Appu's Turmeric Cafe

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.

Let's start with the staff. They are extremely welcoming and will happily go through the menu with you while ordering. Some of the friendliest people you will meet.Now the food! Everything I've had has been delicious. From the flat bread to the burritos to the masala to the samosas, all have met or exceeded my expectations. I eat primarily vegan, but my friends who have eaten the paneers have also raved about their flavor. Don't miss the baked samosas, either in the soup or on the side. I occasionally ask for one of the items off their menu from their other location. When time permits and ingredients are available, they'll fix me a flavor of madras. Yummmmmm!

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.

It's been a while but we came back to try. The food was very delicious and fresh as usual! We ordered tacos and we got taco Tuesday deal. It was a half off! The owner was very nice and service was great! We definitely come back soon again!

Ordered the maharaja burrito and bowl. I very much prefer food with meat in it, but it was actually pretty good for being vegetarian! The burrito was well crafted, and not too wet, which I was worried about. But overall I think what made this place hard to like was how long it takes to get your food. There was one person ahead of me and two online orders, but I waited for 45 minutes to get my food.

STEPH JUDGEMENT: Great food, excellent service.The hubby and I had been to their other location of the hospital and thought it was very good, but the location and hours weren't very convenient. When we heard about this new more orthodox location, we were excited to try it. The format is fast-casual, where you order at the counter and they bring out the food. They have a lot of fusion-type dishes to appeal to the lunch crowd, like tacos, burritos, bowls, but we opted for their signature traditional dishes: flatbread sampler, paneer tikka masala, saag paneer, yellow lentil soup, and turmeric rice pilaf. Everything was delicious, but what really sets this place apart is the personal touch by the owner, Appu, with whom we had the pleasure to chat. He's a successful musician-turned-restaurateur who really loves serving good food to people. We will definitely be back!

The taco Tuesday special is a great deal, $5.99 for a trio of delicious tacos. We got a trio of paneer tikka tacos and a trio of saag paneer tacos (you can't mix'n'match, it has to be three of a kind to get the special price) to go and they were awesome! Hubby and I had leftovers. We also dined in and ordered a variety of items. It came to $70 for three without a lot of leftovers so this wasn't an awesome deal like the special was, but we did have some leftovers to take home and it was very tasty. I especially liked the Indian Protein Bread, it was hot and soft and flexible and yet held together well enough to use to pick up other food. The maharaja burrito was good. I wish they had a better selection of beverages on the menu (no regular chai tea?)

When my husband suggested we check out a new restaurant, I eagerly said "ABSOLUTELY!!"The Atmosphere:The restaurant has a clean and beautifully decorated ambiance that exudes calmness-perfect for a relaxed dining experience.The service: At the counter, we were greeted by a friendly and polite gentleman who offered excellent recommendations that made our decision making so much easier.The drinks:I opted for a mango lassi while my husband chose the lemongrass chai. Both beverages were absolutely delicious and refreshingly perfect.The food:My husband ordered a soup with a vegan quesadilla and I went for the mushroom masala served with rice, complemented by some Indian flat bread. Each dish was truly spectacular!The verdict:All in all, the food was amazing, and we're eager to come back! The gentleman behind the counter turned out to be the owner, and he was thrilled we sampled his dishes. He shared that he was previously a surgeon and is now enjoying his retirement crafting healthy, delicious vegan meals for everyone to enjoy! Thank you so much VR!

I am a fan of Indian and Mexican cuisine hence Appu's Turmeric Cafe was a definite must try when in Long Beach! Ample parking, clean and minimalist atmosphere and decor. We ordered the Crispy Samosa, flat bread, and Lemongrass Chai Tea. Talk about a kaleidoscope of flavors. My palate bursting and curiously awaiting the next gift of exquisite taste. This restaurant also support students from neighboring culinary school. An opportunity to discover their skills in customer service, presentation, and creating dishes using a plethora of spices and aromatics. Thank you, Appu's Turmeric Cafe, for your support of our students!!!

The food and service is a 10/10!!It was my first time trying and the owner was so kind to show the many options this cafe has to offer. I got the spicy Chana masala with naan and it was soooo good! I highly recommend!!