In town for meetings and found this place on Yelp close to our hotel. Very casual but did not disappoint. Even my picky son enjoyed his meal.
(5)
Tip R.
We've eaten here several times over the last few years. This will probably be the last time. The taste of the chicken & sausage gumbo wasn't very good. It was too thick and not high quality. The muffuletta tasted like it was premade ahead of time & not really fresh. Again just ok but we can make better ones at home when we my sister brings the bread over from NO. The red beans & rice were not to my liking. Copeland's used to have better red beans & rice with sausage but we haven't been there in years. Lastly tried the almond petit fours weren't the best either. I guess it's time to make a road trip to New Orleans
(2)
Cory S.
I really like this place - been there a few times and the flavor of everything is consistently awesome. However, I think they could greatly benefit from using fresh ingredients. For example, I just had the shrimp & grits, and while the flavor was amazing, the shrimp were clearly not fresh. I'd say that not using fresh meat & veggies is the only thing stopping this place from really taking off. The owners obviously put a lot of thought into the menu and everything is well prepared. It's comfort food that is maybe just a little too comfortable.
(4)
Ryan S.
Food was good not amazing but good. Id go back but not on my list of must haves. The best thing I got was the boudin balls (mainly what id go back for) The red beans and rice were good not the best but far from the worst. The po boys were bland except for the hot sausage. The onion rings were a disapointment no real spice or flavor just floured fried o rings with a little cajun seasoning on them. Fries were shoestring with the same cajun seasoning..
(3)
Alenna B.
Looking for authentic New Orleans food in Jacksonville? Look no further! This place rocks! You can even get coffee like they serve at Cafe du Monde!! The only reason I give four stars is you can only get beignets Monday-Thursday...glad we're here on Thursday, yum! Just had to add...the gumbo is amazing as is the shrimp and grits (had to take leftovers home, so much!). You can even order delivery through doorstepdelivery.com .
(4)
Steve N.
Ordered a cup of the chicken & sausage gumbo to start with. The recipes would have been good with fresh ingredients. Frozen Salad shrimp in everything was a huge disappointment. Won't go back because of the ingredients flavor wasn't bad.
(2)
Matt M.
Very casual atmosphere with great New Orleans faire. While I haven't tried everything, I have tried enough to say this is good Cajun food. The Boo-dan Balls were good, but the fried oysters were crisp and delightful. Ditto for my wife's shrimp. The NoLA salad was just lettuce topped with chopped olives, but the flavor really worked. There was no time for dessert because we were hitting a movie, but I did see they sold King Cakes, which is a rarity.
(4)
Janene H.
This little restaurant is tucked in an old plaza and is set up shotgun-style. The narrow dining inside opens to almost as narrow porch outside. While sitting there waiting to be served I noticed that the place looks pretty dingy. You can't help but notice when things look like they need a good scrubbing and fresh coat of paint. There's a lot of New Orleans stuff all over the walls that looks like it all needed a good dusting. Looks aside, service was fairly slow, especially as tables filled up. I ended up having to flag someone down for water. I think our server was trying, it was just a staffing issue. The food, when it arrived, was just OK. We've been to New Orleans several times and love eating our way through the city so are pretty familiar with what to expect. I ordered a shrimp po'boy which wasn't anything too special- the bread was best part about the meal. Otherwise it tasted just kind of blah. Hubby agreed on his meal. We were told that everything is made fresh and indeed we could see things being made in the open kitchen as we waited. I perused the glass dessert case but was not inspired so passed. We had higher hopes for this place to satisfy the N'Awlins cravings just weeks before Mardi Gras but were a little let down. It wasn't a bad experience, just OK.
(3)
Tom A.
Very authentic highly recommend the sampler which allows up to three items for each category to be ordered. Gumbo was incredible.
(4)
Rick P.
Wednesday is crawfish etouffe. And they do a great job. Came here for lunch. And you can get beighnets during the week. Can't get them during the weekend. Always a good place to eat. Bread pudding with no raisins.
(5)
Jim D.
Family owned and perfect in every way. The gumbo is excellent, but why stop there? Poboy sandwiches and fun food for all. It is a nice treat for you all missing Cajun cooking but live in Florida. Try the gumbo.
(5)
Jenna G.
Best po-boys I've ever had outside of New Orleans. My husband and his family are originally from NOLA, and this place has become a regular staple in our going out to eat places.
(5)
Lynelle J.
Ya-Ya's was recommended to us by friends who travel from Middleburg just to eat here. We went in expecting good but we were treated with great. The owner chatted with us and our server was equally friendly. I got the oyster po-boy on real, actual New Orleans French bread. We got to nosh on a few slices beforehand too. Delish!! My husband ordered the low country broil with Dungeness crab. It was spicy and cooked to perfection. It was so much food we really could have shared it. We highly recommend the apron-size plastic bib!! We will be back for sure and we can't wait for crawfish season in the spring.
(5)
Katrice S.
I am always a pretty hard critic when it comes to cajun cuisine because my mom was born an raised in Louisiana so I know authentic cajun food when I taste it because she cooked it my entire childhood. Now that I've gotten that out of the way, the first time I went to Gumbo Yaya's I was expecting sooooo much more. I was more excited after I briefly spoke to one of the owners who told me they were from New Orleans and get french bread shipped in directly from the NOLA! Well...there were some hits and some misses. On Saturdays and Sundays they specialize in crawfish, crab, and shrimp boils! Naturally, they had N.O. Saints and LSU Tigers flags, as well as Mardi Gras decor inside! It was very inviting and seems like a great place to go to catch a good football game! They had complimentary Grape and Pineapple Jello shots for their patrons. (LSU colors) Neat idea! I got the Grape flavored shot and that little thing packed a nice little punch!!! Although a good ole' crawfish boil sounded enticing, I wasn't planning on dining in so I got some of my New Orleans favs to go! 1.) Shrimp Po-Boy: This po-boy was very good! It tasted just as good as the ones I've had in Louisiana! The bread was perfect! Crusty on the outside and chewy on the inside. 2.) Boudin Balls: Huge disappointment! The easiest way for me to describe boudin is to say it's a flavorful "dirty" rice in a casing. You squeeze it out of the casing and eat it! LOL! To make boudin balls you take the rice and dip it in a batter and fry it. Well the boudin balls here had ABSOLUTELY NO FLAVOR!!! I was sorely disappointed. I had hopes that one of my N.O. favorites would be available for me in my city. Oh well can't win them all. Maybe it was just a bad bunch. 3.) Seafood Gumbo: Last but not least, I had to....HAD to try the Gumbo. Though the gumbo had a lot of flavor and was loaded with shrimp and crab, it didn't taste like what I'm used to. It was way too thick. I guess there's nothing like homemade. It tasted like the gumbo you can buy in a soup can at you local grocery store. It wasn't bad, but wasn't anything to write home about. Overall, Gumbo Yayas gets a "C" from me. I'll definitely go back for the Po-Boys! Maybe the third time will be the charm! :)
(3)
Jarrod C.
Consistently good Cajun menu; their jambalaya's tasty every time. Pretty solid muffaletta. Everything I've had with the Gulf shrimp tastes fresh the way shrimp from the Gulf have that especially clean flavor bereft of iodine/metallic undertones of SE Asian farmed stuff, though I'd love a broiled option. Po' boys are generously sized with bread that always seems fresh and chewy. La. beers on tap. Zapp's chips for lunch. The cold pasta salad's yummy. Unimpressive sweet tea(here in JAX we're spoiled for choice). Decadent pastry dessert of cherries and pineapple. During the week they have beignets from scratch that are as good as you'll find in this town. Come on Friday during spring and u can eat fresh crawfish w/o the home mess or work.
(4)
Jonathan R.
I loved this. Having family from New Orleans and living there myself makes me ultra picky and the po boy I had was phenomenal. I can't wait to go back for a Saints game this season.
(5)
Donnie S.
Eaten here three times. This place is AT BEST okay. Sub par ingredients and over priced. Service marginal, just not very friendly (all three times) Third time was a charm, will not be going back. If you have to eat here get the chx/sausage gumbo. Nevermind, don't.
(2)
Ariane D.
The food was overpriced, decent tasting but for 10 dollars can I get a real plate, not plastic? Also the service was subpar- I felt like I was nothing more than an annoyance that wasn't meant to be dealt with. The icing on the cake? I saw first a kitchen staff member eating lunch, then get up to make an order and not even wash his hands before he started. *shudder* Next- before coming to ask if we wanted dessert, our server got up from her lunch, sucked her fingers clean, then wiped them on a napkin before coming over. Needless to say, my appetite was ruined. I will never ever be back and will be sure to tell of this experience any time I hear of Gumbo Ya Yas
The gumbo is spot-on. Simply a de-light. But I rarely get it because the roast beast Po-boy is the tastious, sloppious thing I can consume. Add the fry/drink combo and you got yourself a lunch, over and over again. Cajun/NO food is my favorite, which I have traveled to 5+ times, and it rivals any restaurant there. Call me crazy, but my pallet took over and doesn't lie....
(4)
Daisy D.
When my plans for the afternoon/evening got all discombobulated (comes with the territory of selling your house), I had to figure out something to do for dinner. And I really was not in the mood to cook at all. Considering the husband was going to be home late, I had to make sure I could pick up something for him that would last until he got home. Sitting at SBUX, I opened up Yelp on my laptop and took a gander at some of my bookmarks. Gumbo YaYas! It's right next door! That's perfect. For myself I went with the Shrimp Po'boy and for him I picked up a Muffuletta salad. All the goodness, but none of the carbs. As I sat and waited for my to-go order, I had some time to take in my surroundings. There's a lot going on in this little joint. I understand that a lot of restaurants have them, but I agree with Mark B. on the microwaves. My sandwich was still plenty warm when I got home. And it had been tightly wrapped so that it was pressed together 'just enough' to make that first bite easy. The bread had a nice crust on it but was still chewy on the inside. Plenty of shrimp loaded inside with just the right amount of fixings. Husband really enjoyed his salad too when he got home from work. I'll have to do a better job of remembering this place is here. They definitely have a good thing rolling!
(4)
Heather K.
If I were writing this on the food alone, I would probably rate it 5 stars but I think they need to do a bit of cleaning here. Jambalaya is delicious and I didn't even think I liked jambalaya! Boudin balls were great! Red beans and rice didn't have a whole lot of flavor. NOLA salad was awesome for something so simple.
(4)
Caroline B.
This is my second time eating at gumbo ya yas and it's just okay. The mixed gumbo is entirely too salty, its almost hard to eat. The dirty rice is okay, but I've had better. I've had the mardi gras salad and it too was okay. A little bummed because I LOVE cajun food.
(2)
Andy W.
Stop whatever you are doing and go eat here. The boudin balls were spicy, crispy and 100% delicious. Sausage & chicken gumbo and the Crawfish etouffee are two very good dishes. The best Cajun food east of Louisiana.
(5)
Lea R.
