The 2023 Twin Cities Vegan Chef Challenge is now over. During August, local restaurants showcased innovative and delicious vegan dishes for diners to sample and rate. Diners voted on their meals and posted about them on social media to enter gift card drawings!
In 2023, the champion dish is the Vegan Birria Ramen of Tori Ramen, pictured at right! In second place came Reverie Cafe + Bar’s Carbonara Arancini, and in third place came Namaste Cafe’s Garam Masala Chickpea Farinata.
Tori Ramen’s Birria Ramen remains on the autumn 2023 menu at their St. Paul location. Check it out!
Have questions? Contact us at vcc@exploreveg.org.
About the Challenge
Chefs and restaurants have come together to create an extraordinary experience for all food enthusiasts. Throughout August, they will craft 100% plant-based dishes for you to savor, purchase, post about, and rate online.
Visit Participating Restaurants
Embark on a culinary adventure by visiting the diverse range of participating restaurants. Throughout August, indulge in their specially crafted plant-based dishes. Explore new flavors and support local establishments.
Rate, Post, and Win Prizes
Your opinion matters! After relishing the challenge dishes, share your experience by voting and posting. When you vote, or tag us in your posts, you enter to win exciting prizes!
Rate restaurants to boost chances. Weekly winner selected at the end of every week during August. Voting closes at the end of the day on Aug 31, 2023.
Tag @tcveganchefchallenge on Instagram, and @Twin Cities Vegan Chef Challenge on Facebook. Weekly winners selected from tagged posts! Make sure your post is public, too.
The person who rates the highest number of restaurants will receive a gift certificate as a special reward for their dedication.
Be the first account to tag us on Facebook (@Twin Cities Vegan Chef Challenge) or Instagram (@tcveganchefchallenge) for five unique meals: you’ll win a restaurant gift card. The top poster in August gets rewarded too!
Superb, just fantastic. Tastes exactly like a non vegan dish- only better!
-Diner, 2023 Vegan Chef Challenge
Pictured above: The second- and third-place dishes of 2023’s challenge!
Superb, just fantastic. Tastes exactly like a non vegan dish- only better!
– Diner, 2023 Vegan Chef Challenge
September 17th: Awards Ceremony at Twin Cities Veg Fest
Join us for the awards ceremony as we reveal the culinary champions of the TC Vegan Chef Challenge. Mark your calendars for Sunday, September 17, at 3:30pm!
My first time having vegan food and I loved it!
– Diner, 2023 Vegan Chef Challenge
Twin Cities Vegan Chef Challenge in the News
Contact vcc@exploreveg.org with inquiries.
- I Took the 19-Meal Twin Cities Vegan Chef Challenge — Racket, September 2023
- Segment on Fox 9: Good Day — Fox 9, August 2023
- Five local food (and drink) events for your calendar – Star Tribune, August 2023
- Vegan Chef Challenge Features Six Southwest Spots – Southwest Voices, August 2023
- Segment on Fox 9: The Buzz – Fox 9, August 2022
- Put these 4 upcoming Twin Cities area food events on your calendar – The Star Tribune, July 2021
- New vegan options show growing interests at restaurants – MPR News, Sept 2020
- Try a plant-based menu with the Twin Cities Vegan Chef Challenge – Kare 11, Aug 2020
- Restaurants get creative in Twin Cities Vegan Challenge – Twin Cities Pioneer Press, Aug 2020
- Twin Cities Vegan Chef Challenge – CBS Minnesota, Aug 2020
- RECIPE: Naughty Greek’s favalafel, eggplant spread – Kare 11, Aug 2020
- Challenging Vegan Chefs – Food Service News, Dec 2019
Twin Cities Vegan Chef Challenge on Popular Social Media
- The Plant-Based Beard’s Day at J. Selby’s – Facebook Post, Aug 2023
- veganvibesmn at Reverie Cafe + Bar – Instagram Post, Aug 2023
- Barbara Huning at Duke’s on 7 – Facebook Post, Aug 2023
- The Bite-Sized Beet at Reverie Cafe + Bar – Instagram Post, Aug 2023
- The Plant-Based Beard at Insane Vegan – Facebook Post, Aug 2022
- Mistress Ginger at Parkway Pizza – Facebook Post, Aug 2022
- Bite-Sized Beet at Hark! Cafe – Facebook Post, Aug 2021
- The Plant-Based Beard dines at Shish – Instagram Post, Aug 2020
- Twin Cities Vegan Chef Challenge 2020 – Bite-Sized Beet Blog, Aug 2020
- Mistress Ginger dines at Namaste Cafe – Facebook Post, Aug 2020
- Twin Cities Vegan Chef Challenge 2019 – Bite-Sized Beet Blog, Oct 2019
Make your own post about your dish and tag us for a chance to win in weekly drawings during August! On Instagram, tag the account @tcveganchefchallenge. On Facebook, tag the page @Twin Cities Vegan Chef Challenge.