We LOVE yats. It's our go to eat out place. They have very fast service, have great (consistent) food, and very friendly staff always. Tip: always order extra bread on the side. It makes the whole meal! We also very much enjoyed their to-go wine slushees. read more

Yats - Maque choux - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

I had the opportunity to go to Yats on Mass Ave and it did not disappoint. The elements of yats is very warm and inviting with the dark lighting, black chairs, pictures on the wall, and the soft music playing. The music ranges from classic rock, country, alternative, and EDM. There is a bar in the establishment which a few people were sitting at enjoying each others company. This yats had booths and chairs, so it was nice to be able to choose. This yats is located just down the street from the mass ave festivities of the bottleworks and is a great place to walk around after your meal at yats. The cashier was very accommodating when I asked about the different options available. He greeted me and was very friendly. Both employees had a great Indy/hippie vibe to them and were both It took less than 10 minutes for me to get my pint of red beans and rice. The buttered bread is EVERYTHING and comes with the meal. The presentation isn't the best thing ever due to it looking like slop, but it's fantastic food at a very affordable price. My pint of food which serves 2 people was $15.25. Because it was a pint, the rice came in one container and the red beans came in another. If you got the full instead, the rice and beans would have came together. My friends got the chipotle chicken which was a bit spicier, but had a strong flavor and another recommendation I would have if you like a little more spice than nothing (I have a weak spice tolerance). Yats is cheap, quick, but also a great place to sit down and enjoy company before going out and walking around one of the finest parts of the city. The chill atmosphere, great service, and tasty food is the reason I come back again and again. After a hearty meal, icecream at Gordon's is a must have; it is short 1 minute walk down the street! read more

Fast food Cajun? Who would have thought at the end of Mass Ave there would exist a not so hole in the wall Cajun food place. I did a half and half dish and was surprised by how not spicy it was, a quick trip to the condiment table and some franks fixed it up nicely read more

Yes, the food is already made (in large quantities) - that's why your order comes out so quickly. BUT, that doesn't make the food any less delicious! They almost always have my favorite - B&B, with black beans, caramelized corn and red peppers. I have trouble ordering anything else. Plus, you get a good portion of food for the price, which is always nice. I must detract a star, though, because they STILL use Styrofoam plates/containers and plastic utensils, even if you are eating there. Get with the environmentally friendly program, Yats! read more

Yats - B&B (black beans and caramelized corn) - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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I love Yats! It's a definite must go to place if you're visiting Indy! My go to is always the chilli cheese etoufee with crawfish and extra bread! Would go here everyday if I could! read more

Yats - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Great place every year during gen con. At $12 it's the same price as last year & immune to the 8% +4% inflation since last year. You really get your moneys worth. Incredible & they have a wide variety of sample hot sauces on hand to try out. Serves up really quick in a chill & relaxed atmosphere to hang out and dine in read more

Yats - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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Yats is always a good choice on a cold day. It's really a comfort food spot. They have great vegetarian options and their menu changes on the daily but I feel like you can't go wrong. I wanted to do a meatless options so I got the B&B. Which was a mixture of corn and red peppers in a Creole sauce laid across a bed of rice. I had to get extra bread. I always go through all of my bread dipping it in my food. I decided to go rather late and it was 10 minutes until closing. But they greeted us with a smile and we got our order quickly it was fresh and hot. Tasty! read more

Food had burnt taste would not exchange for something else waste of money will never come back to shop here again read more

Yats - Burnt taste gumbo - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

The crawfish etouffee is my favorite! You can order online for pick up very easily and there's parking in front for pickup. The portions are huge, I can eat it for basically three meals. Would recommend! read more

I'm always a sucker for Cajun comfort food. Yats has a decent selection of flavors, which are a riff on the traditional fare you'd find down south. While it's not completely authentic, it's extremely delicious! Fast, Convenient, Friendly, and an Indianapolis staple. I love the B&B, Spinach Mushroom Etoufee, Chili Cheese Etoufee with Crawfish, and the Maque Choux with Chicken. The pie is really wonderful if they have some when you arrive--definitely order it. I never knew they sold wine slushies, but I implore you--INDULGE! Worth the brain freeze on a hot summer day. read more

