Yats

NOOOO!!! COME BACK!!!
Seriously, I hope Joe doesn’t give up on Chicago because of one bad experience. Honestly, Randolph and Morgan wasn’t a great location (except maybe for Harpo staffers). Hopefully we’ll see Yats Chicago again soon!

Stopped into the Indy location yesterday. I talked to the owner and here’s the story:
Yat’s in Chicago was opened by a person who seemed reliable in the beginning. A few months later, after stealing all of the profits for his other «hobbies» he just walked out one day. He literally left food sitting in pots on the stove and just walked out.
That is what happened to Yat’s in the west loop.
Apparently the owner has his sights on Chicago again, but said it would be about a year before anything gets off the ground. I’m sure he’ll be doing it himself, or with his own people, this time. Like they say; if you want something done right you have to do it yourself.
Eating at both the Indy and Chicago locations and I guarantee the Yat’s in West Loop was not NEARLY as good as the original in Indy. So I’m looking forward to the re-​opening!!! Until then I’ll be hauling it up to Chicago every time I visit Grandma in Indy! :)

Come Back!!! I NEED your étouffée combo plates! Great offering for the meat eater and the veggie eater in me. I Will do my best to come to Indiana to enjoy more of your rich flavors.
but really, COME BACK!

Ok… there have been some good reviews and not-​so-​fair reviews. Out of respect for the dead, I feel that I must say that Yats is (was) a GREAT place, but some explanation is in order.
First, this IS NOT AUTHENTIC Cajun food. It is indeed inspired by Joe’s (the owner of the original restaurant in Indy) cajun roots, but Joe, like any great chef or restaurateur, has taken some liberties and added his own flair and creativity to the recipes (with much success IMO). If you want real Champagne, you need to go to France. If you want real Cajun, you need to go to Louisiana. But Yats is darn good considering how far north we are of the Mason-​Dixon line.
Second, the method of preparation is important to keep in mind. Yats does not prepare to order. They make up big batches ahead of time and keep it warm in a Nesco until it runs out. Now, you don’t have to be a CIA-​trained chef to know when you hold food, quality is compromised. I’ve had the «last scrape» at Yats (my fault for wanting lunch later than everyone else); mind you, it was still good, but there was a noticeable difference in both taste and texture. Don’t go into Yats 30 minutes before close and expect a «fresh» plate — the best stuff is served right after the doors are unlocked.
Third, don’t go to Yats expecting a 5-​star meal. Yats gets my 5-​star rating because it is good food at a great price. The old adage is true — you get what you pay for. Now, chances are, if you live in Chicago, you’re used to overpaying for mediocre food. If you need to pay $ 15 for a turkey sandwich with a decorative toothpick just to feel good about the food you’re eating, then Yats isn’t for you. Conversely, don’t go into Yats thinking you’re getting Charlie Trotter for 5 bucks. You’re going to eat, and eat well no matter what you order. And your wallet will still be heavy enough to counterbalance the extra weight in your belly when you leave.
Finally, keep in mind that this is not the original. Understandably, Joe doesn’t drive up from Indy every morning to prepare the food. This is not to say that the quality and taste cannot be duplicated, but those of us who frequented the Mass Ave and Broadripple locations in Indy may find subtle differences up here. I have Joe’s Chili Cheese Crawfish Etoufee recipe — the same as is used in the restaurant. I use the exact ingredients and follow the instructions to the letter (something I never do normally), and I still cannot replicate his original masterpiece. Believe me, what I make is good (and my wife loves it), but it’s never as good as what I got on Mass Ave.
Alas, Yats is now closed, to my understanding. I only hope they re-​emerge soon (in a more convenient location). In the meantime, don’t short yourself if happen to surface in Indianapolis some afternoon — try the original.

YATS! (I raise my fists towards the sky) Why did you pick such a terrible location for your first Chicago restaurant? It breaks my heart that you are closed. Lunch time needs you!
I’m an Indiana transplant and have loved your chili cheese crawfish etoufee since the early 2000’s. I was so excited that you had finally come to our fair city… But Oh Yats… I knew when I saw you that you were doomed from the start. No man’s land. I could not make it over there for lunch. You were too far away from the city center where people work and eat. We ordered in bulk from you once. And it was a hassle. I’m so sorry.
Please, come back. Rent the abandoned coffee shop on the corner of Wells and Huron. Save River North from the horrible lunches we must endure daily. People will buy your food in this part of town and you will grow and thrive like a young fawn in the forest. Prance towards us Yats! Do not give up! Come baaaaaaaaaaaaaack.

Very, very sad, but I think this place is closed. :(
RIP, favorite lunch spot.

Sorry guys,
I was really excited to try this place yesterday but it is closed. There was a really nice sign in the window by the owner, but it indeed closed. I will make a valiant attempt to try it once I get back to Indy.

