Baltimore has no shortage of signature foods—crab cakes, lake trout, half-and-halfs—but ask longtime residents about true comfort food and many will point you toward something less famous and far more local: Dirty Yak.
Sold almost exclusively in inner-city Chinese carryouts, Dirty Yak is one of Baltimore’s most enduring food traditions. It’s not flashy, it’s rarely advertised, and it doesn’t chase trends. Yet for generations, it has remained a go-to meal for people who know exactly where to find it.
This is the story of Baltimore Dirty Yak—what it is, what’s in it, where to find it, and why it still matters.
What Is Baltimore Dirty Yak?
Dirty Yak—also called yak, yakamein, or yat gaw mein—is Baltimore’s unique take on a noodle dish that appears in several U.S. cities. The Baltimore version is distinct, hearty, and built for takeout.
A classic Baltimore Dirty Yak typically includes:
Thick wheat noodles
Dark brown gravy-style sauce
Shrimp (most common), or beef, chicken, pork, or a house combination
A hard-boiled egg (considered essential)
Optional onions
Optional—but iconic—ketchup on top
Unlike soup-based yakamein found elsewhere, Baltimore Dirty Yak is not a broth dish. It’s rich, saucy, and filling, served in a foam clamshell or takeout container and meant to be eaten with a fork.
The name “Dirty Yak” reflects indulgence, not hygiene—it’s messy, flavorful, and unapologetically satisfying.
How Baltimore Dirty Yak Differs From New Orleans Yakamein
Yakamein is often associated with New Orleans, where it’s typically served as a beef noodle soup with spaghetti, green onions, and egg. That version is sometimes called “Old Sober” and is known as a hangover remedy.
Baltimore Dirty Yak is different in key ways:
No broth—thick gravy instead
More emphasis on shrimp and mixed proteins
Served almost exclusively as carryout
Heavier, richer, and less soup-like
Both versions share historical roots, but Baltimore’s yak reflects the city’s carryout culture and neighborhood tastes.
The Cultural Roots of Dirty Yak
The origins of yakamein trace back to Chinese immigrant communities in American port cities, where cooks adapted noodle dishes to local preferences. Over time, Chinese American carryouts became staples in predominantly Black neighborhoods, and menus evolved accordingly.
In Baltimore, Dirty Yak emerged as a dish shaped by:
Port-city migration
Chinese American takeout traditions
African American food culture
Demand for affordable, filling meals
Rather than appearing in restaurants or cookbooks, Dirty Yak spread through word of mouth, late-night orders, and neighborhood loyalty.
Why Dirty Yak Is Almost Exclusively an Inner-City Carryout Dish
One of the defining characteristics of Dirty Yak is where it’s sold.
You won’t typically find it in:
Upscale restaurants
Trendy food districts
Tourist areas
Instead, Dirty Yak lives in:
Neighborhood Chinese carryouts
Inner-city commercial corridors
Cash-friendly, late-night spots
Often, yak isn’t even printed on the menu. Regulars simply ask for it.
This exclusivity has helped preserve Dirty Yak’s authenticity—and explains why many Baltimoreans consider it their dish.
Where to Find the Best Dirty Yak in Baltimore
Below are well-known and frequently recommended Baltimore carryouts where locals go for Dirty Yak. Availability can vary, so calling ahead is always smart.
Pimlico Chinese Carry Out
5416 Park Heights Ave, Baltimore, MD 21215
📞 (410) 466-0411
Often cited as the definitive Dirty Yak spot in Baltimore. Known for shrimp yak with thick noodles, deep gravy, and generous portions.
Joy Garden Carry Out
2310 Harford Rd, Baltimore, MD 21218
📞 (410) 889-7608
A reliable option for yakamein and other Chinese comfort food. Popular late-night and frequently busy.
Sun Wah
4901 Frankford Ave, Baltimore, MD 21206
An East Baltimore favorite frequently mentioned for solid yak with shrimp or mixed proteins.
House of Lee Chinese & American Food
913 Harlem Ave, Baltimore, MD 21217
A West Baltimore staple where yak has long been part of the neighborhood food culture.
Jimmy’s Carryout
2500 E Hoffman St, Baltimore, MD 21213
A lesser-known but locally recommended spot for yak-style noodles.
Other Baltimore Carryouts Where Yak Is Often Available
(Ask when calling—yak may not appear on printed menus.)
No. 1 Chinese Carry Out — 2416 Pennsylvania Ave
Good Day Chinese Food Carry Out — 2530 Harford Rd
New World Carry Out — 333 E North Ave
Yuen’s Chinese Food Carryout — 536 N Chester St
Sunny Carry Out — 758 Washington Blvd
Broadway Carry-Out — 946 N Broadway
Shun Lee Chinese Carry Out — 3405 Greenmount Ave
Other Cities That Sell Yakamein or Similar Dishes
While Baltimore Dirty Yak is unique, related versions exist in other cities—almost always in working-class or inner-city food spaces:
New Orleans, LA – Brothy yakamein (“Old Sober”)
Norfolk & Hampton Roads, VA – “Box of yock,” often saucier and served in takeout containers
Philadelphia & Pittsburgh, PA – Carryout yakamein variations with noodles, gravy, egg, and meat
Across regions, one thing remains consistent: yakamein is rarely mainstream and almost never upscale.
Why Dirty Yak Still Matters in Baltimore
Dirty Yak isn’t just food—it’s a reflection of Baltimore’s everyday life. It represents affordability, community, and culinary traditions that don’t rely on validation from outside the neighborhood.
In a city where food trends come and go, Dirty Yak remains steady. It doesn’t need reinvention. It doesn’t need rebranding.
It just needs to stay hot.
