I don't remember what the waiter said any of our food was called, but I 'do' remember everything was deeeelicious. It was my friend's first time venturing into the excting and spicey arena of Ethiopian cuisine. He was a good sport and wanted to go full steam ahead, so we started off on our adventure with some Ethiopian honey wine and some Ethiopian beer. After quenching our thirst, our waiter talked up a meat and vegetable dish that featured lamb, lentils an array of beans and some yummy pork scoop that all came nessled on a very thin pancake-like bread. The same bread was also rolled up neatly around the plate so it could be torn off and used to grab tastes for your mouth. Yes, contrary to Miss Manner's etiquette, forks and knives are 'not' allowed at the table, so you want to make sure to wash your hands before the food arrives!
(5)
Todd S.
I'm a little confused about some of the negative reviews below, particularly those mentioning small main/meat portions, and I wonder if people writing reviews are just less familiar with Ethiopian food. I'm no expert, but Arada reminded me a lot of my favorite Ethiopian restaurant in Portland (Queen of Sheba), and I'd be happy to go back next time I'm in Denver. In general, though, expect to sample from several small dishes that cross a good spectrum of flavor, not just meat plus injera (the delicious sourdough-like, spongy flatbread). Anyhow, I wouldn't say the waiter was slow -- we got our water, drinks, and food all in good, if relaxed, time. There was one screw-up on one of the sides, but they brought out the right one soon after. The waiter certainly was very nice and explained things for us. The food was quite tasty, though I can't remember the names now. We both got meat entrees and opted to choose from the vegetarian menu for "sides". We both liked the lentils and split peas. My wife got the spicy chicken with the egg (good), and I got what looked like ground beef with cottage cheese -- except way more tasty than I realize that sounds (trust me). I also had the Ethiopian beer, just to try it. It was surprisingly sweet (malty), but I enjoyed it with the food.
(4)
Elizabeth W.
Great food and service. The place is open and inviting. I have a veggie combo and was full until the same time the next day. I tried the honey wine, and it was a little too strong alcohol tasting for me. But it was the first time I had it, so I am certainly going to try it again. The location is great, and I sure it is really a great place during the art walk. We didn't have to wait for a table, even at dinner time on a Friday and the restaurant was comfortably full, but not crowded. Certainly a place in the art district to try.
(4)
Heather T.
I'm no expert on Ethiopian food, but am a big fan from living in DC - and have tried in in Edmonton as well. Adored this place - best meat dishes I have ever eaten and the vegetarian dishes were excellent, as well. Four of us went, so we ordered two different sampler platters - I always order Ethiopian this way and have never been disappointed. We had a great time and introduced some new eaters to Ethiopian. Overall, friendly service - but you do have to really advocate for water, amazing spicy comfort food (even if you've never tried it before - you can tell it is food with SOUL), and a great experience with friends. Messy, but delicious!
(4)
Chandra W.
Here's the deal--I don't think that anyone can argue that the food isn't yummy. Ethiopian flavors are incredibly warm and comforting even if it's your first time trying it. I mean, who doesn't love spiced beef (sorry vegetarians--but it is pretty good) wrapped in fried dough (beef sambusa). PLUS, you get to eat with your hands!!! Not "I'm-eating-with-my-fingers-cuz-I'm-eating-finger-Âfood" noshing with my hands. I'm talking, unadulterated, full-on hand-to-mouth yumminess. Also, unlike previous reviews, the service here was fabulous. Very attentive and helpful. I'm deducting a star because of the price. While exotic flavors sometimes warrant a slightly higher-than-expected price tag, the quantity of food for the price was a bit of a letdown. After ordering an app and two entrees with two Ethiopian beers, I can say that I was barely full--granted I steered clear of over eating the injera (delicious but takes up valuable real-estate in my tummy). The entrees were minimal--perhaps I expected too much but I really thought that I might be able to have doggy-bag breakfast, but no such luck. Overall: yummy. soul-satisfying, adventerous, albeit a bit small, but TOTALLY worth a second (and third) trip.
(4)
Doug Y.
