Yats

Great service! The lady who took our order walked us through the menu and gave us tasting samples. The food was excellent and came out quickly (within 1 – 2 minutes), granted we were one of two table there at the time.

We sat on the patio on Sunday evening and had dinner and it was very nice. When I lived in Indianapolis I visited Yats often this is only the second time I have been to the one in Valpo but it did not disappoint. They have great vegetarian options which is hard to find in NWI.

The good things:
The staff were very nice and friendly, which is always great to experience!
The atmosphere was cozy and inviting.
They had a wall of hot sauce, and it was just majestic!
The rest:
As for the food, I just… didn’t get it. I wanted the drunken chicken, but they were out of it. So I tried the chili cheese etoufee and something else that was supposed to have crawfish in it. Both had very similar flavors, and were served over white rice. I should have asked if they had brown rice because I didn’t realize it would be so carb-​tastic. It wasn’t very hot, temperature-​wise, and there was not much meat. It seemed like the same roux was used for each dish and each one was just spiced slightly differently. I really wanted to like the food because the employees were so nice and the décor was very cool. I really liked all the lights.
I may come back some day because my sister raved about the drunken chicken! So maybe I will give them another try.

Great food no matter what you choose. Ample seating indoors and out. Love this place!

I’d never imagine anything that resembles a fully loaded adult diaper on a plate could be so delicious.

It smelled wonderful when we walked in the door and did not disappoint. Best Cajun we’ve had outside of NOLA. I had the drunkin chicken and red beans and rice with a double order of bread and an Abita. It was wonderful.

So yummy… my husband came here to eat lunch all the time at work and then got me hooked. We live in Winfield and sometimes drive all the way here just to get take out food. I love the jumbalya with the «slap yo mama» seasoning all over it! I love spicy food and this one has a kick! It’s gluten free as well and it will fill you up especially if you add the extra toppings they offer. I cannot eat the bread but that’s ok. My husband likes to split his order and get the drunken chicken and whatever else he’s in the mood for. He’s tried them all since he has no food restrictions and says they are all good. You can sample them before you order as well! Great restaurant and a good selection of beer as well!

Whoop! there it is! This place has got the mojo, baby! Good eats, great drinks, and even better times! 5 stars by me! The best in local creole speciality! Will they keep it up? We’ll just have to see!

I LOVE this place! Seriously. It’s so good. My husband is a born and bred Cajun from Louisiana right by NOLA and he even says that it’s the closest to Cajun food up North that he’s had ever. EVER.
The staff is always warm and inviting and answers any questions you may have. There is ample room for dining in and it’s a great atmosphere. I’ve only dined in one time as I usually get it to go. Some of their food has a kick to it. I wouldn’t say spicy because it doesn’t burn your tongue but there is a heat to it. Sometimes you might even break a little sweat but it’s so worth it.
I LOVE the Maque Choux (pronounced: Mock Shoe) and the Drunken Chicken. Husband loves the red beans and rice and the gumbo.
The location is kind of tucked away but not too hard to find. It’s on the left side of the road right on the Valpo University campus.

Yats is not what I expected but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Like many newer restaurants, u order at the counter & the food is brought out to u. This must cut down on overhead costs. The menu is written on what looks like a chalk board in color code. The yellow & green are mild dishes & the dishes written in red are spicier. I tried the jambalaya & red beans & rice. Jambalaya was written in red & the other dish in green so I tried both spicy & mild. I will say the spicy is spicy. Not 5 alarm spicy but definitely has some heat. All dishes are served over rice. The portions are just right & very filling. Overall, the food was flavorful & the woman behind the counter was friendly and helpful. Great place to stop in for lunch or a very inexpensive dinner. Oh & they have a small bar with several beer offerings.

It’s so good southern food for cheap. Open late. What more could you ask for? Try the maque choux and jambalaya. They are delicious.

Great people that care and great food too! Fast if you need it to be but sit down if you have time to kill also :)
Great space, a nice bar and live music nights too!
Come on in for a little taste of ‘Nawlins :)

As a customer of the original Broad Ripple location back in the day, I was excited to hit the Unilocal app while routed through the area and have it tell me a Yats was nearby! Needless to say, a quick Christmas Eve call was placed to make sure they were open, and lunch was found.
Four visits over two weeks for me, so please know the food is delicious and original. It’s food with love. I am a devotee of chicken creole, all day, every day! We also tried maque choux. Corn sweetens with specific preparation and this dish shows that. Kid friendly!!! Tried Caribbean jerk étouffée and it was different and good. I swear it tastes like cinnamon is in there though the ingredient list doesn’t show it. Both were memorable enough that before the kiddo arrived back to Yats for her follow up visit she said, «I’m having the same thing as last time.» And so she did!
Utilize the one bite sample offer. I enjoyed the B&B as a result! I thought one bite of the vegan chili was good but a half portion didn’t go down as easy as the saucy chicken creole does! But it takes guts to offer tofu and I like that!
+Entrees made ahead in bulk so your order is served quick. Faster than a drive thru at lunch and off-​peak times! At dinner the counter service means it’s faster than fast casual and table service places.
+Road food! Literally two turns off the highway. You should make the pit stop if you’re traveling through.
+Clean, spacious restroom.
+Clean dining area.
+Easy close parking. Right at the door every time. Not sure what else operates nearby but there is no such thing as traffic or looking for parking.
+Authentic NOLA atmosphere.
–Too much rice and not enough entrée. While you can get light rice, extra entrée is $ 2.50 per pour. Yikes! You can’t lighten the rice and take a smidge more sauce. At $ 8.00 for a half and half I’ll continue to return and get the mix as Yats gives but its pushing it to go higher. I’m a person whose appetite has been described as «birdlike» so if I’m hungry two hours later, the protein portion is light.
?Can Yats get real plates? I don’t mind styrofoam for to-​go orders (though biodegradable packaging exists) but real plates for dine in seems easy enough.
Yats is a treasure that locals should appreciate and folks traveling through can easily access. If you’ve spent time in Louisiana like me, then you’ll know this is the real deal. If you haven’t been down south, head to Yats on University and be transported to N’Awlins via a taste adventure. Like this post if you loved your Yats!

