Yats absolutely lives up to the hype. I went with the classic half-and-half: Chili Cheese Crawfish Étouffée and the Drunken Chicken. After a few bites, I knew I wasn't leaving with just one meal. Before I walked out, I ordered another half-and-half to go--Smoked Sausage Gumbo and Chorizo Étouffée--for tomorrow's lunch. That's about the highest compliment I can give a place. This is exactly the kind of restaurant I love stumbling across. Casual, unpretentious, and full of personality. The walls are covered with photos of regulars, local memories, and just enough Cajun character to make the place feel lived in rather than decorated. The service was equally memorable. The GM seemed to know half the people walking through the door by first name. Between offering samples, making thoughtful beer recommendations, and genuinely enjoying conversations with customers, it felt less like ordering dinner and more like being welcomed into someone's neighborhood spot. It's refreshing to find a place that's so confident in what it serves. No gimmicks. No unnecessary twists. Just bold, comforting Cajun food done exceptionally well. I was honestly tempted to steal a sticker or some piece of memorabilia on my way out--just to remember the stop--but I'll settle for planning my next visit the next time work brings me back to Indianapolis. Yats has officially earned a permanent spot on my travel list. read more

Yats - Four for four - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

A couple I haven't tried in the longest time was the Chipotle Alexio and The Red Beans and rice. It was a great combination. I also topped it off with cheese, sour cream, and sauce. Unfortunately, the cheese was cold, but all in all everything was great. read more

I'm not sure I've ever met anyone in Indy who doesn't at least like Yats, a locally owned 15-location mini-chain of sorts offering up a daily menu of 7-10 dishes all served on rice with a slice of cajun buttered baguette. Pricing is simple, customer service is welcoming without ever being overbearing, and the atmosphere is nearly always fun and festive. Joe, the founder, really does have New Orleans roots and he's always brought to the place a terrific hospitality and uncommon customer service. Even for this fairly straightforward eater, I can't help but occasionally head to Yats for the food, the fun atmosphere, the fair pricing, and the friendly faces. This location is at 86th and Ditch in a small strip center not far from Applebee's, Great Clips, and a few other businesses. There's accessible parking and appropriate curb-cuts. The door is a bit heavy, though it's workable. I arrived a few minutes before 11am (the time they open). They opened right at 11am and were welcoming and friendly. I ordered one of my go-to dishes - drunken chicken. I ordered extra bread (for $1) and a drink. They have another dish that used to be on their menu, though I for the life of me can't remember its name and I haven't seen it on the menu for a long time. As you enter here, there's a dining area right there along with a side row of tables and 1/2-booths along the side. It goes all the way to the back - which is where you get your fountain drinks (Pepsi products, Lipton iced tea). Yats does also serve beer. I took a restroom break (wide enough for a wheelchair, though lacking grab bars). By the time I was done, my food was on the table. I grabbed my iced tea and was good to go. This dish is a bit out of my comfort zone, however, once I tried it I fell in love with it. They put some sauce on the garlic bread - I'll admit I'd have preferred this not to happen. It wasn't bad, but I'll admit I just prefer it without. The design here is pretty narrow. I'm not sure I'd call it wheelchair friendly, though it works. I had to be super careful wheeling by one table to not hit the diner. I may be wrong, but it feels like the smallest location - at least here in Indy. I do love the festive art work and there's local art for sale. This was a very solid experience. It was practically a perfect 4-star dining experience with good food, good prices, good customer service, and a welcoming atmosphere. I was the first customer of the day, however, they were already getting steady when I left. My favorite spots are probably Broad Ripple (the first one) and Mass Avenue. Yats now also has a couple spots in Ohio. This was a terrific meal on a day when I really just wanted some comfort food. I got that and more and I'd easily return. read more

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

We decided to try Yats on a whim, they came up on Yelp as being a good place to eat, and they have lots of DF options, so why not? The food here is pretty good. I'm no expert on cajun food, but the red beans and rice is super yummy, as is the white chili chicken, both dairy-free. The best part was they gave my daughter cheese rice basically for free, which was so nice, and she loved it and the bread. They have some local beers, the restaurant is pleasant enough, and theres a fairly clean bathroom. All in all, this is a good, fairly quick place to eat, especially if you are looking for DF options, which are not super common in Indianapolis! read more

Yats - 50/50 White Chili with Chicken and Red Beans with Smoked Sausage, both DF - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Yats = Yaaas! (Or does it mean "stay" backwards? Either way, this place is FIRE.) Ambiance/Service: Walked in, got lost in the amazing menu. Staff was friendly, patient, and clearly used to food struck customers like me lol Food: My taste buds were in heaven! The chicken maque choux with red beans & sausage...ultimate comfort food. Drunken chicken was also delicious. The bread was good but the rice was meh (Uncle Ben rice energy idk?) but who even cares when everything else was yummy. If they have any cookies out, get one and thank me later! I inhaled the toffee cookie. No regrets. No crumbs. :) PROS: Tons of parking, Free samples (!!), Rotating menu, Accepts Apple/Google Pay CONS: I'm addicted now and my jeans are judging me. read more