Best cajun food PERIOD!!! I looooooooooove Gumbo YaYa's!!! My favs are the seafood gumbo and their shrimp Po'Boy (never had it better anywhere else!). And don't forget the bread pudding and beignets. I love the service I receive every time I go. I've tried so many of their items and never been disappointed.
(5)
Grumpy S.
I love New Orleans Food and though this may not be in a class with great NOLA restaurants it will do. I was there twice about a year apart and was impressed. Gumbo, shrimp etouffee, boudin balls, and fried gator were all very good. Prices are reasonable and the atmosphere is uh....interesting.
I went to this establishment for the first and last time tonight. The moment I waked in the door the attitude of the staff was terrible. We were made to wait while group after group were seated. When a person in my group made a comment to one of us one of the waiters made a very rude comment. All six of us ended up leaving at that time. It was almost as if he wanted us to leave so he wouldn't be working past his closing time. I could not have been ore insulted. I will never go back. I do not recommend this restaurant to anyone!
(1)
Nolen G.
I discovered this place years ago and wish had I had discovered it years before that. Robert and Lauren (owners) use family recipes that are absolutely fantastic. Just don't ask them what's in them! The staff is very friendly and service is always great. I usually pop in 4-5 times a week for a poboy, jambalaya, fried oysters, or some red velvet cheesecake. I've lived all over the country and this is the best cajun food I've ever had and the best part of it is that it's consistent. Must try!
(5)
Amy H.
I reeeaaalllly wanted to love this place because I am all about Cajun Food. Growing up on the Gulf Coast of Alabama, I have always enjoyed the cuisine. First off, it was crazy expensive. So, if I am paying $15++ a plate for lunch, it better rock my world. I enjoyed the Cajun Creamed Corn & the Jambalaya, but could not even eat the Crawfish Pie. It tasted like uncooked dough. I love Fried Alligator, but the bites were chewier than I would have liked. I would suggest lunch menu pricing. $80 for 4 for lunch is crazy. I don't think I would come back. I really wanted to be wowed!!
(3)
Dolph D.
The team and owner are amazing! BEST SERVICES! Everyone is kind and funny and willing to strike a conversation even if they are busy... It gets busy and can be a little loud but that's part of the charm... NOW THE FOOD! OMG! Just amazing and huge portions... but they know me there cause I became addicted to their bread-pudding... I'm ashamed to say I sometimes by 4 at time take them home and eat them over the weekend a-la-mode... I'm moving and I'm very very sad, but not cause I love Jacksonville cause JAX sucks... but they have great food and great people! I will miss this place and I think I might be back JUST to eat here! DDD
(5)
Aaron W.
Not sure about another guests 1 star as the food, service and price were all good! Truly appreciate good Cajun being in town.
(5)
Gina S.
Seafood gumbo is to die for especially when combined with the sausage gumbo. Served with Fresh, crisp Cuban bread. It is definitely a New Orleans dish. FABULOUS! I took several quarts home for THANKSGIVING. Didn't want my family to miss out!
(5)
Gary T.
Best food in Jax, hands down. I am from the Gulf Coast and was raised on Creole/Cajun cuisine. Being able to get AUTHENTIC Cajun food in Jax is a blessing that I can't live without. Warm/friendly atmosphere, great service and quality product keeps me driving all the way across town from Riverside every week or two. LOVE this place!!!!!!
(5)
Holly P.
Let me premise this by saying Ive been eating at this establishment since they opened. I love Cajun food, and this was the closest I could get to my favorites without the ten hour drive to New Orleans. The decor is great and I really enjoy the "feel" of the place. In fact, I went earlier today for lunch and after speaking with the owner, decided to bring back my whole family, including some out of town guests, for dinner. We were really looking forward to the crab and shrimp boil! Out of the group of six, my son and I arrived first. After we were finally noticed and we let the waitress know how many were coming, we just tried to kind of stay out of the way. More groups came in and we sort of strayed to the back. So, the rest of our group came and the waitress tried to seat us, but was told to seat another group because "they came first". Well, they hadn't, but no big deal, im not going to throw a fit. waitress said it would just be a few minutes. They seat the party of 4 at a 6-8 top table. Mind you, we have a 89 year old grandmother with a walker with us. We wait another 15 to 20minutes, while a 4 top table sits vacant pretty much the entire time, but of course, we cant fit there. So, I mention to my boyfriend "if they had any sense, they would move the 4 top since they dont have food yet, and put us at that table....." now I was going to finish that with...."so we could get out of their way." But instead a male waiter whipped around, cut me off mid-sentence and with a derogatory eye roll Interrupted "Actually ma'am, we seat everyone first come first serve! and they were here first!!" I immediately answered him and said "Actually we were here first!" And I turned and left. The men in my party were not as polite. It would have been one thing If I'd been speaking to him, but its completely another to interrupt a conversation with two customers and then be a complete jerk while your at it. Not to mention, he'd just finished seating 2 people that came in after us! So thanks nameless waiter. Not only will this repeat customer never be back, but neither will my boyfriend or son, and the three other people we brought who were so excited to try the food, they wont ever even try it for the first time. They wont be back either. So good job. I guess you'll have one less table to collect tips off in the future.
(1)
Public B.
Get the low country boil, or the etouffee or the bites; actually I am not sure what is bad on the menu. Very consistent food quality over years.
(5)
Patrick H.
The food is good but a little pricy for lunch. Don't expect to pay less than $10. If you can get past that, the food is spot on.
(3)
Ashley B.
Love this place! I am obsessed with Cajun food. Gumbo's is the place to go!
(5)
Brian A.
Came here for lunch one a mission to try something new. My coworker and I were pleastantly surprised by the experience. It isn't much to look at from the outside and the inside is plastered with New Orleans memorabilia. I ordered the half Muffalotta (which was plenty) and my accomplice ordered the oyster po'boy. Both were huge and freshly prepared. I've had a muffalotta before, but never baked. The bread was crispy on the outside, warm and soft on the inside, as it should be. The olive spread was cool and tasted freshly prepared, not from a can. The deli meat tasted equivalent to any other cold cut you would get. My friend's Oyster po'boy was huge and subsently devoured. We both enjoyed it. 4/5 would definitely go back for a turbodog and some gumbo.
(4)
Tracey D.
Love the Seafood gumbo!
(5)
Rose M.
Awesome food! Expect to take your time as everything is made to order. Food is amazing and authentic. Spicy so be warned, this is Cajun food. Anything beyond the basic menu is market priced so don't be surprised if the price changes.
Food is tasty and service is friendly (some of the time). Pricing is a bit high for what you get, however this is probably the closest one will come to proper Cajun in Jacksonville, so if you have a hankering I'd recommend trying it out for yourself.
(3)
Jen C.
Great little place! Both the seafood and chicken gumbos were delicious. The mac and cheese was good and the potato salad was excellent. The seafood boil smelled amazing but we weren't hungry enough to go for it. Can't wait to come back!
(5)
Al C.
We were in Jax this past Saturday to help our son move into his dorm at UNF. He spent a week in a hotel awaiting a room. We are not that familiar with the area as were do not live anywhere near Jax. So, we searched online for restaurants near UNF and Gumbo Ya Ya's name was among the list. We love Cajun so, we headed straight there. We ordered the Shrimp Boil and seafood Gumbo. The boil was very good. And, the portion was very generous. The Gumbo was 16 oz's and generous with the seafood. The flavors of both were well done. The Gumbo was thick. Some people there had ordered the Gumbo as well. Some liked it very thick and some wanted it to be less thick. The level of spice is a difficult thing to judge as a chef. If you make it authentic you are going get complaints from people who are not used to it. Florida has many people that do not like hot spicy food. They claim the heat masks the taste. Their idea of making food tasty is to use more salt than spices. If you moderate it you will get complaints from those who came expecting authentic Cajun heat levels. We liked what we had and will go there again to try other items on the menu when we are in the area. Oh, lastly, we sat inside. The waitress wanted to seat us in the covered patio but, we asked to be seated inside and we sat at the last table available at the back of the restaurant. The patio had an off smell to it. At least it seemed that way to us on the day we were there. The patio filled up after us and no one else sitting there objected so, I guess they didn't mind as no one left. The restaurant isn't much to look at. A bit rough around the edges. Exactly what we expected for an authentic neighborhood Cajun joint.
(4)
Esq. H.
This may be as good as it gets for Jacksonville as it relates to NOLA food. I've had better - as I've had friends and love ones from NOLA who can cook up meals that you would pay millions for! If you can't make it to NOLA or find a NOLA native who can throw down in the kitchen this will suffice. Don't come here looking for anything more than yard/patio furniture and some cookout utensils. They serve everything in to-go/ trashable containers. I had the Shrimp Po boy, the seafood gumbo and the shrimp etouffee. The po-bo was decent and they we're stingy with the shrimp, the seafood gumbo is thick and and shrimp etouffee is super creamy. The prices is spot on for what you are getting. Enjoy!
(3)
Mark B.
Well I just returned from Gumbo YaYa's again. It has been a longtime since I was here last. This time I ordered the Trios Choix that's 3 different small entrees for tasting. I needed to for the wife has to plan a retirement party for one of their doctors and she wants Cajun food. Just cooked by me. Now I see why their food was alright and had some spice but overall good flavors I guess. I make mine a little spicier but with a lot of flavors built in. To me their red beans n rice were bland then the jambalaya was there just way to thick for me. The hands down winner was the seafood gumbo it had a little kick but you could tell flavors were built and not just seasonings that were thrown in. Overall it was a pretty good lunch but I know I can do it better. I do want to say that they need to hide the microwaves a little better. The young lady making my food just nuked everything. Then when I was talking to the Owner Lauren she told me that we weren't in New Orleans and they have to basically dumb down their recipes. So next time I guess I get the feeling for some Cajun food I'll brake out the wooden spoon and start with my Roux.
(3)
Lady Bren W.
