The return of the Kaur Family's food: Royal Indian Curry House opens in Downtown Long Beach

Royal Indian Curry House has officially opened in Downtown Long Beach, directly across from the recently opened Marathon Burger on Pine. And its opening has a multi-pronged importance for the entire city.

For one, it marks the return of the Kaur Family to the Long Beach Food Scene. Amarjit Singh and Babbljit “Bubbly” Kaur have been absent since selling their much-loved Natraj space in Belmont Shore (and, sadly, have been having to watch its decline since—hence the opening of Royal Indian Curry House). Secondly, it marks the return of Indian food to DTLB—a much-missed cuisine that once had a rich presence there. And lastly, it marks the tangible work of a family who witnessed their matriarch get kidnapped by ICE agents.

To say that my invitation to a family preview—where tin tubs of everything from daal tadka and padri chaat to butter chicken and biryani were put on display to fill one’s plate with buffet-style—was a privilege is an understatement.

royal indian curry house long beach dtlb bubbly kaur — Royal Indian Curry House in Downtown Long Beach. Photo by Brian Addison.

Why Royal Indian Curry House’s opening is clutch for DTLB’s food scene…

In a neighborhood as dense and culturally layered as Downtown Long Beach, culinary diversity isn’t just a luxury. It’s a necessity that reflects the people who live, work, and gather there. A thriving urban core should offer a mosaic of cuisines that mirror its global community,

And that is is why the absence of Indian food in DTLB has been so noticeable since the underrated Kabob Curry closed in 2017, followed by Fresh Kabobs shuttering mid-pandemic in 2021.

To have the waft of curry—yes, which can actually be smelled walking down Pine now—in the air of Downtown is not just awesome but strangely, wonderfully nostalgic. And yes, I am trying to convince Bubbly to somehow give into the very American concept of masala fries, as they are likely the most missed dish from Fresh Kabobs since it closed.

How R.I.C.H. is tangible proof that immigrants uplift our communities…

When Bubbly was unlawfully arrested while attending her court-ordered biometrics appointment attached to her pending immigration case, I was told that my usage of the word “kidnapping” was wrong, simply because it was done by a federal agent.

I stand by the fact that her horrible experience—where she was “doing it the right way” by conservative logic—of being taken by masked, unnamed men into an unmarked vehicle is kidnapping. And even more, the pride I felt in having the food community rally behind her with such strength that Congressman Robert Garcia personally stepped into the matter.

Bubbly Kaur ICE Long Beach — Bubbly Kaur and her husband, Amarjit Singh, in India in the 1980s. Courtesy of Joti Kaur.

“I still have nightmares, making it very hard to sleep. I haven’t slept much since,” Bubbly said, who still maintains communication with the women she befriended while detained. “There was an 85-year-old woman detained. She was very weak, and we, the women, were constantly helping her. The guards began to notice and told us that we could no longer help her. That she must take care of herself… It is an awful, awful place no human should be in.”

Royal Indian Curry House is the tangible expression of hard work. Of immigrants playing by the rules, the system failing them, and still rising from the ashes. Of kindness. And the power of food.

The food of Royal Indian Curry House…

Warm. Rich. Layered. The food being previewed for family at the Royal Indian Curry House drew in the curious—including DTLB resident Dave Cooper, who had been looking forward to the space opening since it was announced. And of course, Bubbly invited him in for a plate. Here’s what was served buffet style…