Yats - 2 entree to go - chicken maque choux, red beans and smoked sausage. FIREEE! - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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A great place for comforting, Cajun cuisine. The customer service is awesome allowing you to try menu items you may be uncertain about before purchasing. The atmosphere is relaxed and you can dine in or carry out. I had the B&B which consisted of black beans, rice, and corn in a Cajun style sauce. I also had a mushroom etoufe. They both were delicious and very reasonably priced. read more

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Came in for lunch and it didnt disappoint! Pros - Food was amazing! Great flavor, excellent quality and quantity. - Price- Two Drunken Chickens, two extra breads, and two drinks was $27! Can't be beat! - Cleanliness- Place was spotsless spotless - Service was extremely friendly and efficient Cons NONE! It is amazing and I wish there was one in Lafayette/West Lafayette! read more

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

Coming to YATS is the best way to celebrate Mardi Gras, but I love it all year round. A group of my friends annually gather for Fat Tuesday for creole cuisine and a few brews, as we did last night. The place was hoping with to go orders flying out the door. We were covered in our finest beads and enjoyed local craft beer. We dined in their small dining room. I had the Chili Cheese Crawfish Etouffee, my go to favorite dish. It's creole comfort food. The etouffee is creamy and hot with bits of crawfish atop a bed of white rice. The meal comes with two pieces of butter soaked bread. On Fat Tuesday, they add a piece of King Cake for dessert. A perfect celebration. The staff is friendly, albeit busy getting orders out the door. It's a festive sight with beads hanging from the lights and on the tables. Colorful lights and decor add to the fun. Prices are reasonable. Parking is easy in front. It just doesn't get any better. read more

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I will be honest even with the reviews I didn't have high expectations. It just didn't seem appealing to me especially after having the real deal in New Orleans. Well, that has changed after visiting. It is a "fast food" but comforting southern food option. We enjoyed the drunken chicken which had just enough spice as well as the beans and rice. I am a bread girl and the bread with butter and spices was AMAZING! The inside of the place has tried to capture the vibe of New Orleans with chandeliers and beads. Highly recommend giving this place a try if having the cravings for some quick NOLA cuisine. read more

Yats - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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I always love Yats. This location is pretty standard. The guys behind the counter were friendly and the food was great as always. The dinning area was a pretty standard Yats layout. If you want Joe's great food, you can get it here. read more

Yats - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Simple, straightforward and always good comfort food. Always a pleasant and comfortable eating experience. The food never disappoints. I will always go back. YATS stands for YUM! read more

Yats - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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I've been coming here for years. I always get the Chili cheese etouffee but it seems like there are very few piece of crawfish. It was disappointing today. read more

Ok, the staff here today 11-20-25 at 3:40pm was amazing! I'm so indecisive and they were super patient. He helped me decide on spin and mushroom with drunken chicken and even got my peanut-butter pie... Customer service doesn't exist in most places anymore, but these guys made me feel so welcomed and comfortable. Quality guys! Give them a raise or something! read more

I have had Yats before but never actually been inside. It was a real treat! I picked the perfect day to visit (Fat Tuesday). There were balloons, beads, and other decorations that truly made me feel like I was back in New Orleans again! An added bonus was the music was nice. I ordered the crawfish etouffee and while I was waiting another customer seated at the bar area and I had a lovely chat. The environment in this location was welcoming. As I waited, I was offered a small free slice of King Cake because of Fat Tuesday! It was melt in your mouth delicious! The prices here are very budget friendly and I've never been disappointed with the food. I was given my meal and made it all the way home only to realize I was given the wrong meal. I called (as I was worried I was mistakenly given another customers meal) and was told to come by again for a free meal. The customer service truly made me feel valued and I'll definitely be returning. read more

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What I like about Yats is it continues to be affordable and the quality of service and food are consistent across locations in my opinion. That's why when I'm not sure what to eat, I just know that choosing Yats will not disappoint me. There are not many places in Indy serving this type of food, and I'm obsessed with their drunken chicken. I'm so loyal to it! read more

Yats - Drunken chicken (full) - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

When visiting my friend in Indianapolis, I asked her to take me to the place is she love to eat while growing up. She brought me to Yats and upon entering the establishment and smelling all of the lovely spices, I knew that she hadn't steered me wrong. The decoration is very New Orleans style and it's counter service so easy to find a seat to have a quick in and out meal. I don't think you can go wrong with any of the options here, but I personally loved the crawfish etoufee, and the jambalaya was also delicious. The bread was also absolutely insanely delicious and I would love to know what they do to it to make it so yummy. Service was extremely quick and they also had a bunch of fun sauces, and spices to try with your dish as well. read more

