I can't believe I haven't written a review of this location before. I have been coming here for 22 years since the very beginning in their first location. I believe that they are now on their third location and they have great comfort food with tons of flavor! I am a gumbo fanatic, but I don't go here for their gumbo. I like many of their dishes and some of my favorites are the Pazole Stew and the Drunken Chicken and Maque Choux. They used to have a peanut sauce that was to die for. They also have amazing specials like Lobster Etoufee and Hog Wild Red Chili. If you are in the mood for something different, you won't find recipes like these anywhere else in Kentucky. read more

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My history with Gumbo Ya Ya goes back to 2014, which was my very first trip to Lexington. My then boyfriend, now Hubby, introduced me to one of his favorite local spots. He grew in the area and we can't get anything like this in SoCal. Here is my OG review for that location: https://www.yelp.com/biz/gumbo-ya-ya-lexington?hrid=5F5j3n4_G5d_JwDNegMblA&utm_campaign=www_review_share_popup&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=(direct) Although the Lexington location had since closed, Hubby is happy that this Nicholasville location exists. We first visited this location in Oct 2024. Our most recent visit was Oct 2025. Between these two visits, I've enjoyed whatever rotating vegan option was available. Last year's visit offered a Succotash, which is a spicy bean sauce, red beans, corn, tomatoes, okra, bell peppers, garlic, and onion. https://bit.ly/3LTLAlv This year's visit was the California Creole made with broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, tomatoes, garlic, green onions, and green peppers mixed in a white wine red sauce. A surprising ingredient, fresh OJ. Yum! https://bit.ly/4nRj3KV There are two sizes available, and the smaller size is already a generous portion. The bases are either pasta or rice. It also comes with a garlic bread which staff says is made with oil. Quick service order at the counter. The dining room is fairly large. I wouldn't mind coming back to check out the rotating vegan option every time. read more

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Delicious dinner and surprisingly filled with good amount of protein. Visited on a Tuesday around 5:30pm. 10/10 service read more

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Oh, Gumbo Ya Ya, we are so glad to see you! We had not had the opportunity to visit in quite a while, but our recent visit to Gumbo Ya Ya reminded us of why we love this little spot. Delicious Cajun food, generous portions, quick service, and don't forget to ask for the garlic hot sauce (yum!). We will be sure to visit again and if you love Cajun food you should, too! read more

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12/30/25 & 1/21/26 My husband and I have been to Gumbo YaYa twice now, and it has been consistently delicious both times. We ordered the Maque Choux and the Hog Wild Red Chili this recent visit and did a half-and-half combo with extra garlic bread (highly recommend for soaking up every last bite). We chose rice as our base, but they also offer grits, pasta, or jambalaya. Make sure you ask to sample a few options before committing to your option Everything was flavorful, hearty, and clearly made with care. The staff is incredibly friendly and very patient especially with me asking a million questions about their various spice levels in their dishes. For dessert, we tried the bread pudding, which was good, but the peanut butter pie was absolutely amazing, it didn't even make it home before it was gone. They do have beer options here as well. The ambiance inside is very casual and inviting, making it a perfect spot for a relaxed meal. We will definitely be coming back again and again. Highly recommend! read more

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We stopped in to try Gumbo Yaya after discovering they have gluten free options. They were displayed on the menu which is very appreciated! We ordered the 3 gf options- jambalaya, red beans, and the white chicken chili. The first meal came out with bread on top but they quickly fixed the error. Jambalaya was 3/5- was pretty dry but some salt and Crystal fixed it up! The red beans and white chili were 5 star! Grits were some Of the best we have had out. The chips were an odd side which we didn't eat. A suggestion for a better gf side option or providing GF bread would be amazing! Overall a great experience and cool Ambiance. Will definitely be back for the white chili and grits! read more