7pm Saturday night and we couldn't decide where to eat and oh so tired of the chain stuff. We turned to our Jacksonville coupon magazine (you know the ones you buy from the kids at school) and found Gumbo Ya-Ya's. Ok I'll admit being a huge fan of the Sandra Bullock movie the name had me snagged. Mind you we were driving almost an hour so our expectations were high. And after a long day's work hubby was HUNGRY Being a Saturday when they offer Shrimp and Crab boils there were two larger cookers outside welcoming you with glorious smells. As we walked in they were preparing platters filled with Crabs, corn, sausages, potatoes that were reminiscent of the crab boils back home on Long Island. The restaurant is small with 6 tables inside however there is a covered patio that can hold a number of large groups. There are tv's in and out with sports on. Our waitress was very sweet and helpful. Seeing I couldn't decide she recommended the Trios Choix which includes your choice of gumbo, an entree (with some understandable exclusions) and a side. I chose Seafood Gumbo, Shrimp Etouffee and because I'm a preschooler at heart Macaroni and Cheese. Hubby had the Crab Boil. I have never had such an incredible meal in what we used to call "A Hole in the Wall" restaurant. Despite all the tables inside full and two large groups outside our food came quickly and the service was wonderful. Gumbo Ya-Ya's makes their own hot sauce ~ as I am a wimp you're going to have to take hubby's word that it rocks. The Crab Boil: As you can see from the picture it is a nice size portion. He had 6 clusters of crab legs, two hunks of sausage, corn and potatoes. The seasoning used definitely wasn't Old Bay and while hubby did use some of the Ya-Ya's sauce he didn't need much! It took him nearly an hour but he did earn the clean plate award. My dinner choice was a wonderful introduction to the restaurant's flavors. The Gumbo was great, not too spicy but just enough to remind you you're eating Cajun food. My next choice is going to be my main entree next time we go: Shrimp Etouffee. If I could have sent the Macaroni and Cheese back (and that says a lot as I love my M/C) and gotten a second serving of the Etouffee have no doubts I would have. The shrimp popped in your mouth with flavor. At first I would only let hubby have pieces of bread dipped in the sauce as i didn't want to share but I broke down and gave him a full bit as he had to experience this heavenly dish. Just so you know I wiped the plate clean with the bread they get from New Orleans. The Macaroni and Cheese was wonderful; I plan on trying the Bodin Balls next time. I had a great time talking with Lauren and Rob the owners. I love that they were there working on a Saturday night. They're both from N.O. and while they live in the 904 the paraphernalia decorating the restaurant tells you where their hearts long to be, In fact during football season if LSU or the Saints score customers are rewarded with free Jello Shots~~get happy. After that great meal there was no way we had room for desserts SO we took some home. Hubby (and daughter who didn't dine with us) loved the Jack Daniel's Bread Pudding while I enjoyed the Hammond's Delight; A cherry and pineapple cobbler. I appreciated being given the heating instructions for both. My only fuss is this: I wish they would change their plates to somethings reusable rather than disposable. My Hurricane was served in a Styrofoam cup, which I thought strange as the beer was served in a glass, and my three dishes were all in disposable bowls. I do understand their choice as their square footage is quite limited it is just a personal preference. We have already scheduled a dinner date in our iPhones for a return visit! Next time it will be during the week when they make fresh Beignets ~ OH MOMMA
I was in New Orleans the night before and I was lucky to find this place. Great staff who are from New Orleans and we talked about how fun it is. Had mouth watering seafood gumbo with crawfish poboy that has bread shipped straight from Louisiana. It was authentic and made me think I was back for dinner in New Orleans once again.
(5)
Lisa G.
We dined here once and once was too many. We had heard so many positive reviews we thought we in for a treat. We tried a sampling of many items, and really expectant in the red beans and rice. The seafood was all over cooked, sitting in the crock pots all day. They microwaved a few items, and turned out spongy and tasteless. I would say confidently that we wouldn't return, even though the staff was friendly, sometimes it is just about the food.
Was sort-of in the neighborhood earlier this week, and called a friend with an "I know it's last minute but have you eaten yet?" question. The answer was no. Neither of us was famished, but wanted something to take the edge off. Choices quickly narrowed to El Ranchito, or Gumbo Yayas, and due to the "late" hour (it was almost 8pm), Gumbo Yayas won by default. (We really couldn't have gone wrong with either choice.) Decided to split a Po'Boy, and soup. Went with the fried turkey sammich, and a bowl of white bean and rice soup. Our server, who was attentive, but not overbearing, kept the drink glasses full, and thoughtfully provided a second bowl when we mentioned we were splitting the order. It was the perfect sized, middle-evening meal. The turkey was very moist and quite flavorful. The white beans, which included chunks of chicken and jalapeno sausage, were cooked just to the edge of mushy -- there was still some "tooth" to each bean, and the seasoning was great, as well. In and out in under an hour, but not at all rushed. Not sure why I didn't review them before now. I've always left Gumbo Yaya's happy.
(4)
Brad M.
Family owned. Friendly service. Good Fast delicious well priced...I could go on. Absolutely amazing if you love fish and sausage! I love their sausage sandwich! Delicious. And their Shrimp appetizers are delicious! Everything is homemade and it really shows through. I am a regular!
(5)
Andrea J.
Wonderful place, great food. I had lunch with 4 other ladies and we had the time of our life. The staff is charming and engaging.
(5)
Virginia M.
Finally made it here to try the beignets and coffee! Very tasty! The staff was also very pleasant!
(4)
Mpocjt O.
Always good. Exceptionally friendly staff and owners. Local gem. Best soft shell crabs in town. Very attentive service. Any of the fried seafood is good. Real New Orleans French bread.
I don't know if this is a true 4 star restaurant, but we had an awesome meal. It was a simple meal, but it tasted so good. I think I've rated them before, and I probably gave them 3 stars because I don't like to give out a lot of stars.....but we just had the best crab cake po boy we've had in town. We also had the chicken sausage gumbo... and it was awesome. Unlike many restaurants in Jacksonville, you can tell that somebody actually cares about the quality of the food they serve. Is it authentic Cajun???? I don't know and I don't care. It's very good and I'll keep going until something changes. They are on my shortlist of resatutants
(4)
Rob R.
I am a sucker for any place that serves gumbo. I will always give them a chance. I had a roast beef po' boy and a cup of the chicken and sausage gumbo, with an Abita Amber to wash it down. My mom went with the "voodoo burger" po' boy with a cup of the seafood gumbo. My roast beef po' boy would have been tasty.... but it was very skimpy on the beef. My gumbo seemed like it was a couple days old. There may be an explanation, more on that later. The taste was okay.... but it was just off a little. My mom enjoyed her burger po' boy, but she couldn't figure what was "voodoo" about it. She didn't notice any extra spices or flavors. She felt the same way about her gumbo as I did with mine. The bread on the po' boys and with the gumbo was fresh and very good. Their house-made hot sauce was a nice compliment to the gumbo. The service was passable. You sit down at your table with a menu, but order at the register. Seemed like a weird set-up to me.... especially since there were only two other parties in the place. It was nice to see Abita on tap. They had Purple Haze and the Amber for $3 a pint.... that's a very good price for a craft beer like that. That's worth one star right there. They had a couple nice flat screen TVs and a bunch of Saints stuff on the walls. I imagine that this might be a decent place to watch the game. Like I said, I'm a sucker for places like this, and I'd give it another shot. I'd bump it up to 3 stars if I had a better meal next time. I'm saying that because I ate their on the day after Christmas. They were running a skeleton crew, and they probably weren't on their "A" game. For that reason, I would definitely give them another shot. But ultimately, if you aren't ready with your "A" game, then you shouldn't be open.... hence the two stars. The fact that my main complaint is the gumbo, and you're called "GUMBO Yaya's" doesn't help. Can't recommend at this point.... but willing to try it again down the road.
Super friendly staff and delicious food! I had crawfish for the first time here, got a huge plate of it during the boil they do on Friday and Saturday only. Came with a little piece of corn, 3 small potatoes and 2 pieces of sausage. I can't compare it to other boils, it was my first, but it was good! I love their homemade hot sauce. My companion had seafood gumbo, it was smoky, spicy and full of seafood. I wish we had saved room for Jack Daniels bread pudding. It's a little hard to find, in a shopping complex but in a smaller building closer to the corner of the complex. Signs could be better.
When I pulled up to Gumbo Yaya's on a Friday night, I thought I'd missed the invitation to a huge party. With additional seating added outside, there were throngs of people talking, laughing and enjoying huge plates of food. Shortly after arriving, and unfortunately after I placed my order, I realized that the seafood boil was in full effect. Shrimp, crawfish and dungeness crab were keeping the crowd happy. Well, since I didn't know about that, I ordered the jambalaya and Cajun fries to go. Surprisingly, the jambalaya with andouille sausage and chicken was full of flavor and it had quite the spice to it! It was so good that I wish I'd ordered a larger size! The Cajun fries and bread were nice additions to my dinner. Nothing says delish like a meal full of carbs! While I was more than pleased with my first trip to Yaya's, I'll have to revisit this place to get in on the boil. Clearly that's the way to go!
(4)
M H.
This places wasn't as good as we were hoping. It was alright. I had the oyster po' boy (had better), my husband had a po' boy too (also wasn't very good). The service was meh, not the most personable personalities. I want to try this place again, maybe the trick is ordering certain things?
(3)
Brent M.
Had the red beans and rice. It was authentic. The gumbo was very good. Although it could have been a little spicier for my taste. Finally, the Poe boys were very good. They were made on French bread flown in from a bakery in New Orleans. The oysters were plump and the shrimp not over cooked. Great atmosphere. Jeans and shorts kind of place. Very casual.
(4)
Kathi J.
Just had dinner here tonight and I can't say enough good things about this place! The service was excellent and the food superb! I had the oyster poboy which was loaded with big fat fried oysters, my daughter had the muffaletta sandwich which she wouldn't even share because it was so good, and my mother had the seafood quiche which she said was very rich and tasty. Our sides were the seasoned fries and the potato salad--both delish. We shared a bread pudding for dessert--very rich with just the right amount of creaminess. I can't wait to come back and try the gumbo and the shrimp and grits!
(5)
Jason P.
This is the most authentic cajun food you will find in Florida. The owners are from a suburb of New Orleans and their food is so very good. The sausage and chicken gumbo is maybe the best I have had anywhere, I also highly recommend the shrimp po boys, ask for the special mustard, it makes it!! Very nice people too, great place!
(5)
Samone L.
Service was great, but the food not so much it wasnt that bad but I guess when you've spent a lot of time in New Orleans you know their food. I will leave it at that.
Food is barely passable cajun / creole food. The Gumbo was a little watery and did not use a very dark roux. The jambalaya was tasty but it was billed as being "seasoned rice with Cajun sausage and a whole lot of other stuff." Other than a little bit of bell pepper I didn't find any "other stuff". The Muffuletta was passable if you have never had one in NOLA. The etouffee did not taste at all like any I have eaten and was disgusting to boot. The bread pudding was good and the onion rings very good with a spicy cajun kick. I must say the prices were low and the waitress did offer to get something to replace the etouffee. The atmosphere was very much like a diner and quite pleasant. I would recommend sticking to poboys and fried food plates and it should be ok. This place would not last in NOLA but has little competition in Jacksonville, Florida.
(2)
Sujan P.
Crawfish pie is nasty- good in theory, awful in execution (especially given that it's warmed up in the microwave, so don't expect any flakey fresh pie crust) Breadpudding is crack- seriously it is that good. Plenty of buttery topping and with a kick! Quiche & chicken gumbo- Don't miss, fantastic! Excellent flavors, excellent textures, hearty, phenomenal! Great bread- Just make sure you ask for some butter! Soft shell crab- pretty standard stuff, not sure with worth the price. But if you like a non-asian take on soft shell crab, this would be a good choice. Very heavy cornmeal coating on it though.
(4)
Robyn M.