Yats - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Ahhhh, Yats. It's been too long. If you've not experienced the Cajun creole inspired offerings at Yats then can you really say that you've experienced Indy? My good ol' standby is the chili cheese étouffé. It's fantastic and comes on a bed of rice. The rice is great if you like eating a thousand of the same thing. The bread that's served with each dish is where this establishment dips deep into that New Orléans' voodoo magic. I'm not sure what they put in the concoction that's brushed onto the toasted bread but I'm guessing at least a few tears of their enemies goes into each batch. I was going to say souls of their enemies for the voodoo connection but that might be going too far....regardless, voodoo magic. read more

I love this place and the garlic bread is the best ever always gotta get extra!!! The staff are always very helpful either way new recommendation as well read more

Driving thru on a road trip and some friends recommended to stop here, and it did not disappoint. Very clean establishment, and a very helpful cashier/server. They do let you sample the different options and it was hard to decide, so sampling was a life saver. He also let us know you can do a half and half option and it comes over a bed of rice with garlic bread (sold!). I did half B&B, half chicken maque choux. Delicious. Beer on tap and a rewards system. Highly recommend to everyone! read more

Yats - Garlic bread, half b&b and half chicken maque choux - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Clean building, really good service and awesome food! Will be visiting often would definitely recommend

We stopped here for lunch and it was really delicious. The guy at the corner was very helpful. I like that you are able to try the entrees before you buy them. You are also able to get half and half so 2 entrees at once "Winning" !!! Every thing was delicious. Gives a real new Orleans taste to indy love it. read more

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

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Stopped in for some Gumbo. Lucas that usually works the front register (I think he runs the place) greets people by name and with a smile. Lucas treats you like Norm from Cheers! When working and you need to fuel up, why not try this place. It's great Cajun food right here in the heartland! Lucas and his team will treat you like family and fill you up with their delicious Yats Food. Step into Jackson Square or into a side bar off Bourbon St with their New Orleans vibe decor. Grab a local cool one to wash it down. Bring friends and family to make it a party Nawlins' style! read more

Yats - Gumbo and Jambalaya - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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The first time I had Yats, I remember seeing the entree and thinking "there's no way something that looks like that will taste any good." Various movie scenes of a cafeteria worker heeping a pile of who-knows-what onto someones plate then started playing in my head... But, if you give it a chance, the food is quite tasty. I have tried various entrees, but most recently got the chili cheese etuoffee. I figured since it is listed first on the menu, it must be a customer favorite. Some of the entrees I've tried in the past have been hit or miss for me, but the chili cheese etuoffee did not disappoint. They also have a counter with various sauces/spices that you can add to enhance the flavor. My go to is the cajun garlic sauce, but I'm sure most of them are good! Price-wise it's around $8.50 for one entree with rice and garlic bread, or $9.50 for a "half and half" where you can try half-sized portions of two different entrees. Both are very reasonable for the amount of food. read more

Yats - Chili Cheese Etouffee - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

I love Yats. Great food at a great price. These days you can call them and then pick up your order. Everyone is great at keeping their 6 ft distance if you need to wait a minute or two. They have so many good choices so I am so glad that they let you do half and half entrees. I always get the chili cheese étouffée and then decide on the other half. This time I ordered the drunken chicken which is delicious.. chicken, garlic breadcrumbs in a nice sauce. You also get bread. I also learned that the bread uses vegan butter so my daughter was very happy about that .Other choices- the gumbo is spicy and excellent. read more

This Yats is great: The decor inside is so festive and fun, and there are lots of little things to look at all around. The service is really, incredibly fast. I paid for my to-go order and then looked around for a seat to wait, and by the time I sat down, my order was ready. Freaky fast! I can't give any Yats anything more than four stars until they start serving rice that isn't instant rice. Sorry, but I'm just not down with instant rice. There's no excuse for instant rice in this age of rice cookers, as well as the variety and quality and availability of real rice. It puts a damper on my meal, especially considering the other components are so good. My go-to is the chili cheese etouffee, which looks like a regurgitated mess but is delicious. It comes with bread and the aforementioned instant rice. It's a nice, warm, comforting meal. read more

It has been a while since I had takeout for Yats in Traders Point. They never disappoint, very busy location. It was quick to order and quick to get the order. The people were very friendly. Anything you order is very tasty, plentiful and well worth the price. Ambiance is casual and clean. read more

Cajun-ish food suitable for midwestern tastes. Good portions. Quick service. Minimalist ambiance.