Why don’t any of these reviews warn me about a extremely «spicy-​hot» factor!!! Is it because this should already be expected of Cajun food? OK, so call me a dork but so many people recommended Yats to me as a great place to grab lunch that I had to try it (Cajun fan or not).
Shoo, theys ain’t lyin’!
Helpful staff (since I didn’t see a description or ingredient list for any items, I had to ask a lot of questions), changing daily menu, a good selection, vegetarian options, plenty of space, very affordable lunch at $ 7 for two large choices with rice and de-​li-​cious garlic bread… Phew thinking about it makes my mouth go back to salivating – except this time without the burn. I went for the jambalaya and white bean chili. I really can’t make any suggestions because only you can choose what bakes your beans.
For those who have yet to discover the true power of Yats, I got 2 «M» words for you: Maalox & Mints!

I love Yats. It’s great creole stew and different things on the menu do have distinctly different tastes… even if they look the same! I mean, they’re all stews over rice. They’re going to look similar. I think that’s part of this place’s charm. Not to mention we got dinner for two for $ 13 and it’s BYOB. Can we say Recession Dinner?
And while you’re there take a chance to chat with Nate a bit. He was really nice and accommodating considering the BF and I both have dietary restrictions.
I only wish Yats were closer to, well, anything. We usually have to schedule a special trip over to that area, but it’s always well worth it!

I went to this place expecting something pretty good based on the 4 star reviews but instead left the restaurant disgusted.
Besides the meal looking as if it was a regurgitated mess, the food had no texture. I literally had a mouthful of random mush. With everything appearing brown, I could not discern exactly what I was eating. Essentially I had a mouth of chunky meat gravy over white rice– as you can image this is not the culinary experience I was hoping for. granted it was cheap (like $ 7 for large portions) but the cheap price does not hold up as an excuse b/​c I could of seriously had a better experience going to a cheaper place like wendy’s or chipotle. I would not recommend this place to anyone.

I had a few less than stellar plates of chili cheese etoufee with crawfish but they’ve since perfected the recipe and it’s reliably as good as the Indy locations.
hey Joe, bring a Yat’s to Uptown!

I wasn’t sure about yats at first but I am now a huge fan. Jonathan A. and I went there for lunch the other day and I went in expecting so much less. One really neat thing is they have a different menu all the time so you never know what you might get. Since they have new dishes all the time it is great that they offer free samples. You can get a full order of the dishes for a little over $ 5 or go with two ½ portions for about $ 6. I went with the ½ portions and got the crawfish and the caribbean jerk chicken both served over white rice with a couple pieces of bread on the side. Both of them were good. I hope to come back again soon especially since you never know what the menu might be.

I always like having another cheap and fast lunch option. If it was a little closer to my work I would go quite a bit.
I love Southern and Cajun/​Creole food. And this place has an interesting selection that changes daily. They also offer free samples of everything to try before you order.
I was expecting this place to be a lot smaller and more lunch counter style, but was surprised to find it was pretty spacious and nice on the inside. I guess this is the West Loop.
I had a half and half order of Thai Peanut Chicken (kind of an odd choice) and Mache Chouxe (misspelled I’m sure). The Thai chicken was ok, the Mache Choux was better. I would definitely come back again or at least keep it in mind if I’m in the area.

I have kind of a weird history Yats. Not super weird, but maybe just a little odd. Anyway, I first started going to Yats when they opened up one in Bloomington, where I went to school. I thought it was amazing of course– delicious Cajun food with yummy garlicky bread and tons of hot sauces to choose from. And then something odd happened.
They changed the name to Dats. Nothing else changed; not the décor or the food or the hot sauces. I started wondering if maybe it had always been called Dats, and somehow I had imagined the Y.
So I went in to this Yats the other day and had another awesome meal (I can’t remember now what it was because even though I said it was the other day, it was really like a month and a half ago). And I decided to ask these guys what was up with the random name change down in Bloomington.
Apparently they were a breakaway rebel group from the original franchise, and changed the name to break ties with the company. But nothing else, so they were basically exactly the same AND kind of stole the name for good measure. There seems to be a lot of bitterness about it, too, from the guys working behind the counter. Anyways, it’s delicious and it’s close to my apartment, so I’m a fan. Yats or Dats.

When I heard Yats came to Chicago, I just about squealed. Back when I went to school in Bloomington, we used to drive an hour to and from Indianapolis just to get a place of food at Yats. And it was worth every minute and every mile.
Yats has delicious cajun food — at an extremely fair price. My favorites include the Chili Cheese Étouffée and the B&B (black beans and caramelized corn). And if you’re not sure, just ask for a sample or two before you order.
The guys running the place are super nice — and originally from the Bloomington location. The only (small) complaint I have would be the location. Located in the West Loop, it’s a little out of the way and kind of hard to get to. Not to mention, there’s not a whole lot of foot traffic around those parts, which makes me a little nervous. That being said, however, if it’s worth an hour long drive to Indy, it’s certainly worth a quick jaunt across the city.