Yats is a cute little shop with plenty of meter parking right out front. I went here for dinner last night based on all the fantastic reviews. I actually ended up really liking it! I had the spinach & mushroom etouffee which I really enjoyed. It was quite spicy for me (tame for any normal human being) but I actually enjoyed the spice in this which I usually don't. The portion was huge over rice with a side of toasted bread, loved it! Please note, it comes on a Styrofoam plate not a fancy plate like in their first picture for the restaurant. Really the restaurant is super casual with air conditioning only working on one side well, the door handle has to be spun while being pushed to get in, things could use a little sprucing up. Yats gives you a small town feel in a city with down south cooking. Big plus for me - they have more than one diet pop option. Most of the time I stick to water with my meals but when indulging in the fizzy good stuff, I partake in the diet variety. They not only had Diet Pepsi but also Diet Mt Dew & Diet Dr. Pepper. Happy mouth. Bathroom - Eh. Don't go in there if you can avoid! Wasn't too clean and the paper towel thing came apart when I tried to take one out. I put it back together and stuck to hand dryer after that. read more

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It kills me to say this - - but I realllly miss the old messy, Creole covered location. Something about having my oozing Yats served on a Styrofoam plate with sleek and sterile surroundings doesn't feel right. On the upside, I've heard it through the grapevine that this location will one day be serving up brunch and brunch-esque bebidas - heyo! You won't catch me complaining about that. Maybe I'll take a handful of beads and throw them up in the air the next time I'm there for old time's sake. Rest assured, all of your Yats staples can be found here: half and half serving style, B+B, white chicken chili, buttery/sinful bread and pecan pralines by Newfangled Confections. read more

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Holy rice and beans, this place is big! For being on the uber-popular Mass Ave, I expected it to be tiny. This is by far the biggest Yats location I've ever been inside, with plenty of seating and room in between tables. That being said, this lacks the charm of other Yats locations. Something about the one at 53/College with the intimate setting, New Orleans decorations, and dim lighting makes it feel super jazzy. My dining companion and I were the only ones there on a weekday at 5 and our dinner was ready ASAP. I'm a fan of the red beans and sausage, because it's not spicy and we all know I can't take the heat. For parking purposes: there is a free lot out back with limited spots for Yats customers and the north end of Mass Ave boasts more available metered spots than down yonder. read more

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There's a reason why Yats has been an Indy mainstay for so long. Affordable prices, great service, and explosively flavorful food- with vegan/vegetarian options to boot! I'm a fan of the vegan white chili and spinach mushroom etouffee (vegetarian). For non-vegetarians, the popular chili cheese etouffee is a must-try. During COVID-19, Yats has implemented a super easy online ordering and text notification system. Once you place and pay for your order online, you'll get a text message confirming your order, and another one when your order is ready to be picked up. Then, simply walk up to the door (wear your mask!) facing the Cultural Trail and receive your order. Thanks for the great social distancing efforts! read more

I can't say enough about Yats. This place is pure magic. The food. The ambiance. The service. Everything. First, every food option is great. My go-to favorites, however, are the B&B and drunken chicken. They come served on a bed of white rice with the most delicious bread on the side (it's never a bad idea to order a double order of bread). Next, the people are so much fun. They're always upbeat and ready to serve. Now, this Mass Ave location isn't as authentic as the College Ave one. It doesn't have that same fun New Orleans vibe. However, it is twice the size. And it has very nice tables. So if you're going to sit down and eat with a group, I'd recommend this location. No matter which one you try though - just try it out. You won't be disappointed! read more

