The soup consists of stewed beef (such as brisket) in beef-based broth served on top of noodles and garnished with half a hard-boiled egg and chopped green onions.

[1] One of the major proponents of yaka mein since 2006 is Ms. Linda Green, who caters the dish at the Ogden Museum of Southern Art, JazzFest, Oak Street Po’Boy Fest, among other locations and cultural events in New Orleans.

[4] The dish is also found in Montreal, Canada;[5] Norfolk, Virginia; Baltimore, Maryland; and Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Bellevue, Pennsylvania carry out restaurants.

Roast pork (char siu), chicken, and seafood can be added, with some restaurants including the option of pigs' feet.

[9] In the movie Whipsaw, from 1935 starring Myrna Loy, a character in New Orleans places a phone order with a Chinese restaurant for, among other things, yaka mein.