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Stopped in at Gumbo Ya Ya yesterday for a quick lunch. Got my order very quick. Tried their Drunken Chicken. Their small plate is more than enough for one person, a heaping plate with the Drunken Chicken served over a bed of white rice. The spices and flavor were good. The chicken is finely shredded. There was some type of green vegetable in the mix that was tough and chewy. When I saw tomatoes in the mix, I was expecting some small diced pieces of tomatoes, but the chunks of tomatoes were quite large. I was not a fan of the green vegetable or the large tomato chunks. It was served with 2 slices of dirty bread/garlic bread. The bread was very good. For the portion you get, $13 which included tip, was not a bad deal. Next time I will try their shrimp and lobster etouffee. read more

Gumbo Ya Ya - Drunken Chicken with white rice and bread - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Nicholasville, Kentucky

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Gumbo Ya Ya is like a short trip to Nawlins. The gumbo was full of chicken, sausage and okra. The owner prides himself on making authentic Cajun food with friendly service. The staff is knowledgeable about the food served and it's just a fun place to have a meal. Make sure and go on FAT TUESDAY. read more

First off I love gumbo, was a little hesitant about going do to being picky about my gumbo. Decided to give it a try when I was in town for work... man it's good. I had a large plate half and half of gumbo and their Voodoo red beans and it comes with a free piece of really good bread. And I was impressed. Service was fast, before I had my drink poured my food it the pick up. Lots of food got me full for an unbeatable price. Wish I took a picture... read more

This is truly a hidden gem located right outside of Lexington. Not sure if hidden gem is the best term as many people know about Gumbo Ya Ya, but the price, food quality, and service are truly impeccable compared to most restaurants around Lexington. I've tried their Gumbo, Jambalaya, and Maque Choux all of which were DELICIOUS. Everything is always fresh, rice is good perfectly, and pasta is wonderful. The service is quick as well, even when busier. Also, each dish comes with garlic bread! The vibes are always welcoming. There is enough space to accommodate families or large gatherings. read more

Incredible food with such deep, authentic flavors at a great value. You HAVE to try it, even if you don't like it traditionally, they keep enough flavors on hand that you will find something. Oh, and did I mention FREE SAMPLES!? read more

Gumbo Ya Ya - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Nicholasville, Kentucky

Might be the most reliable spot in the greater Lexington area. Always delicious. The staff is friendly and always happy to give samples of anything on their menu (much of which is rotating) and will remember you if you're a regular. The atmosphere is great too, a lot of tables and they're good about keeping them clean and the music fits the vibe and is never too loud. Can't recommend them enough. Try getting your order over jambalaya or grits sometime, they're worth it. read more

Gumbo Ya Ya - Drunken Chicken over grits - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Nicholasville, Kentucky

This place has delicious food and service was good. Food came out quickly! Limited menu but tasty food. Delicious flavors! Had the gumbo and drunkin chicken yum! Pecan cookie was a but too sugary/sweet. Whiskey bread pudding was bomb! Garlic bread was really good! Would give it 4.5 if i could read more

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I still can't wrap my head around Gumbo Ya Ya's Jambalaya. It always needs a dose of hot sauce to kick up the flavor. This time, thankfully, it didn't have the usual big chunks of chicken which is not at all appetizing. Plenty of sausage. Still, it's just not very good. 1 read more

This is a must go in Lexington - amazing Cajun food. Keep in mind - you will be stuffed and it can ruin your whole day but the experience of eating it is amazing. Also get the bread pudding. Just do it. read more

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It was much better than the nasty Bourbon and Toulouse in town, but that's not saying much. I had 1/2 red beans and rice and 1/2 gumbo. Neither had any real flavor. Certainly didn't taste anything like the food in New Orleans. If you've never had good Cajun then this might be okay for you. But if you've been to The Big Easy, then this will be a big disappointment. read more

Ok I have to post about Gumbo YaYa. I wanted something different for dinner last night and after working late I wanted something quick. I was sick of what I usually get so I was trying to think of something different. I settled on Gumbo YaYa in Brannon Crossing. I called to place my order while on my way home. They asked ME when I wanted my food ready. When I got there the food was hot and they had it boxed up for me. Friendly service throughout. When I got home, I didn't realize how BIG the portions are y'all! I got a large jumbalaya and a SMALL chicken creole (red right). I paid $16 for this and left a tip in cash for the cashier. This will last me enough food for the whole weekend. I was so shocked at the amount of food that I had to post about it. It was delicious too! Go check them out. read more

