This place was okay. I like the concept -- pre-make a bunch of cajun food, which since it's all basically stews, can just sit around in hot pots all day. So food comes very quickly, with no loss of quality. However, the portions were sort of shockingly tiny. Yes, it was inexpensive, but still. My co-diner and I were still extremely hungry when we left, and went and had second dinner at El Camino. Also, it bothers me that they use disposable plates and silverware. Considering that this is basically exactly the same restaurant as Da Levee, except with food that doesn't even fill me up, I will probably never go back here on purpose. read more

I think I have scripted a few reviews for Yatz in Indy years ago.. here is a story if I have not.. 2007.. cross country road trip.. we decided to see some friends in Indy on the way to have lunch with them.. Yelp told us to go to this place called Yats.. we went there.. 4 of us I think.. we all ordered.. I took my credit card out.. guy at the counter went "sorry, we are cash only" .. I sighed and told him that we didn't have cash and requested him to cancel the order.. he looked at us and said.. " no need.. pay me next time.. " .. I used to live about 1,695 miles (give or take) from that place at the time.. I told him the fact that and he replied, "yeah sure.. you can still pay us the next time you stop by.. " Cajun food has never tasted any more home cooked to me than that day.. :) read more

Food is always good and the staff friendly. This place is a welcomed change to the normal diet. Good portions and worth a stop. Check it out

When Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt closed I decided that this store space was cursed. After trying Yatz... I still think that. Went with a group of friends and we managed to order most of the menu to share. Drunken chicken, crawfish étouffée, jumbalaya, gumbo, etc. While it was a unique flavor for Grandview (being Creole/Cajun), it wasn't particularly good Creole/Cajun. "Flavorful enough" is how I'd describe it. Affordable. Casual. BYOB. If you've never had this style cuisine, then it's worth a try. But as far as taste goes, Yatz left me wanting. Hopefully the next business to go into this space will break the spell. read more

This was my 1st time eating here, I work nearby and was looking for something new to try in the area. I got the half and half with Drunken Chicken and Red beans rice/smoked sausage. (FYI their menu changes daily). The red beans and rice was just ok, it was slightly under seasoned but did have big pieces of meat in it. The drunken chicken was really good though! Slightly spicy and again big pieces of chicken. Oh and the bread that comes with it was sooo good and buttery. The man working there was very friendly as well, I will definitely be back to try some other items! read more

Yats Grandview - Half and half with Drunken Chicken and Red beans and rice w/smoked sausage - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

My boyfriend and I strolled into today during the late afternoon for lunch. We were welcomed and encouraged to taste test the different menu options. We decide on a 1/2 B+B and the spicy chorizo with extra bread. A very delicious meal and courteous service. There are many different options- hot and spicy, sweet and everywhere in between. I would come back soon!! read more

It's hard to rate these places when you've had Cajun and Creole food in New Orleans that supposedly inspired these dishes. With that said (and like other impersonators) the food falls flat in flavor and just lays there on mushy white rice. The artistry and culture is stripped away and it turns into mush served on styrofoam. I tried their Chili Cheese Étouffée with Crawfish and Chorizo Étouffée for lunch-half-and-half option. Both were okay but that crumbled chorizo was pretty greasy, as expected. I thought I had an iron stomach until I tried these two brave interpretations of my beloved étouffée. Rough ride for the rest of the day. I would go back only one more time to try their Gumbo, just to see what they chose to do with it. No booze but posted signs said you could BYOB while they wait for their license to clear. I see Abita bottled beer in their near future.... One suggestion would be to hang an "ORDER HERE" sign above the register. That would help the flow and confusion from newbies. Unless I missed it, being a newbie.... read more

Not good very small very small portion size don't waste your money. Or try it and waste your money!

