TenderFest, an all-you-can-eat food festival celebrating chicken tenders and other fried dishes, returns to Beverly Hills on Saturday, Sept. 19, from noon-10 p.m. at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts.

The festival will bring together Los Angeles restaurants and chefs for unlimited tastings, desserts and a competition featuring interpretations of the chicken tender.

Participating vendors include Delilah, Dave’s Hot Chicken, Pizzeria Mozza, Marvin, Le Coupé, Box Chicken, Raising Cane’s, Chimmelier and Tendercrush. Desserts will be offered by Henry’s Secret Ice Cream, All About The Cinnamon and Gone Bananas Bread.

The ConTENDER Competition will feature chefs and restaurateurs representing Miya Miya, Jitlada, Petit Trois and Lucia, each creating their own version of a chicken tender. The winner will receive a cash prize to donate to a charity of their choice.

The competition will be judged by chef and restaurateur Nancy Silverton, chef Cat Cora, Los Angeles Rams players Puka Nacua and Kyren Williams, chef Tim Hollingsworth and commercial real estate executive Jay Luchs.

TenderFest will also feature a roaming “sauce squad” offering guests a selection of dipping sauces.

The festival was created by hospitality entrepreneurs John Terzian and Lawrence Longo. Terzian is a co-founder of The h.wood Group, whose properties include Delilah. Longo is involved with restaurants including Prince Street Pizza, Irv’s Burgers and Bar Next Door.

TenderFest will also expand to Chicago for the first time this year with an event scheduled on Oct. 10.

The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts is located at 9390 N. Santa Monica Blvd.

Tickets are available at tixr.com. For information, visit tenderfest.com.