ngix_app.conf

server {
    server_name ourappname.local;
    root /path/to/frontend/;

    location / {
        index index.html;
        try_files $uri $uri/ /index.html =404;
    }

    location /api {
        root /path/to/laravel/backend/public;
        try_files /index.php =404;

        include fastcgi_params;
        fastcgi_param SCRIPT_FILENAME $request_filename;
        fastcgi_param APP_ENV dev;
        fastcgi_pass 127.0.0.1:9000;
    }
}