change, and you have to take a risk. Topanga Social reflects the heart of the LA food chain. And our hope is that when every person comes here, they leave with a distinct experience that they haven't received someplace else."

Many of the chefs at Topanga Social are opening their first brick-and-mortar locations. Favorites like Maneating Plant and Shrimp Daddy have previously only done pop-ups or food trucks.

Topanga Social plans to add more restaurants, another bar, events and a secret arcade soon. The food hall is open to the public seven days a week.

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