Being from New Orleans, I was excited to try this place. We have been there about 5 times now. On one occasion we had terrible service, but every other occasion has been fine. The food is not what you would get in the French Quarter but it is about as close as you can get this far east. They sell a few things you normally can only get in New Orleans such as camellia red beans. They are a bit over priced and I think they adjust recipes too weak trying to please everyone. I think they should be as authentic as possible, let people enjoy real cajun food without traveling. I bet a lot of people would love it. First thing people say to me when they find out where I am from is how great food is there (and they want to go to mardi gras, lol)
(4)
Connie W.
Gumbo Yaya's is fabulous! It is located in a little strip mall on the corner of San Pablo Rd and Beach Blvd. You walk up to the entrance only to see and smell the crab boil cooking on the front walk way. From the smell you know you have made a good decision! It is a small dining room, consisting of approx. 8 - 10 tables and 8 bar stools. The walls are covered in New Orlean's Saints and LSU memorabilia, so don't get offended if these aren't your choice of teams. My girlfriend and I bellied up to the bar and proceeded to watch the game and order some food! We ordered the sampler platter for $14.95 and decided to share. Good thing we did because one person couldn't or at least shouldn't finish it all. We chose the Seafood Gumbo, Sausage Balls and Fried Shrimp. The gumbo was as tasty as I have ever had and the sausage balls were mild in taste and cooked perfectly. The fried shrimp were in a cornmeal batter and not as good as I would have liked. Gumbo's is definitely a laid back, casual atmoshphere that offers high quality food. It is now on the short list and has beaten Ragtime out for the quality of food.
(5)
Sid W.
my husband and I, had takeout from this place and ordered the shrimp po boy sandwich. we ordered the small not knowing how big or small the sandwich was going to be but we split it....anyway to make a long story short the sandwich was so small and so pricey it was unbelievable.months later we decided to go back and dine in. first of all we were very tired from work and wanted some service but she said at this point they no longer serve tables so we had to walk up and order our own food and order our own drink and get own napkins and get her own silverware and everything. I thought I was at mcdonald's for a minute...anyhow we ordered 2 small seafood gumbo soup to start....and it was served in a tiny tiny little plastic bowl...and tasted awful. put it this is not what I was expecting. we also had two beers to start ..there's no drink specials in there whatsoever..I heard the owner and the waitress kind of arguing a little bit as they were talking and was very uncomfortable sitting there listening to this....the owner said due to the time that we arrived the service was no longer available so we had to get up and clear our plates....I felt sorry for the waitress I wanted to tip her ..she could have made a very good tip of our table unfortunately the owner said no....we were going to order more than just a bowl of soup but after the tiny tiny bowl of soup and a large piece of stale French bread we did not want to order anything else also being scared that the food food would not come out fresh.....we personally will never go back into this establishment....btw..it was only 130 in the afternoon.
(1)
Katie C.
I have a French last name no one can pronounce, my dad is from NOLA, and I grew up overdosing on gumbo, red beans and rice, and etouffees of all kinds. Now that my street cred has been established, I'd like to announce that I'm a fan of Gumbo Ya Ya's. One of the only purely Cajun restaurants around, the whole vibe of the place makes you feel like you just stepped off Beach Blvd and into Louisiana. For lunch on weekdays they offer $4.99 "hot cups" and a drink. Take your pick from lunch-sized potions of jambalaya, red beans and rice, gumbo, or shrimp etouffee; or pick a couple and really chow down! The owners are super friendly and quick to tell you about the going's ons at Gumbo Ya Ya's on any given day. I love that you can leave with specialty items like Lousiana hot sauce or Beignet Mix. (If you don't know what a beignet is, you better ask somebody! Think of a mix between a donut and a funnel cake, yum.) Kudos to Gumbo Ya Ya's for adding a taste of my childhood to the Jacksonville food landscape.
(4)
Johanna S.
Our family stumbled upon Gumbo Yaya's while visiting from TN. We had such an enjoyable visit. The food was great - everyone was pleased with their dinners, and the kids can be picky at times. The boudin balls were to die for!! Everyone was fighting for those. And the red beans and rice were delicious. Derek was our server - he made our visit such a blast. His recommendation to order the Trios Choix was perfect. Finishing up the dinner with beignets ended the night on a high note. We will definitely be back to this restaurant on our next trip!
(5)
Alex M.
The friendly atmosphere is just what one would expect from a local simple Cajun restaurant. They are at all times promoting their upcomming event, the Marti Gras, on the second week of February and every customer they come across, they mention it. They also push their grocery list, so that you can take their foods at hme and get in the habit of enjoy Cajun food at home. By my observation, 1/2 of their traffic take food to eat else were, a pretty impressive percent, give that they have limited seating. Great Jambalaya if you into hot Cajun sausage and their fried shrimp is just the best. And by far their Cajun seasoning on their fries is worth the $2.95 they charge, good stuff, worth the drive lid you have to...
(4)
Michelle V.
Admittedly, I am not a huge connoisseur of Cajun/NO style food, but I love this place. The staff is always super friendly and it is a relaxed and fun atmosphere. Nothing fancy, just good food. I love the shrimp/crab boil that they do on weekends, and also dig their french fries.
Had high expectations of gumbo since gumbo is in the name, had better from a can, and at $10 a bowl, ouch . And to add insult to injury my $10 soup was served in a plastic to-go container. We also had a Shrimp Poboy, was pretty good, but wouldn't seek it out. Banana cheesecake was very good and so was the service. Will come back and try the Red beans and rice before giving up. I love Cajun food and left disappointed.
Absolutely delicious. We have been 3 times this week. The seafood quiche is amazing, so are the crawfish and shrimp boils! Everything is fresh and authentic, they even fly in their french bread from NOLA. The staff is great as well.
(5)
Sue Ellen M.
Everything I have tried here is delicious. The food is authentic and Robert makes you feel like part of the family. It's like coming home
(5)
George O.
A small strip mall has one of the tastiest Cajun foods in Jacksonville. Keep in mind that you will not find crazy levels of spice & heat since they are cooking for all taste buds. The flavors are authentic and the staff is friendly. Check them out!
(4)
Ron N.
Had the sampler red beans and rice jambalaya seafood gumbo dirty rice all was great! I recommend this place to all!!
(5)
Rumple S.
Friendly folks, delicious gumbo, and the olive salad is amazingly flavorful. I would have gotten the muffaletta but I didn't see mortadella mentioned anywhere and didn't want to be disappointed.
(4)
Kevin R.
I am originally from Southern Louisiana and I find this place refreshing! I loved the food! It is a bit small, but it is very cozy! Reminded me of home... I don't normally try "Cajun" or "Creole" cuisine outside of Louisiana or my own kitchen... I definitely recommend this to anyone looking for good Louisiana Cuisine!
(5)
Jenn S.
i went to gumbo yayas because a friend of mine was ranting and raving about how amazing the place was. the service is wonderful. the people in this place are extremely nice. i ordered take out food while i was pregnant & when i was pregnant -- i was an EXTREMELY picky eater. i got white beans & rice and gumbo. i wasnt impressed by the gumbo -- just like the last reviewer stated. with gumbo in the name of their business -- youd think their gumbo would be to DIE for. im no gumbo connoisseur, but the seafood gumbo from jason's deli is better. :\ though their gumbo wasnt AMAAZING -- their white beans & rice was REALLY delicious. the prices are a little steep for what you get, but all in all -- it was a decent meal. next time -- i think ill try a poboy.
(3)
R J.
I only ate there once while I was in town. I had the muffalatta. It was very good. The tapenade really made the sandwich. I am partial to tapenade because I like olives. The sandwich had a good salty taste. The toasted bun had a good crunch and the warm melted cheese and meats gave off a little oiliness that was actually pretty good. Also, I got a half sandwich. It was plenty for lunch. I would go there again if I am ever back in town. I'd like to try the other menu items. Service was friendly. It was fairly busy, maybe half the restaurants had patrons.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Brunch, Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Stacy B.
Greeted at door with so much going on in the window of the strip mall location almost had second thoughts about going into the place but did go in to be greeted by a friendly person. Then our server arrived with so much attitude that it took away the positive greeting. Asked about a dish and was told rudely only available on Wednesday. So order shrimp étouffée gumbo and green bean casserole husband ordered crawfish poor boy with red beans and rice. Little over priced for a strip mall place. Good food but poor service wouldn't recommend it
(2)Barbara K.
In town for meetings and found this place on Yelp close to our hotel. Very casual but did not disappoint. Even my picky son enjoyed his meal.
(5)Tip R.
We've eaten here several times over the last few years. This will probably be the last time. The taste of the chicken & sausage gumbo wasn't very good. It was too thick and not high quality. The muffuletta tasted like it was premade ahead of time & not really fresh. Again just ok but we can make better ones at home when we my sister brings the bread over from NO. The red beans & rice were not to my liking. Copeland's used to have better red beans & rice with sausage but we haven't been there in years. Lastly tried the almond petit fours weren't the best either. I guess it's time to make a road trip to New Orleans
(2)Cory S.
I really like this place - been there a few times and the flavor of everything is consistently awesome. However, I think they could greatly benefit from using fresh ingredients. For example, I just had the shrimp & grits, and while the flavor was amazing, the shrimp were clearly not fresh. I'd say that not using fresh meat & veggies is the only thing stopping this place from really taking off. The owners obviously put a lot of thought into the menu and everything is well prepared. It's comfort food that is maybe just a little too comfortable.
(4)Ryan S.
Food was good not amazing but good. Id go back but not on my list of must haves. The best thing I got was the boudin balls (mainly what id go back for) The red beans and rice were good not the best but far from the worst. The po boys were bland except for the hot sausage. The onion rings were a disapointment no real spice or flavor just floured fried o rings with a little cajun seasoning on them. Fries were shoestring with the same cajun seasoning..
(3)Alenna B.
Looking for authentic New Orleans food in Jacksonville? Look no further! This place rocks! You can even get coffee like they serve at Cafe du Monde!! The only reason I give four stars is you can only get beignets Monday-Thursday...glad we're here on Thursday, yum! Just had to add...the gumbo is amazing as is the shrimp and grits (had to take leftovers home, so much!). You can even order delivery through doorstepdelivery.com .
(4)Steve N.
Ordered a cup of the chicken & sausage gumbo to start with. The recipes would have been good with fresh ingredients. Frozen Salad shrimp in everything was a huge disappointment. Won't go back because of the ingredients flavor wasn't bad.
(2)Matt M.
Very casual atmosphere with great New Orleans faire. While I haven't tried everything, I have tried enough to say this is good Cajun food. The Boo-dan Balls were good, but the fried oysters were crisp and delightful. Ditto for my wife's shrimp. The NoLA salad was just lettuce topped with chopped olives, but the flavor really worked. There was no time for dessert because we were hitting a movie, but I did see they sold King Cakes, which is a rarity.
(4)Janene H.
