Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Appu's Cafe

    4.8 (831 reviews)
    ModerateVegan, Indian, Soup
    Closed 10:00 am - 3:00 pm

    Order Appu's Cafe Takeout or Delivery

    Appu's Cafe Photos

    APPU'S CAFE ATMOSPHERE

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

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Appu's Cafe

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    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!

    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.

    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!

    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!

    Anthony C.

    Great, filling & heslthy eats that doesn't leave one feeling bloated .......Great, filling & heslthy eats that doesn't leave one feeling bloated .......Great, filling & heslthy eats that doesn't leave one feeling bloated .......

    Rice bowl with two soups in it , vegan !

    See all

    7 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of South B.
    2
    397
    1876

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of April S.
    123
    22
    31

    4 years ago

    Their food is AMAZING , I've been thinking about it every day! The service is also excellent. I'm looking forward to my next visit

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 7
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0
    Photo of KT B.
    11
    31
    37

    3 years ago

    Great food!!! Great service!!! Plenty Parking!!! The Mushroom Masala and the Cali Burrito and flatbread DELICIOUS

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Fifi C.
    5
    155
    690

    8 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of VR V.

    VR V.

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    4 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Great vegan food. Service is good as well. I ordered Mushroom Masala and Flavors of Bombay which are great. Vegan Samosa was kind of OK.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 80
    Thanks 0
    Love this 80
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 9
    Thanks 0
    Love this 6
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Michael W.
    11
    361
    18

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Hetal R.
    75
    20
    19

    6 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of VR V.

    VR V.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of VR V.

    VR V.

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of VR V.

    VR V.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ally P.
    78
    41
    6

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Great food and staff! A hidden gem; very comfortable and inviting. Outdoor seating only.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ronald D.
    189
    91
    4

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Popeye V.
    172
    162
    47

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Owners are so kind and the food is great! Quite hard to find - head to the back of the building to park and walk in. Get the 911 sauce!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ron E.
    3
    24
    0

    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!

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 3 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… 

    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

    You might also consider

    Kin Long Beach

    Kin Long Beach

    4.6
    (2.3k reviews)
    5.6 mi
    $$

    garlic noodle shrimp and thai tea was bomb shi. Food so…read moredelish the crab rangoon and sticky rice were very delightful and tasteful. Tasted every atom of food on my tongue. 100% recommend

    Second time at Kin, and enjoyed it thoroughly…read more Parking absolutely blows ans you will most likely have to park on the street since the lot is tiny. Restaurant is packed, so place resos if possible. Food here is absolutely delicious. Notable dishes for me are the Pad See Ew with the giant shrimp and the Salmon Larb. Pad See ew had such a good wok fry essence. So flavorful, and perfect blend of savory and slight sweetness. Chinese broccoli nicely wok fried. The shrimp was jumbo and so succulent. Salmon Larb was perfectly cooked with fried cubes of juicy flavorful salmon. Tossed in fresh mint, cilantro, scallions, a ton of fresh lime juice, chili flakes, red onions and lettuce. The toasted rice powder was definitely apparent as every Larb dish should have. Slightly different take of Larb, bit more modernized and tweaked cause definitely a salad with the lettuce versus served with the cabbage and cucumber on the side. I don't think you can go wrong with what you order. Definitely fusion of authentic with a modernized American feel. Cocktails were excellent and recommend their Tamarind Spicy drink, don't remember the name but it was so good. Unfortunately no photos cause we weee hungry and just cleared out the food as it came out. Service is straight forward. We got what we needed with a bit wait due to the fact the place is BUSY!

    Photos
    Dining Area
    Dining Area
    Pork Jerky
    Pork Jerky
    Thai Iced Tea

    See all

    Thai Iced Tea
    Phnom Penh Noodle Shack

    Phnom Penh Noodle Shack

    4.4
    (1.6k reviews)
    4.1 mi
    $$

    If you haven't had Cambodian food in Long Beach, where have you been??…read more Phnom Penh has been on my list for quite some time now, and I was stoked to finally get a chance to try. Parking wasn't too bad since there's a good amount of street parking nearby. There's a bit of a wait, especially on the Sunday I went, but Yelp waitlist makes it much better. It's quite small inside, so very understandable. The menu is quite extensive, with a selection of noodle soups and pan fried noodles. We got the chicken student noodles, which came out rather quickly. I loved the texture of the noodles, as they had that bounciness to them. The chicken was cooked perfectly and made for a well-rounded dish.

    My friends and I came on a Friday during lunch and we waitlisted around 1hr early. We got there and…read moreparked and ended up just waiting 10 minutes in person. The restaurant is very lively and homely! We ended up ordering a Student Noodle, Mo's Special Noodle, and Mo's Special Porridge. All were extremely flavorful and full of texture. The Student Noodle was on the sweeter and savory side, which was a good balance. The porridge was so hearty I wish I could eat it everyday. The garlic fish sauce is a great pairing with all dishes. Portions are big and totally worth it to share among the table. Highly recommend this! Cambodian food is definitely a rarer cuisine to find, so this is definitely a must try if you are ever in Long Beach!