To skip this overly wordy review skip to the last paragraph. Nice server albeit his clock seems to run at a slower pace than the rest of the world's. I went with a large group of people (13) and not knowing the logisitics of eating Ethiopian food with a large group I learned a few things. Arada's menu has pricing for one person or two people for each of their entree dishes which includes two veg. sides from the veg. entrees menu. What wasn't explained before we ordered is that all our food would be served on two large platters divided 6 orders on each and one vegan plate for our veggie guy. We ordered one of the special higher priced multi-combos to sample several items (Arada Six Combo) and also a Doro Wot (chicken) before realizing that six of us would be sharing each other's orders. After an indeterminable amount of time the two large-ish (emphasis on the -ish) platters were brought out with a smattering of veggie type piles placed around the rim (way fewer than what I perceived 12 per platter would amount to by the way (2 sides times six orders). there were maybe 4 small piles. Then the dumping of the little bowls began (chawan or rice bowl sized). I know that two of the people on our platter ordered the Doro Wot but the portions for all the entrees were all the same size except that there was a hard boiled egg in the center of the chicken (maybe they figured they were giving us a whole bird that way). The injera was cold and some of it wet and we had to wait bread/utensil-less and ask several times for more. The couple across from us ordered Sambusas near the end of the long wait for our dinner and did indeed get them... after we were pretty much finished eating (the sambusas were by the way the most flavorful thing I tasted that night). If you're dining with a big party here, know that your food comes on a communal platter so order entrees to share, you'll eat with injira (sponge textured slightly sour pancake shaped bread) as your only utensil, it'll be pretty pricey if you're a big eater, and forget it if you're in a hurry, this is the exact opposite of fast food. Adequately tasty but, Arada's? I think I'll pass.
(3)
Yona S.
This is the first time I've ever had Ethiopian food, and I actually consulted Yelp to decide which Ethiopian restaurant to try. This one had the best reviews and so I went. It's nestled in the middle of the Santa Fe art district, which is awesome if you want to make a night of it, or if you want to try to get a table during a First Friday. Our waiter was so adorable and nice. I just loved him so much because of his dazzling smile, his polite respectful demeanor and his patient willingness to help us decide what to order. I'm writing this for the audience who has never tried Ethiopian food. If you like spicy, you'll love this fare. I ordered something that was a sampler of two meats and three side dishes of my choice. The gal I was with ordered just one thing and it came with one meat and two sides. I highly recommend the sampler because who wants to try three things when you can try five? The tomato salad (two types) was hands down the best thing there. It was spicy, but not the way a fresh jalapeno pepper is spicy, haunting your mouth for hours afterward. It was an enjoyable spicy that hits you and then you're ok (kind of like Wasabe). And it was so flavorful without tasting like it was doused in salt! There are some familiar foods on the menu as well. Lentils is a staple, and their lentils were wonderful. The chicken was probably my least favorite because everything else was so good. The ground beef was awesome and again, very spicy. They also let me try a traditional Ethiopian Honey Wine. It was delicious and I could tell by smelling it that it was way more alcoholic than most wines. It was sweet and thick and potent but very delicious. I didn't go for a full glass, only because I was afraid to drive afterward! Another thing when you eat Ethiopian food is that you have to prepare yourself to experience something totally different than what you are used to. Their bread is not like bread. It's more like a spongy tortilla, simply meant to be a utensil for the rest of the food, since forks and spoons are not automatically offered. Another thing is, that you are not going to get a meal that serves 3 when you order an entree (even though between the two of us we only ate half of what we ordered and we each just ordered one entree). If you order the chicken you won't get half a chicken. So just keep that in mind and you won't be disappointed. We even met the manager (not sure if she's the owner too?) and she was very gracious, humble and really wanted to talk to her customers. I just loved the experience and I will definitely be back.
(4)
Scott B.
My favorite restaurant in Denver, and has been for years since way back when it was in that tiny little space on Coflax. We've become friends with the owner over all that time so it's hard for me to give an objective review. I don't understand the complaints about small portion size- we typically get the veggie combo for two, and are usually unable to finish it and have to be rolled out the door on gurneys. And I can eat. If you're a vegetarian, you need to get acquainted with Arada. You can have a fantastic, varied, healthy, delicious meal without seeing a single piece of tofu. One of the things I find most interesting about Arada is how the seasoning in the dishes is always changing a bit. The Yemiser Wot went through a period for a while where it had a really strong cinnamon flavor, the spiciness level on the shiro is always going up and down, the greens are sometime really tart and vinegary like southern greens, and sometimes really smooth. She's always tinkering with everything. Makes things interesting. Also, try the Ethiopian stout (if it's in stock- it's not always available). Interestingly sweet and refreshing. A really nice beer that suits the food perfectly.
(5)
Cassie G.
We've been going to this restaurant for ten years and always pick it for any type of nice celebration dinner. Tonight we went for an end of the summer feast before me and the brother start up school again! We always get the Vegetarian Delight for 2 and the Super Arada for 2 with an extra order of Alitcha. It is always too much food for the four of us to finish but it is always amazing. The owner and waiters are always very nice and tonight I had the Mango Juice which was wonderful as well! Definitely a must try for anybody looking for a great meal in Denver!
(5)
Alden C.
Great Ethiopian food! Yummy! Be prepared to eat with your hands! That is how it is done!
(5)
Andrew O.
