Gab Chabrán
Associate Editor, Food and Culture
(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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Using ingredients such as pulque and tepache, beverage director Max Reis at Mírate wants to have a serious conversation about fermented agave spirits while creating fun and inventive cocktails. -
Josh Agran wants to share the hoagies inspired by his Philly hometown.
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Let's play ball! Why not hit a great L.A. restaurant on your way to the game? Consider it fuel for the traffic-clogged drive into Dodger Stadium and the hike to your seats.
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Chef Carlos Jurado is creating some of the most exciting South American food in L.A. Call him the Willy Wonka of Colombian cooking
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Beloved Latin American dishes from Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala and beyond go meat free at this vegan pop-up currently based in North Hollywood.
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Nine L.A. restaurants just nabbed the Michelin stamp of approval, ranging from a casual hole-in-the-wall Peruvian chicken place to a pizza joint known for its Quarter Sheets in Echo Park and a pricey, exclusive sushi restaurant in Gardena — yes, Gardena. All highlight the diverse dining experiences the L.A. area has to offer.
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Located in Orange County near Little Arabia, this is a one-stop shop for Yemeni coffee, pastries, and a proper hang.
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The beloved L.A. bakery chain shuttered the doors last year without warning. But now it's reopening all locations with a new owner. And yes, there will be triple berry cake.
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Across SoCal, restaurants specializing in halal food offer large buffets for Muslims who fast during Ramadan. From Indian to Middle Eastern food, we’ve rounded up a few of our favorites.
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Jing Gao, the founder of Fly By Jing chili crisp, sets her sights high on breaking cultural barriers.