This little restaurant is tucked in an old plaza and is set up shotgun-style. The narrow dining inside opens to almost as narrow porch outside. While sitting there waiting to be served I noticed that the place looks pretty dingy. You can't help but notice when things look like they need a good scrubbing and fresh coat of paint. There's a lot of New Orleans stuff all over the walls that looks like it all needed a good dusting. Looks aside, service was fairly slow, especially as tables filled up. I ended up having to flag someone down for water. I think our server was trying, it was just a staffing issue. The food, when it arrived, was just OK. We've been to New Orleans several times and love eating our way through the city so are pretty familiar with what to expect. I ordered a shrimp po'boy which wasn't anything too special- the bread was best part about the meal. Otherwise it tasted just kind of blah. Hubby agreed on his meal. We were told that everything is made fresh and indeed we could see things being made in the open kitchen as we waited. I perused the glass dessert case but was not inspired so passed. We had higher hopes for this place to satisfy the N'Awlins cravings just weeks before Mardi Gras but were a little let down. It wasn't a bad experience, just OK.
(3)Tom A.
Very authentic highly recommend the sampler which allows up to three items for each category to be ordered. Gumbo was incredible.
(4)Rick P.
Wednesday is crawfish etouffe. And they do a great job. Came here for lunch. And you can get beighnets during the week. Can't get them during the weekend. Always a good place to eat. Bread pudding with no raisins.
(5)Jim D.
Family owned and perfect in every way. The gumbo is excellent, but why stop there? Poboy sandwiches and fun food for all. It is a nice treat for you all missing Cajun cooking but live in Florida. Try the gumbo.
(5)Jenna G.
Best po-boys I've ever had outside of New Orleans. My husband and his family are originally from NOLA, and this place has become a regular staple in our going out to eat places.
(5)Lynelle J.
Ya-Ya's was recommended to us by friends who travel from Middleburg just to eat here. We went in expecting good but we were treated with great. The owner chatted with us and our server was equally friendly. I got the oyster po-boy on real, actual New Orleans French bread. We got to nosh on a few slices beforehand too. Delish!! My husband ordered the low country broil with Dungeness crab. It was spicy and cooked to perfection. It was so much food we really could have shared it. We highly recommend the apron-size plastic bib!! We will be back for sure and we can't wait for crawfish season in the spring.
(5)Katrice S.
I am always a pretty hard critic when it comes to cajun cuisine because my mom was born an raised in Louisiana so I know authentic cajun food when I taste it because she cooked it my entire childhood. Now that I've gotten that out of the way, the first time I went to Gumbo Yaya's I was expecting sooooo much more. I was more excited after I briefly spoke to one of the owners who told me they were from New Orleans and get french bread shipped in directly from the NOLA! Well...there were some hits and some misses. On Saturdays and Sundays they specialize in crawfish, crab, and shrimp boils! Naturally, they had N.O. Saints and LSU Tigers flags, as well as Mardi Gras decor inside! It was very inviting and seems like a great place to go to catch a good football game! They had complimentary Grape and Pineapple Jello shots for their patrons. (LSU colors) Neat idea! I got the Grape flavored shot and that little thing packed a nice little punch!!! Although a good ole' crawfish boil sounded enticing, I wasn't planning on dining in so I got some of my New Orleans favs to go! 1.) Shrimp Po-Boy: This po-boy was very good! It tasted just as good as the ones I've had in Louisiana! The bread was perfect! Crusty on the outside and chewy on the inside. 2.) Boudin Balls: Huge disappointment! The easiest way for me to describe boudin is to say it's a flavorful "dirty" rice in a casing. You squeeze it out of the casing and eat it! LOL! To make boudin balls you take the rice and dip it in a batter and fry it. Well the boudin balls here had ABSOLUTELY NO FLAVOR!!! I was sorely disappointed. I had hopes that one of my N.O. favorites would be available for me in my city. Oh well can't win them all. Maybe it was just a bad bunch. 3.) Seafood Gumbo: Last but not least, I had to....HAD to try the Gumbo. Though the gumbo had a lot of flavor and was loaded with shrimp and crab, it didn't taste like what I'm used to. It was way too thick. I guess there's nothing like homemade. It tasted like the gumbo you can buy in a soup can at you local grocery store. It wasn't bad, but wasn't anything to write home about. Overall, Gumbo Yayas gets a "C" from me. I'll definitely go back for the Po-Boys! Maybe the third time will be the charm! :)
(3)Jarrod C.
Consistently good Cajun menu; their jambalaya's tasty every time. Pretty solid muffaletta. Everything I've had with the Gulf shrimp tastes fresh the way shrimp from the Gulf have that especially clean flavor bereft of iodine/metallic undertones of SE Asian farmed stuff, though I'd love a broiled option. Po' boys are generously sized with bread that always seems fresh and chewy. La. beers on tap. Zapp's chips for lunch. The cold pasta salad's yummy. Unimpressive sweet tea(here in JAX we're spoiled for choice). Decadent pastry dessert of cherries and pineapple. During the week they have beignets from scratch that are as good as you'll find in this town. Come on Friday during spring and u can eat fresh crawfish w/o the home mess or work.
(4)Jonathan R.
I loved this. Having family from New Orleans and living there myself makes me ultra picky and the po boy I had was phenomenal. I can't wait to go back for a Saints game this season.
(5)Donnie S.
Eaten here three times. This place is AT BEST okay. Sub par ingredients and over priced. Service marginal, just not very friendly (all three times) Third time was a charm, will not be going back. If you have to eat here get the chx/sausage gumbo. Nevermind, don't.
(2)Ariane D.
The food was overpriced, decent tasting but for 10 dollars can I get a real plate, not plastic? Also the service was subpar- I felt like I was nothing more than an annoyance that wasn't meant to be dealt with. The icing on the cake? I saw first a kitchen staff member eating lunch, then get up to make an order and not even wash his hands before he started. *shudder* Next- before coming to ask if we wanted dessert, our server got up from her lunch, sucked her fingers clean, then wiped them on a napkin before coming over. Needless to say, my appetite was ruined. I will never ever be back and will be sure to tell of this experience any time I hear of Gumbo Ya Yas
(1)Kaneil Smith S.
I had the crawfish étouffée and I have realized that I don't really like it. The flavors to me seemed muddled and I wished it was a bit more spicy. It felt like something was missing. It just reminds me of rice swimming in too much gravy. I really should have tried something else but I had it once before and liked it. The portion is really small considering I paid $16 for that and some mushroom balls on the side.
(3)Adam K.
The gumbo is spot-on. Simply a de-light. But I rarely get it because the roast beast Po-boy is the tastious, sloppious thing I can consume. Add the fry/drink combo and you got yourself a lunch, over and over again. Cajun/NO food is my favorite, which I have traveled to 5+ times, and it rivals any restaurant there. Call me crazy, but my pallet took over and doesn't lie....
(4)Daisy D.
When my plans for the afternoon/evening got all discombobulated (comes with the territory of selling your house), I had to figure out something to do for dinner. And I really was not in the mood to cook at all. Considering the husband was going to be home late, I had to make sure I could pick up something for him that would last until he got home. Sitting at SBUX, I opened up Yelp on my laptop and took a gander at some of my bookmarks. Gumbo YaYas! It's right next door! That's perfect. For myself I went with the Shrimp Po'boy and for him I picked up a Muffuletta salad. All the goodness, but none of the carbs. As I sat and waited for my to-go order, I had some time to take in my surroundings. There's a lot going on in this little joint. I understand that a lot of restaurants have them, but I agree with Mark B. on the microwaves. My sandwich was still plenty warm when I got home. And it had been tightly wrapped so that it was pressed together 'just enough' to make that first bite easy. The bread had a nice crust on it but was still chewy on the inside. Plenty of shrimp loaded inside with just the right amount of fixings. Husband really enjoyed his salad too when he got home from work. I'll have to do a better job of remembering this place is here. They definitely have a good thing rolling!
(4)Heather K.
If I were writing this on the food alone, I would probably rate it 5 stars but I think they need to do a bit of cleaning here. Jambalaya is delicious and I didn't even think I liked jambalaya! Boudin balls were great! Red beans and rice didn't have a whole lot of flavor. NOLA salad was awesome for something so simple.
(4)Caroline B.
This is my second time eating at gumbo ya yas and it's just okay. The mixed gumbo is entirely too salty, its almost hard to eat. The dirty rice is okay, but I've had better. I've had the mardi gras salad and it too was okay. A little bummed because I LOVE cajun food.
(2)Andy W.
Stop whatever you are doing and go eat here. The boudin balls were spicy, crispy and 100% delicious. Sausage & chicken gumbo and the Crawfish etouffee are two very good dishes. The best Cajun food east of Louisiana.
(5)Lea R.
Best cajun food PERIOD!!! I looooooooooove Gumbo YaYa's!!! My favs are the seafood gumbo and their shrimp Po'Boy (never had it better anywhere else!). And don't forget the bread pudding and beignets. I love the service I receive every time I go. I've tried so many of their items and never been disappointed.
(5)Grumpy S.
I love New Orleans Food and though this may not be in a class with great NOLA restaurants it will do. I was there twice about a year apart and was impressed. Gumbo, shrimp etouffee, boudin balls, and fried gator were all very good. Prices are reasonable and the atmosphere is uh....interesting.
(4)AnnaMarie T.
Just finished eating at my FAVORITE restaurant! I LOVE this place! The food is always delicious and the servers are great! My recommendations? The Boudin Balls, Grilled Cheese Po'boy, Roast Beef n' Rice, Jambalaya, and Shrimp Étoufée. But really, everything tastes wonderful! As an added surprise, give the onion rings a try. They're scrumptious and certainly not like what you find everywhere else! Lori G. is my favorite server! She's funny and makes for great conversation! If you love good ol' New Orleans food then you're going to LOVE Gumbo Yaya's! (n_n)
(5)Cindy C.
I went to this establishment for the first and last time tonight. The moment I waked in the door the attitude of the staff was terrible. We were made to wait while group after group were seated. When a person in my group made a comment to one of us one of the waiters made a very rude comment. All six of us ended up leaving at that time. It was almost as if he wanted us to leave so he wouldn't be working past his closing time. I could not have been ore insulted. I will never go back. I do not recommend this restaurant to anyone!
(1)Nolen G.
I discovered this place years ago and wish had I had discovered it years before that. Robert and Lauren (owners) use family recipes that are absolutely fantastic. Just don't ask them what's in them! The staff is very friendly and service is always great. I usually pop in 4-5 times a week for a poboy, jambalaya, fried oysters, or some red velvet cheesecake. I've lived all over the country and this is the best cajun food I've ever had and the best part of it is that it's consistent. Must try!
(5)Amy H.
I reeeaaalllly wanted to love this place because I am all about Cajun Food. Growing up on the Gulf Coast of Alabama, I have always enjoyed the cuisine. First off, it was crazy expensive. So, if I am paying $15++ a plate for lunch, it better rock my world. I enjoyed the Cajun Creamed Corn & the Jambalaya, but could not even eat the Crawfish Pie. It tasted like uncooked dough. I love Fried Alligator, but the bites were chewier than I would have liked. I would suggest lunch menu pricing. $80 for 4 for lunch is crazy. I don't think I would come back. I really wanted to be wowed!!
