I have been frequenting Yaga's for years without issue but this experience warrants a review. Â
Generally the food is good, service adequate, and the restaurant clean however last Saturday night was a different story. Â The front dining room was vacant, perhaps for a party so a friend and I were seated upstairs in the loft by a hostess. Â Not an ideal spot because you can't really see out but not bad for a quick bite.
This is where the story turns.We didn't make it to dinner so I can't comment on the food--BUT THE PILES OF IT ON THE FLOOR SMELLED TO HIGH HEAVEN. Â Yes piles of food and trash littered the area around my table. Â An employee (blonde girl) sat at a table across from us ignoring it while she folded napkins. Â
I went down stairs to ask the waitress if it was possible to be moved to another table. Â She saw me coming--I know because we had direct eye contact--and when I was not eve 5 feet away she dramatically rolled her eyes and turned her body away from me as I said hello and greeted two customers not yet fully in the door to avoid speaking with me. Â I commented about it to my friend and the water boy who had been speaking to the hostess asked if he could help. Â I really appreciated that he was wiling to take the time to assist especially in light of the hostesses actions. Â He said we could not move to the front dining room but we could wait for another table. Â We decided to leave because of the dirty mess on the floor upstairs. Â I told him about it, it is unknown if it was ever cleaned.
THE ONLY person that was even worth keeping employed there is the water boy, the management needs to toss the other two entitled children back and promote him.
I may try this place again but it will be a long time for me to work up to it--sad because it was almost becoming a tradition every time i visit Galveston.
Everything on the menu looked awesome and was decently priced. The location was fun and well decorated. The Chicken Pepperoni was just OK. My friend said she loved her Seafood Flautas. The Fried Zuchini was delicious. I didn't like the Piña Colada. There were too many chunks of ice, which made it difficult to drink through the straw. Our waitress cussed a couple times.  I wouldn't have cared, but I was with a very conservative friend. My friend asked the waitress for extra sauce, to which the waitress returned saying that the kitchen didn't understand her request, so she just gave up trying. I found that very strange. I wouldn't base a restaurant on one server, but hope that the rest of the staff isn't similar.
Review Source:Located right on The Strand, this place is very central. Â Nice beach/surf decor, and a nice staff. Â The food was very good, and the beer, wine and alcohol selection was reasonable. Â Not the cheapest place in the world. Â They appear to be associated with the new, awesome bar on Seawall called Beerfoot. Â So, Yagas for dinner and Beerfoot for drinks is an awesome night.
Review Source:One of our favorite places to eat on the island. Food is always fresh, hot and tasty. On this trip we had the fish sandwich special with Cajun potatoes, a large fried grouper filet on a homemade bun. Others at our table had fish tacos, large salad and  a burger. All reportedly were delicious. Service was great, and we especially enjoyed our table by the open front windows on a beautiful spring day.
Review Source:After walking up and down the Strand in search for a martini of some sorts, we saw that Yaga's had a full bar and a menu that had some very eclectic options. We decided to stop in and see what it was all about. Our bartender, also the restaurant manager, was awesome and took great care of us the whole time we were there. He made really great drinks and recommended the Shrimp Burger, which I loved. We ended up hanging out there for a couple hours because we were liked the vibe and the regulars seemed really nice too. There are so many things on the menu that look worth trying so I will be back. They have live bands on the weekends, which is always awesome to me!
Review Source:Not a bad choice to eat out at on the Strand. Their menu consists of mostly American food (pizza, nachos, burgers, even cajun seafood) and everything was pretty decent. I like eating out on their patio, which is right next to Saengerfest Park square, to people-watch as tourists and locals mingle on the Strand. There was a live band playing at the square the last time we went, and there was a line of old people doing a country line-dance, which was weird since the band was playing classic rock, but it was fun to watch nonetheless.
They do get quite busy on weekends, and they managed to get our appetizers out the same time as our entrees (which sucked because we waited about 20 minutes and were already hungry), so just be aware that it can get a little hectic in there when they're full or if you bring a large group. Otherwise the service was pretty friendly and attentive.
This restaurant is great. The food is original and delicious. I had the salmon and tasted some of the pepper shrimp and both were absolutely delicious. As an appetizer the flautas were huge and equally delicious. The food alone could make this place a 5 star rating, but the service was responsive and friendly. The decor was kind of a Caribbean theme and they played some Regge music softly in the background. 5 stars all the way.
