It wasn't until the past couple years that I really came on board with Yats and I attribute that to Scotty Z's love affair with Yat's Drunken Chicken dish. Â Its got a nice kick and a rich flavor.
Recently I had the wondrous, magnificent, brilliant opportunity to have the chicken curry étouffée.  I loved the creamy texture and the smooth subtle curry taste.  It was so good I've been watching the menu online . . . watching . .. waiting . .more waiting :(
Chilie Cheese Etoufee and the Spinich and Mushroom Etouffee.....GREAT! Â The Beans and Rice with Sausage ain't bad either.
If your in Downtown Indy and looking for something different and at a good price don't hesitate to try Yats. Â It's a pretty "Diner, Dive and Drive In" kinda place, but the food is hearty and wonderful (not to mention resonabley priced). Â I've only tried the one on Mass ave, but I'm assuming the others are just as good. Â I'm from out of town and I'll make it a point to stop at Yats next time I'm in Indy.
Is it because I went close to closing that I thought this was so unspectacular?  I had  high expectations given the reviews and I was sorely disappointed.
The good part is it's cheap. The chili cheese ettoufee was definitely tasty but there wasn't enough crawfish. Â Spinach and mushroom was not so good - it was too salty. Â I did like the bread it was served with. Â But, the rice was kind of hard. Â The food was lukewarm. Â This is a good place for cheapy, hearty comfort food but that's about it.
I guess my expectations fell short after others had talked up YATS for as long as I have been in Indy. The chili cheese etouffee was pretty good... seasoned well and its delicious fatty cheesiness made it hearty and filling. Good for the price, but just was a bit hyped up in my mind. I would go back again though. I always give everything 3 tries. Also, I went on a super busy Saturday night and the two guys working there were doing a superb job getting food out in a timely fashion.
Review Source:I love this place! Â Great comfort food at a fantastic price. Â It is completely unassuming with plastic utensils and styrofoam plates. Â I have never eaten anything I haven't liked so I'm not going to bother we recommendations. Â And the butter used on the bread. Â Wow! Â It reminds me of the popcorn butter used in theaters only with a kick. Â It is a great lunch place if you are short on time.
Review Source:I've never had a complaint about Yats, & they're pretty much the only place I can recommend on a whim to an out of towner for something really "Indy". Between my dad & I think we've yet to try something that we don't like, & HE'S the picky eater.
Best menu picks - Chili Cheese Etouffee, Spinach& Mushroom Etouffee, & Macque Choux.
Yats is the place to go when you are in downtown Indianapolis. It has a down to earth setting and being a Vegan enthusiast, I was sold on their Black Beans, Rice, and Caramelized Corn. I would have given 5 stars but this was the only vegan friendly meal, no salads etc. I will come back for thier black beans, rice and caramelized corn.
Review Source:I hate to give Yats such a low rating, but we took family from out of town to lunch there specifically because Yats is known to have vegan and vegetarian options. Â Two of us are vegan and the only option we had was bread. Â I didn't realize everything is pre-made so getting a side of plain rice wasn't even possible. Â I also noticed all the styrofoam used - very disappointing.
Review Source:Yats is what fills my dreams. The Chili Cheese Etouffee is heaven and the moment anyone mentions Yats or Mass Av my mouth starts to salivate. No seriously it's amazing. They have the near perfect hot sauce selection (if only they would add Valentina, black lable then it would be perfect!) but it's always an internal struggle to add it to the dish or no, because its perfect without it and with it.. ooo first world problems!
Food: 5/5 Did I mention the Chili Cheese Etouffee?
Location: 5/5
Service: 5/5 awww those guys are so friendly! Hi guys!
I really like the food and the people who work at Yats on Mass Ave. My primary complaint is that absolutely everything is served on styrofoam, whether you eat in or carry out. So, the only time I eat there is when I remember to bring my own food containers. I like that the staff is very accommodating about this. Unfortunately, it's not someplace I can pop-in and eat. When I was a student, it would have been a great place to eat and do homework (there's so much space in the extended dining room), but there is no wi-fi.
Review Source:I like Yats, I do, but I find the food hit and miss sometimes. Sometimes it seems like they've used so much roux or corn starch or whatever thickening agent they add so much that the food transforms into almost a shiny form of paste. I've learned to get around this by asking to taste things before I eat them. It's not the most authentic cajun/creole food I've ever had, but the price is right and it is quite fast if you're in need of some stick to your ribs eats while out and about. My wife is a bigger fan than I am, but I think she simply finds this the perfect hangover cure. I'm ok with that. The staff is always friendly, the place seems pretty clean, and I can't complain about the selection of hot sauces to spice things up.
Review Source:One time...at band camp...I was a vegan...and I ate breakfast lunch and dinner here. I loved that they had a delicious vegan option!
*Note: I am not a vegan anymore. I went through a phase. I'm glad it's over though because I've been able to try all of their other delights. Nothing disappoints except maybe how I wish a meal came with ten slices of bread instead of two.
Plus, Joe (owner) is a laid-back really wonderful person! I had the pleasure of meeting him at an event he donated food to. Love Yats!
Uncomplicated food done to perfection!