(3)Dolph D.
The team and owner are amazing! BEST SERVICES! Everyone is kind and funny and willing to strike a conversation even if they are busy... It gets busy and can be a little loud but that's part of the charm... NOW THE FOOD! OMG! Just amazing and huge portions... but they know me there cause I became addicted to their bread-pudding... I'm ashamed to say I sometimes by 4 at time take them home and eat them over the weekend a-la-mode... I'm moving and I'm very very sad, but not cause I love Jacksonville cause JAX sucks... but they have great food and great people! I will miss this place and I think I might be back JUST to eat here! DDD
(5)Aaron W.
Not sure about another guests 1 star as the food, service and price were all good! Truly appreciate good Cajun being in town.
(5)Gina S.
Seafood gumbo is to die for especially when combined with the sausage gumbo. Served with Fresh, crisp Cuban bread. It is definitely a New Orleans dish. FABULOUS! I took several quarts home for THANKSGIVING. Didn't want my family to miss out!
(5)Gary T.
Best food in Jax, hands down. I am from the Gulf Coast and was raised on Creole/Cajun cuisine. Being able to get AUTHENTIC Cajun food in Jax is a blessing that I can't live without. Warm/friendly atmosphere, great service and quality product keeps me driving all the way across town from Riverside every week or two. LOVE this place!!!!!!
(5)Holly P.
Let me premise this by saying Ive been eating at this establishment since they opened. I love Cajun food, and this was the closest I could get to my favorites without the ten hour drive to New Orleans. The decor is great and I really enjoy the "feel" of the place. In fact, I went earlier today for lunch and after speaking with the owner, decided to bring back my whole family, including some out of town guests, for dinner. We were really looking forward to the crab and shrimp boil! Out of the group of six, my son and I arrived first. After we were finally noticed and we let the waitress know how many were coming, we just tried to kind of stay out of the way. More groups came in and we sort of strayed to the back. So, the rest of our group came and the waitress tried to seat us, but was told to seat another group because "they came first". Well, they hadn't, but no big deal, im not going to throw a fit. waitress said it would just be a few minutes. They seat the party of 4 at a 6-8 top table. Mind you, we have a 89 year old grandmother with a walker with us. We wait another 15 to 20minutes, while a 4 top table sits vacant pretty much the entire time, but of course, we cant fit there. So, I mention to my boyfriend "if they had any sense, they would move the 4 top since they dont have food yet, and put us at that table....." now I was going to finish that with...."so we could get out of their way." But instead a male waiter whipped around, cut me off mid-sentence and with a derogatory eye roll Interrupted "Actually ma'am, we seat everyone first come first serve! and they were here first!!" I immediately answered him and said "Actually we were here first!" And I turned and left. The men in my party were not as polite. It would have been one thing If I'd been speaking to him, but its completely another to interrupt a conversation with two customers and then be a complete jerk while your at it. Not to mention, he'd just finished seating 2 people that came in after us! So thanks nameless waiter. Not only will this repeat customer never be back, but neither will my boyfriend or son, and the three other people we brought who were so excited to try the food, they wont ever even try it for the first time. They wont be back either. So good job. I guess you'll have one less table to collect tips off in the future.
(1)Public B.
Get the low country boil, or the etouffee or the bites; actually I am not sure what is bad on the menu. Very consistent food quality over years.
(5)Patrick H.
The food is good but a little pricy for lunch. Don't expect to pay less than $10. If you can get past that, the food is spot on.
(3)Ashley B.
Love this place! I am obsessed with Cajun food. Gumbo's is the place to go!
(5)Brian A.
Came here for lunch one a mission to try something new. My coworker and I were pleastantly surprised by the experience. It isn't much to look at from the outside and the inside is plastered with New Orleans memorabilia. I ordered the half Muffalotta (which was plenty) and my accomplice ordered the oyster po'boy. Both were huge and freshly prepared. I've had a muffalotta before, but never baked. The bread was crispy on the outside, warm and soft on the inside, as it should be. The olive spread was cool and tasted freshly prepared, not from a can. The deli meat tasted equivalent to any other cold cut you would get. My friend's Oyster po'boy was huge and subsently devoured. We both enjoyed it. 4/5 would definitely go back for a turbodog and some gumbo.
(4)Tracey D.
Love the Seafood gumbo!
(5)Rose M.
Awesome food! Expect to take your time as everything is made to order. Food is amazing and authentic. Spicy so be warned, this is Cajun food. Anything beyond the basic menu is market priced so don't be surprised if the price changes.
(4)Carter R.
The Seafood gumbo was spot-on. I had never had Boudin Balls before, but now I have changed my Will and Last Testament such that I would like to be buried in a pile of them underneath a bed of crawfish Étouffée. And squirt my body with the hot sauce, please.
(5)Michael C.
Food is tasty and service is friendly (some of the time). Pricing is a bit high for what you get, however this is probably the closest one will come to proper Cajun in Jacksonville, so if you have a hankering I'd recommend trying it out for yourself.
(3)Jen C.
Great little place! Both the seafood and chicken gumbos were delicious. The mac and cheese was good and the potato salad was excellent. The seafood boil smelled amazing but we weren't hungry enough to go for it. Can't wait to come back!
(5)Al C.
We were in Jax this past Saturday to help our son move into his dorm at UNF. He spent a week in a hotel awaiting a room. We are not that familiar with the area as were do not live anywhere near Jax. So, we searched online for restaurants near UNF and Gumbo Ya Ya's name was among the list. We love Cajun so, we headed straight there. We ordered the Shrimp Boil and seafood Gumbo. The boil was very good. And, the portion was very generous. The Gumbo was 16 oz's and generous with the seafood. The flavors of both were well done. The Gumbo was thick. Some people there had ordered the Gumbo as well. Some liked it very thick and some wanted it to be less thick. The level of spice is a difficult thing to judge as a chef. If you make it authentic you are going get complaints from people who are not used to it. Florida has many people that do not like hot spicy food. They claim the heat masks the taste. Their idea of making food tasty is to use more salt than spices. If you moderate it you will get complaints from those who came expecting authentic Cajun heat levels. We liked what we had and will go there again to try other items on the menu when we are in the area. Oh, lastly, we sat inside. The waitress wanted to seat us in the covered patio but, we asked to be seated inside and we sat at the last table available at the back of the restaurant. The patio had an off smell to it. At least it seemed that way to us on the day we were there. The patio filled up after us and no one else sitting there objected so, I guess they didn't mind as no one left. The restaurant isn't much to look at. A bit rough around the edges. Exactly what we expected for an authentic neighborhood Cajun joint.
(4)Esq. H.
This may be as good as it gets for Jacksonville as it relates to NOLA food. I've had better - as I've had friends and love ones from NOLA who can cook up meals that you would pay millions for! If you can't make it to NOLA or find a NOLA native who can throw down in the kitchen this will suffice. Don't come here looking for anything more than yard/patio furniture and some cookout utensils. They serve everything in to-go/ trashable containers. I had the Shrimp Po boy, the seafood gumbo and the shrimp etouffee. The po-bo was decent and they we're stingy with the shrimp, the seafood gumbo is thick and and shrimp etouffee is super creamy. The prices is spot on for what you are getting. Enjoy!
(3)Mark B.
Well I just returned from Gumbo YaYa's again. It has been a longtime since I was here last. This time I ordered the Trios Choix that's 3 different small entrees for tasting. I needed to for the wife has to plan a retirement party for one of their doctors and she wants Cajun food. Just cooked by me. Now I see why their food was alright and had some spice but overall good flavors I guess. I make mine a little spicier but with a lot of flavors built in. To me their red beans n rice were bland then the jambalaya was there just way to thick for me. The hands down winner was the seafood gumbo it had a little kick but you could tell flavors were built and not just seasonings that were thrown in. Overall it was a pretty good lunch but I know I can do it better. I do want to say that they need to hide the microwaves a little better. The young lady making my food just nuked everything. Then when I was talking to the Owner Lauren she told me that we weren't in New Orleans and they have to basically dumb down their recipes. So next time I guess I get the feeling for some Cajun food I'll brake out the wooden spoon and start with my Roux.
(3)Lady Bren W.
7pm Saturday night and we couldn't decide where to eat and oh so tired of the chain stuff. We turned to our Jacksonville coupon magazine (you know the ones you buy from the kids at school) and found Gumbo Ya-Ya's. Ok I'll admit being a huge fan of the Sandra Bullock movie the name had me snagged. Mind you we were driving almost an hour so our expectations were high. And after a long day's work hubby was HUNGRY Being a Saturday when they offer Shrimp and Crab boils there were two larger cookers outside welcoming you with glorious smells. As we walked in they were preparing platters filled with Crabs, corn, sausages, potatoes that were reminiscent of the crab boils back home on Long Island. The restaurant is small with 6 tables inside however there is a covered patio that can hold a number of large groups. There are tv's in and out with sports on. Our waitress was very sweet and helpful. Seeing I couldn't decide she recommended the Trios Choix which includes your choice of gumbo, an entree (with some understandable exclusions) and a side. I chose Seafood Gumbo, Shrimp Etouffee and because I'm a preschooler at heart Macaroni and Cheese. Hubby had the Crab Boil. I have never had such an incredible meal in what we used to call "A Hole in the Wall" restaurant. Despite all the tables inside full and two large groups outside our food came quickly and the service was wonderful. Gumbo Ya-Ya's makes their own hot sauce ~ as I am a wimp you're going to have to take hubby's word that it rocks. The Crab Boil: As you can see from the picture it is a nice size portion. He had 6 clusters of crab legs, two hunks of sausage, corn and potatoes. The seasoning used definitely wasn't Old Bay and while hubby did use some of the Ya-Ya's sauce he didn't need much! It took him nearly an hour but he did earn the clean plate award. My dinner choice was a wonderful introduction to the restaurant's flavors. The Gumbo was great, not too spicy but just enough to remind you you're eating Cajun food. My next choice is going to be my main entree next time we go: Shrimp Etouffee. If I could have sent the Macaroni and Cheese back (and that says a lot as I love my M/C) and gotten a second serving of the Etouffee have no doubts I would have. The shrimp popped in your mouth with flavor. At first I would only let hubby have pieces of bread dipped in the sauce as i didn't want to share but I broke down and gave him a full bit as he had to experience this heavenly dish. Just so you know I wiped the plate clean with the bread they get from New Orleans. The Macaroni and Cheese was wonderful; I plan on trying the Bodin Balls next time. I had a great time talking with Lauren and Rob the owners. I love that they were there working on a Saturday night. They're both from N.O. and while they live in the 904 the paraphernalia decorating the restaurant tells you where their hearts long to be, In fact during football season if LSU or the Saints score customers are rewarded with free Jello Shots~~get happy. After that great meal there was no way we had room for desserts SO we took some home. Hubby (and daughter who didn't dine with us) loved the Jack Daniel's Bread Pudding while I enjoyed the Hammond's Delight; A cherry and pineapple cobbler. I appreciated being given the heating instructions for both. My only fuss is this: I wish they would change their plates to somethings reusable rather than disposable. My Hurricane was served in a Styrofoam cup, which I thought strange as the beer was served in a glass, and my three dishes were all in disposable bowls. I do understand their choice as their square footage is quite limited it is just a personal preference. We have already scheduled a dinner date in our iPhones for a return visit! Next time it will be during the week when they make fresh Beignets ~ OH MOMMA
(5)Amanda J.
