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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Recently, a new crop of local chefs began to offer their take on Iberian cooking -
Gardena is a paradise for finding under-the-radar food gems for less. -
Actress Tiffani Thiessen, a homegrown SoCal resident, takes on leftovers in her new cookbook “Here We Go Again.” -
Do you have to pay a service fee? Is tipping still a thing? And where does all that money go? -
Chinatown has historically served as a home base for various immigrant groups, offering multiple types of cuisine for around ten bucks. -
It’s hotter than the devil’s armpit outside — ditch the stove and get cool with these summertime meals. -
Last week we shared our favorite places to get the pan dulce in Los Angeles, and asked you for your recommendations. Here's what you told us. -
We enter the concha-verse to understand the importance of the famous pan dulce for Angelenos. -
Here are the local winners of the 2023 Michelin Guide for California. -
Nardone’s restaurant Bello Chef’s Table has been recognized in the restaurant guide for the past two years, but achieving a star still eludes him.
Stories by Gab Chabrán
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