The Results Are In! Discover the 2024 Twin Cities Vegan Chef Challenge Winners

September 23, 2025

**The Grand Prize winner: The Himalayan Restaurant’s Jackfruit Tikka Masala**

This August, the Twin Cities were abuzz with tasty plant-based excitement! Twenty four local restaurants competed in the 2024 Twin Cities Vegan Chef Challenge, each creating a unique and delicious vegan dish. Diners from all diets — vegan, veg-curious, and everything in between — came out to taste them. After sampling the dishes, diners rated them, providing feedback that helped crown the winners.

With over one thousand votes cast and social media buzzing, the challenge reached thousands of people throughout Minnesota. This event spotlighted the growing trend toward plant-based eating. It also offered a platform for chefs to get creative, gain publicity, and learn from diner feedback. Winners were determined based on restaurant ratings/feedback.

Participating restaurateurs and diners alike anxiously awaited the results of the competition, which were finally revealed at Twin Cities Veg Fest on September 22, 2024. The exciting and engaging presentation drew a big crowd to the American Vegetarian Association mainstage, closing out the entertainment schedule at the festival.

Viewers watched as each restaurant’s dish was featured on the big screen, giving hearty applause to all. Several chefs and restaurateurs were on hand to accept their awards and discuss their challenge dishes.

Challenge Dishes Retained on Many Menus

In more exciting news, many of these restaurants have embraced the popularity of their dishes from the Twin Cities Vegan Chef Challenge by choosing to keep them on their menus. These beloved plant-based creations proved so popular during the challenge that they’ve now become permanent menu items:

The Himalayan Restaurant is retaining the Jackfruit Tikka Masala. The Howe Daily Kitchen continues to serve the Vegan Salmon Bowl. Pub 819 is keeping Vegan Islands. Pat’s Tap retains their Fried Rice. Reverie Cafe + Bar keeps the Hot Chicken Sammie on their menu. Namaste Cafe is maintaining the Crispy Cauli Wings. Lulu EthioVegan continues to feature Dinich Wot. VITALIST by Sarah H is retaining the Raw Pad Thai.

These dishes demonstrate the rising demand for plant-based dining and the exceptional creativity of local chefs. Don’t miss the chance to try these popular and permanent offerings!

Announcing the 2024 Twin Cities Vegan Chef Challenge Winners!

After a month of fierce competition and incredible plant-based cuisine, here are the official results of the 2024 Twin Cities Vegan Chef Challenge:

Grand Prize Winner: The Himalayan Restaurant – Vegan Jackfruit Tikka Masala

The Grand Prize winner, The Himalayan Restaurant, blew everyone away with their Vegan Jackfruit Tikka Masala, also winning the Best Thing to Ever Hit My Taste Buds award. They also won a prize o $150!

“This is the best thing to ever hit my taste buds. I hope The Himalayan keeps it on the menu forever. I love this dish SO MUCH!”

Fans of this dish are in luck — The Himalayan is bringing it back as part of their fall menu!

Second Place: Lulu EthioVegan – Dinich Wot

Lulu EthioVegan took Second Place with their rich and flavorful Dinich Wot, also earning the Richest Food award.

“Wow wow wow, LOVED THIS! The seasoning and spice were PERFECT. It rivaled my mama’s food, and we’re Ethiopian, so we’re very judgmental about this kind of food!”

This dish will remain on Lulu EthioVegan’s menu, so be sure to try it out.

Third Place: H.E.A.L. Mpls – Kingdom Gyro Plate

H.E.A.L. Mpls secured Third Place and also won the Most Energizing Food award for their vibrant Kingdom Gyro Plate.

“Very refreshing! I can feel the nutrients complimenting my cellular energy.”

Honoring the Other Award-Winning Restaurants

Other restaurants in the competition received well-deserved awards for their creative and delicious vegan dishes:

ALTBurger – Best Sauce
“Mind-blowing. If all vegan food tasted like this, everyone would be vegan!”
Barbette – Light and Lovely Dish
“The preparation was meticulous. The vegetables and tofu were sliced to visual perfection. One of the most unique, enjoyable meals I’ve ever had.”
Book Club – Most Crazy Delicious Food
Duke’s on 7 – Best Flavor
Gigi’s – Quick and Tasty Bite, Just Right! Award
Hard Times Cafe – Best Street Food
Herbie Butcher’s Fried Chicken – Best Comfort Food
“This m&c sammie was amazing! Every flavor of each component came together like a beautiful song.”
The Howe Daily Kitchen and Bar – Best Concept
“This may be the best tofu I’ve ever had. The variety of veggies and ranch are next-level. It’s healthy, filling, and tasty — I couldn’t ask for more.”
Namaste Cafe – Most Impeccably Delectable Food
“The idea of cauliflower wings didn’t excite me, but wow, were these good! Maybe the best I’ve ever had!”
Nala’s Kitchen – Most Healthy and Hearty Dish
“The Rava dosa was crispy and fun to eat! The green bean dosa had amazing flavor.”
Pat’s Tap – Best Classic Dish
Pinoli – Best Texture
Pub 819 – Best Flavor Combo
“This dish has it all: beautiful presentation, unique flavor, and a rainbow of colors and textures.”
Reverie – Fan Favorite Award
Sawatdee – Most Smooth & Creamy Curry
Stanley’s NE Bar Room – Best Umami Dish
Thai Garden – Best Tofu Dish
“OMG!!!! Best dish ever! Full of flavor, vegetables, tofu, and spice.”
The Block Food + Drink – Best Vegan Meat Dish
“Seitan with the consistency of pulled pork. Everything came together beautifully with a non-alcoholic margarita.”
Tori Ramen – Nailed It! Award
Umbra Minneapolis – Impeccable High-End Dish
“One of the best dishes I’ve had in Minneapolis. The use of scotch bonnet and edible flowers was inspiring.”
VITALIST by Sarah H – Best Presentation
“An extraordinary balance of full flavor and inviting texture. All food should be this flavorful and satisfying.”

A banner year for voting

This year’s Twin Cities Vegan Chef Challenge saw a 38.3% increase in votes, with 1,138 total votes cast. Participation per person rose by 23.5%, and 24.7% of diners visited more than one restaurant, up from 19.3% last year. Impressively, 89.6% of this year’s voters had not voted last year, and 87.3% were first-time voters in the competition’s history.

Celebrating the Diners: 2024 Participant Winners

The Twin Cities Vegan Chef Challenge wasn’t just about restaurants — it also celebrated the enthusiasm of diners who engaged with the event in various ways. From social media posts to restaurant visits, diners had multiple chances to win gift cards and restaurant swag. Here’s a look at our top participant winners:

Stephanie visited all 24 restaurants, winning a gift card to Sawatdee Thai Restaurant.
Brian visited 23 restaurants and shared his journey on Instagram, earning a gift card to Nala’s Kitchen.
Greg and Rebecca tied for the most votes cast, each winning gift cards to Stanley’s NE Bar Room and Pinoli.

Other lucky winners include:

An anonymous voter won a gift card to Herbie Butcher’s Fried Chicken.
Cat and Jay each won gift cards to Herbie Butcher’s Fried Chicken for randomly-selected Instagram and Facebook posts.
Joe M earned a gift card to The Himalayan for voting on his visit to The Howe.
Breanna won a gift card to Umbra Minneapolis for posting about her visit to The Himalayan on Instagram.
Samantha received a gift card to Namaste Cafe, along with a bottle of their chai, for her voting efforts.
Greg earned a gift card to Duke’s on 7 for an engaging Facebook post.
Taylor won a gift card to The Block for her Instagram post.

@jenell.curious_veganvampire won a gift card to Pat’s Tap.
Dave received a gift card to Gigi’s Cafe.
Jane won a gift card to Thai Garden.

A huge thank you to everyone who participated in making this year’s challenge a resounding success. Your enthusiasm and dedication have truly made this event memorable!

Special thanks to the staff member coordinating the challenge, Abbey Feola. And to the challenge’s volunteer committee members: Kelso Anderson, Kayla Hamm, Sarah Matanah, and Hannah Milos, who brought the competition together.

Winning restaurants from previous Twin Cities Vegan Chef Challenges:

While 2024 was a year to remember, previous years also showcased incredible vegan dishes. Take a look at some of the past winning restaurants:

Get Ready for Next Year!

The 2024 Twin Cities Vegan Chef Challenge was a smashing success, and we can’t wait to see what 2025 has in store! If you missed this year’s competition, be sure to join us next year. The event is a celebration of plant-based food, culinary creativity, and community spirit.

Mark your calendars, invite your friends, and get ready for another incredible month of vegan food from the best restaurants in the Twin Cities!