Have needed to update this one for a long while now. I've been coming to this place since it opened! I love Derek and Laurie, they're my fave servers! Te owners are gracious and haven't laughed at us yet for filling up a few loyalty cards. I've sat inside and outside, tired the jambalaya, salads, and almost every non seafood item on the menu. Try the boudin balls, the onion rings, the fried turkey po boy, their jambalaya is the best! The trio troix, the étouffée, and red beans n rice. I always leave here happy and floating on cloud nine. I was only turned away once during mardi gras and lent bc of the crowd overfilling the place. I was truly sad ur took home a gambinos king cake, decorated it and took it to work to share my heritage. They also offer seafood boils on the weekend with shrimp and crab, verrrry reasonably priced, and offer free Jell-O shots when the saints or Lsu scores a touch down during football season. Having been to Nola and the French quarter, all that's missing is a dirty street and a live zydeco band.:) tip... Try the petit fours and the hammonds delight as dessert. They offer catering and groceries for the holidays too.
(5)Kevin L.
I was in New Orleans the night before and I was lucky to find this place. Great staff who are from New Orleans and we talked about how fun it is. Had mouth watering seafood gumbo with crawfish poboy that has bread shipped straight from Louisiana. It was authentic and made me think I was back for dinner in New Orleans once again.
(5)Lisa G.
We dined here once and once was too many. We had heard so many positive reviews we thought we in for a treat. We tried a sampling of many items, and really expectant in the red beans and rice. The seafood was all over cooked, sitting in the crock pots all day. They microwaved a few items, and turned out spongy and tasteless. I would say confidently that we wouldn't return, even though the staff was friendly, sometimes it is just about the food.
(1)Shelley M.
My whole family loves Gumbo Yaya's! When you walk in, you might think you're on Canal Street instead of Beach and San Pablo. Mardi Gras, Saints and LSU memorabilia lines the walls. My kids always leave with a string of beads around their necks. My son and I always order red beans and rice, which is flavorful with just the right amount of kick. I dip the delicious fresh bread that comes with it, and mop up every last drip of flavor. My oldest son enjoys the dirty rice and Cajun fries. I've also sampled the étouffée and jambalaya, and enjoyed them both. My husband had the shrimp poboy, which he said was lacking something (but he ordered it without mayo, so, yes, it was lacking something per his request). On weekends they serve crawfish boil, and the owner said they fly the crawfish in every Friday morning. They also have their hurricane mix shipped in from Pat OBrians. Abita beers are on tap. I want to come back Monday through Thursday, when they serve fresh beignets. Sounds so good, especially with some Cafe du Monde coffee... If you can't make it to NOLA, this place is the next best thing.
(4)Bob S.
Was sort-of in the neighborhood earlier this week, and called a friend with an "I know it's last minute but have you eaten yet?" question. The answer was no. Neither of us was famished, but wanted something to take the edge off. Choices quickly narrowed to El Ranchito, or Gumbo Yayas, and due to the "late" hour (it was almost 8pm), Gumbo Yayas won by default. (We really couldn't have gone wrong with either choice.) Decided to split a Po'Boy, and soup. Went with the fried turkey sammich, and a bowl of white bean and rice soup. Our server, who was attentive, but not overbearing, kept the drink glasses full, and thoughtfully provided a second bowl when we mentioned we were splitting the order. It was the perfect sized, middle-evening meal. The turkey was very moist and quite flavorful. The white beans, which included chunks of chicken and jalapeno sausage, were cooked just to the edge of mushy -- there was still some "tooth" to each bean, and the seasoning was great, as well. In and out in under an hour, but not at all rushed. Not sure why I didn't review them before now. I've always left Gumbo Yaya's happy.
(4)Brad M.
Family owned. Friendly service. Good Fast delicious well priced...I could go on. Absolutely amazing if you love fish and sausage! I love their sausage sandwich! Delicious. And their Shrimp appetizers are delicious! Everything is homemade and it really shows through. I am a regular!
(5)Andrea J.
Wonderful place, great food. I had lunch with 4 other ladies and we had the time of our life. The staff is charming and engaging.
(5)Virginia M.
Finally made it here to try the beignets and coffee! Very tasty! The staff was also very pleasant!
(4)Mpocjt O.
Always good. Exceptionally friendly staff and owners. Local gem. Best soft shell crabs in town. Very attentive service. Any of the fried seafood is good. Real New Orleans French bread.
(5)Lisa V.
Service was great but food was awful. Boudin balls were tasteless aside from spice, seemingly no sausage or salt in it. Shrimp étouffée was also disappointing as though the shrimp was not seasoned. The seafood boil was frozen crab in Old Bay spice, another wasted entree. The only decent thing was the seafood gumbo but for the price and portions, you won't see me back here. Another note, what New Orleans place doesn't serve beignets?! This place sells the mix but none fresh on the menu. Overall letdown.
(2)Andy L.
I don't know if this is a true 4 star restaurant, but we had an awesome meal. It was a simple meal, but it tasted so good. I think I've rated them before, and I probably gave them 3 stars because I don't like to give out a lot of stars.....but we just had the best crab cake po boy we've had in town. We also had the chicken sausage gumbo... and it was awesome. Unlike many restaurants in Jacksonville, you can tell that somebody actually cares about the quality of the food they serve. Is it authentic Cajun???? I don't know and I don't care. It's very good and I'll keep going until something changes. They are on my shortlist of resatutants
(4)Rob R.
I am a sucker for any place that serves gumbo. I will always give them a chance. I had a roast beef po' boy and a cup of the chicken and sausage gumbo, with an Abita Amber to wash it down. My mom went with the "voodoo burger" po' boy with a cup of the seafood gumbo. My roast beef po' boy would have been tasty.... but it was very skimpy on the beef. My gumbo seemed like it was a couple days old. There may be an explanation, more on that later. The taste was okay.... but it was just off a little. My mom enjoyed her burger po' boy, but she couldn't figure what was "voodoo" about it. She didn't notice any extra spices or flavors. She felt the same way about her gumbo as I did with mine. The bread on the po' boys and with the gumbo was fresh and very good. Their house-made hot sauce was a nice compliment to the gumbo. The service was passable. You sit down at your table with a menu, but order at the register. Seemed like a weird set-up to me.... especially since there were only two other parties in the place. It was nice to see Abita on tap. They had Purple Haze and the Amber for $3 a pint.... that's a very good price for a craft beer like that. That's worth one star right there. They had a couple nice flat screen TVs and a bunch of Saints stuff on the walls. I imagine that this might be a decent place to watch the game. Like I said, I'm a sucker for places like this, and I'd give it another shot. I'd bump it up to 3 stars if I had a better meal next time. I'm saying that because I ate their on the day after Christmas. They were running a skeleton crew, and they probably weren't on their "A" game. For that reason, I would definitely give them another shot. But ultimately, if you aren't ready with your "A" game, then you shouldn't be open.... hence the two stars. The fact that my main complaint is the gumbo, and you're called "GUMBO Yaya's" doesn't help. Can't recommend at this point.... but willing to try it again down the road.
(2)Lauren H.
I've driven past this place countless times to and from work. My boyfriend decided we had to try it when he saw crawfish étouffée on their special menu for Wednesday. I had never tried this dish, but he raves about it all the time. He lived in New Orleans for several years. So we had to give it a try. I LOVED it! It had the right amount of spice to not over power the rest of the flavors. He agreed with my assessment. He added that it may even be better than some of the dishes he had in New Orleans. I also had the moufelletta pasta salad. Not sure if I spelled that right. It was so good too. The service was wonderful. Everyone was more than friendly. We will be back for sure! Overall, it's a great bit of New Orleans right here in Jax!
(4)Rebecca H.
Super friendly staff and delicious food! I had crawfish for the first time here, got a huge plate of it during the boil they do on Friday and Saturday only. Came with a little piece of corn, 3 small potatoes and 2 pieces of sausage. I can't compare it to other boils, it was my first, but it was good! I love their homemade hot sauce. My companion had seafood gumbo, it was smoky, spicy and full of seafood. I wish we had saved room for Jack Daniels bread pudding. It's a little hard to find, in a shopping complex but in a smaller building closer to the corner of the complex. Signs could be better.
(4)A C.
Shrimp étouffée, jambalaya, & onion rings for lunch. Order at the counter, & they'll bring it to your table. Nicely seasoned, with lots of spice.
(5)Maisha R.
When I pulled up to Gumbo Yaya's on a Friday night, I thought I'd missed the invitation to a huge party. With additional seating added outside, there were throngs of people talking, laughing and enjoying huge plates of food. Shortly after arriving, and unfortunately after I placed my order, I realized that the seafood boil was in full effect. Shrimp, crawfish and dungeness crab were keeping the crowd happy. Well, since I didn't know about that, I ordered the jambalaya and Cajun fries to go. Surprisingly, the jambalaya with andouille sausage and chicken was full of flavor and it had quite the spice to it! It was so good that I wish I'd ordered a larger size! The Cajun fries and bread were nice additions to my dinner. Nothing says delish like a meal full of carbs! While I was more than pleased with my first trip to Yaya's, I'll have to revisit this place to get in on the boil. Clearly that's the way to go!
(4)M H.
This places wasn't as good as we were hoping. It was alright. I had the oyster po' boy (had better), my husband had a po' boy too (also wasn't very good). The service was meh, not the most personable personalities. I want to try this place again, maybe the trick is ordering certain things?
(3)Brent M.
Had the red beans and rice. It was authentic. The gumbo was very good. Although it could have been a little spicier for my taste. Finally, the Poe boys were very good. They were made on French bread flown in from a bakery in New Orleans. The oysters were plump and the shrimp not over cooked. Great atmosphere. Jeans and shorts kind of place. Very casual.
(4)Kathi J.
Just had dinner here tonight and I can't say enough good things about this place! The service was excellent and the food superb! I had the oyster poboy which was loaded with big fat fried oysters, my daughter had the muffaletta sandwich which she wouldn't even share because it was so good, and my mother had the seafood quiche which she said was very rich and tasty. Our sides were the seasoned fries and the potato salad--both delish. We shared a bread pudding for dessert--very rich with just the right amount of creaminess. I can't wait to come back and try the gumbo and the shrimp and grits!
(5)Jason P.
