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    Appu's Cafe

    4.8 (831 reviews)
    ModerateVegan, Indian, Soup
    Closed Closed

    Order Appu's Cafe Takeout or Delivery

    Appu's Cafe Photos

    APPU'S CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Quiet
    Casual
    Outdoor seating
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Appu's Cafe

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    Enter this door around back. Appu's is right inside on the left.
    Miriah S.

    Exemplary service and DELICIOUS food! I'm so excited I finally got to try this cafe. I ordered the mushroom soup with turmeric rice and my bf ordered the potato tacos. Ahhhh so fresh, delicious, healthy, and filling !! The owner made us feel so welcome and even served us complimentary lemongrass tea while we waited. That's rockstar service! The cafe is in a medical building around back. There are about 3 tables outside if you want to eat there and 2 were available when I went. This place is awesome and I'm so excited to go back and try a burrito!

    Menu
    Vala R.

    Food is excellent! We ordered on-line, so we could pick up easily. They are still not serving inside, so there is no where to eat there. Entrance is in back of building and only signage I saw was by back entrance. We had the Mushroom Masala with Indian Flat Bread - it was all soooo good. I could eat this daily. We also had the Maharaja burrito which was also delicious. Their service is great. I was greeted immediately and observed them taking an order for someone else. They were thorough and conscientious making sure we were taken care of. Love this place!

    Mushroom soup with cashew milk - beware if you have nut allergies
    Shelly S.

    NUT ALLERGY WARNING: I am sad to give this review because we have been coming here for a couple of years now and have had always had a great experience. Sadly, they've changed the menu slightly and some of the items that we used to get aren't there, and others have been modified however the menu did not reflect the ingredient changes. With the vegan movement, people have to be careful with all the use of nut replacements for fillers and nut milks. Some think nuts are "healthy" for everyone but they are not. They are deadly to some. My 19 year old daughter ordered the mushroom soup after carefully reading the menu and ingredients. No mention of any nuts. As soon as she took her first bite she had an immediate reaction to the "cashew milk" used. We called and let them know right away and they were very apologetic but for people like my daughter whose nut allergy is deadly, an apology can be irreparable. My daughter luckily averted her reaction and recovered, but this could have been a very bad story. ***Be sure and ask if the ingredients includes any nut products if you have an allergy to any nuts. (don't rely on the menu pics online)

    Menu
    Molly E.

    After having this place bookmarked for years, I finally had a chance to try it this afternoon. I tried the vegan mushroom masala soup, tawa paratha flatbread, and lemongrass chai tea. Everything was amazing! The lemongrass chai was caffeine free, unsweetened, and absolutely delicious. The paratha was really tasty dipped in the flavorful & creamy soup. I would definitely order all of this again! My only critique is that I wish there were more veggies in the soup. The owner was also so nice and friendly as well. Highly recommend this spot for delicious vegan meals!

    Work colleagues at Appus Cafe

    Another great meal at Apus Cafe. This time I brought my work colleagues, and they loved the variety of healthy dishes. It was Taco Tuesday which did not disappoint. The mushroom soup is also my favorite. We learned from VR how valuable turmeric is for our brain health. And we watched him making a large batch of healthy rice while we enjoyed our Lassis. Delicious even though everything is so healthy and nurturing for our bodies!

    Give a meal when you buy a meal program.
    Kaye Y.

    This place has some of the most delicious Vegan selections. The staff is always great and so pleasant. I don't know what took me so long to write my review. I always enjoy my meals from here. I especially LOVE the lemongrass chai tea. I think it's made especially for Appu..I've tried to duplicate it unsuccessfully. I highly recommend the soups, the mushrooms and spinach soups mixed add tumeric rice..ahhhhh.. the best. Not Vegan because of the buttermilk and cheese in the soups...but delicious. So glad I found this gem.

    Front door. If you don't look closely, you just might miss it.
    Chad K.

    Hidden in the back of a doctor's office building on the border of Lakewood and Long Beach is some of the tastiest Indian/Mexican fusion food you will ever find. Go around the back and follow the signs to find Appu's Cafe and all their mouthwatering vegan and non-vegan creations. Normally, the Maharaja burrito is my jam, but I ordered the Maharani (vegan version of the Maharaja) today because I wanted to share it with my wife who is vegan. We also got the Garbanzo Bean soup and the Yellow Lentil soup. All vegan, all delicious. The soups will make you verbally moan out loud when you eat it. They are like Seinfeld soup nazi level soups. I haven't tasted anything quite like them. A warm hug in soup form. The burrito is the perfect blend of Curry spices and turmeric all wrapped up in a soft tortilla and garnished with Pico de Gallo. Tasty food doesn't have to be bad for you. You can eat guilt-free at Appu's because most everything is vegan or vegetarian and uses fresh ingredients. BONUS: They just extended their hours, so now it is even easier to get in and try their amazing food.