Usually I venture out to east Colfax for my Ethiopian food, but I finally decided to try Arada, which is much closer to home. Despite the restaurant being almost completely empty for dinner (only one other party), I was pleasantly surprised with the friendly service and great food. One area that Arada surpasses my usual favorite spots is speed of food. I've been to some Ethiopian places and waited almost an hour for my food, this food was out in about 5 minutes. Food quality was great, and the red lentils in particular were nice and spicy. If you've never had Ethiopian food I highly recommend it, if only for the novelty. A lot of the dishes are almost like baby food, and you eat it by pinching it up with a thin, spongy sourdough-y bread called Injera. There is no silverware, you just use the delicious bread as your only utensil. Not recommended for germaphobes or awkward first dates.
(4)
David C.
I've eaten here a few times, and all of my visits were a lot of fun, so I definitely head here when I want good Ethiopian food. As most will tell you, food is eaten with injera, the spongy bread, rather than a fork or chopsticks, so you will be eating with your hands. There's a really nice mix of meats and vegetarian dishes on the menu, and it's very easy to get a good combination of things to try. I recommend the combination platters so that you get a taste of many different items. When they bring out your meal in a giant pottery-style dish, it honestly doesn't look like very much food. But as you eat bite after bite of food wrapped in the injera, it will fill you up without much trouble. I enjoyed the lamb and seasoned beef (Minchet) amongst the meats, and the Vegetarian Delight had several tasty things on it along with the tomato salads that come standard. The greens (Gomen) were my favorite, and the potato dish was good too. I'm not much for spicy food, but there's plenty here for those that are. When you want a really enjoyable meal that's different from pretty much anything you've ever had, give Arada a try.
(4)
Hoang L.
Pretty awesome... only my second time having Ethiopian food and I'll def come back. The portions are pretty large, so come with a big appetite. Great spot for groups as it's fun to share and try a bit of everything.
(4)
Nicole W.
We love this place! We hadn't been in a while, but we always think of it! The wait staff is definitely quicker than they used to be, the bread supply is more prolific and my water glass definitely stayed full! The presentation of the meal has also changed a bit. Instead of bringing all the food in little bowls and then putting it on your plate, they bring the plate all set up! They also bring rolls of bread instead of having it hanging over the plate. That was really great! My hubby and I split the super arada - definitely enough food for 2 when you order for 1. Our friend ordered the veggie delight and she was pleased with her choices as well. The food was fabulous as always!
(4)
Jeramyn F.
This is about how our dinner went: Enter restaurant, find a seat, wait 20 minutes, no water no greeting, no service Waiter comes, order two coffees, waters and an assortment of food wait 10 minutes, go find someone to ask for water again, get some water in a few minutes wait for 10 minutes we are out of water again we again need to go find someone to get water wait for 10 minutes more, finally the food comes, out of water again coffee still hasn't arrived eat some relatively flavorless food with bones in the sauces (bite carefully) wait 20 more minutes ask about coffee and find that "it is still brewing it takes a while to brew" wait 10 minutes finally the coffee arrives luke warm and over brewed Finish eating, wait for bill, leave disappointed and hungry the portions were tiny, going home to have dinner =(
(1)
D M.
Consistently the best Ethiopian restaurant in the Denver area. And this is coming from someone who lived in Ethiopia for years
(4)
Mo C.
Not as good as Queen of Sheba in Santa Clara CA, but still pretty damn good. Beer: So, on the beer menu is listed "Ethiopian Beer". I have been to a few Ethiopian restaurants and know some of the beers. When I asked the server what brand the beer was, I kind of got a blank stare. When I asked if it was dark, he said, no, so I ordered an iced tea. The iced tea never made it to the table. In fact, no non-alcoholic drinks with the exception of water ever made it over. No problem, water works for me. Bathroom: Weirdest bathroom I have ever been in. It's a single stall/room with two toilets, side by side. WTF? Fork: Yes, I know, this is a hands on eating experience. But, I like to have a fork, just in case I want to reach all the way over the injera to try my friend's food. Asked for a fork, twice, it never made its way to the table. Food: The food was good. Again, not as good as Queen of Sheba, but still quite tasty. The injera was warm and plentiful. I recommend the #6, a dish of beef that is cooked with spiced and injera, then served on injera. The lamb stew was quite good as well. Ambiance: Well, they tried to make this place look like a nice cafe, rather than have any ethnic music, ornaments, etc. I miss the voo-doo looking dolls at Queen of Sheba :) It was just a little strange eating with my hands (sans fork) and listening to Brittney Spears, you know? Overall, I would definitely head back here, for the takeout if nothing else. I just wish there was better parking. WARNING on Parking: Although there is a nice empty lot across the street to the left of the restaruant, DO NOT PARK THERE! As we walked out of the restaurant we saw that our friend's car window had been bashed in and items stolen from her car. Those of us who parked on the street were not broken into.
(4)
john W.
Nothing compares to ethiopian. Eating with your hands, yummy bread and great meat and lentil dishes. The service has vastly improved! The first few times we went, about a year ago, the service was kinda slow. This time, it was awesome! The waiter was all over it, even when it was busy! Worth every penny! The Super Arada is the one to get. If you're not big eaters, you can probly split the Super Arada for 1, that's what we do.
