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    Appu's Turmeric Cafe

    4.7 (259 reviews)
    ModerateVegetarian, Indian, Soup
    Open 11:00 am - 8:00 pm
    Updated 1 week ago

    Order Appu's Turmeric Cafe Takeout or Delivery

    Appu's Turmeric Cafe Photos

    APPU'S TURMERIC CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Trendy
    Quiet
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Appu's Turmeric Cafe

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    Their mixed tacos, one of each. I call them delicious! :) Paneer, veggie and potato!
    Jjs M.

    We love Appus and eat here at least twice a week! Chef VR, Nick and Francisco are all consistently kind, courteous and helpful. I have serious stomach problems and flare up easily every time we eat out, but not here! Their food is clean, delicious and nourishing. What more can you ask for?!

    The Maharaja
    Labdhi P.

    I was stoked to try this place because of its stellar reviews. There were 4 of us in my group. The place itself was beautiful and was well maintained. It was spotlessly clean. The owner seemed really friendly and enthusiastic about the menu. We could see that he had poured his heart and soul into this place. We got two maharaja burrito and 1 maharani vegan burrito and samosas. The vegan mango lassi was tempting but it was made from coconut milk and I prefer not to eat that much saturated fat. Food looked great and smelled good. The ingredients tasted fresh. I think it lacked a little bit flavor (possible littles less salt). Spices were fine for me since we got the spicy cali with avocados. For my husband he didn't enjoy it much because he prefers a bit more spicy and also thought it lacked flavor. On the other hand, samosas had the perfect flavor. It was delicious. Parking was easy to find.

    This is true!
    Cayden C.

    Chef VR is an amazing person and an amazing cook. I am a student at Marshall Academy of the Arts and I walked 40 minutes just to get to Appu's. Upon stepping foot beyond the door, Chef VR greeted me with a smile and said "I see you're carrying a violin!" In response, I said yes and he offered that I play him and his customers a song for a free flatbread--in which I took the offer. I performed Shenandoah arranged by Eric Morales, and everybody applauded me. With his promise in mind, he gave me flatbread, free of charge, along with a 10% discount for being a student. My food, it was all made fresh and the flatbread was made from scratch. I love the flavors of Indian cuisine and the damn good Gulab Jamun. Chef VR is a really nice and kind person you'll meet, he is very greeting and he will give people fist bumps for free. Definitely give this place a try!

    Lance E.

    I was so excited when an Appu's Cafe was built near my place! That excitement soon came to an end when, at this location, I was not treated with the same care or enthusiasm as other guest. Both workers, one who seemed to be a supervisor, were quick, abrupt, and annoyed with my order. Not surprisingly, the food I normally order from the other Appu's (located in Lakewood) was not good at this location. I do not recommend this location if you have been to the other one. Parking can be a little difficult based on the time of day, but overall there is compact parking in the lot.

    Healthy Mex Burrito
    Jennifer S.

    What an absolute gem in Long Beach! I stopped by Appu's Turmeric Cafe and can't stop thinking about the incredible fusion flavors. I ordered the Healthy Mex Burrito and the Iced Vegan Lemongrass Chai, and honestly... wow. The burrito was flavorful, the mix of turmeric rice, slow-cooked black beans, grilled veggies, and their "chef's secret sauce" created a delicious harmony of Indian and Mexican influences. It was hearty, vibrant, and completely satisfying. I'd 1000% come back for this alone, and I'm already planning my return trip to try everything else on the menu. But what really stole my heart was the Iced Vegan Lemongrass Chai. It's a unique and refreshing blend, citrusy, minty, and subtly spiced with classic chai notes. Truly unlike anything I've had before. It's one of those drinks that just lingers in your mind, in the best way. My only gripe is the price, $6.95 for a 16 oz feels steep. I'd happily drink it daily if it weren't so pricey, but for a treat, it's excellent. Bonus points for the cute little indoor seating area, which makes it a cozy and inviting space whether you're dining in or picking up. Highly recommend!

    Menú!
    Miriah S.

    The food was good this time around (last time the mushrooms in my soup were boiled to a crisp and you can tell in the photo) but the energy of the owner is so off putting. & this time ordered the avocado ($2.50) in my burrito but it was forgotten and the cook/cashier said it was there and framed bringing some on the side as a courtesy that had me questioning my whole reality like wait did I forgot what avocado is ? is this shred of lettuce actually avocado? Lols so sad this place has been a dud for me because the first time I tried the original location at the medical center it was amazeballs and the service was magical but this location has disappointed me twice.

    Mary T.