Fantastic! My first experience with jambalaya or gumbo. I was always afraid to try because I didn't want to be discouraged on a subpar place. Tried this place out since so many people said it was good. It was even better than I had hoped it would be. The guy taking orders was patient with how long I took to decide what I wanted and he answered my questions and provided explanations well. The dining area was comfortable, didn't feel tight between tables. The music was wonderful and at the perfect level. The price and portions were perfect! Might be my new favorite place, can't wait to go back! read more

So today I stopped in for a yatwich got my wife chicken etouffee. Got the order couldn't wait to take a bite of the yatwich. My wife took one note of the etouffee and immediately was grossed out I took a bite and I to was grossed out it had a sour taste. I immediately went back inside was very polite and nice and asked if maybe it got mixed with something. The shorter bald guy with glasses said no one else has complained I asked him to taste it he went to the back to taste it and said it's fine. He asked me if I've had their etouffee before I told him yes many times. He stood there in a awkward silence just looking at the floor not trying to help me solve the situation I wasn't going to eat the etouffee because it tasted wrong so what was he going to do to solve the situation. The answer nothing just stood there silently as to say what do you want me to do about it. So I turned and walked away leaving the food on the counter which only had two bites out of it. I would understand if it was half eaten or something. I will never eat here again which is unfortunate because I will never have another yatwich. But this was horrible customer service and no way to treat a paying customer. I can see now why so many people prefer bourbon Toulouse read more

I'm in Lexington for coursework and my favorite slurp shop got "Rona'd." I was casting around for some good food in my area and every restaurant looked like a restaurant in a box clone. Then I saw the Gumbo YaYa photos. The dining area is large, and has been arranged to maximize distance between folks. While waiting in line to order, the line chef was already asking what he could make for me. My food was sitting on the counter before I had finished paying. Both the cashier and cook were friendly, personable, and swift. I ordered the Chicken Piquant, and it gets perfect reviews. The rice was full and tender, the Piquant Sauce was beautifully layered for a pleasant, flavorful bite. It had a slight heat, the sort that keeps you taking bites to tamp down the warmth, but goes away very quickly when you stop. I should have skipped the hot sauce, it was fine, but the piquant stood up better on its own. My grandmother and father are from Lake Charles, Louisiana, and I grew up eating food straight from the bayou. Restaurant cajun and creole food rarely delivers, but I hVe nothing but praise for this joint. If I lived here, I'd be a regular diner. Service - perfect Food - perfect Atmosphere - great, comfortable Oh yeah! Ten bucks for the large plate of Piquant and an Ale81. I'd rather do this than high minded restaurant every day of the week. read more

Gumbo Ya Ya - Chicken Sauce Piquant and an Ale81 - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Nicholasville, Kentucky

The best grits in town, holy cow! Also if they ever have the Chicken Fricassee - run, don't walk. It's all SO good! Love this place!

Very good food at a reasonable price, you will appreciate the generous servings. i Really like the garlic sauce, I love it with the jambalaya. I had lost my sense of taste from cancer treatment. My tastebuds are rebounding, but not after I lost 60 lbs. this is where Gumbo ya ya comes in. most food at that time tasted like cardboard, very unappetizing; Gumbo ya ya was one of the few nearby restaurants that had the aromas that woke up my appetite and allowed me to regain some of the weight I lost. read more

A nice Cajun fix for a reasonable price. We get it take-out, but the Jambalaya doesn't last long in our house. Seem to have a nice selection of beers that I shall sample someday. read more

This is probably the best restaurant in Lexington/Nicholasville. The food is insanely good, the employees are all very nice, and the prices will make you think you traveled back in time. We've went every single week since we discovered it two months ago. Love it to death. read more

Great Cajun food and selection, friendly staff and convenient location in Lexington. A nice stop for lunch or dinner.