    Main entrance
    Lance E.

    I said "YOOOOOOOOO" Appu A-I-N-T playin' with y'all!!! This place is top 100 for a reason! It's hidden inside a medical center, but don't let that or it's appearance fool you, these medical staff are eating some of the best cuisine in the city! This place has it ALL - the smells, the taste, the quality, AND the service is on 100! VR, the host and the server, is so kind and informative! There is plenty of free parking since it's located in a medical center! I recommend any of the soups!!

    Lunch special menu

    The food and service are fantastic. Sonny is great to talk to and all of the food items are flavorful and delicious. Parking is plentiful and easy. However, this location is only open on weekdays. I highly recommend the Indian flat bread with the 911 chutney, the lemongrass chai, and the paneer tikka masala. This is one of my regular stops for lunch!

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    4 years ago

    Appu's is the best! Quality food, good pricing, great and friendly staff! Highly recommended!

    Business owner information

    Photo of VR V.

    VR V.

    Thank you for your support Ron!

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    3 years ago

    The food is amazing here! Green 911 sauce is so good! Burrito is delicious! Everything so great!

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    4 years ago

    They're food is amazing! It's definitely a hidden gem. They're lemon grass tea is so delicious. I def recommend this place

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    5 years ago

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    4 years ago

    Delicious but expensive and no where to sit and eat. Only to go, but has a nice healthy menu.

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    3 years ago

    Location is a little awkward. Good service and awesome vegan food! I recommend this to all my vegan friends.

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    3 years ago

    The food is amazing! Love the Chai! Highly recommend it! My husband who's not even a vegetarian loves the Maharaja soup!

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    4 years ago

    Fresh made soups. Bean burritos. All food is vegan. Tiny cafe inside a medical building. Owner are very nice and care about you.

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    3 years ago

    I've been there a few times before. Healthy food. Good customer service...especially their daughter...she's a doll.

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    Page 4 of 21

    Ask the Community - Appu's Cafe

    Is the location at 3816 Woodruff Ave related to Appu's Turmeric Cafe at 2211A Palo Verde Avenue?

    Yes

    Are there any items in your menu that's dairy free?

    Yes. We have a lot of vegan items, please look for the vegan icon on our menu or call us and ask for dairy free options and we would be glad to assist you!

    Is it possible to make your vegan dishes with no onion or garlic?

    I don't think this restaurant does this, although you might want to go and ask in person, but it is simply not true that Indians all eat onions and garlic. Consider the many Indians who follow the Jain religion, who may eat vegan and also avoid… Read more

    Are the dishes salty? I'm looking for a vegetarian and or vegan place to eat but all that I have found have loads of salt in it. So are they?

    Hi, no all our dishes are low in sodium, we also cater hypertensive people and make meals with no salt with a 24 hours notice.

    Are the soups gluten-free?

    Yes. All soups on the menu are Gluten free

    What time do U open on weekdays?

    It shows 7am-4pm M-F on the "Yelp" website info

    Are the chai teas vegan?

    Yes, there is no dairy and it's naturally sweetened

    View All 8 Questions

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    Higher Taste, Plant-Based

    4.0
    (1.2k reviews)
    5.7 mi
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    I went to Higher Taste for lunch after class this past Friday and was pleasantly surprised by the…read moreflavors and textures of my appetizers. I ordered the potato taco which had a fabulous crunch and a perfectly delicious chipotle ( ? ) dipping sauce on the side. The taco itself wasn't very flavorful but I think it's perfectly fine because the sauce carries more than enough. I also ordered the vegan fried chicken and I was so intrigued by the flavor. They had a notable buttery taste to them which was rich and pleasant. I believe they were coated with a cornflake cereal which gave them a proper crunch. The hibiscus drink was a tad thicker than I expected and wished it had a more balanced flavor ( sweetness : tartness ), but it wasn't a bad drink by any means. Definitely one to drink cold. I let mine sit for a bit and I think that affected the tasting experience. & Service is genuinely chill which I respect and prefer. No need to perform. I'm just there to eat! & You order by yourself on a tablet too. It's really my kind of vibe.

