San Gabriel has strong sociocultural roots woven mostly by descendants of descendants from Central America, East and Southeast Asia, Western Europe, and those native to California. These inhabitants have informed the city’s culinary DNA.
Whether it’s an organic tofu factory or Hawaiian shaved ice emporium, the diversity of Japanese American culture is more prominent in Gardena than in many other cities in California.
To dismiss the state's 7th largest city as another L.A. suburb would be missing out on what it offers Southern California culture (and German chocolate cake aficionados).
On a recent mid-week grocery run to Marukai Market in Gardena, Chef Daniel Roberts of Café del Rey surveyed the seafood counter and, looking at a whole red snapper, he ticked off a general checklist of telltale signs of freshness
Beef rolls can generally be found as supporting players to the heartier cast of noodles - souped and fried - at Northern Chinese noodle joints around San…