(5)
Trevor C.
I've never before had Ethiopian food. Was attending an event in the Arts District and my wife pointed it out that we should try it out. We were not disappointed! To start, we had some Ethiopian honey wine. It's a different taste. You can definitely taste alcohol, which I am a fan of, but it is sweetened with a taste of honey as well. Not sure how else to describe it, but you will definitely not find this in many other places so give it a try. Second, we met the owner. She is such a nice woman. I asked her what her favorite was and she said, "Everything. I am the cook, so I love everything!" We enjoy vegetarian dishes and as such went with the Yatakilt Alicha for two. It was delectable. The bread is something I've never had before. She served the dish on a pizza pan that was covered with this spongy bread and then topped with four rolls of bread that surround the mixture of tomatoes, jalapeños, potatoes, carrots, and a hummus type mixture. I wrapped everything I could fit into the first roll of bread and it was the sweetest taste I would have never imagined! As she told us, the bread that everything sits on top of is the best. It collects all of these flavor a from the dish during your meal. Now for the ambience. She plays a really happy Ethiopian mix of music that made me smile the entire time. She also has a full bar stocked with many liquors that would please anyone's palate. Check this one out!
(5)
Alice G.
Tucked in a hole in the wall on Santa Fe in the art district, this little restaurant is a good option for dining, but be patient! The service in here is a little slow and disjointed, but you will be VERY pleased with your food! We order the super Arada combo and you get everything you need. Delish. The honey wine is always fun...and funky enough we always switch to beer or wine after the first glass. One thing is for certain, you will feel you left the country for a few hours!
(3)
Jake L.
Arada just became one of my top 3 favorite restaurants in Denver. This place is seriously delicious. The Ethiopian dining experience is a unique one. Personally, I enjoy eating without silverware off of a shared plate.. it's a lot of fun! And if you haven't tried it, I would highly recommend letting your hair back and getting playful with it. Holding that piece of bread with that perfectly spiced food may just set you free. Every vegetarian item on the menu is 5-star worthy. The flavors are unique, explosive, and offer something you won't find anywhere but here. The Yater Alitcha (yellow split peas) were a personal favorite, although it was almost impossible to decide. The day after my first experience at Arad and I am already dying to go back.
(5)
Matt D.
I stopped by Arada for lunch, trying it for the first time. I've had ethiopian many times before, but this was one of the best (and least expensive) ethiopian means I've ever had. I ordered the spicy chicken lunch item, and it was delicious. Not too spicy, just very flavorful, and the side tomato dish was tart and refreshing. The injera was a bit cold, but I think that's how it's supposed to be served, and it tasted fine. The owner served me herself -- they've been in business 17 years, and was very hospitable and friendly. Even gave me a walkthrough of different Ethiopian beers.
(5)
Amy S.
So, I'll start out by saying that I love Ethiopian food! I have had it more times than I can count on my fingers and toes combined, and at several different locations. I'll start with the meal. I ordered honey wine, which was decent, but very unlike the other honey wines I have had before. This wine was cloudy and a brighter yellow than I am familiar with. It was also pricey for the amount served. I had the spicy chicken entree, and was also allowed to sample the lamb. The lamb was down right gross. Not tender at all, and not very flavorful. The chicken was okay, but I really wasn't impressed, it was tough/chewy, but the flavors were spot on. The tomato fit-fit and tomato salads were delicious! I think the weirdest part of the meal was that the injera was mushy and sticky. I kept wiping my fingers and particles of napkin were ripping off and getting stuck to my fingertips. Very odd... I've never seen that before. Also, the atmosphere is not very pleasing. The tables were covered in plastic that was not only unsightly, but also annoying. The bathroom had two toilets in it, side by side, with no stalls/barriers, and one toilet was blocked off with duct tape. So in conclusion, I won't be back.
(2)
Masha B.
Nice! Lovely meal, delicious food, veggie-friendly menu...Ethiopian beer to try. Very gracious owner, nice ambiance.... I saw one of the reviewers mentioned the quirky toilet situation. Please, I don't go to a restaurant to sit in the bathroom. The food is great and that's what counts. I shall be back for more!
(5)
Doug H.
Enjoyed my meal at Arada. The dishes were very tasty and spiced to taste different and distinct, unlike other places where the stews are all the same but they just have different proteins or vegetables. We had the chicken, lamb, steamed greens and chickpeas (sorry I don't remember the Ethiopian names!) The servings could have been larger too. We had four dishes for four of us and we wiped that plate clean. The injera was so-so. They don't give you enough and it's cold, so it's not that great. I can't put my finger on it but I like the injera at Ethiopian Restaurant more. Service is slow as others have written, but it wasn't too bad. I wish the tables were larger and the chairs more comfortable. The four of us were squeezed into such a small round cocktail table; Ethiopian food should give you ample room to spread out!
(4)
Sam S.
