Royal Indian Curry House Verified listing

Royal Indian Curry House has officially opened in Downtown Long Beach, directly across from 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.

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.“

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.

Written and photos by Brian Addison.

For Brian Addison's full feature on Rich Indian Curry House, click here.