I've never ate there before so I can't rate Yats I will try someday soon! I had Yats several years ago was pretty good I had a rice dish with crawfish read more

The food is always excellent and the cost is fair. Lines look long sometimes but go fast.

Been going to Yats for years. They are consistently great!! Last visit I got the Chili Cheese Etouffee. w/crawfish & CHICKEN MAQUE CHOUX (1/2 & 1/2). That is a nice combo of a little sweet & a little heat. This was my 1st visit to the Traders Point location. They, again, were consistent in atmosphere, taste, friendly staff. I will definitely be back here & to the other locations!! read more

Three things are certain in life: death, taxes, and delicious food at Yats. They don't have a bad thing on the menu but they are happy to let you sample before you buy. The service is always quick and the people are friendly. The restaurant has a relaxed atmosphere and is a great place to hang out with friends and eat delicious food without breaking the bank. read more

Bumping up my rating to five stars for multiple reasons: the depth of flavor on every single dish I've tried, the ability to be in and out incredibly quick and the portion sizes. All of these things are pretty tough to beat. I've tried half and half's with the chipotle chicken alexio, the chili cheese étouffée and the "mock shoe" and the mock shoe is my favorite every time and super consistent. You must order extra bread. read more

Yats - Half (mock shoe) half Alexio with extra bread! - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

This YATS is very consistently delicious and efficient and friendly. I am spoiled with quick service and delicious food being from NY and let me tell YATS smacks. The workers are always nice here and fast. I have not waited longer than 2min for my food and i have been to this location over 10x i am now a 2-4 time a month regular at this location. I have been to other ones and they are good but this one is more consistent and efficient than the others. Keep up the good work guys! read more

The food is always amazing, I usually go to the West 86th street location and the service is great too. Food is always great and it comes out so fast. I'm in and out in less than 5 minutes every single time. The dining area is always clean and I love the decor. The druken chicken is my favorite. I always order it for people that have never had it. At first look it doesn't look appetizing but baby, trust me it's so delicious. read more

Yats is always a win in my book. The interior is funky-cool, the food is full of flavor, and every dish is budget friendly. The staff here were nice and they were super efficient during the lunchtime rush. I only had to wait about five minutes to get my delicious plate of steamy-hot food. If you've never been to a Yats, you essentially get a plate of rice and choose what type of etouffee (like a thicker soup or stew) or gumbo they put on top. They're dishes are all Cajun/creole and offer combinations of different meats, beans and vegetables (caramelizad corn - yum)! I always get a dish of half Drunken Chicken and Spinach and Mushroom Etouffee. The Drunken Chicken is a stew with shredded chicken, rosemary, garlic, red pepper, beer and bread crumbs. The Spinach Etouffee is vegetarian and includes green curry, a creamy mushroom sauce, spinach, and spices. The best part???? The dripping-with-garlic-butter grilled bread they give you on the side to dip in your stew/rice mixture. So delicious! Just about anyone would like Yats, so you better take them here! read more

Yats is the most incredible cajun food I've ever had, including in New Orleans itself! It is indulgent and delicious, and of course SO fast. Pro tip: order extra bread! I also highly recommend the raspberry hot sauce. read more

Yats - Left: mushroom spinach Étouffeé Right: chili cheese Étouffeé with crawfish - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

First time at this location - I love Yats though! This storefront can get pretty busy because it's near several office parks and is near a smaller shopping center. I couldn't find parking for about 5 minutes. Once I was able to get a spot, the line to order was almost to the door. Luckily, this is a restaurant that can get orders out quickly. The food is hot and plentiful and leaves me in a food coma. I always get the chili cheese etouffee with crawfish and the B&B which is caramelized corn and black beans. Don't forget the warm, buttery bread to go with it! read more

The service was horrid. I don't think I'll be back. It was reverse racism to its highest. He was the only one working there yesterday. I was the only customer he had. When he took my order zero connection he barely spoke he took my order in somber as if he was taken back for even having to deal with me.. When that plate of food comes out I used to wait for it in angst of it being the best food served. Nope it looked like slop the way he just plopped it down on the counter like it was prison food slop, I perceived him as thinking he was annoyed of my existent. Another customer walks in all happy speaking to him as just another good guy man to man and cheerful in his voice. This employee didn't break his stance of rude behavior. The guy unfortunately left without that cheerful exuberant attitude when he came in. I think the employee taught him a big lesson or two and it wasn't a positive one. read more

Good food! Definitely try if in Indy. Small restaurant, but good to take to go and eat

Always good, plentiful servings. I love that you can order two sauces! The bread is always worth it too! I got the chipotle alexio and the drunken chicken. So good! Both on mildly spice my to me, but you can grab extra hit sauces to spice them up! read more