I'm an extremely picky eater when it comes to ethnic food and a group of colleagues want to come here. I was extremely hesitant but I must say I am so very glad that I decided to go. We ordered a few appetizers which were very tasty and 2 sample platters: 1 vegetarian and 1 meat. There was plenty of food to feed 3 men and 1 lady. The lady who served us was also the owner. She had been in business for 15 years and now we know why so long. The food was great and she was extremely sweet. I also recommend trying the Ethiopian Beer. It was a heavy Amber beer that was very tasty as well. I would absolutely go back!
(5)
Lindy L.
Hmmm. A weird experience, which was especially disappointing because it was my boyfriend's first Ethiopian food experience. We started with the honey wine, and that's when the weirdness started. The wine was opaque, smelled funny, and tasted vinegary. When we asked our server about the wine, she said that honey wine is only sweet when it's first opened and that most people think that it's too sweet then. She did bring us new glasses, and that wine looked, smelled, and tasted good, but she didn't even check the wine in our first set of glasses. We saw our still-full wine glasses sitting on the bar at the end of the night. I really hope that the wine didn't get served to other people. Our server seemed to think that we weren't familiar with honey wine, although I've actually had it a number of times. And it doesn't take an expert to taste vinegar. The food part of the evening was just fine. We went with the Arada Special, which was pretty good overall and included three meat dishes and three vegetarian dishes. Two of the vegetarian dishes were disappointingly bland though, the yater alitcha (yellow split peas) and the yemiser wot (lentils) The food here was served in an interesting way. The server brought out all of the dishes in small bowls, and told us what each dish was as she emptied it onto the platter of injera. I really liked that. Usually, the platter of injera is brought out with all of the dishes already placed on top of the injera, without any explanation about which dish is which. The pieces of injera for us to use for scooping were placed along the outside of the platter, which is a prettier way of presentation than the usual basket of injera on the side, although they didn't provide many extra pieces for scooping. We wanted more injera, and it took awhile for us to get the server's attention, even though there were only two other couples in the restaurant. For people who've never had Ethiopian food, the dishes that you order are placed on top of a huge, communal piece of injera that's the size of a platter. Injera is spongy and slightly sour tasting, in a good way. Maybe tangy is a better word--like sourdough bread, but different. You eat the dishes by breaking up another piece of injera and using that to scoop up the food, like you do with a tortilla. Ethiopian food is usually really flavorful because of the spices used. Back to the experience at Arada: at least thirty minutes had passed since our server last checked on us, and we wanted our check. We had a hard time getting our server's attention to ask for the check because she was talking on the phone. Even after we told her that we didn't have much more time because we were trying to catch a movie, she still continued talking on the phone and took a long time to return the credit card. We didn't bother trying to take the leftovers because that would have created an even bigger delay. Given the spoiled wine, a couple of bland dishes, and the very slow time taking care of our check, despite being politely told that we had time pressure and despite an empty restaurant, the experience was a 2. A final weird thing to note is that I'd tried going here two other times before, but wasn't able to because they weren't open, even though I went on days and at times when they were supposed to be open. In retrospect, that seems like a sign.
(2)
Paula H.
I walk by here once a week and finally dropped in. Glad I did. The vegetarian sambusa was a delicious start followed by the yemiser wot which is perfectly spicy! Yes, the ambiance is in the dive category. Which I don't mind. I did enjoy my meal, and would give that a 4. Ambiance rated at 2.
(3)
Julio T.
I wonder if the reason Denver has so many Ethiopian people and restaurants is because Denver has a similarly high elevation. Ethiopia's largest city, Addis Ababa, is actually 7,726 feet in elevation, even higher than Denver and sits on plains near a mountainous region just like we do. I'm not sure if that's the reason for Denver's large Ethiopian population, but I am glad they have opened up places like Arada and shared their country's fine food with all of us. My friend and I got the vegetarian plate and enjoyed every bite of the yatakilt alitcha, fosolio and gomen piled upon pieces of spongy injera bread. The yatakilt alitcha was especially good with it's huge potato chunks and tender cabbage pieces soaked in a warm, gingery sauce. The greens were hearty and spicy and the green beans had that unique sour/savory/spicy/sweet flavor combination that only seems to be available at Ethiopian restaurants. Arada is certainly a bit more higher priced that other Ethiopian restaurants in town, averaging about $15 per person when many places have it for about $10-12 with about the same quality. But the food was still quite excellent and the service was very attentive, with our server quickly refilling our waters and baskets of injera. I've always enjoyed living the "Mile-High" life in Denver. I am even more grateful if our elevation and mountainous geography is responsible for bringing the warm and generous Ethiopian people and their fantastic cuisine to our city.
(4)
Kelly A.
I liked this place! I'm new to Ethiopian food. Portion size on veg dishes seemed smaller than I've had at the two other Ethiopian restaurants I've been to. Chicken was a little dry and chewy, but the spicy sauce made up for it. The injera was great! The iced tea was fantastic!