Super friendly staff. Have local brew on tap. Had the Jackie-O Ricky, awesome. Also have purple haze by Abita on tap. Double awesome. Red beans and rice are solid but the chorizo étouffée is absolutely amazing. Peanut butter pie wonderful and cheesecake great too. I will be back! You need to come here. Chorizo étouffée took me back to New Orleans. read more

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Bang for your buck: 8/10 Quality: 8/10 Service: 10/10 Ambiance/Location: 7/10 Overall: 8/10 read more

Yats is such a wonderful addition to the Columbus area! After moving to Cbus from Indianapolis, Yats was a mainstay in the Broad Ripple area! We were thrilled that it made its way east! The drunken chicken is a must have, we recommend the one plus one offerings that pair it with the delicious Chili Cheese Etoufee! What's fantastic about this particular location is that it allows you to pay using debit and credit cards. While living in the Indy area, the Broad Ripple restaurant only accepts cash and during a visit years ago, we were short, the owner told us no big deal, pay us next time! It took us 3 years and 180 miles, but we were happy to hand over a few bucks during our recent Grandview lunch! We will be making the short drive from downtown Columbus to soak the delicious bread into some drunken chicken! Thanks, Yats, can't wait to come back for more! read more

I've been waiting to try this place out and it definitely didn't disappoint. The staff was super helpful in describing the menu items, and they let patrons sample the dish before committing to it. You can also order half and half if you can't decide between two dishes. You order at the counter then take a seat. The entrees come over rice and are served with the best garlic bread I've honestly ever had. Our food was ready before we finished getting our drinks. I had the drunken chicken-which had the perfect amount of spice for me but if you want more there's a ton of sauces you can add. If you're bored with your usual lunch I'd hurry over before more people find out about this place- I guarantee it's going to start getting packed soon. read more

Yats beats J. Gumbos hands down with the bread they serve because Yats butters and puts Cajun seasoning on the bread and toasts it, unlike J. Gumbos that serves soft bread from the bag despite they sliced it. I had half Drunken Chicken and other half Jerk Chicken. The Jerk Chicken was very sweet and delicious. Yats is much better and their Cajun taste different than J. Gumbos. I still like J. Gumbos, but love Yats more and will go back there. I will have to try their Jambalaya. I would like to see more Yats in Columbus. read more

Really really good etouffee here. Nice and warm and comforting and flavorful. Try the maque choux.

Definitely filled us up with hot yummy rice and Cajun meat sauces. Simple dishes. Packed with flavors that are not found often here in Ohio! Glad we gave it a try! read more

Yats Grandview - Bar seating in small finish area. Bartender offered samples of etouffes for us to try before committing to an order... much appreciated!! :) - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

This place is just the best. I wasn't a fan of J gumbo, but enjoy that type of warm home cooking. Yats different choices of gumbo all have unique flavor, taste and chew. A half order of 2 gumbos plus bread is like 8 bucks and will fill you up. Plus the house made sauces and a great addition. Need to bring my wife here who's a vegetarian, lots of options. read more

Amazing. Went here on a friend's recommendation and the stellar Yelp reviews. Absolutely did not disappoint! I had the drunken chicken and the chili cheese etouffée and both were delicious. My partner had the gumbo and thoroughly enjoyed hers as well. The bread was incredible! I'd go back for the bread alone! Great prices, giant portions, delicious food. Will definitely be back! read more

Yum. Like it. It is a chain. No bells, no whistles (unless you count all the hot sauce, which I do). It is just above average creole food in Columbus for cheap. BYOB. Super nice owner/manager. Very quick. Very no nonsense. read more

I don't go to Grandview often, but I have a reason to come every week now. I decided to get the pick two plate with the "Drunken Chicken" and the Crawfish Etoufee. Both were very creamy, flavorful, and just the right amount of heat. Served with choice of rice and their special bread, only $8.50. The guy working was very friendly and welcoming! They allow you to try samples of the dishes before ordering which is nice in case you can't decide. They also have a few rotating craft beers on draft, and for only $5. Can't wait to come back again and again! read more

Yats Grandview - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Dang! I had forgotten how incredible this place is! You gotta give it a try - and ask for double bread because you're gonna eat it up! I will be going back again in the next few days - it was that good! Portions are a bit small but the flavor is that good! Awesome! read more

I just picked up some Yats for carryout, so I can't speak to the table service. The guy I ordered from was nice, though, and had some helpful suggestions on what to order. I decided to go with half chili cheese etouffee and drunken chicken, which were both great. They were very different but somehow were good together? The chili cheese etouffee tasted particularly rich and cheesy. My order came out in a matter of minutes, which was fantastic because it was late and cold and rainy and I was hungry. Both were super flavorful (but not particularly spicy), soaked into rice, and also came with some good heavily buttered bread. Disclaimer - Cajun food is not my favorite cuisine, so I guess this means the food is extra good? The prices are awesome, as well. I'll be returning! read more