I got the half order of the White Chili with Chicken and the half order of the EPIC & FANTASIC Carmelized Corn & Black Bean, seves over rice with crusty bread spread with some sort of orange-red relish. The fact that they offer Dr. Pepper was a bonus.
To explain the depths of flavor and all the spices would take too long but when people talk about good food for the soul, they are talking about Yats.
Everyone keeps talking about the chili cheese étouffée w/crawfish like it's God.  I think it's because they're soft.  That's right, I said it! Soft!  One thing you gotta have in creole/Cajun food are flavors that pop.  Don't get me wrong, the dish IS nice but for poppin flavor get the chorizo. That's a dish that's closer to what you get from down der. Using Louisiana Hot Sauce, which makes everything better, could not make the chorizo dish better than it was.  Also, for the price this is a great deal.
Review Source:Yats has been one of my go to places for a long time. Â It's really the only quick place on mass ave., so if I need to get moving, Yats is where I go. Â It doesn't necessarily look like the greatest food, but it tastes incredible. Â I've tried pretty much everything, but 90% of the time I stick with the chili cheese. Â I usually load it up with one of their cajun sauces and it's perfect. Â The prices are very reasonable and the service has always been friendly. Â I highly recommend this place.
Review Source:What an awesome place!
I had the half-n-half plate with chilli cheese etouffee crawfish (buttery, cheesy goodness) and the drunken chicken (slightly spicy and very well 'herbed'). The rice was so fragrant and the bread on the side was lightly toasted with a spice rub (?). It was all DELISH! And so cheap!!
Highly recommend this place.
Sigh. If I could live across the street from a Yats, I would be the happiest woman ever... well, 20 times happier than right now. Sadly, I have to rely on trips back home to my Yats fix. I suggest getting the Half and Half, this way, you get to try two! And let's just say that you'll be hard pressed to find something that sounds good to ya, and doesn't deliver.
The bathroom is tiny, but clean. It's not a huge place, but seriously, what Yats are? I like to call it homey. :o) Comfort food that I never got as a child. :oP
Did you ever wish tasty Cajun dishes could be served like fast food? Â That is exactly what Yats has done. Â Serving only five dishes, your food comes out a maximum of five minutes after your order it. Â I had the infamous chili cheese etouffee with craw fish. Â It came with two slices of garlic bread. Â It was tasty goodness. Â They also have other Cajun dishes including jambalaya and gumbo. Â Can't decide between their five items? Â no problem, you can get a combination of two dishes for $1. Â Yats is also extremely cheap with one of their dishes and a drink going for under $8 after tax. Â They also have an array of hot sauces for you to add so you can make it to your own personal spice level. Â The portions are the perfect lunch time size, so it might not be right if you are looking for a big dinner. Â I highly recommend it for something new and different
Review Source:YATS = STAY (for more food and to enjoy the atmosphere)
BEST GUMBO IN THE WORLD! Â YUMMY thick gravy with shrimp chicken sausage over some hot rice. Â O M G!
There is always a Mardi Gras going on here. Â My dad (Tommy O.) and I would go here all the time when I lived in Indy. Â I miss it! Â *tear
Love you guys at Yats! Â Thank you for the wonderful memories! Â And soon more to come......
Maybe it's just me but I like the BR location better than the Mass Ave location. Seems like you get bigger portions in BR w/ friendlier staff, and they will set you up w/ extra bread/rice if you ask.
Also, the food seems to be greasier at Mass Ave. I don't remember leaving behind a plate of greasy after eating at BR. It may just be a function of what I ordered so I guess I have to go back to BR just to compare.
I will still go to Mass Ave location if I need a fix, but if I am gonna drive by Broad Ripple I will go to that location instead.
This place is delicious!  I went on a monday evening.  It does not look like much from the outside, the menu is spelled out on a chalkboard next to the cash register.  You can get a full entreé for $6 or so, or get two half orders on a single plate for about a buck more.
I got 1/2 chili-cheese shrimp etouffée and 1/2 Red Beans and andouille sausage.  Both were served over a bed of white rice.  Also doubled the order of garlic bread on the side.  They have a soda fountain with Coke, Cherry Coke, Diet & Coke Zero among others.
The food is served on styrofoam plates with plastic spoons and forks (no knives). Â It is the best food I've ever eaten off of a styrofoam plate.
Make sure you pick up a to go box with your order; you'll need it. For $7 you can get what is easily two meals worth of food. The portions aren't huge, but the food is so filling!
I really liked the drunken chicken and white chicken chili. I'm not big on spicy foods, but I can appreciate the zest of this creole fare. This is my second favorite Cajun restaurant, behind Papa Roux's. You know it's great Cajun food when you feel like you want to die after eating it, and Yats delivers! The menu rotates, so you have a lot of opportunities to try some different creole dishes.
The restaurant itself is very trendy and has the kind of vibe you'd expect a Cajun restaurant on Mass Ave to have. It's a neat little restaurant I like to show off to my  friends when we head downtown.
In a big-box, chain store kind of town, it becomes a tad more difficult to find restaurants that are uniquely Indianapolis. That is where yats steps in: a true gem for the city that my out of town friends continually tell me "hey, next time I visit you in Indy, can we go to that one Cajun place again?"