(4)
Gena L.
A friend and I went here after a run for some post-run carbs. We are both Ethiopian cuisine fans, so we decided on Arada. It was not very busy, so the service was pretty attentive. We ordered the Vegetarian Sampler, which was really lovely. They were very generous with the injera, giving us multiple refills without delay. For those of you who haven't tried Ethiopian food, I really must encourage you to do so. They say if you like Indian cuisine, you will love Ethiopian cuisine, and Ethiopian cuisine is better for you and very social.
(4)
Heather M.
It was fine. Higher priced than places on Colfax, and not as tasty.
(2)
rusty r.
A couple weeks back, my good ethiopian friend took me to her favorite place... Arada. We skipped Boulder's ethiopian and made our way to Santa Fe Ave... so, we really committed to giving this place a shot. The food was extremely tasty! The spices jumped and rattled around in my mouth... the lamb and chicken were great, but the lentils were amazing! Also had some "Ethiopian Beer", as listed on the menu. It's called "Meta" and apparently is a standard ethiopian brew. kind of sweet, but very dry like an asian brew. very tasty. Only drawback was the small portions, they could have been way bigger, but luckily the injera (spongey bread) filled us up!
(3)
Kate C.
One star for ambiance. Let's just say, I expected more. I had bought the Abssynia Groupon and checked out that place--my expectations of it were low because of the ambiance, but, for a total whole in the wall, zomg the food was sooo sooo delish that two weeks later I was craving Ethiopian food again. Instead of going to the same place, I thought I'd try Arada. I expected more because it had more reviews, looked cute, and is down in the art district. The honey wine was decent (I didn't think it was too sweet). My guy and I ordered the Meat Combo plate for two. Unfortunately, I couldn't do the injera (gluten), so our server brought me out a plate of rice with veggies that looked like it had been cooked a week ago. The vegetables were gross, dry, overcooked, overall just mealy. I can totally just eat the meat and Tomato Fit-Fit, I thought. Wrong--all four of the options on the platter were overcooked and the meat extremely dry. There was nothing special about the flavors, to the extent that my boyfriend and I repeated quietly back and forth "This is terrible! Terrible to the extent that I don't even want to eat it!!" As soon as we exited the restaurant, we both exclaimed, "THAT WAS TERRIBLE!" I left full, and completely unsatisfied, wishing I'd just gone back to Abssynia. Even though the ambiance is less-than-desired, the food at Abssynia knocks Arada out of the water. You'll also be surrounded by Ethiopian peeps chatting up in their native language. The only thing good about the food at Arada was the Tomato Fit-Fit, appropriately seasoned, however that is not enough to get me back in the door, so... I will not be back! But I can't wait to satisfy my hankering for Ethiopian with a visit to Abssynia again.
(1)
Russell G.
This is a cool little spot in the Santa Fe district. Came here with the girl because a few weeks prior, we arrived early for a gallery show and found this place to be a good fit for a drink. The guys next to us at the bar were munching on a super Arada and I knew I had to return! We ordered a super Arada and a meat combo. The plates are the size of a tray so prepare for a lot of food. Everything was flavorful and I love the wraps used for bread and your utensils. Yes, you eat with your hands! The bread alternative is light and fluffy but I cannot identify exactly what it is. Anyways, it compliments the food very well and my girl and I had a great time eating with our hands. You just have to own it! I appreciated the experience very much. Out of your norm and a good time. Two people can easily share one entree here. Worth checking out!
(4)
Alicia J.
My boyfriend ordered the Doro Wot and I ordered one of the beef specials. When we only saw one big plate coming out, I thought, "Oh, good, one of our dinners is ready!" Not so. We were apparently splitting the main plate, which kinda peeved me, based on the price of the meal. Together, we each got four side dishes with our main entrees. We were given so little of each side dish that it literally looked like someone had given us a teaspoon of each. Maybe a tablespoon, but not a heaping one. It was shocking how little we got considering price and the fact that we're talking about some beans and spice. What's cheaper to make? But, the most unbelievable part of the meal was my boyfriend's Doro Wot. The waitress overturned his bowl onto the plate and out fell a SINGLE DRUMSTICK and an egg. The waitress even pointed it out as she told us what was what and said, "Your drumstick and an egg." So, what it boils down to is....pay $14, get a drumstick and an egg as an entree. I don't think so. And, by the complete and utter emptiness of the place when we were there...no one else does, either. We walked out and won't be back.
(1)
MM M.