    Photos
    Phnom Penh Noodle Shack
    #15) Student Noodle $16 Served with our house garlic fish. Small rice noodles,meat, bean sprouts, peanuts, and pickled cabbage.
    #15) Student Noodle $16 Served with our house garlic fish. Small rice noodles,meat, bean sprouts, peanuts, and pickled cabbage.
    #1 - @rayz

    See all

    #1 - @rayz
    S T Noodle Bar

    S T Noodle Bar

    4.3
    (770 reviews)
    1.6 mi
    $$

    Me and my crew just got done with a long day but we still needed dinner. They were pretty tired so…read moreI decided I'd just get some Thai/Chinese take out and bring it back to the hotel. We have full kitchens in all the rooms where we're staying along with plates and all the set ups. The rooms even have dishwashers! So, I found this S T Noodle Bar near by and decided to give it a try. I kinda know what there guys like to eat, so I just ordered a bunch of food. The only request from anybody was for Pad Thai, the most common dish at all Thai restaurants. I GPS my way over and order the food. I was Khao Soy on the menu and I don't see that at too many Thai places that I've been to, so I got an order of that with chicken. Of course, an order of Pad Thai, 2 orders since I have 5 hungry people to feed. Also, I ordered the Thai coconut soup, I think it's called Tom Kha with chicken. One more noodles dish was the Drunken Noodles, it's kinda like Chinese Chow Fun, but has a more spicy flavor and basil in it. The food was all pack and bagged for me to take back to the hotel. We used my room since I have a bigger room. We had plates and set ups for all five of us and we re-plated the food on the serving plates that came with the room. All the food was really tasty and everybody was happy not to have to leave the hotel. I heard compliments on the Pad Thai and the Coconut soup. It was a good idea just to do take out and eat at the hotel here.

    STEPH JUDGEMENT: Tasty Thai food in a pleasant atmosphere with nice service…read more Came by with some coworkers for a midweek evening drink and nosh. It was a pretty good-sized space, with light and bright decor. It wasn't crowded and we were able to get a table for 4 with no problems. We ordered as a group and I got to try the following items: - spring rolls with shrimp and tofu (the rice noodles were a little on the hard side, but overall ok) - fried calamari (interesting presentation with the rings hanging on the branches of a metal tree. They were large and looked more like onion rings. Not bad, but I prefer lighter batter. Also, see the subreddit WeWantPlates, hehe) - spicy seafood salad (fresh and bountiful amount of seafood) - steamed mussels in lemongrass basil broth (mussels were plump and tender and the broth was so good--my favorite) - Singha beer Service was prompt, and the prices reasonable. Very good first impression, would try again.

    Photos
    Cozy & unique decoration
    Cozy & unique decoration
    Boat Noodle
    Boat Noodle
    Fried Bananas with Ice Cream

    See all

    Fried Bananas with Ice Cream
    HiroNori Craft Ramen

    HiroNori Craft Ramen

    4.4
    (2.3k reviews)
    4.0 mi
    $$

    This was one of the best ramen spots we tried during our Long Beach trip…read more The tonkotsu ramen had a rich, creamy broth that wasn't overly salty, and the noodles had a great texture. The chashu was tender and flavorful, and every bite felt well balanced. The pork rice bowl was just as good and is worth ordering if you're hungry. The restaurant is clean, modern, and has a relaxed atmosphere. Service was friendly, and the food came out quickly even though the place was busy. It isn't the cheapest bowl of ramen, but the quality makes it worth it. If you're looking for good ramen in Long Beach, HiroNori is an easy recommendation.

    HiroNori has 17 California locations from SD to San Mateo, including 2 in LB. I've eaten at this…read moreone twice before and it was good. This space used to be El Pocho Grill, which unfortunately closed years ago. I was seated immediately and very much enjoyed the infused water. The Tonkotsu Ramen was delivered shortly after ordering. It was good with flavorful broth that wasn't overly-salty. It just didn't hit the spot and had me desiring more. It's some of the best ramen in LB, but the value is lacking, so everything including lemons is an additional charge. They also tack on a 17.68% service charge for their operation since it's a non-tipping, cashless establishment. The service was good, but the operation is business first, restaurant second.

    Photos
    Crispy Rice Spicy Tuna
    Crispy Rice Spicy Tuna
    HiroNori Craft Ramen
    Shoyu Ramen

    See all

    Shoyu Ramen
    Northern Cafe

    Northern Cafe

    4.1
    (325 reviews)
    4.8 mi
    $$

    Food really hit the spot! Place was clean, cozy, and inviting. And the service was perfect! Crystal…read morewas... something else ; ) FYI, my drink was amazing Would recommend to all my friends and family.

    Excited to have found a solid place for Chinese food in Long Beach!…read more We came in on a Friday night and it was steadily busy. We were seated and the food came out quickly, but after that, service was a bit slow. We tried several things including the crab and pork soup dumplings, shrimp wonton in chili oil, house beef noodle soup, orange chicken, and walnut shrimp. Definitely a place you can easily have a family style meal at! Crab and pork soup dumplings - really good flavor, wish there was slightly more soup in the dumpling! Would definitely get again, especially if you get their HH price Walnut shrimp - my new favorite walnut shrimp in the area! These came out nice and fresh, shrimp was cooked well, sauce was good balance of sweet and savory Beef noodle soup - broth was surprisingly not as hearty as the deep color would make you think, but still very full of beef flavor. The beef was very tender, melt in your mouth! Noodles were nicely bouncy with mild chew. Good option if you are in the mood for noodle soup Orange chicken - unfortunately seemed to be a mix of freshly cooked and an old order as some pieces were warmer than others. Good flavor, but chicken inside the breading was quite dry. Wish it was a bit saucier Shrimp wonton in chili oil - to me had a strange aftertaste. It does have cucumber in the wonton - warm cucumber taste was not for me Inside had a rustic appearance with brick walls and industrial lights. A good place to eat with a few friends and try different things. Would come back for the walnut shrimp and crab and pork soup dumplings!

    Photos
    Interior front to back
    Interior front to back
    Sauteed String Beans w/ Garlic *was delivery
    Sauteed String Beans w/ Garlic *was delivery
    Yuzu mule

    See all

    Yuzu mule

    Appu's Cafe - vegan - Updated August 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...