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Appu's Cafe

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

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Appu's Cafe Photos

APPU'S CAFE ATMOSPHERE

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

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Recommended Reviews - Appu's Cafe

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Long C.

This was rated as the top 20 in yelps best 100 in the OC so this was a friends suggestion. However, the place is located in the back of a medical office. The owners where one was a former doctor. So there's plenty of parking but limited for the back. There's an even a sign on the grass so it's hard to miss. It's not an actual cafe so you have to eat at limited table seating outside. I order the marinhara burrito and yellow lentil soup large. There's a Yelp check in for the free chai tea ($5 normally). It has a refresh tasting so it's ok. These orders are homemade so be expected to wait at least 10 minutes or so if you just walk in and order. Calling it togo might be faster. Was it worth it? It's a fusion between Indian and vegan. Well the burritos are ok. Yellow lentil soup is decent but it's just broth and lots of mushrooms. It's not spicy if you are spicy lover. Overall, the place is nice and have friendly staff but i recommend this place if you plan for a healthy meal option.

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.

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!

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.

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Food here is delicious. The staff is super friendly. The naan is a must. Lots of healthier options.

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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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Appu's Cafe - vegan - Updated May 2026

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