# TenderFest returns to Beverly Hills for all-you-can-eat chicken tender showdown *The Wallis Annenberg Center for Performing Arts will host the annual TenderFest on Saturday, Sept. 19, featuring a ConTENDER competition among top LA restaurateurs and a lineup of fried-food vendors.* **Section:** Eats **Tags:** Eats, Food-festival, Tenderfest, Beverly-hills **Reading time:** 3 min Los Angeles food lovers can mark their calendars for Saturday, Sept. 19, when TenderFest rolls into the Wallis Annenberg Center for Performing Arts in Beverly Hills. The day-long, all-you-can-eat festival promises unlimited chicken tenders, sauces, cocktails and desserts, all under the banner of the world’s greatest chicken tender celebration. The centerpiece of the event is the fan-favorite ConTENDER Competition, where a handful of the city’s most beloved restaurateurs pit their own riff on the classic tender for a cash prize that will be donated to a charity of their choice. Participants include Miya Miya, Jitlada, Petit Trois and Lucia, while a celebrity judging panel, Nancy Silverton, Cat Cora, Puka Nacua, Kyren Williams, Tim Hollingsworth and Jay Luchs, will decide the winner. Tickets are on sale now through Tixr, and the festival is produced by PHNTM, the same team behind the national TenderFest circuit. Admission is subject to venue rules and the usual ticket-purchase policies outlined on the TenderFest website. ## Event logistics and competition format The Wallis Annenberg Center for Performing Arts, located in the upscale Beverly Hills neighborhood, will open its doors at noon and stay busy until 8 p.m. for the festival, according to the official TenderFest site. While the exact schedule of programming may shift, the core of the day will revolve around the ConTENDER Competition, a head-to-head cook-off that has become a staple of the festival’s identity. Each competing chef will present a signature chicken tender dish, judged on flavor, creativity and execution. The cash prize, though not disclosed, will be awarded to the chef’s chosen charity, reinforcing the event’s community-focused ethos. The judging panel blends culinary heavyweights, Nancy Silverton and Cat Cora, with local sports figures like NFL wide receiver Puka Nacua and NFL running back Kyren Williams, plus restaurateur Tim Hollingsworth and food writer Jay Luchs, offering a diverse perspective on what makes a tender great. Tickets can be purchased via the Tixr platform ([https://www.tixr.com/groups/phntm/events/tenderfest-los-angeles-204962](https://www.tixr.com/groups/phntm/events/tenderfest-los-angeles-204962)). The site notes that all sales are governed by the checkout policies displayed at purchase, and that admission is also subject to venue and event rules. ## At a Glance - **DATE:** Saturday, Sept. 19 - **VENUE:** Wallis Annenberg Center for Performing Arts, Beverly Hills - **TICKETS:** Available via Tixr ([https://www.tixr.com/groups/phntm/events/tenderfest-los-angeles-204962](https://www.tixr.com/groups/phntm/events/tenderfest-los-angeles-204962)) - **COMPETITION:** ConTENDER Competition with chefs Miya Miya, Jitlada, Petit Trois, Lucia - **JUDGES:** Nancy Silverton, Cat Cora, Puka Nacua, Kyren Williams, Tim Hollingsworth, Jay Luchs - **VENDORS:** Box Chicken, Chimmelier, Delilah, Happies Hand Made, LaSorted’s, Le Coupe, Pioneer Chicken, Popeyes ## Food lineup, vendors and surrounding buzz Beyond the competition, TenderFest delivers an all-you-can-eat buffet of chicken tenders from a rotating roster of local and national brands. Time Out lists vendors such as Box Chicken, Chimmelier, Delilah, Happies Hand Made, LaSorted’s, Le Coupe, Pioneer Chicken and Popeyes, each offering their own sauce stations and side dishes. The festival also pairs the fried fare with a curated cocktail menu, craft beers and a selection of desserts, creating a full-day feast for attendees. The festival arrives amid a wave of new dining openings in the area. LA Weekly reports that First of All, a West Hollywood daytime spot owned by restaurateur Mike Fahim, has expanded to dinner service with a modern Mexican menu, while La Nena Cantina will celebrate Mexican Independence Day with a special Chile en Nogada dish later in September. These nearby developments underscore the city’s vibrant culinary scene, giving festivalgoers additional options before or after their tender indulgence. TenderFest’s official website emphasizes that the event is produced by PHNTM and that all restaurant, sponsor and partner names belong to their respective owners. The site also warns that event dates, times, venues, restaurants, judges, programming and availability are subject to change, a reminder that attendees should stay tuned for any updates as the festival approaches. ## Curator's Note TenderFest lands in Beverly Hills at a moment when LA’s food scene is buzzing with new concepts and cultural celebrations. The festival not only offers a playful, communal feast of chicken tenders but also showcases the city’s top chefs and rising talent, reinforcing Los Angeles’ reputation as a culinary incubator where competition fuels innovation and charity. For locals, it’s a chance to sample a wide array of fried favorites while supporting a good cause. --- Curated by VIBES News Desk · Published 2026-09-07 Source: https://www.curationsla.com/vibes/2026-09-07-tenderfest-returns-to-beverly-hills-for-all-you Cite as: CurationsLA, "TenderFest returns to Beverly Hills for all-you-can-eat chicken tender showdown", https://www.curationsla.com/vibes/2026-09-07-tenderfest-returns-to-beverly-hills-for-all-you (published 2026-09-07). License: CC-BY-SA-4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Structured manifest: https://www.curationsla.com/vibes/2026-09-07-tenderfest-returns-to-beverly-hills-for-all-you/manifest.json