    This is the first time I've been to Appu's new location on Palo Verde. The strip mall has ample parking albeit it probably varies. The strip mall is right by the 405 freeway entrances so be on the alert for how to enter! Six of us went for an early lunch; 4 had never been before. We were cordially seated and two tables were quickly combined for us to sit together. The place is spotless! Wile I originally inquired if Saag Paneer could be made as it was not on the menu, I was told yes but then opted to share dishes with one person. We checked out the Saag Aloo and Paneer Tikka Masala, the latter dish I was not so familiar with but then became my preferred dish. Both were flavorful but the Tikka Masala had the extra charge. The accompanying rice made for a filling me. We had to pay extra for the bread but it is probably the one thing you might not need with the rice. Also, the bread is a flat bread and does not absorb the sauces as well as I would have liked. We were treated to some mango lassi and it was light and refreshing. As one might know, southeast Asian drinks can be so caloric as usually they are made with condensed milk but not Appu's. A full serving size is well under 200 calories. If you've never been to Appu's and you want to eat healthy, this is the place but it's not boring vegan or vegetarian but a thoughtful fusion of spices and aromatics. Appu's original location is now holding cooking classes! Call for dates and times. Check it out!

    Jonathan N.

    I got the maharaja burrito and the potato turmeric tacos with avocados of course. My son got the tilapia masala soup and a mango lasse I also got a mango lasse. The food was great as usual and so was the customer service.

    The Maharaja Burrito
    Morgan H.

    Appu's is serving up delicious food that you can feel good about eating. Chef VR was formerly in the medical field if I'm not mistaken, and focuses on holistic cooking that's heart healthy. I had previously been to the original location in the medical building and was finally able to try the standalone location. I love how he fuses Indian food with Mexican favorites like quesadillas. Some of my favorite items are the Paneer Tikka Masala, Maharaja Burrito, Paneer Tikka Tacos and you can't miss the Indian Flat Bread, their twist on traditional naan bread.

    Leslie Y.

    This was my first time dining at the new restaurant. The previous location on the first floor of the medical center is currently being remodeled into a culinary school. You can learn how to cook delicious and healthy meals in a flash from the chef himself. This restaurant is a significant improvement from the cramped previous location. Instead of counters, there are comfortable tables and chairs. The food remains as good as ever, and the menu has expanded to more options. The chef often serves the food himself, so there might be a slight wait, but it's well worth it. He treats everyone like family members and friends, and you can taste his love for cooking in every bite. I learned that he's recovering from cancer, but his passion and vivacity overcame any physical constraint. Please come here and have a taste of life itself.

    The Maharaja Burrito
    Tuan N.

    Was empty when I came in to order the maharaja burrito and it came out in like 5-10 minutes which is good enough for me. Environment looked neat and clean as well. The burrito is well presented and the structure of the tortilla stuck out to me as it's fairly thin and crisp, but still strong. It was an enjoyable meal. I think there were bits of mushroom in it which adds a bit of "meatiness" to it that was satisfying. Perfect consistency for rice in a burrito with it not being dry or mushy. I didn't really know what to think of the sauce that accompanied it since the flavor was a little mild by itself. But adding it to the burrito felt like it did make it better as I ate it, so I ended up using it all. I also ordered a lemongrass chai and the lemongrass definitely comes through. I thought it was refreshing. All in all very solid and quick. I'm not vegan or anything but do like to mix it up a bit and would definitely recommend anyone to give this place a try.

    Sample platter
    Elizabeth M.

    The new location is a little further from me but WORTH the drive for the amazing food and customer service! The food is delish, made with love and friendship.

    Menu

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    2 years ago

    Delicous healthy food, and awesome staff! You can tell they really care about the food they make . I can't wait to come back !

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    3 years ago

    Delicious vegan food. The dishes were flavorful. The Chai Lemongrass Tea is naturally sweet and satisfying.

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    3 years ago

    Delicious and healthy indian food with a flair. All vegetarian and vegan! New location is open until 8pm! Closed on Mondays

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    Business owner information

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    VR V.

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    3 years ago

    Fantastic food served with a smile - highly recommend at either location ! so pleased they're in our neighborhood now!

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    3 years ago

    Delicious and healthy! Very ecological minded too. You need to give this cafe a try!

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    3 years ago

    Amazing fresh food and great service!!! Got a chance to meet with the owner who was so passionate about his food!!

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    3 years ago

    This place is delicious and incredibly healthy. Convenient off of the freeway and easy parking.

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    3 years ago

    Amazing customer service, great recipes and quality in a clean comfortable setting. Delicious lemon chai tea to end the meal.

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    3 years ago

    This place is so good! It filled me up but didn't slow me down. I will be back frequently!

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    2 years ago

    My favorite place in Long Beach! Delicious healthy food, and superb service! Highly recommend. I'll be back for sure.