    Sadly I was not impressed with this restaurant. It's a…read morebeautiful interior, but the food was underwhelming and the wait was longer than I anticipated. When I entered there were already 3 other groups seated. I didn't realize until after I ordered at the kiosk (there is no wait staff) that no one had any food. We ordered the Caesar salad & wrap as well as fries and a cookie. It took about 30 to 40 minutes for the first salad to arrive and about 15 minutes after that for the wrap which was made with ingredients we had asked to omit. Weirdly, the wrap came with avocado slices on the side instead of inside of the wrap which was very strange. The French fries came a few minutes after the wrap and they had the consistency of a wet noodle covered in oil with little to no seasoning. The salad and wrap were OK taste-wise but I could have easily made a better salad at home. The fried chicken that comes with it was mushy and served cold. The cookie was fine, good large size and a lot of chocolate chips which was nice. But again, I could have made myself a better cookie at home. Ultimately I'd rather have saved the money and stayed home.

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    Inside
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    Mangiafoglie

    Mangiafoglie

    4.6
    (163 reviews)
    4.8 mi
    $$

    Been here twice, absolutely LOVE this place. Vegan Italian made from scratch??? Sign me UP!…read more I have yet to try the pizza here but the way they make it has my interest piqued. I always get the caeser salad and meatballs to start.. the lasagna is so good, thankfully I was able to take home for the next day! The first time I can a weekend night and service was good! Came again a weekday evening on a slow night and service was not so great. Server was chit chatting mostly with whom I'm assuming was a friend and food took a long time BUT I sat at the bar and saw the cook working and giving every fish he worked in his undivided attention, so I can appreciate that. Overall though wouldn't knock the restaraunts for that... The food makes up for it all... Can't wait to go back again soon!

    Visited this place for the first time to celebrate my birthday this past weekend and it was such a…read morewonderful experience. Firstly, since it's all plant-based, I was able to eat literally anything off the menu, which is always delightful. Started the meal with a Tricolore Salad and the Pizza Montanara for appetizers. The Salad was good, best when you can get a bit of every ingredient in each bite. The Pizza Montanara was hotter than magma when we received it, but once it cooled and we were able to tear it into pieces, it was very, very good. These two items themselves would be a great light meal. We had glasses of red wine with the main course, which paired well with the pastas we chose. One Vesuvio, which was really tasty with a little chili heat (not so much so that it made eating it a rough job,) and another pasta dish that I can't recall the name of that was very lemony and cooling. We both shared these dishes and the alternating between the two very different flavor profiles was really fun. The online menu doesn't have these pastas listed in the "Dinner" section, but the in-store menu did. The only thing that was kind of a bummer was that they were out of things like meatballs, olives, and a couple other items, but we were still able to choose dishes that were delicious. The restaurant's vibe is very laidback and like, elevated casual, if that makes sense. They have great little water glasses and everything has a modern feel, from the green decor accents to the fancy pasta forks, which are the first of their kind I've ever seen. The bathroom had a bidet, which was my first experience with the same, and it was cool and fun. Thorough! I laughed at the sticker on the bidet saying it WILL spray you in the face. All in all, this was a fantastic experience. Definitely be patient with finding parking, as we all know how 4th Street is. This will likely become a favorite celebration meal destination.

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    Plant based meatballs that taste better than regular meatballs! I was so impressed!
    Plant based meatballs that taste better than regular meatballs! I was so impressed!
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    Sideburns

    Sideburns

    4.3
    (383 reviews)
    5.4 mi
    $$

    The regular cheeseburger is basically a McDonald's cheeseburger if McDonald's actually had quality…read moreingredients. Hit the spot. I was really impressed with the meat quality as well as the bread. I usually don't get anything fancy on my burger so I tried the standard cheeseburger. Next time I might snazz it up and get one of the fancier ones.

