Sasha Raj of 24 Carrots
Several years ago Sasha Raj gathered up all of her savings and opened up her own juice bar, 24 Carrots. After things got moving, the quaint juice bar garnered a decent following. Sasha’s passion for feeding people healthy, locally grown food led to steady success. Over time 24 Carrots added a variety of vegan and gluten-free food items to the menu. The innovative ways that Sasha created her health conscious, meat-free food quickly caught on with her regulars. After moving 24 Carrots to a larger location a few years ago, Sasha and 24 Carrots have become one of the best vegan and gluten-free restaurants in Tempe.
Early Influences
As Sasha was growing up, she had always avoided meat in her diet. Coming from a Hindu family, her parents were always feeding her delicious meals that were mostly vegetarian. At a young age Sasha’s relationship with food shifted when she fasted with her Muslim friend. As Sasha fasted with her friend more and more, her appreciation for food surged. Sasha realized how blessed she was to fill her body with the most quality nutrients available. At this point Sasha was attending ASU, working part time at the juice bar in the college gym. Providing all the students and faculty with nutrient-dense smoothies and juices sparked a fire inside of Sasha. It was after a motivating talk with a family member that Sasha took her passion for feeding people more seriously. Sasha concocted recipes and spent hours gathering feedback on her creations. She would sit outside of grocery stores with juice samples for people to try then report what they think. After accumulating thousands of opinions, and all the money she could, Sasha created a business plan. Once everything was prepared, Sasha put it all on the line and opened 24 Carrots.
Opening 24 Carrots
Several years ago 24 Carrots opened as a juice bar serving up healthy drinks to Tempe residents. It wasn’t long until word of mouth turned the juice bar into a local hotspot. Not long after opening, Sasha had to stay on her toes to keep up with demand. The tiny prep area made things tricky, but still Sasha somehow managed to slowly incorporate unique food items. Back in those early days, 24 Carrots kitchen was running on nothing more than an electric skillet! After a few years with a limited menu, and limited space, it was time for 24 Carrots to expand. So, the humble juice bar moved to its current location on Guadalupe and McClintock in Tempe. The move was a huge jump for Sasha and the restaurant, giving them all the space they needed to expand their kitchen, and their fan base. Now, 24 Carrots draws in people from all over, particularly those whose diets call for vegan or gluten-free foods. Exciting concoctions like Nashville Hot “Chikun” sandwiches and carrot cake pancakes fill up the menu. It truly is astonishing how well Sasha and her crew incorporate unconventional ingredients to mimic the foods we know so well. Scratch made cashew cheese is one of the standout toppings, so good it would make an old boot taste good. The juices at 24 Carrots are phenomenal as well. Our recent visit sent us home with some pineapple hibiscus juice that we couldn’t stop sipping.
Community Work
Now that 24 Carrots is a powerhouse of vegan food, Sasha has found fresh ways to share her passion for responsible dining. Her new Carrot Cares program teams up with schools to bring about that vision. Carrot Cares not only supplies lunches to low income kids but also teaches them how to cook healthy food.
Visit 24 Carrots for the best vegan food in Tempe. Also, follow them on Instagram and Facebook.
