Meet John Terzian, the Armenian-American Who Turned His Love of Chicken Tenders Into the Star-Studded TenderFest 2026
INTERVIEW: TenderFest returned to Beverly Hills over the weekend with an all-you-can-eat celebration of chicken tenders, celebrity judges and some of Los Angeles’ best-known restaurants. Behind the festival is Armenian-American hospitality entrepreneur John Terzian, who says the idea reflects the family-centered culture that shaped him.
The fifth annual festival took place Saturday at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts. Vendors included Tender Crush, Pizzeria Mozza, Raising Cane’s, Delilah, Dave’s Hot Chicken, Le Coupé, Box Chicken, Chimmelier and other popular restaurants.
The event also featured its annual conTENDER Competition, a face-off between Los Angeles chefs presenting their own versions of the chicken tender. Popular Thai restaurant Jitlada won this year’s competition.
Singer Lizzo served as one of the competition’s celebrity judges, alongside Los Angeles Rams players Puka Nacua and Kyren Williams, chefs Cat Cora, Nancy Silverton and Tim Hollingsworth, food influencer Kevin Noparvar and real estate executive Jay Luchs.
Actor Jaleel White, best known for playing Steve Urkel on the sitcom “Family Matters,” hosted the event. Other guests included Alana Haim, “Impaulsive” podcast co-host Mike Majlak and WWE personality Cathy Kelley.
TenderFest was created by Terzian, co-owner of The h.wood Group, and restaurateur Lawrence Longo. Terzian is behind some of Los Angeles’ most recognizable hospitality destinations, including Delilah, The Nice Guy and Bootsy Bellows. Longo’s businesses include Irv’s Burgers, Prince Street Pizza, Bar Next Door and Off the Menu.
In an exclusive interview with The Armenian Report, Terzian said his Armenian upbringing and close-knit family helped shape both his career and the type of spaces he creates.
“I think it is important, as I have a very large, close-knit Armenian family,” Terzian said of his Armenian identity. “I believe everything I am doing today stems from that family and friend life I have been raised with.”
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Terzian grew up surrounded by relatives and family friends who were treated like immediate family. His mother made their home a gathering place, an experience he believes eventually guided him toward hospitality.
“I have an older brother and cousins who are all like actual siblings, and family friends who are like family,” he told The Armenian Report. “My mom always made our home the central place for entertaining for everyone, so I think that mindset has just been in me and probably factors into why I got into hospitality.”
The idea for TenderFest began with Terzian’s longtime love of chicken tenders and his realization that the food appealed to people from nearly every background.
“I have had a long, genuine love of chicken tenders,” he told us. “As I got more into hospitality, I found two things: First, everyone I talked to from all walks of life can agree on a common ground of loving chicken tenders, and second, adults want to eat them — they just need to be served properly.”
Terzian set out to create a high-quality version for Delilah, the supper club he opened in West Hollywood. Its chicken tender quickly became one of the venue’s signature menu items.
“So I set out to do the best one and serve it at my new restaurant and supper club at the time, Delilah,” he said. “The Delilah tender caught on, and I always said one day I would bring this to everyone as a festival.”
Terzian first discussed the festival concept with his friend Anthony and business partner Tony, who helped develop it. Around the same time, Longo was building his Off the Menu platform and working extensively in the food industry.
“I actually discussed it with my friend Anthony and my partner Tony, who agreed fully and helped me build it,” Terzian said to The Armenian Report. “At the same time, Lawrence had Off the Menu and was doing a lot in the food space, and I went to him with the idea. He loved it and said, ‘Let’s actually go.’ So he and I, with Anthony and Tony, all put together the first annual TenderFest, and we purposely did it where all the big Oscar events are held — the Annenberg.”
For Terzian, the Armenian influence extends beyond his family history. It can be seen in the way he welcomes guests, builds relationships and combines food with music at his venues.
“I think the Armenian mindset is to treat friends and friends of friends as family,” he said. “I definitely embody that trait and build places to have this same mindset. Also, most of my venues have a music component, and I have grown up with food and music always a central part of dinners and gatherings.”
Armenian families are also known for serving their guests far more food than they could possibly finish. Terzian acknowledged that the tradition may have played a role in creating an all-you-can-eat festival.
“Lol, this is very true, and yes, I believe it has some factor in it,” he said. “My best friends to this day go to my mom’s house to eat.”
Terzian also credits his father with teaching him the work ethic that helped him build his hospitality company and develop relationships across the entertainment, sports and restaurant industries.
“My dad,” Terzian said when asked who influenced his work ethic. “He was and is the hardest-working person I have ever known, and it definitely rubbed off on my own mentality.”
His father is a civil litigation lawyer who was born in the United States. Terzian’s paternal grandfather was born in Beirut, Lebanon.
For young Armenian entrepreneurs hoping to build businesses that reach beyond their own community, Terzian said authenticity remains essential.
“Just be true to who you are at all times,” he said. “It is cliché, but do what you love and all else falls into place.”
This year’s festival also included Dave’s Hot Chicken, another Los Angeles success story launched by Armenian-American entrepreneurs. The company began as a small operation in an East Hollywood parking lot before expanding into an international restaurant chain.
“Always amazing to see, but to that note, it is just exciting for me to see any family-started business make it, of any ethnicity,” Terzian said.
Although he does not describe supporting other Armenians as an obligation, Terzian said the desire to help is genuine.
“I don’t feel responsible, but rather, I have an actual desire to help,” he said.
Following its Beverly Hills event, TenderFest will head to Chicago on October 10.
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