I've never been here before but I must say first the welcoming customer service made me feel so good and secondly the red beans and rice are to die for. I recommend you try the 1/2&1/2 if you've never been that way you have more than one option. read more

Really solid Cajun food. It's a small location in Grandview and one of the best quick and cheap eats in the area. Love the drunken chicken, gumbo, and etouffee. The desserts are also great. Very affordable and big portions, so easy to share a plate. They've even had live music a couple of the times I've been in which is a great touch and gives a nice taste of NOLA. The only real downside to this place is the parking in Grandview which is getting a little more difficult, but overall I haven't had too much trouble finding a meter. Swing by and check it out! read more

I went in for a quick bit as I'm new o the neighborhood and heard that there was a Creole place around. The Gumbo was thick and had requisite rice, pork, crawfish, etc-- but no okra, and spice was nonexistent. While I'm sure the Ohio pallette was kept in mind while building the menu, that shouldn't mean they kill all the beautiful danger in the food. With that said, service was laid back but quick and the guy behind the counter seemed to be pulling triple duty. read more

Great place on Grandview Ave. that is a great portion of food for a reasonable price. I've been here twice and my favorite dish is the Carribien Jerk chicken. It has some coconut milk in it which offsets the spice and makes it delicious. The dish also comes with this amazing bread that is just as good on its own! I haven't seen too many people inside whenever I'm there but it's got a promising menu for the price! Worth a trip if you ask me. read more

I'm a huge Yats fan. This location is great and the staff are great as well. The food comes out at a reasonable time and tastes absolutely amazing. There are vegan and vegetarian options for non meat eaters such as myself, and every single one is so good - my personal favorite is the B&B (vegetarian). read more

Columbus is really lacking in non-fried options for dinner under $10, but Yats fills the void... in Grandview of all places. Your food is ready almost by the time you're done ordering. Nervous? They'll let you sample anything and go out of their way to accommodate. Quick, hearty and nowhere near lacking in flavor. I don't always leave Yelp reviews, but when I do... YATS! read more

A great place for Creole/Cajun food. Always friendly and helpful and serving great food.

My husband and I tried Yat's for the first time last night and LOVED it. The store was empty at the time we arrived (6:15pm) and the employee who served us was friendly and patient, explaining the menu nearly in its entirety. We were able to try a few tastes of a few dishes before ordering which was much appreciated! In the end we shared a half and half with B&B and drunken chicken. Both were absolutely delicious, but the B&B was our personal favorite between the two. We only wished that we had ordered 2 entrees instead of sharing! The flavors were fantastic and very much "comfort food." I can't wait to come back and try the Caribbean dish when it returns to the rotating menu! We will most definitely be back soon! read more

This review for yats cajun creole. Super nice people here and the food is spectacular. The Gumbo might be the best I have ever had. The drunken chicken is lights out good. I would make an effort to come to this place as the food is that good. I really love this place and I will be back. Awesome food. read more

This was our first time eating here and it was very good! The staff was very friendly and helpful. I had the drunken chicken and gumbo my son had gumbo and some sort of etoufee everything was tasty and reasonably priced. We will be going back! read more

Stopped in for lunch, to share Yats with my mother who is from out of town. Great experience, like always! Menu changes daily, Friday lunch offers Gumbo. Shrimp maque choux is a MUST try. Three local beers on tap, a nice bottle selection and pop. Peanut butter pie is delicious, rich enough to share ! read more

We stumbled upon Yates enduring our visit to Columbus. We were able to taste all the food before hand. Which may I add was ALLLL delic. The bread is to DIE for . Great atmosphere and even better food! read more

I used to go to de levee for Cajun/Creole but then I found Yats. Don't get me wrong, delevee is very good too, but Yats is cheaper with bigger portions. Overall, Yats has great food with great portions for only $7 a plate (7.80 for two different entrees in one). I usually get half and half with drunken chicken and chili cheese crawfish etouffe which comes with rice and garlic bread (which is also great). Everything is very well seasoned and flavorful. They also have a nice selection of sauces and seasonings on the side if you want to add anything. I personally think the food is already perfectly seasoned but some of my friends like to add some of their seasoning to add more of a kick. You order at the counter and their employees are always friendly and helpful. They use Belly for their rewards program. Ive also never had a problem finding parking in the area. read more

First time in Columbus on a business trip... found this gem! Great service, great recommendations, and the food was delicious!