Horrible service. Mediocre food. We went on First Friday for my sister's birthday. We got there at 5:30pm and there were no other people in the restaurant. We had 6 adults, one toddler in a highchair (who actually eats a lot) and a baby in a stroller in our group, along with a bunch of birthday presents. The waitress pushed two small square tables together with space for the 6 adults. When we asked if we could have another table so that there would also be room for the toddler and stroller next to the table, she got really annoyed and said they were going to be too busy. So we just pushed the extra table over ourselves and then worried that they were going to spit in our food or something. It never got full in there while we were there, so it never came up again. But it definitely soured our experience. The rest of the service was also poor. She rarely came around for drink refills, and we had to flag her down to get more injera. She didn't seem to care whether we liked the food or not. As for the food itself, I'm a bit of a snob about Ethiopian food. Having lived in LA and then the Bay area, I've had my share of really, really good Ethiopian food. There was definitely no comparison between Arada's food and our favorite places in California. The meat dishes were chewy and all the food just lacked the normal rich combination of spices (not necessarily hot spicy) that I love about Ethiopian food. Overall, we will not be returning here. I'll have to try some of the other Ethiopian restaurants in Denver and hope to find some place good.
(2)
Kathi C.
I've been to Ethiopian in several large cities, but because of where I live and work, I only get to enjoy it about once a year. For that reason, I usually get the sampler to try everything at a new place. I ordered the meat combination (4 kinds of meat) and the vegetable combination (all 6 kinds of vegetables), the vegetable sambusa, and a glass of honey wine. What can I say? Just delicious. This place was up there with some of the other Ethiopian restaurants I've tried in other cities. Now I want to try the other Ethiopian restaurants in Denver too. Yum!
(4)
Jonathan D.
Very strange. I cant seem to find my review that I wrote on Arada. I will repost and I guess see if this one mysteriously disappears. If I my other review decides to magically show up again I will delete this one. Just to recap, if you are looking for the worst and I mean absolute worst service in not only all of Denver but I would say probably north of the equator, then please go here on any night of the week and have dinner. Just to give you an idea of how bad the service is, I am soooooooo lazy I have used Yelp for 3+ years and I have never created an account. One night at this place made me so angry that my lazy butt created an account, sat at my computer and wrote a review just to see it go missing 5 days later. I am on a serious mission to let the world know that this place is by far a giant waste of time. Cheers
I love ethnic food e.g. Ethiopian, Moroccan, Korean, Greek, Peruvian, etc. I'm kind of like that weird girl Polly from the movie Along Came Polly (although I have yet made anyone have diarrhea -- go watch the movie). I like Ethiopian food because it's flavorful, communal, and different. Here are my comments on the items I've tried: Siga Wot (spicy beef): very good, had just the right amount of spicy-ness Yebeg Siga Alitcha (lamb stew): had an overwhelming lamby flavor, but what do you expect, it is *lamb* I guess Yater Alicha (yellow split peas): the texture was a little too hard for me, I didn't think it was cooked through enough Yatakelt Alitcha (steamed cabbage and carrots): loved this veggie dish, I wish I can get more Yemiser Wot (lentils): the menu description said it was cooked with a red pepper sauce, so I expected it to be spicy, but it wasn't; I'm not a big lentils fan though Greens (eh, greens): very soft and flavorful, one of my favorite veggie dishes I also tried their honey wine. It was *very* sweet. I would recommend it with dessert rather than with dinner. If it's your first time, a combination plate is always a good idea to try multiple different dishes. One word of advice though, eating too much of the Ingera (bread) can fill you up pretty quickly. So take it easy on those. The Ingera is like a giant sponge that sucks up all the things you ate plus all the things you didn't think you ate and makes them expand even bigger in your stomach. 1 star off: small portions on the good stuff
(4)
Lynn V.
I really wanted to like this, but had some issues. First, we got the combination plate (meat and veg). This is the first Ethiopian place I've been to where the waitress put the food on the injera at the table. That was nice, as she told us what each dish was as she scooped it out! Sadly, I found no balance in the spices. There seemed to an overabundance of spicy pepper, which just overshadowed all the other subtle spices. I can usually balance out the spicy dishes with the milder ones, but on this combo platter, they all seemed to have a lot of spicy peppers. My main problem was that there was ONE waitress for the entire restaurant, for the entire time we were there. (which was about 3 hours!) While we were the FIRST to arrive for dinner, we were not given the check in a timely manner. Even though we asked for it a few times, other, more 'in your face' customers got their bills first. I was actually very tempted to just stand up and walk out, and I have NEVER done that. One aggressive customer even grabbed OUR check (with my credit card in the holder) out of the waitresses hand, because he thought it was his. RUDE! While our waitress was nice enough, there was no way she could keep up with an entire restaurant of filled tables, and the food wasn't good enough for me to go through that again. I honesty will not be back.
(2)
April O.