This is the most authentic cajun food you will find in Florida. The owners are from a suburb of New Orleans and their food is so very good. The sausage and chicken gumbo is maybe the best I have had anywhere, I also highly recommend the shrimp po boys, ask for the special mustard, it makes it!! Very nice people too, great place!
(5)Samone L.
Service was great, but the food not so much it wasnt that bad but I guess when you've spent a lot of time in New Orleans you know their food. I will leave it at that.
(2)Bianca O.
My husband is an avid NO Saints fan and he loves this place. The owners are regularly there and they are super friendly and homey. The food is authentic, the atmosphere is true to New Orleans and the games are always on. I recommend the étouffée, the gumbo and the rice and beans. Oh, and leave room for dessert! This is a great place to go for dinner out and football watching!
(4)Mike C.
Food is barely passable cajun / creole food. The Gumbo was a little watery and did not use a very dark roux. The jambalaya was tasty but it was billed as being "seasoned rice with Cajun sausage and a whole lot of other stuff." Other than a little bit of bell pepper I didn't find any "other stuff". The Muffuletta was passable if you have never had one in NOLA. The etouffee did not taste at all like any I have eaten and was disgusting to boot. The bread pudding was good and the onion rings very good with a spicy cajun kick. I must say the prices were low and the waitress did offer to get something to replace the etouffee. The atmosphere was very much like a diner and quite pleasant. I would recommend sticking to poboys and fried food plates and it should be ok. This place would not last in NOLA but has little competition in Jacksonville, Florida.
(2)Sujan P.
Crawfish pie is nasty- good in theory, awful in execution (especially given that it's warmed up in the microwave, so don't expect any flakey fresh pie crust) Breadpudding is crack- seriously it is that good. Plenty of buttery topping and with a kick! Quiche & chicken gumbo- Don't miss, fantastic! Excellent flavors, excellent textures, hearty, phenomenal! Great bread- Just make sure you ask for some butter! Soft shell crab- pretty standard stuff, not sure with worth the price. But if you like a non-asian take on soft shell crab, this would be a good choice. Very heavy cornmeal coating on it though.
(4)Robyn M.
Being from New Orleans, I was excited to try this place. We have been there about 5 times now. On one occasion we had terrible service, but every other occasion has been fine. The food is not what you would get in the French Quarter but it is about as close as you can get this far east. They sell a few things you normally can only get in New Orleans such as camellia red beans. They are a bit over priced and I think they adjust recipes too weak trying to please everyone. I think they should be as authentic as possible, let people enjoy real cajun food without traveling. I bet a lot of people would love it. First thing people say to me when they find out where I am from is how great food is there (and they want to go to mardi gras, lol)
(4)Connie W.
Gumbo Yaya's is fabulous! It is located in a little strip mall on the corner of San Pablo Rd and Beach Blvd. You walk up to the entrance only to see and smell the crab boil cooking on the front walk way. From the smell you know you have made a good decision! It is a small dining room, consisting of approx. 8 - 10 tables and 8 bar stools. The walls are covered in New Orlean's Saints and LSU memorabilia, so don't get offended if these aren't your choice of teams. My girlfriend and I bellied up to the bar and proceeded to watch the game and order some food! We ordered the sampler platter for $14.95 and decided to share. Good thing we did because one person couldn't or at least shouldn't finish it all. We chose the Seafood Gumbo, Sausage Balls and Fried Shrimp. The gumbo was as tasty as I have ever had and the sausage balls were mild in taste and cooked perfectly. The fried shrimp were in a cornmeal batter and not as good as I would have liked. Gumbo's is definitely a laid back, casual atmoshphere that offers high quality food. It is now on the short list and has beaten Ragtime out for the quality of food.
(5)Sid W.
my husband and I, had takeout from this place and ordered the shrimp po boy sandwich. we ordered the small not knowing how big or small the sandwich was going to be but we split it....anyway to make a long story short the sandwich was so small and so pricey it was unbelievable.months later we decided to go back and dine in. first of all we were very tired from work and wanted some service but she said at this point they no longer serve tables so we had to walk up and order our own food and order our own drink and get own napkins and get her own silverware and everything. I thought I was at mcdonald's for a minute...anyhow we ordered 2 small seafood gumbo soup to start....and it was served in a tiny tiny little plastic bowl...and tasted awful. put it this is not what I was expecting. we also had two beers to start ..there's no drink specials in there whatsoever..I heard the owner and the waitress kind of arguing a little bit as they were talking and was very uncomfortable sitting there listening to this....the owner said due to the time that we arrived the service was no longer available so we had to get up and clear our plates....I felt sorry for the waitress I wanted to tip her ..she could have made a very good tip of our table unfortunately the owner said no....we were going to order more than just a bowl of soup but after the tiny tiny bowl of soup and a large piece of stale French bread we did not want to order anything else also being scared that the food food would not come out fresh.....we personally will never go back into this establishment....btw..it was only 130 in the afternoon.
(1)Katie C.
I have a French last name no one can pronounce, my dad is from NOLA, and I grew up overdosing on gumbo, red beans and rice, and etouffees of all kinds. Now that my street cred has been established, I'd like to announce that I'm a fan of Gumbo Ya Ya's. One of the only purely Cajun restaurants around, the whole vibe of the place makes you feel like you just stepped off Beach Blvd and into Louisiana. For lunch on weekdays they offer $4.99 "hot cups" and a drink. Take your pick from lunch-sized potions of jambalaya, red beans and rice, gumbo, or shrimp etouffee; or pick a couple and really chow down! The owners are super friendly and quick to tell you about the going's ons at Gumbo Ya Ya's on any given day. I love that you can leave with specialty items like Lousiana hot sauce or Beignet Mix. (If you don't know what a beignet is, you better ask somebody! Think of a mix between a donut and a funnel cake, yum.) Kudos to Gumbo Ya Ya's for adding a taste of my childhood to the Jacksonville food landscape.
(4)Johanna S.
Our family stumbled upon Gumbo Yaya's while visiting from TN. We had such an enjoyable visit. The food was great - everyone was pleased with their dinners, and the kids can be picky at times. The boudin balls were to die for!! Everyone was fighting for those. And the red beans and rice were delicious. Derek was our server - he made our visit such a blast. His recommendation to order the Trios Choix was perfect. Finishing up the dinner with beignets ended the night on a high note. We will definitely be back to this restaurant on our next trip!
(5)Alex M.
The friendly atmosphere is just what one would expect from a local simple Cajun restaurant. They are at all times promoting their upcomming event, the Marti Gras, on the second week of February and every customer they come across, they mention it. They also push their grocery list, so that you can take their foods at hme and get in the habit of enjoy Cajun food at home. By my observation, 1/2 of their traffic take food to eat else were, a pretty impressive percent, give that they have limited seating. Great Jambalaya if you into hot Cajun sausage and their fried shrimp is just the best. And by far their Cajun seasoning on their fries is worth the $2.95 they charge, good stuff, worth the drive lid you have to...
(4)Michelle V.
Admittedly, I am not a huge connoisseur of Cajun/NO style food, but I love this place. The staff is always super friendly and it is a relaxed and fun atmosphere. Nothing fancy, just good food. I love the shrimp/crab boil that they do on weekends, and also dig their french fries.
(4)Yolanda J.
Went there for lunch. The owners were there and seemed very friendly. The Restaurant was clean and nicely decorated. We ordered jambalaya, gumbo and shrimp étouffé. Overall the food was OK. It was served in plastic take out bowls and heated in the microwave. It also came with warm French bread. I wasn't that impressed enough with the food to drive across town for it again but it was good for a place we picked while trying to kill time before an appt.
(3)Marvin G.
Had high expectations of gumbo since gumbo is in the name, had better from a can, and at $10 a bowl, ouch . And to add insult to injury my $10 soup was served in a plastic to-go container. We also had a Shrimp Poboy, was pretty good, but wouldn't seek it out. Banana cheesecake was very good and so was the service. Will come back and try the Red beans and rice before giving up. I love Cajun food and left disappointed.
(2)Bill N.
One of my co-workers suggested that we give this place a shot for some traditional Cajun food. Being a good hike from Callahan it was a crap shoot to act on the recommendation. With great ecspectations I can prould report that there were No dissappointments here for being a small eatery. I had the Shrimp étouffée and was very pleased with portion size and flavor. Enjoyed the complimentory Jello shots. Saints won against the Falcons and the server came around with the Jello Shots again this time dropping off about 15 of them. Great place to eat when I find myself in this area again. I want to try the Jambalaya and Boudin Balls next time.
(5)Stephanie M.
Amazing cajun food.....like I am in new orleans!
(5)Jaime C.
Absolutely delicious. We have been 3 times this week. The seafood quiche is amazing, so are the crawfish and shrimp boils! Everything is fresh and authentic, they even fly in their french bread from NOLA. The staff is great as well.
(5)Sue Ellen M.
Everything I have tried here is delicious. The food is authentic and Robert makes you feel like part of the family. It's like coming home
(5)George O.
A small strip mall has one of the tastiest Cajun foods in Jacksonville. Keep in mind that you will not find crazy levels of spice & heat since they are cooking for all taste buds. The flavors are authentic and the staff is friendly. Check them out!
(4)Ron N.
Had the sampler red beans and rice jambalaya seafood gumbo dirty rice all was great! I recommend this place to all!!
(5)Rumple S.
Friendly folks, delicious gumbo, and the olive salad is amazingly flavorful. I would have gotten the muffaletta but I didn't see mortadella mentioned anywhere and didn't want to be disappointed.
(4)Kevin R.
I am originally from Southern Louisiana and I find this place refreshing! I loved the food! It is a bit small, but it is very cozy! Reminded me of home... I don't normally try "Cajun" or "Creole" cuisine outside of Louisiana or my own kitchen... I definitely recommend this to anyone looking for good Louisiana Cuisine!
(5)Jenn S.
i went to gumbo yayas because a friend of mine was ranting and raving about how amazing the place was. the service is wonderful. the people in this place are extremely nice. i ordered take out food while i was pregnant & when i was pregnant -- i was an EXTREMELY picky eater. i got white beans & rice and gumbo. i wasnt impressed by the gumbo -- just like the last reviewer stated. with gumbo in the name of their business -- youd think their gumbo would be to DIE for. im no gumbo connoisseur, but the seafood gumbo from jason's deli is better. :\ though their gumbo wasnt AMAAZING -- their white beans & rice was REALLY delicious. the prices are a little steep for what you get, but all in all -- it was a decent meal. next time -- i think ill try a poboy.
(3)R J.
I only ate there once while I was in town. I had the muffalatta. It was very good. The tapenade really made the sandwich. I am partial to tapenade because I like olives. The sandwich had a good salty taste. The toasted bun had a good crunch and the warm melted cheese and meats gave off a little oiliness that was actually pretty good. Also, I got a half sandwich. It was plenty for lunch. I would go there again if I am ever back in town. I'd like to try the other menu items. Service was friendly. It was fairly busy, maybe half the restaurants had patrons.
(4)