Yats - B&B - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Definitely one of my favorite restaurants around Butler's campus. Yats is very affordable and the serving sizes are very generous. If you like spicy food, I'd recommend either the Chicken Creole or Chili Cheese Étouffée. They also offer a wide variety of sauces inside the restaurant. If you are in the mood for something a little sweeter, the Chicken Maque Chioux is to die for. No matter what you're in the mood for, Yats has you covered. Their dishes are all about Cajun creole and they give you a proper taste of New Orleans. Yats now operates 10 locations in the Indy metro area, including two in downtown Indy. read more

Yats - Chicken Creole - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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Yats where your food always has a kick and you'll always want to the extra bread. I tried Yats over 5 years ago when I had first moved here. I was looking for food that was unique and different. If you love Cajun or creole type of food Yats is your hidden Midwest gem. Not to mention it's a great price. Everything comes served over rice and with bread. There's tons of options to pick from. They have everything from traditional jambalaya to vegetarian options and more. They have a few staples that remain the same; however, everyday there's a few special options. As a vegetarian I love that there's a few options and personally I love the Spinach & Mushroom Etouffee. Also get the extra bread. They brush the bread with this amazing butter seasoning mix you can't get enough of. I haven't asked since covid however if there's something you aren't sure about you can sample everything. If you are looking for some extra zazzzz there's lots of hot sauce options to top your meal with! Additionally there's multiple locations and most serve beer, wine and wine slushees. It's so cost effective and quick! read more

Cajun Creole YUM! If you haven't had or leery to try, I highly advise you to try it. It may not be the "healthiest" food but the best isn't. The food is fantastic, I always get there Chili Cheese, and Drunken Chicken which Hs a perfect kick to me! Then make sure you get there TOAST! It's perfectly seasoned and honestly one of a kind. The inside I wish had better seating, they do have hard chairs and I feel it's more of a picnic atmosphere inside. Tip: if you are unsure what you want... ask to try it before you buy it it! They give samples of all there entrees. read more

Yats - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Was feeling like having Cajun in the spirit of Fat Tuesday, so decided to give Yats a try since I have not tried it yet. Walking in, you order in line vs sitting down and having someone take your order, but the line goes quick. I decided to try the Chili Cheese Etouffée, and a complimentary piece of King Cake. The Etouffée was on point with just the rite amount of kick, and crawfish. The king cake was delicious, and tasted strait out of Louisiana. Yats has a good selection of local beer, and even had my favorite from Indiana City Brewery. Staff, is friendly, funny and helpful in making selections. Dining area has plenty of space, along with elbow room. Will definitely be coming back to try the next thing on the menu! read more

Yats - Chili Cheese Etouffée with crawfish, along with complimentary king cake for Mardi Gras. - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Delicious and still somewhat cheap eats, had the standard chili cheese crawfish etouffee. Really good but wish there was just a tad more crawfish I guess. I know that's the most expensive ingredient. A touch of NoLa in Indy. I will always be down for some Yats for sure. read more

I love Yats but was really disappointed in the last time I was there. Ordered two to go dishes and literally all rice glazed with drunken chicken (by glazed I mean barely enough for dipping). Next time will order rice on the side to make sure I get the moneys worth. Will say - bread was amazing per usual. read more

It's been several years since I've reviewed this Yats location, so I suppose it's time to knock another one out. A lot can happen in 4 years you know.. First off, my original review said I wasn't sure about the new location. Yeah, I still miss having Yats on the corner of Park and Mass, but I've accepted the fact that aren't moving back, and the current location is beginning to feel a lot more comfortable. Maybe it just takes a few years of the walls absorbing the rich aromas that come out of the kitchen. While I do Yats fairly often, I did stop in last night and grabbed dinner. I always go for the half and half but I try and mix it up a bit. The menu selections seem to be less revolving and more standard now, which is a little sad. I liked checking out the website and seeing what they had OR being surprised when I got there. I guess I was in the minority. Food is fast.. hot..inexpensive and not at all healthy, making it wonderful! read more

