I’m always happy to see a new vegan product at Trader Joe’s. Unfortunately, the vegan tikka masala is not only disappointing but nearly inedible.
On a positive note the rice and sauce are good and the price ($3.49) is reasonable for an entrée. However, the vegan “meat” is somehow both chewy and slimy, unlike anything I’ve ever eaten and hope to never experience again.
I would have expected the “meat” to be a chicken-like substitute, but it’s more like a beef substitute which rarely works and is an odd choice for an Indian dish. Perhaps it’s supposed to be lamb, which is an even odder choice for a vegan dish. How many vegans or vegetarians are really craving a lamb-like dish?
I have to wonder who taste tested this product. Did a bunch of meat eaters think this was OK or did they just assume that all vegan food is this awful? Regardless, this is a really unfortunate entrée that hope is replaced by something much better very soon.
As always take my opinion with a grain of sea salt. As you can see from the comments below a lot of people enjoy this entrée. If you’re one of them, great. Read Trader Joe’s product story for Vegan Tikka Masala that includes a video for creating an easy burrito.
Location: Frozen food case Quantity: 9.5 oz, 1 serving per box Calories: 430 calories per serving, 190 fat calories per serving Cost: $3.49
Wow, different taste buds for certain, I love it too, and wish I could buy the faux meat separately to use in other dishes!!
The vegan tikka masala is my favorite. In fact, I four servings in my freezer. My total go to, in a pinch.
Lacto-Ovo Vegetarian for 46 years. Don’t miss meat, barely remember it. This is just delicious! Nuke it, then chop the Seitan chunks into smaller bits, which coats more surface area with the delicious sauce! Rice is ample, and excellent. I add a splash of Kikoman Teriyaki to the rice, but you needn’t. One of these in my cart, every week.
Just had one, I like them but am a former meat eater vegan for several years. My Wife likes them as well.
We must have different taste buds because I love this frozen meal, I do think the meat replacement is a strange texture when comparing it to actual meat, but I actually like it, and the flavor is really good. Especially as a college student, I eat it all the time when I need a quick microwaveable dinner/lunch.
Also love it…the fact that the meat-like food does not have an animal name does not bother me, yes, similar to Lamb but MUCH BETTER because I’m not eating a defenseless animal….call it veggie mush-meat for all I care…mighty tasty, definitely satisfying. Also, rice and sauce cook perfectly in the micro.
I can somewhat relate to the reviewers comment. I am sorta new to the “vegan” like but I have been a vegetarian most of my life (I only eat certain meats & no seafood)
The sauce and rice was amazing.. I tried the meat substitute & it sorta tasted like meat balls& card board. I had few bites but i couldn’t finish it.
Me and my gorgeous girlfriend Lindy completely, totally and wholeheartedly disagree with your review 100%. We live for Trader Joe’s Vegan tikka Masala, in fact, it’s the only thing we eat for 3 meals a day!
I have to say I disagree- this is my favorite frozen meal of all time, and I really enjoy the meat replacement!
I seem to be the only one who actually agrees with the reviewer… I thought the fake meat was absolutely disgusting, I couldn’t even finish it. It didn’t look, feel, or taste like anything that should be eaten. The sauce, on the other hand, was AMAZING. I wish they would replace the meat substitute with something like tofu, veggies, or some other meat substitute that isn’t so… non-food-like… I’m a long time vegetarian and I just got this the other day to try, and I was unfortunately disappointed:/ hopefully I find something similar with that sauce! I may just have to learn to make it on my own. Anyway, to each their own, so give it a try cuz you may be someone who really enjoys it! And if not, it was only $3 you wasted (:
I stop at Trader Joe’s on my way to work to buy a Tikka Masala meal to bring for lunch. I love it and don’t get the negative review either.
I absolutely love the vegan Tikka Masala and eat it regularly. I don’t understand the negative review.
OMG. I was searching for a copy-cat recipe for TJ’s Vegan Tikka Masala because I love it so much, when I came across this negative review. Thank goodness I’m not the only one who disagrees with this reviewer. Each time I go to TJ’s to buy this product (one of the extremely few frozen items I buy) I keep my fingers crossed they have it in stock. It is so tasty and every time I cook it at work, someone comments on the wonderful smell.
I could eat it every day it’s so good.
Gotta agree with ALL of the other commenters. This review is WAY off the mark. This is one of the best vegan frozen meals I’ve ever tried. So… maybe there needs to be a review “panel” so that the preferences/dislikes of a single person doesn’t cloud the entire review. The TJ vegan tikka masala is amazing!
I really enjoy it and my only complaint is I wish there were more of the mysterious meat substitute lumps. I will say it is very salty and a straight up comfort food akin to something like box Mac and cheez but it’s definitely something I like to keep on hand for days when that’s what I need.
Yeah. I love it. I recommend it to everyone and always hear back good things. The meat isn’t slimy. It’s chewy in a good way, not like “yuck.” It’s delicious, the whole dish.
So so delicious oh my gosh!
My favorite too…
As a four-year vegan, I’ll say that I actually like the Vegan Tikka Masala quite a lot! I do agree that the “meat” tastes more like lamb than chicken, however. The sauce is VERY good…I’ll love to crack the code on it!
I love it!! Honestly compared to a lot of available vegan microwaveable dinners, the meat is amazing!
Also, just because I’m vegan doesn’t mean I don’t crave meat. I haven’t had meat in almost 20 years, and as good as lamb or anything else is out there, I’m not going to eat it, but I’m so thankful for the meatless options.
I loved this!! And so have the people I recommended it too! The seitan texture is definitely chewy but my biggest critique was the chunks could be a bit smaller. The sauce is amazing….
I’m with ya, Ttrockwood! I eat the TJ Vegan Tikka Masala for lunch at least twice a week and everyone (all non vegans) comment on great it smells. In fact, I just ate it and happen to find this page because I was searching for the recipe for the sauce.
I’m a lacto-ovo vegetarian. I really liked it. I used to be an omnivore years ago, so I don’t have a distaste for meat. I liked the meaty texture and the flavor of the sauce. It might be better if it was more chicken-like than lamb-like but until you mentioned in the review, I didn’t really think about what meat it tasted like–just that it had a nice meaty texture and really resembled meat. But I do agree that it’s more like a vegan lamb tikka than a vegan chicken tikka.
I like the fake meat. I’m not vegan so maybe that’s why I don’t mind it.