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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Business friendly changes to requirements for restaurants to open outdoor dining spaces were approved by the city planning commission. Now the city council needs to vote. -
For a while it looked like alfresco dining was under threat — but the mayor is making her views known. -
Cheap Fast Eats, Koreatown After Dark! Asian American Pizza, Hot Cheeto-Encrusted Corn Dogs And MoreCheap Fast Eats visits one of L.A.’s most distinctive neighborhoods for some nighttime bites. -
Places like Gusto Bread in Long Beach and Crudo e Nudo in Santa Monica have thrived with outdoor spaces since the pandemic. Now, in order to keep them as a permanent setup, it’s going to cost — and not everyone is willing to pay. -
With the big game approaching, whether you support either team or even watch football, we know it all comes down to the snacks. -
We visit Culver City for another round of Cheap Fast Eats, scoping out Hawaiian, Argentine, and Jamaican gems -
The James Beard Foundation, which is kind of like the Oscars for food, has announced its semi-finalists for the year. A whole bunch are in SoCal. -
LAist Food editor Gab Chabrán tries different types of tamales around SoCal and reflects on his own experiences eating them. -
Another round of stellar eats for every tastebud that go easy on your budget. -
Need a food gift for the gourmand in your life? Well, you’ve come to the right place.
Stories by Gab Chabrán
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