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 most well-known hidden restaurant in L.A. offers a deal on a prix fixe menu. -
Bold flavors and inventive takes on traditional Indian cuisine, for a very attractive price. -
The burritos at La Azteca Tortilleria have been raved about by many, including the late food writer Jonathan Gold. -
A modern steakhouse offers excellent food at a great price. -
These new Filipino bakeries are putting a modern spin on their baking traditions. -
Tasting and prix-fixe menus have traditionally been reserved for expensive fine dining. But now chefs and restaurant owners are offering them to attract customers. -
All now have a chance to win the 2nd annual Tournament of Cheeseburgers crown in July, so get voting! -
From regional Mexican antojitos to over-the-top breakfast burritos, family-run smash burgers and neighborhood pizza slices -
Our week of diner coverage sparked intense debates, so we asked: Where do you like to go? -
Don’t let the moment pass you by — vote in this year’s Tournament of Cheeseburgers.
Stories by Gab Chabrán
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