Flavorful comfort food, great for a chilly fall evening! Yats is a nice little spot for fast, very affordable, delicious Cajun food. Our food came out really quickly and we were easily able to find a table at 7 on a Friday, which is a huge plus. The atmosphere was cozy and relaxed, which was the perfect complement to the food. As a vegetarian, I was satisfied with the options available. The spinach and mushroom etouffee was so rich and creamy with lots of flavor. The vegan white bean chili was a little less flavorful but still satisfying. The spice level was pretty mild, but they have plenty of hot sauces for those who want an extra kick. The rice was nothing special, just your basic white rice. Honestly, my favorite part of the meal was the bread- sooo good. My friends enjoyed the drunken chicken and the B&B as well. One complaint is the portion size - if you have a big appetite like me, you might not be completely full after your meal. But it was more than fair for the price, and it left room for dessert! Overall, not mind-blowing, but the quality of food for the price here is hard to beat. I like having this unique option available in Grandview Next time I'm craving something wholesome and flavorful, I'll definitely be back! read more

Yats is really good! The spouse and I have a "jackpot" box of clippings from various restaurants (I know, we're weird) and this was the place we pulled for dinner tonight. The toughest thing about this place is parking on Grandview Avenue. The restaurant itself is a good size, and the menu is up on a chalkboard at the bar. Their specialty is the chili cheese etouffee, with lots of other options (including vegetarian and vegan choices). You can try out anything as a sample before you order, which is awesome. They also have dessert. I got a two-fer with the chili cheese etouffee and the spinach mushroom etouffee; the spouse ordered the drunken chicken. Prices are super-cheap for the quality. No skimping on the portions, but not overboard, either. Plenty of stew on top of white rice, with yummy cajun toast. Near the fountain drink area are more than a dozen hot sauces to add to your dish. I tried the cajun spice (too sweet), the Louisiana Hot Sauce (yum) and the CaJohn's Chupacabra (good, but whoa). I'd love to come back and try their choux, or anything else on the menu. Solid choice for quick, casual food in the center of Grandview's trendy strip. read more

Great food, great value. They have a ton of hot sauces too which I loved! I think they make one batch a day and it's first come first serve so make sure you call ahead to see what they have for the day! read more

Yats is amazing. It is a true Midwest phenomenon. The dishes are fantastically flavorful. They are fast. They aren't expensive but a great bang for your buck. I highly recommend the crawfish étouffée and the red beans and sausage. You might want an extra order of bread too. If you want quick, quality, and delicious this is the place. read more

Maybe it's a little strange to write a review update that is giving a restaurant the same number of stars, but I want to draw attention to how Yats has dealt with the coronavirus. Yats is one of many restaurants that has shifted to a carryout and delivery model, and since my girlfriend and I are trying our best to social distance, they're the first restaurant we ordered from during this pandemic. I noticed that the delivery range indicated on their website put our location in Merion Village just outside the circle...so we called, and the manager told us that was perfectly fine, and just make it a "pickup" order and write our address in the comments. So we ordered around 5:15 (me a pint of crawfish macque choux and my girlfriend red beans and rice with smoked sausage)...and our food arrived a mere half an hour later. Oh, and did I mention that Yats is waiving all delivery fees? Needless to say, the food was still hot when we received it, and absolutely delicious as usual. We made sure to get enough for two meals (a pint of the entree also comes with a pint of rice), and some extra bread...and even after a generous tip, the total cost was under $35. Honestly, the blend of food quality, value, and kind and efficient service makes Yats one of the best all around finds in Columbus. Given that, at the time of this writing, there's no end to the pandemic in sight, anyone wanting a bit of soul-soothing cajun comfort food should take advantage of the awesomeness that is Yats. read more