I've been a long time Yats fan. I don't live in Indianapolis anymore and I have yet to find a Cajun creole place I like as much as Yats. I was so excited to go here when I was visiting Indy. It's still the same delicious Yats as I remember. I was crave Yats forever lol. I love the new building on Mass. Ave too. Very nice. read more

Yats - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Yats is decent as a local chain; I don't find this location any different from the others. Yats is decent food. I usually get the mushroom and spinach etouffee on rice. The bread is the best part of this place! But note that the dish does not taste good reheated. It's kind of like...slop. I really liked the sister restaurant Dats when I lived in Bloomington. I've never found yats to be as good, even tho it is the original. Also, apparently for the summer they have a wine slushie! It is blackberry and honey with mango mead. That was tasty but suuuuuper overpriced at $6 for a 8 oz and $8 for 10 or so ounces. read more

Yats - Mushroom and spinach etouffee with wine slushie - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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Want to avoid food poisoning? Avoid this place. Not to mention, the wait was longer than the food stayed in my stomach.

Yats really hits the spot when you need it the most! I had been feeling under the weather the last couple of days and really just needed some yummy food in my tum tum. I had been into Yats before my yelping days but today I checked in with my two year old son. I ordered the Caribbean jerk etouffee and a mix of both their wine slushes, blackberry and pineapple mango (I think). The food came out piping hot almost as soon as I ordered it. Perfect blend of flavors bounded together with a little bit of a sweet coconut taste. The chicken inside the etouffee was tender and the garlic bread, as always, was on point. I thought I was going to take half home since the proportions are pretty large but me and my son pretty much polished off my entire plate. And my wine slushy helped me out when there was a little kick at the end of the etouffee...I also decided I need to get one of those slushy machines for inside my house. Oh and I won't forget to mention the great service. Friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable of his menu. Eating with my two year old was a breeze, considering we got our food fast and he liked the flavor of the etouffee and rice. Will return soon before we head overseas!!! Yats is awesome! read more

Yats - Caribbean jerk etouffee with rice, garlic bread, and a wine slushy. - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

This review is for Saturday July 25, 2020 So I almost forgot to put in a review from when my Lady and I went down state that weekend. So we are not new to Yats in general, but sadly in March of this year the Yats up in Valparaiso, IN closed so figured while down states we would stop in to visit this location. So This is what we ordered, if for any reason I am wrong i will come back and edit this. She had the Following: Spinach and Mushroom Étoufée A creamy vegetarian roux-based sauce with mushrooms, spinach and a complex blend of spices, including green curry. CHICKEN MAQUE CHOUX Chicken Maque Choux Pronounced "mock shoe", a spicy and sweet étouffée with carmelized corn and chicken. I had the Following: Chicken Maque Choux Pronounced "mock shoe", a spicy and sweet étouffée with carmelized corn and chicken. Chili Cheese Étouffée with Crawfish Our signature dish! A rich blonde roux-based sauce with chili seasonings, cumin and coriander, finished with cheddar cheese and crawfish tail meat. Contains crawfish. Meal come with garlic bread. As far as the food goes, everything was made the same in our opinion, the recipe seemed to be the same, and very yummy. We both had their peanut butter pies, but sadly the pies were nto the same size as the ones we use to order from the establishment up this way, the pies were much smaller sadly. Also the taste / recipe seemed a bit different. (I am not going to ding them on the size of a pie, because it is not their fault, each establishment I am sure has a different way of doing things). Only other thing my Lady picked up was a sweet tea and as sweeter tea for us to have with the meal. Teas were not made by them as it was another party's tea, but were good. My Lady did say they were wearing a masks, they would not let her use their pen to sign, as they signed for her, so if you are use to signing yourself after using your credit card, bring you own pen. Other than that customer service in our opinion was on the spot. We would eat here again when eve we come back down state. Sadly I do not have photos like I typically leave with my reviews, my phone was acting up so the photos were not saved. I will try and post photos next time. read more