    1st timers today, and will def not be our last visit…read more Shout-out to the Yelp reviews lead us to this Amazing Smash burger joint. Our order: -Onion rings (the right batter to sliced onion ratio & delicious seasoning); -the french fries- crispy and the right amount of salt seasoning *dipped into their Jalapeno ranch, and you will be left smiling!* -the Works: What a burger! I love Portabello mushrooms, caramelized onions, and Persian cucumbers, so when I read that on the menu, I knew I had to order this, and I am not disappointed! This hit the spot. The smash patty topped with my favorites made for a perfect burger filling party. -the Don Chendo burger- the salsa Don Chendo on a jalapeño-Cheddar bun - culinary innovation at its finest! For non-spicy eaters like myself, you can eat this. This is definitely tolerable spice with a delicious flavor that overrules any "heat". The buttery, softness of the bun with the cheddar and jalapenos melted into it compliment the flavors of the patty, red onions and Chendo sauce. Having a burger is a rare craving for us, and thankfully our taste buds led us here this time that we did, because we were left, not only satisfied, but can safely say that this is one of the fewest Exceptional burgers we have tried thus far. Burgers are huge too! You def get more bang for your buck here. Staff was very welcoming, friendly and attentive toward us. We truly appreciated the warm greeting and them making sure we felt comfortable with their product deliveries coming in/out of the restaurant while we ate. Not too big & not too small of a place. Ample seating booths make for a comfy social occasion. We highly recommend to All! & will return again!

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    Inside dining art
    Inside dining art
    Smash Burger with tots - @rayz
    Smash Burger with tots - @rayz
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    Hypnotic Vegan Pizza LB

    Hypnotic Vegan Pizza LB

    4.6
    (69 reviews)
    5.0 mi

    First time trying this place! Can't wait to go back! Delicious and nutritious! Must try the matador…read morepizza

    I have had nothing but great experiences and good service here. I've been coming here for years,…read moreand patron this business. We always make a drive out here to get their food. By all means not here to sh*t on the business because we still want to come here to support them. However, last Saturday I believe was the 5/23/26, they had an event and an artist guest came and performed for the guests. It was nice, but it was also very packed in there with people out the door. We snuck through the back just to get in, people standing and blocking traffic because there was no room and space. We had to wait in a small crammed isle area towards the bathroom. It took awhile for our simple togo order to get done--which was also mistakenly given to someone else. They couldn't figure out simple logistics. There were also others who got wrong orders while we stood there waiting. They had to re-make people's pizzas while the pizza had to be given away for free because it had already been touched. My gripe is that in the future, if you're having an event, (maybe they do this here all the time), please have a floor manager to alleviate the crowd and simple operations and logistics to handle the lines, the crowd control, and providing fast and accurate service. Not just making the food right, but with time, and a comfortable environment. They could have made it more. It was so busy, that they either looked to be short-staffed or got confused on a lot of their orders. In short, in the future their manager should do better in operations and executing the the transactions to flow more smoothly. If you're having a guest performer, find a way to also make that work better. Maybe make people not block the pathways, more chairs or seating outside, have a bigger venue or open some areas to fit better..maybe they like this intimate atmosphere but it did not work for half of the guests there just trying to get in and out. This review is not to burn the spot but to encourage them do better in the future. This is just to help them understand and hopefully this helps to provide constructive feedback..because I know the owner here reads a lot of these comments..

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    Kin Long Beach

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    4.6
    (2.2k reviews)
    5.6 mi
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    This place was such a pleasant surprise. From the outside, it looks pretty unassuming, but once you…read morestep inside, it's actually incredibly cute and has a warm, inviting atmosphere. One of the highlights is their Thai tea, which is served with a popsicle and seems to be one of their most popular items for good reason. It's fun, unique, and absolutely delicious. I also tried the salmon curry, which was something new for me, and I ended up loving it. The flavors were rich, balanced, and unlike anything I've ordered before. Another unexpected favorite was the wings. I'm usually not a big wings person, but these were surprisingly good--crispy, flavorful, and definitely worth ordering. Overall, the food, drinks, and atmosphere exceeded my expectations. It's a spot I would absolutely come back to and one that I would definitely recommend to others.

    After a festival by LBC city hall we stopped in to have a quick dinner. LBC is happening in the…read moreevenings and weekends but most restaurants close pretty early. Kin was one of the only restaurants open until 10 PM. We were seated right away, and somehow the five of us sat in a private room. It was kind of late for me to eat anything really heavy so I just have my usual salad and it was the beef tenderloin salad. They serve it up with a lot of beef and less veggies. The beef itself was a little chewy and in large pieces. I prefer the meat to be cut a little smaller and would like more lettuce and cucumber. I got a little taste of the spicy fried rice, which was really good. Some of us ordered Thai tea and didn't expect what we received, which was the tea with a Thai tea popsicle. What a treat! The Thai tea itself was pretty standard, but that popsicle was like the icing on a cake. The places, modern and clean. Staff is helpful and nice. Parking is their own lot but can be difficult to get a spot on a busy day or night.

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    Dining Area
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    Thai Iced Tea

    Appu's Cafe - vegan - Updated June 2026

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