Gab Chabrán
Food & Culture Writer
(he/him)
Gab Chabrán is a lifelong resident of Southern California. He grew up in Whittier, where he attended Whittier College. He began his journalism career writing for the local music rag L.A. Record where he wrote album and live music reviews. He became a regular contributor at L.A. Taco, where he was part of the James Beard Award-winning team. His monthly music column "Taco de Sonido", profiled up-and-coming artists from the Latinx community. He's been a regular contributor to LAist, Eater LA, Thrillist, Los Angeleno, KCET Artbound, and The New York Times.
My approach to coverage is to discover how food connects us to the ever-so-layered social fabric of Southern California and how food tells the region's story. Every dish has its historical significance. A taco is not just a taco; it's a window to the Mexican Revolution. Pizza is not just pizza; it's the vehicle for immigrants to enter the restaurant game. Noodles aren't just noodles; it's the personification of generational conflict and perseverance. My framework for writing and assigning stories aims to highlight the rich cultural histories of the L.A. region and broaden the LAist platform further to include, but not exclusive to, previously overlooked populations that exist beyond the confines of the city-area proper yet remain vital to its existence.
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The post-pandemic restaurant landscape in L.A. isn’t for the faint of heart -
Other cities have long hot dog histories steeped in mustard and ketchup, but L.A. has its own hot dog culture. You simply need to know where to look. -
The award-winning L.A. restaurant uses its home-grown honey in many dishes. -
Brother and sister duo Phil and Lauren Pretty’s restaurant is housed in a small converted craftsman in Long Beach. What they lack in physical space, they make up for in sustainability. -
For the mezcal-curious, a chance to taste small-batch offerings, including some in the U.S. for the first time. -
The New York export specializing in smash burgers and crinkle-cut fries closes stores in Bunker Hill, downtown Culver City, Silver Lake, Koreatown, and Canoga Park. -
An LAist reader asked us why it seemed there were so few seafood options in the San Gabriel Valley. So we went looking. -
Hangaburs owners Alicia Lopez and Cecilia Ledezma took the top prize in the LAist Tournament of Cheeseburgers earlier this summer. We checked in with them since being named L.A.’s favorite burger. -
We said Whittier had the best tacos. You weighed in with your favorites. -
L.A. icon Clifton’s is being brought back to life. Starting this weekend, the famed downtown location will slowly begin opening back up to the public.
Stories by Gab Chabrán
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