First visit here, and I loved it. The gumbo was delicious and the garlic bread was even better.
I’m dreaming of when I can go back.

Of course, being french, I am totally biased on Louisiana cuisine, but none the less, this place is the bomb.
Had the Caribbean Jerk Etoufee, was most excellent. I did need to add some hot sauce but they offered a wide selection to choose from, all of which are true Cajun style. Check their wall, they’ve got some extremely hot stuff on the way back towards the bathroom.
If there is to be any problems with this location, it would be that the portion was too small, when I finished eating, I was so sad I had to drown my sorrows in their cheesecake dessert.
Very limited alcohol selection but a good beer selection.
The staff are very friendly and their French bread served on the side is literally to die for, order a second serving of that.
Do yourself a favor and definitely make this a stopping point in yourlife.

Love Yats and SUPER excited that there is one this far north!
I actually had a dream about Yats last night:
I was sitting with a group of friends at a round table with little individual plates…
We had wine (obviously)…
And a Yats sampler platter…
It was a mound of rice in the middle of a circular dish and then small scoops of each kind around it– sort of like Ethiopian food… I woke up very happy… and hungry…
PLEASE MAKE THIS DREAM A COME TRUE!!!
A Yats Sampler Platter would be AMAZING!

This is my first visit after a Unilocal search for lunch in a town I’m not often in. I am thankful for the other good reviews that prompted my visit.
Went for the half and half plate of chili cheese ettouffee and drunken chicken. Wow, it’s like an explosion of great Cajun flavors in my mouth. Also, the bread is great, as others have indicated. Service was friendly and fast. They also have a very decent selection of beers.
There really is nothing to complain about here! I’ll be back.

I’m originally from Indianapolis. In college, we would go to Broad Ripple and eat at the original Yats off College Avenue about once a week.
When I moved here this summer, I was so excited to find that there is another Yats location. This was sorely missed in my previous town.
Why I love Yats: 1) It’s delicious food… no matter what you try. I’ve had a lot of different items — plus the bread is great (get extra bread if you are really hungry) 2) It’s inexpensive. ~ $ 6.50 for your meal. 3) It’s filling 4) I like the ambience 5) Joe (the guy who started Yats) is a super cool dude. In college, the original location didn’t accept credit card. I forgot cash one time. He totally let me do an «I O U» and I came back and settled up later. How awesome is that?
Anyway — great food, great set up… Personal favorites for me are the jambalaya and any etoufee recipe. My wife loves the B&B. You really can’t go wrong with any option though… Plus you can do ½ and ½ if you are afraid you might not love something new. But you will.

Oh, Yats. You’re the best. I’ve been holding off on writing a review wanting to do justice to one of my favorites. There’s a lot of personal history that goes into it.
When we lived in Indy for a brief time early on in our marriage, my wife and I spent many casual meals at the original Yats in Broad Ripple. Needless to say, I was pretty jazzed when I found out they were opening one in Valpo.
In the countless times that I’ve eaten at this particular Yats, I have never been disappointed. They faithfully carry on the Broad Ripple tradition. All of their dishes are flavorful and filling, and with a regularly rotating menu, there is always something different to try. I’m especially fond of the the Jambalaya, Chorizo étouffée, and the White Chicken Chili.
Although it’s not the hole-​in-​wall ambiance of the original, this Yats has done a good job of creating a comfortable atmosphere. The locale is clean, and all of the staff are exceedingly friendly and engaging. Some may balk at the use of styrofoam plates and plastic tableware (normally I would be the first to crap on this), but when such measures are obviously reflected in the affordable prices, I’ll give it a pass.
Not many places out there where you can get a filling, delicious lunch for well under $ 10.
The only caveat to this glowing praise is that Yats is best experienced for lunch. Most of the dishes are prepared earlier in the day in large kettles, so getting at it sooner rather than later guarantees the freshest meal. That being said, I foresee Yats being a lunchtime staple for me for many years to come.

I love Yats, which I first tried when living in Broadripple. As soon as I heard that this tasty gem is now in Valpo, I had to take my mother.
The atmosphere inside is just like any other Yats, and the people are just as friendly.
We each got the spinach and mushroom etoufee with extra bread and splashed on some Cajun Power for added heat. This stuff is so good!
They also have diet Mt. Dew which is always a plus in my book!