Review Source:The food here is good and decently priced for a place on the strand. My fiance loves the garlic butter shrimp.
Yaga's turns into a club certain nights. They literally take all of the chairs and tables out and open up a huge bar to serve all the medical students and doctors. The music is typical club music and there is no cover at the door. The drinks are cheap enough and strong enough.
I'll probably be back for the club/bar before the food honestly. lol
I have been dragged here on more than one occasion.  This is one of those places that is really a bar, but is trying to serve food so they can make money at times other than when the bar is hopping.  I have tried just about everything and they bring a whole new meaning to  "mediocre"......  Mediocre is really too kind of a decription for the food that is served here.  I commend them for a great job of marketing a product that really isn't any good.  Magicians in Las Vegas could not have done a better job of fooling people into the idea that this is a good place to eat.  Alcohol, yes,.....Food, NO!!!!!!  It is a tourist trap!!!  As a bar......well,  not impressed with the well selection and the drinks are a little on the weak side, and the bands are hit or miss.....
Review Source:Why do you have to be so mediocre? I've tried so hard to like you, Yaga!
Burgers: dry, tasteless as are the fries.
Salads: lack substance
Hot wings: old, reheated, slathered in sauce.
Ranch dressing: excellent, I want the recipe
Bartender: fantastic!
I work nearby and and tried to order from this place only to be let down time after time. They always appear to be packed on my lunch break, but I've yet to see what the big stink is all about. Nothing taste freshly made or makes me want to ever call again.
Oh Yaga, I have fond memories of eating lunch here after long mornings of shopping on the strand. The best memories, however, are the Yaga shirts that my older brothers wore in the 90's in high school that were so dope then. I never thought I would discover the dark side of Yaga's, the of-age side, that is...
This was our first...er, second (maybe?) stop on a recent bachelorette party excursion. It was a fine enough place to get the party started, being that a bachelorette party gets plenty of attention from club-goers. Overall the crowd was pretty douchey, and I had a better time with groups at other bars. The bartenders were very attentive, though, and should be given credit for their skills. Drunk bachelorette groups must be one of the worst things ever, and there were probably about four groups total that night (including a girl with an inflatable penis). You're welcome for not being that girl. Â
Why do you guys serve shots in plastic dentist cups? I wish you wouldn't. I get that it's the beach and everything, but the strand is the one place in Galveston you can get dressed up and go out on the town. Plastic dixie cups bringing me down, y'all.
Service was very slow. Â Ordered the breakfast burger. Â It was mediocre at best, but I was hungover and very hungry. Â The burger itself was well well done, and the bacon seemed to be from early that morning. Â If it wasn't that I needed food in my belly, I may have just passed on the whole thing.
Review Source:Couple of caveats before I get into this narrative: 1) I did not want to go to Yaga's. I wanted to go to Float, sun while sitting on the edge of the pool, drink my 7&7, and people watch. Dan did not want to go to Float because sometimes there are infants in the pool. While I admit that there is something off-putting about bobbing baby butts, I still wanted to go. And most of the time, there aren't toddlers but just little kids enjoying some splash time with their suds-sipping parents. But in successful relationships, we sometimes have to compromise and I guess it was my turn. 2) If there is a crust of who-knows-what on a dish or fork, a foreign floater in a glass, or lipstick on it, my sweetie will be the chosen recipient. It's been that way for 25+ years of marriage. Â
I've lived in Galveston for a number of years now and have visited Yaga's Cafe and Bar more than once or twice. It's always been okay -- never has it wowed me, but it's never completely disappointed me -- until now.
Ambiance: Trying to get all the sun we could before the predicted rain, we sat outside on the  patio. Gotta say, it was kind of shabby. Many of the plants were obviously not being tended to as evidenced by their brown, curling leaves and the trash accumulating in their pots. If you're going to have 'em, please care for them!