I’m pretty confident that this place has legs in Chicago. The space, food & attitude of the owners are totally «no nonsense.»
Had the Chili Cheese Etoufee and Tomato Royale (?) with Turkey sausage and shrimp. Both were served over rice with a side of bread (not cornbread). I think the bread has a Zatarain’s infused butter on it…
Both were excellent. Has a sample of the read beans & rice… not so excellent. It tasted like used Liquid Smoke in the recipe.
Overall, a decent place for a quick bite & the feeling like you’re in a French Quarter hole in the wall.

One of my faves from Bloomington, Indiana went and showed up in my Chicago hood. I love it. Too bad that Dagwood’s is deserted in the loop.
Daily changing menu that is basically a liquidy plate of random food that’s sort of cajun style which is the point. Basically the entire row of hot sauces at the grocery store are on the counter for any kicking and/​or notching up you would like to attempt.
Every dish isn’t always a win but the variety is nice and the price can’t be beat in the neighborhood. The West Loop really lacks midscale options; there’s the Randolph Row bunch and the hole in the wall gyro places etc. but the one thing I miss about Lakeview etc. is reasonable decent food and this is a good addition to the area.
Go Hoosiers.

Went to Yats today for the first time… I must say that I will definitely come again.
My SO and I looked online prior to coming to the restaurant, so I had a good idea of what I already wanted. I must say that I like this feature, because it lets me know if I’m able to eat there for the day due to the pork in their sausage!
Anyway, we get the restaurant and I ask the man at the counter who I later found out his name was Nate. He sensed that it was our first time there and introduced us to the lay of the restaurant.
We both decided to go with the Chili Cheese Étouffée with Crawfish. I must say that the dish was delicious; however, it would have been nice to have some extra rice. It wasn’t as spicy as I thought it would be or as I’ve had before, but next time I’ll visit the corner with the spices and add an extra kick to it!
The bread that was served with the dish was delicious also.
Next time I go back, I want to try the Pazole Stew and see if it’s as good as it sounds.
We left full but not overly stuffed and this was great as at times you leave a place lethargic and just wanting to go to sleep.
I give this place 4 stars — and will definitely go back again, soon!
Nate mentioned that the delivery service would be starting on Tuesday. I may have to see if they deliver to the loop for lunch, lol!

I am really torn as I’m writing this review. I wish I could give five stars, but I can only give two. I picked up lunch from Yats today and unfortunately don’t think I will be going back there.
Now don’t get me wrong, the food is five-​star delicious, cheap, and in large portions. Today I had the half & half with jambalaya and chili cheese étouffée. The jambalaya was good – not as spicy as I would have liked, but the sausage in it was awesome. The chili cheese étouffée was amazing and with a decent amount of crawfish in it. The garlic bread was great – soft, garlicky, and delicious especially when dipped in the chili cheese etouffe. The portions are huge and lunch was $ 7.50 with tax. The employees were friendly and thanked me by name both when I paid and when I picked up my food.
So why, you ask, am I only giving them two stars?
Well, for one thing, it took forever. They only had two guys working – one on the register and one dishing out the food. I figured, after everyone else mentioned that the food is served out of cafeteria-​style vats, that it would be super quick. There were five people in line ahead of me, and the ordering process didn’t take very long. What did take long was actually getting my food! I was in the place for a total of 27 minutes. And they apologized for the wait, so at least they realized how long it had taken.
I can deal with the time thing if the food is delicious, but the real reason I will not return to Yats is because of sanitation issues. The place just opened, so I’d expect it to have that new-​restaurant glow about it. Instead, the floors were filthy (even in low-​traffic areas).
Okay, at least I’m not eating off the floor. But the biggest issue was the guy who was serving up the food. While very friendly, he wasn’t wearing gloves. Of course he was using spoons (I assume) to serve the food, but he was using his hands to pick up the garlic bread. Also, the cashier went straight from the cash register to the garlic bread without washing his hands in between. Both kept wiping sweat off their brows with their forearms, so who knows where that dripped. After seeing that, I can only imagine what the kitchen looks like behind that mysterious black curtain.
Believe it or not, after all of that I still ate the food. And it was delicious, but I won’t be eating it again.

I am sooooo happy that this place is up and running! We’ve been waitin’ and waitin’ for what seems like forever!
Yum. My nephew and I walked in the door, probably just after 9pm, thinking they were still open and they kind of where! They were so nice and friendly. I felt kind of bad, I assumed they were open until 10… but the super nice guy made us feel very welcome and happy to have us! Nephew ordered the jambalaya and I had the succotash (it’s vegan, frickin’ YAY, eh!?) The succotash was great, a little sweet, a little spicy a lotta goodness! My nephew enjoyed his jambalaya but was hopin’ they had gumbo. He’s had way better jambalaya in his little life, but was thrilled by the fast-​food nature of the place and is very excited to try more from the menu!
It’s just such an awesome addition to the area and they’ll be seeing a lot of us at Yats. And seriously… it was $ 15.00 for two large dinner entrees and drinks… that’s darn near impossible to beat these days.