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    Page 6 of 7

    Ask the Community - Appu's Turmeric Cafe

    Are you still doing all you can eat lunch? Is this everyday?

    Yes

    Does the inside have central air conditioning (HVAC) and/or air purifier(s) to filter indoor air?

    Yes. The inside does have Central AC. Moreover the cross ventilation in the restaurant also purifies the air instantly.

    Are they going to open for lunch soon?

    They open at 11 and have weekday lunch specials.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Finally getting around to writing my review for Mustard Seed. I believe it's one of the few fully…read morevegan options in the city of Cerritos, which is always nice to have. The restaurant has a cozy atmosphere, and the customer service is honestly great. The staff is friendly and willing to recommend their favorite menu items if you're not sure what to order. I've been here twice, and both visits were about the same. The food was okay. It wasn't disappointing, but it also wasn't something that really stood out to me. I've had better vegan food at other places, so I left feeling somewhat neutral. It's a decent option if you're looking for vegan food in the area, and I still encourage others to give it a try because everyone's taste and experience can be different.

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    Authentic, made-to-order Mexican food in a small spot in Lakewood. There isn't a ton of seating and…read morethere's no AC, but takeout is always an option if that's not your jam. We've tried the quesobirria tacos, birria street tacos, and breakfast burrito, and everything has been delicious. There can sometimes be a wait for your food, but the flavors are absolutely worth it. My toddler loves the soft birria taco--the beef is so tender and juicy that she can easily enjoy it. The chips have the perfect crunch, and the seasonal passionfruit agua fresca is sweet and delicious. On top of the great food, the owner is a genuinely proud father and such a kind person from all of our interactions with him. I really love this spot and hope more people give it a chance!

    If you're looking for incredible, authentic Mexican food with stellar customer care, Basil is an…read moreabsolute must-try! From the moment you walk in, you feel the warm, family-friendly atmosphere. The owner, Guzman, is super friendly and speaks both English and Spanish, and his daughter Alison was running the register like a total pro--she's all business in the best way! Now, let's talk about the food: The Secret Salsa: Absolutely hit the spot! Savory with just the right amount of kick. Chilaquiles: My dad ordered these and was blown away. He got them with two sauces, and he particularly loved the red sauce, which was al estilo Oaxaca mole. They cooked his eggs exactly to order and accommodated his request for extra raw onions alongside all the delicious classic toppings (sour cream and queso fresco). Drinks: They have a great variety of soft drinks, including Diet Coke and Coke Zero. (If you're looking for coffee, definitely stop by right when they open, as they might be replenishing inventory later in the day!) A quick heads-up for first-timers: The dining area can run a bit warm and there are no public restrooms at this location, so plan accordingly. However, that wouldn't deter us for a second--the chips, salsa, and overall quality are way too good to pass up. It was great seeing local regulars picking up to-go orders while we were there. Working just down the road on Studebaker, I know I am going to be a frequent regular from now on. Classy place, amazing flavor, and wonderful people--we will definitely be back as often as we can!

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    I need to make this update: Me and my husband ate here again today (8/30/26) This is his 4th visit…read morein the last 3 weeks; two of which I went with him. He said that it has declined with each visit... Nobody was at the counter to take our order when we walked in. We waited for a few minutes then said "hello" to see if anyone came out. They did not. We ended up ordering on the kiosk (which we don't like doing, we'd rather order with a human). The guy finally came out, took someone else's order after us and his food came out within a couple of minutes. No joke. Meanwhile, it took our food 12 minutes; which isn't terribly long but we were already turned off at this point... I asked for more water (they have a self serve water jug), the guy didn't fill it. I asked for water again when our food came out (different guy). Then several minutes later the original guy said he filled the water. Ate our food. My bean and cheese burrito was meh. Kind of bland with not much cheese, and the cheese it did have was all clumped in one spot, not spread out evenly. My husband got his usual three tacos. He was very unhappy with them today. He upgraded to the homemade tortillas. They feel apart. He said it reminded him of tamale masa, they just crumbled apart. CONSISTENCY matters. We left unsatisfied and likely will not return. It quickly went from "wow this place is amazing, we found a new awesome taco spot" to "well, that was short lived". I'd also like to mention his 3rd visit with our daughter. They ordered. Waited 25 minutes. Still no food. He asked about it and they never put the ticket in to be made. UGH.