Drinks: We order drinks, or Dan does and I attempt to. He asks for a Margarita on the rocks, no salt, and I ask for a glass of water and the wine list. Our waitress brings ice water and Dan's drink but no wine list is forthcoming. I sip water while Dan inspects his Margarita. The glass has dirt on the outside. Now, here's the thing -- I wouldn't care. But Dan does and I guess this is because he imagines that if there's dirt on the outside, what's to prevent there from being dirt on the inside. Another Margarita is ordered and I wonder where that elusive wine list might be. Passing staff asks if I need anything and I put in my second request for the list. When it finally does come, it is quite short. Were I Yaga's management, I might just require my waitstaff to memorize it and save on paper and laminate... The second Margarita comes (with unwanted salt) and wouldn't you just know it, there's a foreign floater in it. Dan's nixes its consumption. By this time, the back of my neck is getting a little prickly and my face hurts from assuming a neutral expression. Dan sends the be-speckled drink away and orders a bottled beer which is delivered by the bartender (and our waitress's manager) who assures Dan that the detritus in his drink(s) are clearly figments of his imagination. Sigh. My wine, ordered at some point in all this to-do, arrives just in time. It's a smallish pour. I sip.
Food: I opt for crab cakes and Dan gets fried zucchini. My crab cakes are alright. There is more crab than filler which is a good thing, and the crab tastes sweet and fresh. My plate is decorated with what I take to be chili oil and some sort of balsamic reduction. The crab cakes, while adequate, need a little flavor boost so I drag them through the decorative swirls. Not much happens. Oddly, the crab cakes are garnished with grated purple cabbage, a little tired looking and undressed. I wonder why someone felt the need to include it.  Dan's zucchini is alright. The coating is nice and crispy and  no oily nastiness has permeated the squash. Unfortunately, there's not a whole lot of flavor going on. I believe that this is the reason ranch dressing has been invented...if a restaurant cannot creatively and properly season food, all that needs to be done is trot out a ramekin of ranch and you're good to go! The zucchini's garnish wanted to be a form of pico de gallo, I think, but with no peppers, it just couldn't make the cut.
Waitstaff: Â To the Bartender/Manager, just suck it up and serve the man his bottled beer. Contrary to what you might think, nothing fell from the sky and into the glass. It came from behind your bar that way. To our waitress, I imagine you had one or two more tables than you needed to have so I'm cool with the wayward wine list. And after you graduate from UTMB or Texas A&M, you won't have to put up with a grump who really wanted to go to Float or her germ-phobic husband ever again!
To Yaga's Presents: I'm not really a total malcontent. There's a lot I like about y'all. Obviously, I'm a Float fan and I love the Margaritas at Tsunami!
Stopped in because they were playing the Dynamo soccer game and my friend loves them. Decided to eat dinner while we were there. I tried out the fish tacos. Not to bad, but a little dry. Would have liked some more sauce on top. Came with black beans and rice. Not to impressed with them. The snap peas were delicious though. I grabbed some off someone elses plate. I also tried their bloody mary which was very tasty. Perfect amount of spicy.
Our waitress was a little stressed out. Either they do not have enough staff or someone called in sick cause she was running around the entire restaurant to different tables. She did the best she could, management needs to get more people in here.
They have a large outdoor patio area that is nice when the weather is good. You can also do some fun people watching out there as people are shopping on the strand. Location is good if you are already on the strand, but I wouldn't make the trip down here just for this restaurant.
Yaga's is a fun place to have a meal on the strand if you want to be in the thick of things. Located next to Saengerfest Park, they have a cozy outdoor patio where you can eat, people-watch, and take in the ocean breeze.
Eclectic menu gives you burger combos, pizzas, some southwest fare and salads to choose from. There may even be some other stuff, can't recall now. On our first visit I got one of the salads and it was just right! Lettuce was crispy and refreshing and the advertised toppings plentiful. I enjoyed the homemade cider dressing a lot. Tried the fish tacos on the second visit but was a bit disappointed with these. They came with a cabbage/cilantro blend and I asked for no cilantro. I didn't know that would mean no cabbage too; and while they included it on the side, it was mixed with cilantro. My request for some lettuce was quickly answered but the tacos were bland and needed spicy anything to help.
Service has always been fast and furious here however and the servers aim to please. They also let you relax and enjoy your stay if you want even if it's busy. Will probably come here again as it's a nice chill spot when you want to be away from the sea wall.
Written in my travelogue: Enjoy the patio and take in a giant chess game at Saengerfest Park.