Dare I confess that my favorite thing at Yats is the buttered crusty french bread? Judge if you must, but I'm owning the fact that I like good bread among other sinful carbs. Add a half and half of B&B and Chicken Maque Choux, and I'm a fat happy camper for the night. For any of you reading this who aren't already familiar with Yats, it probably sounds like I'm writing in code. So, here's my version of Yats for dummies. 1. It's an uncomplicated, fairly inexpensive place to get a filling cajun/creole style meal. 2. The menu is a daily pre-set menu from which you select whatever saucy, chunky, soupy topping you would like over rice, such as etouffee, jambalaya, gumbo, red beans and rice, etc; and it's served with that tasty bread I first mentioned. 3. It's an order at the counter, and you pickup at the window type of place. 4. They do serve beer, vegetarian and gluten free selections. This location lacks the charm and old world style of the original Broad Ripple location, but hey, it's on Mass Ave and a great place to lay the foundation for a full night of bar hopping up and down the Ave! read more

Yats - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

I love Yats! This is such a great place to go for a delicious, inexpensive, and different dining experience. The restaurant has a major hipster vibe, channelling New Orleans Mardi Gras. The staff are very nice and helpful, especially if it's your first time visiting. I love the Chili Cheese Etoufee with Crawfish. It is very creamy and flavorful. It's always such a nice change from the normal food I eat. I highly recommend giving it a try. Make sure you eat it using the amazing french bread they give you. I would much prefer going to the Broadripple Yats, but this one still has the same vibe that I have become accustomed to when going to any Yats location. If you've never been, you're missing out! read more

Yats - Chili cheese etouffee with crawfish - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

The original Yats on College Ave is the only Yats you should really be going to. The food is made fresh right there, the staff are awesome, and I'm convinced that using real plates makes the portion sizes a bit larger. That said, if you must eat Yats anywhere else, you should do it at the now expanded Mass Ave location. Yats used to be a block or two closer to the "heart" of Mass Ave but their lease expired. It was a blessing in disguise because this location has a lot more seating, its own private lot (though I always park far away and walk), and now serves beer and wine. You are also in the only part of Mass Ave that isn't completely overrun with frat bro bars, so enjoy the surrounding shops while you're there. Joe's wife runs this location, so you are in good hands. read more

Amazing food for a price you can't beat! I ate the chorizo etoufee today and it was delicious with a kick of spice! I'm obsessed with the bread they serve with the dishes, the oil they glaze it with tastes so good! The atmosphere at the Mass Ave location is new/modern and very clean (slightly different vibe from the other locations that are a bit more eclectic)! The staff was friendly and helpful and there was plenty of seating. This location is also fun because it's right on Mass Ave where, weather permitting, you can stroll along and enjoy a nice day in the city on one of the most popular Indy streets! read more

Yats - Chorizo Etoufeee - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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I love Yats really all there is to say about it. It's one of those places people are afraid to try but once they do they are hooked for life. I find myself craving the bread with the spicy garlic sauce! Highly recommend all Yats locations around Indy. read more

I get a hankering for Yats on cold, blustery days. It has never disappointed in the 5 years I have been coming here. I have always had great, quick service. It is hearty and popular spot for the budget conscious. And, they have a vegan option - vegan white chili- that is tasty! Hint: a lot of people get extra garlic bread to soak up any left over sauce! Favorites: Chili Cheese Étouffée - a Yats classic. Not traditional, but tasty! Drunken Chicken - mostly chicken with lots of seasoning; Maque Choux, B&B - these two have a salty, savory taste, with a hint of sweetness from the corn. Least favorite: Black Chili - I don't care for the molasses flavor, Chorizo Étouffée - I like chorizo, but the flavor combination isn't my favorite. read more

I love Yats. I'm going to state that upfront because my review is not going to reflect that necessarily. I always get the crawfish etouffee. It is my favorite and it is their best dish. I always buy a full order. Tonight was no different, but I only had four very tiny bites of crawfish in my order. This is not acceptable. If Yats feels the need to reduce the amount of crawfish in the etouffee then by all means you need to increase the price and leave a reasonable amount of crawfish in the dish. I highly advise that if you are going to purchase this dish, you ask in advance whether or not you're going to receive a reasonable amount of crawfish. I know that going forward I will be doing this. I'm so disappointed in Yats right now. read more

Always loved this place and their fare . Glad this place can survive during these crazy times. Wish Indy had more Cajun options.

