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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Casey Shea has been trying breakfast burritos around Los Angeles and documenting her journey on Instagram.
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Ouchi has opened sushi restaurants worldwide, but it wasn’t until he came to Los Angeles that he had the radical idea to start serving locally caught fish.
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We have your responses to a thought experiment: one life, just three restaurants. Here's what you told us.
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Despain offers ancient flavors with a modern take at her new residency at the Music Center in DTLA.
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We visit the historic West Hollywood neighborhood to find some solid chow that keeps your wallet in check.
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You can do it, we believe in you.
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Los Angeles has a long history of notable Thai restaurants. Here are some favorites to try right now.
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Where to enjoy the cuisine’s bold, intense flavors.
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The post-pandemic restaurant landscape in L.A. isn’t for the faint of heart
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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.
Stories by Gab Chabrán
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