Nothing special. Â Ordered the grilled chicken quesadillas during lunch (12:30pm) and received a full plate of quesadillas, a little cup of sour cream and sauce. Â No lettuce or tomatoes which I normally receive elsewhere. Â It took close to 30 minutes to finally receive our lunch--went with 2 other people. Â We were on a time crunch so we had to scarf our food down within 5 minutes.
I would have given them another star if it didn't take so long to get our food.
Very cute, quaint restaurant located in the heart of the Strand! I love the layout of the restaurant as well as the decor. They have plenty of outdoor seating too so that you can enjoy the sea breeze if you'd like.
As for the menu, nothing really jumped out at me. Mainly burgers and sandwiches. I accidentally ordered a burger. I thought I was getting a fried egg, bacon and cheese sandwich b/c it was NOT described in the menu as all of that coming on top of a burger. But...it did. Unfortunately, the burger was wayyy over cooked and charred. I could have enjoyed it more if it wasn't. But the egg, cheese and bacon were all tasty.
And one more minor complaint, for some reason they sat my boyfriend and I in the way back by the kitchen and restrooms when 95% of the tables were unfilled. Plus, our table was wobbly. My boyfriend "sugar-packed" our table.
Next time I'm back in Galveston and on the Strand, I'll probably skip this place. Unless it's to go to the bar or hang out outside.
I am rating this on food service on Friday at about 3 pm. A group of friends and I came here for a late lunch from out of town. Clearly our server was either irritated that we were eating so late because we kept asking for menus and finally had to go up to the bar to get them. The bartender was texting and didn't look up when she gave the menus to my friend.
We ordered bloody mary's. In the menu, the description for this cocktail stated the drink came with olives. This is my favorite part of a bloody mary so I was NOT happy when the drink arrived and there were no olives in sight. Our server did not ask us if we wanted another round.
The food was sub-par but came out quick. The service was very awkward. Our server was not very friendly and it seemed as though she was annoyed with us. She wasn't busy at all yet we had to keep motioning for her to tend to our table.
Overall not a great experience.
We did end up coming back here for drinks later that night and it was a blast. The bartenders were great and it was quick to get a drink. The DJ was awesome and the people were all having a fun time. Stick to late-night parties!
There were some highs to the meal, and there were some lows. The meats were all done really well. Breads, and veggies (what there were of them) were mediocre at best.
We choose the place to have lunch because it seemed to be the only place on a Monday afternoon that had people in it on the Strand.
Service was excellent. Make sure to stick with something heavy in meat if you go. They seem to shine at that.
Yaga's is a great place to eat. Â They have a nice variety, from burgers to pizza to burrtos and salads. Â The fried jalapenos are amazing! Â I always enjoyed the burrito. Â The spinach-artichoke queso is to die for!
Yaga's bar on a Friday/Saturday nights can be fun.  It's usually so  crowded you can barely walk through the bar.  THe wait for a drink can be forever.  Sometimes the bands are fun to dance to, but other times they are so so.
If you are looking for a bite to eat while shopping on the strand, stop in to Yaga's! Their food is good and the drinks aren't too bad! The service here is always great, as everyone is just so friendly!
Their menu is ery diverse and I'm pretty confident everyone can find something delicious to eat there.
We stopped in here before the Movie on the Strand for dinner. Our waitress was very nice so the service was good.
The boys liked their burgers and pizza, but then again they aren't very picky!
My fish tacos were ok. I was really hoping for great after some of the positive reviews but the filets were kinda tough.
My hubby did NOT like the chili though. I tasted it and agreed that something was wrong!
My drinks were pretty good, not very strong but for $4.50 what did I expect!?!
Their outdoor patio looked fantastic in the beautiful weather. Unfortunately it was crowded so we sat inside.
We came for dinner around 7p on a Sunday night 03/13 and took a seat on the patio. Our waitress was a sweetie and did a great job.
He ordered the Death Burger and I had the Turkey Burger. We ordered a cup of gumbo to start but it arrived approximately 10 secs before our entrees were brought out. The gumbo was delicious! I opted out of french fries as my side and got a salad thinking I would get a small side salad prior to my meal but noooo, I got a few pieces of greens and square carrots as my salad. I kid you not. It was served right next to my burger so I really thought it was the lettuce for my burger. Its ok though. My turkey burger was phenomenal, moist and flavorful.