Yats is a Cajun-inspired restaurant with a few outlets across the city. The mass ave space fits the area like a glove: kitsch-galore with a unique style. The space is cozy and can get crowded around lunchtime. However, you simply can't beat six-seven bucks for flavorful nawlins type of food. The menu rotates everyday but there are certain staples: the clear favorite seems to be the chili-cheese étouffée which is creamy sinfulness on a plate of rice. Other solid options include the jambalaya which is just as good as new Orleans on the avenue at about half the price, and the white chili. Really, anything you pick will be bursting with flavor and you can't lose: the holy trinity of Cajun cuisine is well-represented indeed. The plate is accompanied by two slices of buttery garlic bread--carb coma here I come!
Another great aspect of yats is the vast assortment of hot sauce choices from your standard cholula to more obscure choices. Â As a fire breather, I appreciate this selection. Â In short, yats deserves all the praise it receives. My only caveat is to get rid of the styrofoam and plastic utensils. Otherwise, this is one of the few places that an Indy resident can claim to be an Indianapolis original, not to be duplicated!
Oh cheap comfort food of the Gulf Gods! Â Chili Cheese Etouffee w/ Crawfish is my go-to selection, because I'm THAT weirdo who actually craves crawfish occasionally. Â When I want something 'light' (though, 'light fare' doesn't really exist here), I go for the B&B - vegetarian, it's carmelized corn and black beans in this tasty creamy rue (roux?). Â I've been working on an at-home version, but nothing compares to the real thing!
Ask for a sample if you're in unfamiliar territory. Â But you can expect the menu to change every day, with a few regular staples. Â The premise is a thick roux base, with variety mixed in, over a bed of white rice. Â So simple, which is part of its genius!
Goodness on a plate. Half and Half chili cheese CRAWFISH étouffée and jambalaya or creole.. I mean, it's just.... oh so yummy and affordable! And I could down a loaf of that awesome french bread and that crack oil they put on it. YUM.
The only downside is parking--but of course, since it's in downtown Indy on one of the most happenin' streets--Mass Ave! I do love the decor I see, so cluttered with experience and culture! They also expanded into the neighboring room, for extra seating--it was about time!
Their plates are affordable--I mean, if you can get out of a Cajun joint for less than $10 for 1-2 Cajun dishes, like Étouffée, Jambalaya, Gumbo and plenty of vegetarian friendly options for my veggie-friendly friends! But definitely get in early, because a lot of stuff can run out! Love this place!
I personally prefer the Broad Ripple location, but this location is still good. Mostly do the the layout and size of the location, I like BR. Food is the same quality you would find at the BR location. I'm a regular the the chili cheese with crawfish...the best ever! The staff here is always friendly, service is fast as well.
If you can't get to the BR location, remember this location. It's worth the trip!
I did an all-day trip to Indianapolis on Super Bowl Eve(aka Saturday 2/4), and this was easily one of the highlights. Half and half plate for $6.75, or of just one entree for $5.75. Was very satisfied with both of my choices, the chili cheese etouffee, and the maque choux. Very affordable, what more can you wish for?
Well, I can think of one, wishing that the briefly existing Randolph St. location in Chicago hadn't had closed. Hopefully one day, they can return with a location in Chicago again....
Thanks to Yelp for directing me to this amazing place! I've never thought I'd love Cajun/Creole food since I visited New Orleans and thought my favorite food is still Chinese but this, totally blew me off! I ordered Chili Cheese Etoufee that comes with rice and bread. Very fulfilling and its only $6.25 in Mass Ave!
What more can you ask for?
When I moved back to Indy, I chose the location of where I was going to live based on its proximity to Yats and the fact that I can walk there whenever I want to. Â I.am.not.kidding.
Chilli Cheese Etoufee, B & B, Sucotash, Drunken Chicken, Gumbo.  Extra bread is a  must.  So is tipping in their giant tip jar.
I got the Chilli Cheese Etoufe and the red beans and rice. Â Both came out as runny stews ontop of rice with some buttered up wonderbread on the side. Â It was very meh. Â The chilli cheese thingy tasted like velveta cheese melted with cajun seasoning added on it. I wish I had more rice to soak up the cheese. Â And the red beans and rice didn't have much taste at all. The menu wasnt very large, and the staff wasnt friendly. Most of the tables were dirty. Styrofoam plates are very eco friendly!
Pros:
Cheap
Cons:
Just about everything else.
I will always love Yats for what it is and will never pretend that it's more than slop on a plate. It's cheap, filling and an Indianapolis staple.
5 stars would happen if they would ditch the use of styrofoam.
A friendly tip: . Bring your own container and they will fill it for to-go orders!
There's a reason that the Midwest is known for having notoriously fat people. This place is one of those reasons. You get Tons of food for less than 6 bucks. Like seriously, tons. of. food.
If I lived in Indianapolis, I'd probably eat here ALL THE TIME. But I don't, and for that reason I will probably stay skinny for a really long time.
Ok, so yes, come here, it's delicious.
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