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24 Carrots: Tempe's Plant-Based Pioneer Celebrating 12 Years of Flavorful Vegan Innovation

By Angela Muniz | Photography by Mark Lipczynski

Long before 'vegan' and 'plant-based' became mainstream menu staples, Sasha Raj was pioneering vegetable-forward juices, snacks, and meals from a cozy Tempe spot with vibrant green walls. Today, 24 Carrots marks 12 years of inspiring guests to embrace plant-based eating as a vibrant lifestyle, not just a diet.

This shift in perception is a major victory for Raj. When she opened, many viewed her offerings as temporary diet fare. "Now, they recognize it as a supportive lifestyle that fuels high energy," she shares. "And the food is irresistibly delicious."

Raj describes the 24 Carrots menu as botanically inspired. Her team crafts nearly everything from scratch—from mock meats to pastries—spotlighting fresh vegetables for colorful, flavor-packed plates. The core menu evolves twice yearly, complemented by a weekly specials board featuring five to six rotating items.

Standout signatures include the Natural Fried Chick-un: a crispy soybean patty with housemade pickles and red pepper hot sauce on a Ciabatta bun; and the Breakfast Burrito, brimming with tofu scramble and 13 balanced spicy-sweet vegetables.

24 Carrots: Tempe s Plant-Based Pioneer Celebrating 12 Years of Flavorful Vegan Innovation

The pastry case draws crowds with about a dozen daily 'I-can’t-believe-it’s-vegan' treats, often paired with fresh pressed juices or smoothies.

Raj didn't always envision restaurant ownership. A biochemistry student, she discovered her passion for community service, cooking, and the profound trust diners place in eateries. "You order from a stranger and nourish your body with it," she explains.

24 Carrots: Tempe s Plant-Based Pioneer Celebrating 12 Years of Flavorful Vegan Innovation

That trust has been reciprocated by loyal guests, sustaining 24 Carrots through recessions and beyond. "Celebrating 12 years this May honors our community as much as our team," Raj says.

As plant-based trends surge, Raj aims to empower more people with accessible tools: spring cooking demos and upcoming packaged spice blends. "Punchy flavors make it easy to see how tasty plant-based can be," she notes.

24 Carrots
1701 E. Guadalupe Rd., Tempe, AZ 85283
(480) 753-4411

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