He had a bud light and I had a goose something...not grey goose. It was one of their made up drinks. Coconut rum, pineapple juice, and coconut nectar for about 5 bucks. My non-alcoholic drinking bf thought my drink was on the light side...so that surely means something. It still tasted good, though. I liked.
Reasonable prices at about 8 bucks per burger. Something like that.
This is a great place to grab lunch! I have eaten here each time I've visited Galveston and have never been disappointed. They specialize in great burgers/sandwiches.
It wasn't until recently that I realized that this unassuming little cafe also has a huge night life scene. I randomly went to Galveston one night with a friend and both of us being from the Clear Lake area had no idea where to go out. I made a few calls to some people I knew had lived in Galveston and they all replied back "Go to Yagas!!" So we did. It was pretty crowded and they had a live band playing which was actually pretty good. The kind of people this place attracts are very friendly and fun, needless to say I made new friends easily. The bartenders were attentive, drinks were cheap, and the atmosphere was excellent. All of my future trips to Galveston will definitely include a stop here, whether it be to grab a tasty meal or hit up the night life scene.
Death Burger? Â I'm on vacation, so sign me up!
Yaga's has a diverse menu, from burgers to pizza to pasta. Â It's almost like a Chili's, but not. Â The location is great; right in the middle of the Strand, with a vibrant atmosphere.
Drinks here are cheap! Â Long Island was $5.75 and packed a punch.
Food is decent, but nothing special. Â The spinach dip was kinda blah, but I liked the chips. Â I ordered their lauded Death Burger, a 1/2 lb patty with chili and jalapenos. Â I expected more, and it didn't deliver. Â It was just okay, but really nothing special. Â Certainly nothing worthy of being called the Death Burger.
I'd say Yaga's is good for the price, but don't go expecting greatness.
Great place to eat. The guys at the NASA space center museum recommended this place and you know they don't eff around!
Everything is pretty cheap. $6-7 dollar burger and  $5-6 dollar cocktails (bloody mary, hurricane, etc.)
The food was very tasty. I like that you could actually taste the flavor of the seafood. I had the Fish Tacos and the Crab cakes and they went easy on the batter/breading so you could actually taste what you were eating. I don't get why places try to hide the seafood flavor in coating, I mean if you don't like the taste why are you ordering it? Its like saying you like a musician, but going to their concert with earplugs. Â The Yaga burger was pretty standard, nothing special.
The Servers are all pretty friendly.
Note: the toilet in the Men's Room is at a weird Angle so you feel a little cramped. not enough room to stretch out and handle you "business". I mean its not like you are doing aerobics, but a little more room would be appreciated.
Yaga's was recommended to us by the guys at Galveston Party Boats for a great spot to grab a drink and some food. They were definitely right! We walked in kind of early on a Saturday so the service was a little slow as they were still getting ready for the day. We ordered the BBQ Chicken Pizza and WOW! The pizza was great!
The atmosphere at Yaga's is just what I'm looking for when I go to Galveston. I want to feel like I'm on vacation after only driving an hour south. I'll definitely be back next time I'm on the island!
I had a Turkey burger with cheese and Cajun potatoes. It was really good! I didn't even think, "hey this isn't beef," because it was so flavorful. We went on a Sunday at lunch time, they sat us right away, our server was ready for our orders and with suggestions, there was a baseball game on the tv. It had a nice atmosphere with the natural lighting and beach theme.
I'd go back.
I was very disappointed on my visit here. Some friends and I decided to eat here after a day at the beach to start off our spring break because I read that it was really good food for a cheaper price.
Maybe my hopes were TOO high after reading so many reviews complimenting the place. So here goes:
PROS
The spinach dip is to die for! Mmm mmm good! It was probably the best part of my meal! The location was awesome...right across the street from my favorite desert place and a balcony that looks out on chess players manipulating a HUGE chess set. Needless to say, it was awesome. The veggie burger was GOOD but we didnt know that they put cheese in the middle :O Maybe we just didnt read the menu. A friend of mine also ordered a burger that was pretty tasty but it was definitely not the hippie burger. However...
