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    Appu's Turmeric Cafe

    4.7 (247 reviews)
    ModerateVegetarian, Indian, Soup
    Open 11:00 am - 8:00 pm
    Updated 3 weeks ago

    Order Appu's Turmeric Cafe Takeout or Delivery

    Appu's Turmeric Cafe Photos

    APPU'S TURMERIC CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Quiet
    Casual
    Trendy
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Appu's Turmeric Cafe

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    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.

    Sign

    They're good reviews are deceiving because there are a lot of mistakes within during time we're dining in. Things that I have noticed is they use a microwave to warm up a burrito. When I was eating the burrito there are some cold parts and hot areas. Rice are not fully cooked. Mango lassi almost meets the criteria but It was more of a bootleg version of mango lassi. Workers are nice but dared ones that takes orders and fold your burrito and use the microwave. Price we pay for a burrito and bread sliders we're around 30.

    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!

    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.

    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.

    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.

    $19.99 lunch combo, not including picture of bread and dessert. Delicious!!
    Lilah S.

    First time visiting and I loved it here! I got the $19.99 lunch combo which included a soup, salad and samosa, three entree portions and turmeric rice, a basket of bread and a dessert (I forgot to take pictures of the rest, sorry!). I also ordered their lemongrass iced chai. It was such a great deal and everything was absolutely delicious! Everyone was so kind and they even offered to refill my salad and bread. I will definitely be back!

    Appu's statement
    Lola M.

    What a great experience we had in this small but endearing restaurant found in a shopping center in Long Beach! Who would guess?! As a trying to live vegan person, it's tough eating out so I take recommendations for vegan food seriously. This place run by Chef VR, who is so nice, has an interesting blend of Indian and Mexican flavors. I had the vegan maharani burrito that came with a yummy sauce, a little spicy but not crazy. The other people with me had a vegan maharani bowl and the other had vegan tacos. Sounds kinda Mex but tastes more like Indian! We really enjoyed it. We also tried the Mango Lassi made with coconut milk, so good! The other beverage was a ginger turmeric blend also using coconut milk. This one is more like an elixir that you should have everyday for a health boost! I definitely recommend Appu's to anyone who wants a healthy choice while also having a delicious food. I need to try more of Chef VR's food!! Just wish it was closer to me!

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    24 days ago

    The food was absolutely delicious, and the owner is kind, vibrant, and amazing overall. Highly recommend. Great for vegetarians and vegans

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    3 months ago

    Amazing food and local shop owner. Authentic tastes and what a deal for the all you can eat lunch.

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    4 months ago

    This place is a true gem. The owner takes care of everyone who comes in like family. The food was delicious. Can't wait to come back.

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    Amazing place, really good food choices, especially for being none biggest fan of Indian food. Definitely coming back.

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    Page 1 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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    Food Butter chicken…read morepot pie - A must order. An elevated butter chicken with buttery puff pastry. You won't need naan. However, absolutely get it with rice, it worked perfectly. 4.6 without rice 4.8 with rice. Lamb vindaloo - An excellent waiter recommended dish that is just a tad underseasoned. Tender lamb shank with a great curry and wedge potatoes. Didn't have a chance to try it with rice. 4.6/5 Saffron rice - As just mentioned, this rice is excellent. A bit underseasoned by itself but with a protein it's excellent. 4.5/5 Kebab - I forgot which I got, but it was a solid dish. I liked the cook and grilled fruits it came with. Spicy mint chuntey was a nice addition. 4.5/5 Pan puri - This is a gimmicky app that is fine to try once. 4.2/5 Truffle chicken - Boneless thigh wings that are creamy and excellent with rice. Just a tad underseasoned. 4.3/5 without rice. 4.6/5 with rice. Chai tiramisu - It sounds a lot better than it is. 4/5 Lava cake - Waiter recommended and a hit. An excellent dessert. The ice cream seemed generic/not in-house though. 4.7/5. With homemade ice cream this could be a 4.9. Service Both times I've went the hosts have been going through the motions but the waiters have been good. 4.4/5 Ambiance 5/5

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    I've been coming to this restaurant for over 10 years now. Service has been hit or miss. But…read morenothing I couldn't look past. Today was some of the worst service I had ever seen from the front desk team. The hostesses appeared to be discriminating against a woman because of her service animal. I'm not sure they understand how ILLEGAL what they did today was. We arrived for Mother's Day because my mom loves the all you can eat buffet there and it's one of her favorite restaurants. The hosts up front seemed a bit scattered and were quoting random times to people. We were told it would be about 15-20 minutes. I think we were seated after 30 minutes. They called us up and then told us wait the table isn't ready so asked us to wait another 5 minutes. The reason I took off 3 stars is because a very nice woman had been waiting with her friends and her service dog longer than us. She was extremely patient and kind. She waited outside with her dog and didn't complain once about the wait. I heard the hosts discussing her dog and they were like oh that's a BIG service dog. It was just a normal small sized black lab. And they never began preparing a table for her. The woman finally came in after about 30 minutes to say she had been waiting and was told they were just setting up a table. They kind of brushed her off and said we will get to you. It seems like they had no intention of ever seating her and her friends. They seated multiple large groups before her. We were table of two and we got sat so we thought she would be next and she wasn't. Eventually the poor woman left. They have a sign outside saying service dogs are allowed. This is not true. And you will be discriminated against and not be given a table. I'm not sure if the hosts know how illegal their behavior was. It was clear her dog was a real service animal and the hostesses did not care for her at all. I was a hostess at two restaurants when I was younger and I have never seen anyone treat a customer so poorly before. I truly hope they apologize to this woman. - As for inside the restaurant the servers and waitstaff were extremely friendly. It is a bit scattered and you don't know who your server is so it is hard to flag people down. But they still serve water, naan, and anything else you need promptly. The entire restaurant was packed. Every table was full and the staff always had the food trays full of items. The items also all tasted fresh. All besides the Hakka noodles. That one was a little soggy or over boiled for my taste. I am vegetarian so I got their spinach and mushroom pasta which was surprisingly good. Paneer tikka was also very good. They also had channa/chole. They have street food station where they made fresh pani puri which was great. I believe this station is switched out each buffet day. The last time I was here it was dev puri. And they had someone making paneer tacos. The man making the tacos was really friendly and seemed really happy to be helping everyone. They had samosas and puff pastries as appetizers. They have wide variety of sweets such as carrot halwa, gulab jamun, jalebi, sweets, Kheer, and mango fruit custard. There is a variety of meat dishes such as tandoor chicken, mutton, chili chicken, and chicken curries. I think the only issue with this place is how the hostesses treat customers. Especially new customers. This is their first impression of the restaurant.

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