Chicago

8.7.08

Yats

955 W Randolph St, at N Morgan; West Loop; 312.829.7930

There are many reasons to visit Indiana, from gazing upon the longest free-flowing river east of the Mississippi, to crying at the birthplace of Larry Bird's mustache. No longer on that list: eating at Yats.

Decked with burnt-orange walls and photos of N'Orleans legends and Mardi Gras party favors, Yats is a quick-serve spot doing up about 25 Cajun and Creole dishes; this is their first outpost outside Indiana, where they've got four Indy locations and one at Purdue (who want you to know last year's 3-5 Big 10 record was "no fluke, fool"). The resto rotates eight to nine fresh-made daily entrees for an absurdly low $6.50 (add an extra buck for a split plate); because you're dangerously underweight, you'll also get a baguette hunk slathered in butter & jambalaya seasoning. Mainstays include thick gumbo (w/ crayfish, sausage, shrimp, & chicken), red beans and rice w/ andouille, and a spicy chili-cheese etouffée; nontraditionals include the sausage- and chicken-fueled Italiana in spicy tomato sauce, and the pulled pork/olives/capers/carrots Cuban-inspired dish "Ropa Vieja" -- delicious, but depressingly translates as "old clothes".

Yats also rocks a 20-strong hot sauce bar stocked with the likes of Tapito, Texas Pete, and Sriracha -- thank goodness you love freaky massage, or you'd no longer have a reason to visit Thailand.

Yats is BYOB for now. Sweet. Check the grub at YatsCajunCreole.com