Yats has the comfort food you need in your life!! I am a huge fan of cajun/creole food, and Yats knows how to make it right! I love their Drunken Chicken and Chicken Maque Choux! If you want some spicy and savory kick, try the Drunken Chicken! It goes nicely with their rice and 2 pieces of bread. If you have more of a sweet/savory preference with a spicy kick, then try the Chicken Maque Choux! Make sure to get their peanut butter pie-- you will NOT regret it! read more

My daughter loved the funky Mardi Gras decorations and the feel of the place. Our food was ready in a minute and we both enjoyed ourselves. She had a vegetarian curry and I had the crawfish Étouffée. Quick, yummy and fun! read more

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The new location is great! It's actually much closer to where I live, but that's besides the point. The space at the old location really needed some freshening (the "dirty bayou" look gets old pretty fast) and they really pulled out the stops at the new space. It actually looks like a place I would go to hang out with some friends and have a drink (there's a big bar), although I'm not sure their wine & beer license has transferred over yet. The dining area is quite large (much bigger than the old location even after they took over the space next door) and doesn't feel as disjointed as before. Another bonus of the far north Mass Ave location is there is plenty of street parking available. There is a lot of metered parking on Mass Ave and there's even some free parking on the cross street (9th St) which winds behind the store and becomes Davidson St. As for the food, it's still a hit. Selection is limited (as usual) to a handful of items, but the menu changes daily. It's still one of the best deals in town ($6). read more

I no longer live in Indianapolis. . .but i've been a Yats fan long before I was on Yelp. I remember the original location on Broadripple. . and talking to MR. Yatz several times. . This is the downtown option for yatz lovers. it is solid yatz with a few differences I know from the original. .1 - same awesome food. Cajun style saucey stuff served over rice. Delicious garlic bread served on the side 2 - same drinks policy - as far as I can tell (with refills) 3 - big difference - booze . This place has a bit of a bar, and a cool way to fill up beer glasses . . (upside down tap something?). Meals are about $6.00 and are awesome. I recommend 1) asking to taste if your not sure 2) getting two complimentary dishes on one plate. Damn - this makes me hungry just thinking about it. Now I can just sit here in Denver and HOPE for a local Yatz :) read more

I want to take a minute to edit my review because I think it sounds too much like a hater!! I'm not a hater of all the cooking here... After, having had it over the years I admit I don't like it. The place itself is great, and the guys are very kind! It's my personal opinion that they *very* off when it comes to Cajun cooking or creole because I'm genuinely not sure what style it is. The proportions are odd. A smidgen of rice to two heaping spoonfuls of gumbo/stew/chili or whatever. The biggest issue I have is the taste and flavoring. There is too much roux and not enough season and spices. It's not ok to taste flour and fat in a sauce. I fully commit to the use of seasoning, and sorry for your loses if you can't jump right in with me. Maybe I am just tired of the admiration not so great (or not as flavorful) cooking has here? It's not that...I can't find something to enjoy here possibly. I just do not believe it is over the top delicious as many many people would disagree. So to explain: The crawfish etoufee (let's break this down) It is heavily thickened and almost inedible from the taste of flour. The red pepper and mirepoix were non existent or burr mixed down. The crawfish was waaaay too sparse and too small. I understand the composition of etoufee, and why they "probably" try to have more gravy than bits... The rice, seems like it is undercooked (usually the opposite for rice) I am going to suggest Yats as a last resort to Southern cooking. They just do not do it well. read more

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