Quick and friendly service, huge portions for really affordable prices, and delicious food! The store is colorful and fun and they've got all the ale-8 flavors you could want on fountain! Not to mention a huge Pepsi fountain selection and a cooler full of bottled drinks! I got two small entrees and one large and my partner and I had leftovers for two more meals! The white chili and the gumbo were delicious and the bread pudding was incredible and moist without being too soggy. Will definitely be coming back here soon! read more

I tried this for the first time and I can't wait to go back. I bought the small gumbo and I couldn't even finish the plate. Everyone was really friendly and made me feel welcomed , and I can't wait to try more of their menu read more

Gumbo Ya Ya - Small gumbo over rice .... amazing - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Nicholasville, Kentucky

If you want a bunch of rice, this is your spot. Gumbo was lacking in flavor and protein. The sausage was sliced paper thin, chicken was barely in the mix but lots of miniature shrimp. I would not go out of my way to eat here again. Bourbon and Toulouse is much better and you can do half and half. read more

First time eating here. The employees were very friendly and gave us plenty of samples to try before we decided on what to order. The bread pudding is really good. The Moch Shoe (not spelled correctly but pronounced that way) was really good. My wife got the vegetarian version of it because she is allergic to shellfish. The sandwich they serve is really good also. The wild boar is tasty. Our daughter loved the peanut butter pie but she thought everything else was to spicy. The garlic bread is tasty. read more

The food was amazing. So satisfying. I haven't had crawfish like that since mine and my cousins wedding read more

The food is good, it just taste bland. I don't like to have to use sauces to cover up the flavor of food, it should already be in the food. The sauce should enhance the food flavor. Definitely something good if you're in the mood for something fast. The employees are always friendly, and its in a nice location. read more

Always love the food and the service. Used to know the owner, so it's sad he's not there anymore, but the food is as good as it gets. Need to put one in Richmond. read more

Gumbo Yaya has always been my favorite Cajun place in town. I like the option of getting my dish over pasta rather than the standard rice. They rotate their menu slightly but they usually have a creole option (turkey, chicken, or crawfish) which is my go to order. A few times a year when UK plays FL, they also offer an alligator dish which I feel obligated to eat to try and help the Cats win! All dishes are served with 2 slices of bread. Be sure to save room for dessert as they have a simple but good bread pudding and it's only $2.75. It does have a strong Bourbon sauce but I'm not a Bourbon fan and yet I still love it. They have Coca-Cola products but they also offer both Ale-8-One and Diet Ale-8-One. read more

I always love this place. Same quality food for years! I've been to 3 different locations spanning over 30 years and it never fails to satisfy. I used the homemade garlic hot sauce today too which was new for me and I LOVED it!! read more

The food is good and the price is right. BUT this time the service was absolutely terrible. The person taking the order was rude and dismissive. When we got our orders, 2 out of the 4 orders were wrong. If this has been the first time we'd been there we wouldn't have come back. read more

Lots of food for the money! It was helpful to try samples before we ordered. Friendly service. Food came really quick. We needed to go boxes. Not as many sauce options. Only thing I noticed was spotty music, which is no big deal. Overall, good Cajun fix if you're in the area. read more

Gumbo Ya Ya - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Nicholasville, Kentucky

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I loved it, my husband not so much. Fast food Cajun means everything cooked earlier in the day so just be prepared for that in all the dishes. read more

Went to Gumbo Ya Ya today. I was able to order immediately and sample items. Nothing was great. I ordered the Drunken Chicken. I have been to New Orleans and this is not close to the creole food is experienced. They have options of pasta and rice. I chose rice. The meal was not great nor was it terrible. I was underwhelmed. I do not think I will ever go back. Overall, disappointing experience. read more

Meh. I'm not going to drop a long review, but I will just share that the flavors were light and uninspired. I have a good friend from Louisiana who cooks for me frequently, so that may pepper my opinion on the quality. Probably a fine restaurant for your standard Kentucky dweller who hasn't had the pleasure of true spicy Cajun food. Give it a go and you might love it, I just was personally unimpressed. That said, their bread pudding was unforgivably bad. Woof. read more

This restaurant knows exactly what it is and executed perfectly. Laid back atmosphere, quick and attentive staff, and most importantly incredible food. My favorites are the drunken chicken or any of their rotating crawfish dishes, but the portions are always huge and it is an amazing deal. *** ALWAYS upgrade to grits they are fantastic*** read more