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    2.5 mi
    $$

    Came for the $3 Taco Tuesday night. Surprisingly not busy! Was worried about parking on the street…read morebut luckily we found a spot not too far of a walk away. They had sports playing on the TVs and the interior is pretty small. It's more of a casual vibe good for a chill night out. It kinda feels like a place where you order at the front and get takeout, but they have someone who will wait on your table if you choose to dine in. I came with a vegetarian friend and we had a fun time sampling the different taco meats and rating each. Here is my ranking: 1. Asada - I hate to be basic, but this was good for what it was. It tasted like they might have used mushroom meat, but this takes place as #1 for me because I think it could be a general crowd pleaser for any non-vegetarian. On the contrary, my vegetarian friend did not like it because she found it too dry. 2. Barbacoa - A very, very close second. The only reason it places behind asada is because asada is a classic. Barbacoa has good texture and I could eat a lot of these too. 3. Chorizo - This was the closest to tasting like its actual counterpart. I could eat a bunch of chorizo. Crumbly meat with lots of flavor. 4. Tinga - I'm not as familiar with tinga meat, but the pickled red onion that went with this taco gave it a savory taste. Good to try out but you're not missing out if you choose other flavors. 5. Chicken - Tasted like tofu meat? Not bad - I don't usually pick chicken for taco meat so this might be a personal preference choice. 6. Pastor - Sweet, but did not taste like pastor. Had a little trouble distinguishing between the pastor and the tinga at first, but came to the conclusion the pastor was the one with pineapple on it. I mostly prefer savory meats and while I don't mind the pineapple, the pastor I usually have is not sweet itself. If you like sweet meats, this might be worth getting. 7. Potato - Everybody can skip the potato. It's a fried potato taco, but the potato they use resembles a breakfast hash. The crispiness is nice, but the texture is flaky and the sauce doesn't save it. Even my vegetarian friend was let down by this one even though she had high hopes and usually likes potato tacos. Overall the server told us most of the taco meats were soybean based (not the pastor). I think the chorizo might be falafel, but that's a guess? Ended our meal with the Tres Leches as a dessert. Frosting is buttery and sweet (maybe a little too much frosting) but the cake goes super well with the milk. It sits in a soy milk bath which is a first for me. I wish they had added more soy milk! The menu is huge though. I was very tempted to try other stuff on the menu so I am very open to coming back and trying the breakfast platter (or getting more tacos again, yum).

    I have been to all of the other Grain Cafes except for this one! But I recently found myself in…read moreLong Beach and hungry for some food, and this restaurant came up in my area. I ordered ahead as I was in a bit of a rush and thankfully they were very quick at preparing my food! They also didn't compromise on the quality in doing so! I managed to find a spot on the adjacent side street and was greeted as soon as I entered. The ambiance of the restaurant was bright and colorful with plenty of cozy seating both inside and outside. They also had a pastry case filled with some drool worthy cakes. The friendly employee quickly found my order. The menu was vast but I ordered an indulgent chocolate crepe, as I was craving something sweet and light. The crepe had a lovely pillowy texture and was so heavenly, both the chocolate sauce and chocolate mousse were so rich and decadent and had me wanting more! I loved the freshness, sweetness and juiciness of the berries! The coconut whipped cream really took it over the top and added a nice airiness. Their crepes are must haves and I'm dying to try more of them! I will definitely be back soon to this location or one of their other conveniently located ones!

    Photos
    The Grain Cafe - Inside

    Inside

    The Grain Cafe
    The Grain Cafe - Outside

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    Outside

    Vegan Castle - Red Dragon Roll

    Vegan Castle

    4.6(406 reviews)
    6.2 mi
    $$

    Excellent good food!! Everything I've tried has been…read moreamazing! Looking forward to trying everything on the menu.

    This is a one man operation and I mean literally one!! You order/pay on a kiosk, and then that same…read moreguy cooks it, walks it out to you, and clears the table after you leave. Plates, utensils or anything else you need, go get it yourself. BUT none of that really bothered us. It's a hole in the wall place, we weren't walking in expecting white tablecloths. The other odd thing was that place opens at 1pm (who opens at 1? most people are done with lunch by then and its too early for dinner). Anyways we got there right at open so we were the first ones in an empty restaurant. It still took an HOUR to get our food. One hour for the first and only order in the building. A few others came in a couple minutes behind us and they were still sitting there past the hour and half mark. There's slow and then there's this where slow loses its definition. Food was good but when you've been starving for a long time anything would taste good so take that for what its worth. Prices aren't cheap either, 14-16$ a dish, which is proper sit down restaurant money not a person running the truck type business place. I don't really blame the guy. He's the cook and the server and the cleanup all at once and you can tell he's putting effort into the food. But one person can't run a restaurant on his own and I'm not going back to wait another time to prove it.

    Photos
    Vegan Castle - Seating Area

    Seating Area

    Vegan Castle - Crunch Roll

    Crunch Roll

    Vegan Castle - Rainbow Roll

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    Rainbow Roll

    Appu's Turmeric Cafe - vegetarian - Updated September 2026

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