Appu's Woodruff Building (Temporarily Closed) — Restaurant in California

Is Appu's Café delicious or poo-poo? Let's see, shall we?

Located at the back of the Woodruff Medical Doctor's Offices building, Appu's Café is a small eatery serving vegetarian & vegan food.

Interestingly, eggs are also on the menu. Eggs are vegetarian? Really? Being an omnivore myself, seeing eggs on the menu is A-OK with me. The healthy fat & cholesterol make eggs a super healthy food to eat. Forget about eating egg white only omelets and such. The nutrition is missing when the yolk's removed. Fat, is where it's at!

Lunch buffet, served from 11am - 4pm, is NOT a buffet. Lunch buffet = 2 item tray which is not all you can eat, for $7+. It consists of biryani rice (with choice of soup poured on top), vegetables & 2 soup items. Considering the "buffet" would be the best method in trying several options, I went with yellow daal on top of my biryani rice, with mushroom soup & saag paneer as my items.

The rice was fluffy & light. Of the soup, my favorite was the mushroom, which had great flavor & the mushrooms were cooked correctly. Surprisingly, everything lacked heat. Good for Appu's, the woman working the kitchen had various hot sauces at the ready. After a liberal dousing of Cholula, my meal improved. Finishing my meal within a few minutes, I enjoyed it, but it wasn't satiating for me. For about the same price, I can hit up a lunch buffet at Little India. Put it this way - after leaving, I directly went to Blue Agave Mexican Grill in Artesia for Taco Tuesday. I left Appu's Café having the "lunch buffet" still hungry, which isn't good.

If you want a complimentary cup of water, it'll come by way of sink.

Appu's menu includes oatmeal, sandwiches, quesadillas, waffles & burritos, like the Maharaja burrito. Eggplant parmesan & pasta dishes are also available.

Service was good. The woman working behind the counter was friendly. For a fast casual place, payment was after completion of my meal. Stools are available to sit for a quick meal, Appu's is not a place for groups. A few outdoor tables by the parking lot to dine al fresco. Just park in the back of the office building and look for the tables & signage to find your way.

I feel bad not giving Appu's Café a higher rating, but buffet means all you can eat! What I got was less than what I'd get at Panda Express. The mushroom soup was very good, and apropos for the cold weather we've been experiencing. Perhaps, trying the Maharaja burrito will facilitate my having a better view of Appu's, but I left disappointed after...

V.R. and his staff are amazing. Made us feel so very welcome from the moment we arrived. And the food... ah the food is glorious... so flavorful and yet so very healthy. We were looking for a place that served vegan food that was located half way between LA and San Juan Capistrano. After speaking to VR on the phone, we decided to take a chance on this decidedly low key place located in the back of a medical building in an unhip part of Long Beach. What ensued was a memorable experience with phenomenal food and exceptional service. If you are looking for fancy atmosphere, this is not the place for you but if you are looking for terrific food and warm and welcoming service, you are at the right place. If you are there on a Saturday, ask VR to tell you some of his story. You...

one of the best healthy food i have tasted as well as a great choices . VR the owner/chef went out of his way to explain the preparation methods he practices and its evident in the quality and taste of his masterpiece menu . He is passionate not only in the food he serves but the ultimate health benefits. where do you find this in a restaurant but Appu's Cafe. This was a great find for me and highly recommend to anyone even if they are not vegan. I had the healthy mexican burrito and Mushroom/Spinach with famous rice he makes; Delicious!! i will come back for more and try his other...