CONS
I guess our waiter was having a bad day...he didn't seem to excited to see us and his service was a little less than mediocre. My friend complained that he was horrible but maybe we were all just tired and hungry from a long day by the waters. He did come back..twice I believe, to check on us...so not that bad? The FOOD...ay, I dont know. It was just..dry. My fish tacos were dry, the south western (something like that) burritos were dry, the hippie burger was dry... :( Everything was dry. We had to use the salsa from the chips to juice things up. Also, I think that maybe a little bigger helping of the fries would be nice.
So all in all...a mediocre experience. Maybe it was just the wrong day to go...IDK. Probably wont go back though ... what a shame.
Fun service, nice location, good prices and great food make this place a mist try.
Noticing how this is one of the cheaper places in the area and hearing that it is good, I wanted to try it. Â After being seated quickly with my party of 6, we were greater by the manager and then our waitress who was very pleasant. Â She was able to get everything we asked for and provided us with our meals and drinks in a timly manner. Â The only reason why I am taking a star away is because the fries were a bit cold. Â Good, but cold.
Over all if you want a good cheap place that turns into a club at night (who knew) you should stop here and enjoy a night out on town.
I have ate here many times before. Â I kinda got sick of it for a while since I worked across the street and would eat here quite often. Â Yesterday I had lunch here with a couple of co-workers from out of town. Â I had the portobello mushroom sandwich with the cajun potatoes. Â This was the first time I ordered this and it was delicious. Â My co-workers had the fish tacos and the steak sandwich that was the daily special. Â They both finished everything on their plates, so I am pretty sure they liked it. Â I have had the fish tacos before and they were pretty good. Â
Like some other reviewers said, the prices here are great. Â So if you are looking for some good food at decent prices, this is the place to go,
WOW!
This is officially my favorite place to eat from this moment on.
I ordered the most amazing white pizza I have ever tasted. It was salty, fresh, and delicious. They make it with feta and mozzerella, fresh spinach, and yummy alfredo sauce. The crust was light and flavorful. It wasn't too crispy or too soft but just enough texture to make you drool.
I LOVE Yaga's. Thats about all I can end this with. I hope you will be able to agree with me because I was so very pleased.
Definitely, in my top 5 for burger joints! The burgers are AMAZING! That's all I've had.
So, we had a retreat a couple years ago, my office and I. We had a great lunch, apparently -- I didn't remember -- was a bit hungover. I know, I know.. just understand that my office, we work very hard, when it's time to work, and then we play hard, too. Trust me, it's more work -- but, a lot of our work requires that we play. This retreat, however, was much needed, and I just don't remember the burgers.... But, my boss did. She couldn't stop talking about the amazing burger she'd had 2 years ago. So we absolutely HAD to find the place.
Cute little waitstaff that don't really know what they're doing since it's just a high school summer job for them. But, they're all really nice, and they get the job done. Your coke or beer will always be kept full. Pretty decent bloody mary's (from what I remember of the first time I was there, and considering it was made by some dude who looked like he was 12). But, the service is fast and friendly.
It's got, obviously, a beach-style atmosphere. No outdoor seating that I saw, but you really will want to sit inside anyway. They have really great sody-pop -- sometimes a great fountain drink is enough to sell you, y'know?
But, hear this... their burgers are DA BOMB! Seriously! It reminded me of being at the 'faculty club' pool growing up and having the life guard serve up burgers to all the kids she was babysitting. The kinda burgers that are real meat, real meaty, and char-grilled to perfection. The smokey flavor, the fresh lettuce, tomato, and onions, the real cheese... bacon or avocado if you're so inclined, bar-b-que sauce... My gawd, this place it worth checking out if you're in Galveston for any short/long amount of time.
everyone say yay for yaganamis.....
I had lunch here a couple days ago. The food is not really anything to write home about but it is affordable and the menu is pretty simple. Sandwiches, pizza, tacos, and salads. We had fried jalapeno's as an appetizer. I was pleased with my chicken salad salad but I wasn't expecting anything other than a refreshing salad. The food is a bit bland.
At night on the weekends this place turns into a nightclub / live concert venue. The drinks again are very cheap here and a good local hangout on the strand. The back is connected to Tsunami's so you can walk freely between two bars.
I'm not sure how much I'd come to eat here, although the food is cheap, but I like coming here to drink.