We came here at the instigation of friends, while in town on business. The main selling points were that it was within walking distance of the place we were currently at, and that it was "awesome." Neither Brice nor I have ever had this type of food, so I couldn't vouch for the truth of the awesomeness. Nor did I want to be the sole voice begging to eat somewhere else. So we went. Since we didn't know what to get or expect (and because the meals all seemed to be $17 for one plate) I told Brice that I would eat whatever he was eating. Brice decided on Doro Wat, which is all meat. The lamb is excellent and was the mutual favorite. The chicken was enjoyable, the beef chunks seemed bland. Neither of us ate much of the ground beef and eventually the spice was so intense that we couldn't physically eat more of the food. I didn't really like my meal, but I blame myself for that. Others at the table who ordered more balanced dinners and had vegetables along with their meat seemed much more happy, so that's probably the way to go. The bread (injera?) was soft and citrus-y, and I suspect would have been delicious with greens or lentils. As it was, I didn't think it went too well with just meat. But once again, I think that's my own fault. Bonus half-star for the homeless dude cursing up a storm as we crossed the street. He was loud enough to make you think he was being chased by at least five police dogs. Dude was completely ALONE. I'd return to give it another shot with a different meal. 3.5 stars.
(3)
Anna F.
Got two to-go cokes and beef sambusas. The cups that the drinks were in had questionable hairs and loads of dust in them. The Sambusas were okay...but after seeing how dirty the cups were I didn't have much of an appetite for the food...I didn't trust that it was safe to eat. Needless to say I won't be heading back there.
(2)
Ellen L.
Delicious and flavorful
(4)
Maha K.
The women's bathroom has two toilets. That's right ladies, you have to pee sans stalls because it helps cut building costs. One toilet has duct tape across it from flooding and the other would make relieving yourself on Santa Fe Drive a better alternative. '90s R&B music blares overhead. It makes awkward conversations at the table even worse because Keith Sweat is moaning through the ceiling and walls about how badly he wants to make love to you. By the end of our night, Mariah Carey was screaming something or another about being "so alone" and Michael Jackson's voice kept reminding us that he was dead. The servers are so depressed and annoyed that you might be more inclined to order 20mg of Prozac to-go than a real dinner. The bar feels faintly like that "junk liquor store on Colfax". I ordered the Ethiopian "honey" wine and got what looked like unfiltered apple juice with sedimentary layers of dirt at the bottom. The drink smelled like Wal-Mart grade garden soil. I would have better choked it down if it at least smelled like TARGET-grade garden soil. It costs $7 per glass. We nicknamed the hummus appetizer "Hum-Whiz" after Cheez-Whiz (both are cheap, artificial knock-offs of the real thing). It tasted like watery, cinnamon-flavored Nutella. No trace of a single chick pea. It costs $6. Splitting an entree costs you $5.50, driving the total cost of your plate near or over the original cost, depending on what you order. Manipulative business strategy, but definitely a turn-off. I'm not a big fan of injera bread as it is, but the pricing and quality prompted me to opt out of dining here altogether. 1 "Ethiopian" beer (tastes like Coors Light) + 1 "Ethiopian" honey wine + 2 shots of whiskey + 1 "hummus" plate = $40. I'd rather have saved the money for a real trip to Ethiopia. Or better yet, given the money to an Ethiopian charity in-need.
(2)
Riza H. C.
A unique experience some will tell. Since from where I am from, we often have "communal" eating events and when you use your fingers and hands to eat, all in all things are ok. Food wise: They have a distint flavor to it, depends on what you order. I had my first experience at Arada with like about 11 other friends for dinner sometime on April 29 2008. The service was indeed at a slow mode pace aka laid-back. The host do provide us with plenty of the "special" chewy bread in called Injera. Injera or Taita is a pancake-like bread made out from Teff Flour. The table that I am seated, my friends and I ordered these: Yebeg Siga Alitcha ~ lamb Doro Wot ~ chicken Meat Combination ~ Minchetabush and gomen Besega Yebeg Alitcha, Siga wot, Bozena shiro The rest of the dishes I cant recall. All the entrees include Injera, Tomato Fit-Fit, Tomato Salad or the choice of any dishes in the Vegetarian menu. Since its a communal type of eating, the people at my table indeed enjoyed their experiences and the food. We are the only guests at my table who finish our dishes from the communal plate at the end of that evening. If only the entrees comes with a larger portion I would come for more. For now, I would rather check some other places in Colorado that offers Ethiopian dishes.
(3)
Peter M.
Way to go Yelpers! I tried this place out after reading my fellow Yelper's reviews, and it was great! What a gem! I had my folks out to dinner, and there was a great deal of skepticism when I suggested Ethiopian food, as neither of my parents had ever tried it. We got the lamb, and a beef dish. It was STELLAR! I highly recommend that if you have never tried this interesting cuisine, you drop by Arada some day soon! Fantastic staff, too! Well done!
(5)
Kirsten M.
I love restaurants that are set up around family-style dining. I've always found it weird when people want to go to Thai or Chinese restaurants and order their own dish for themselves instead of passing it around the table. This was officially one of the first fights I ever picked with my husband, ("Order something we BOTH like!"). Yeah, I'm demanding and high maintenance like that. The reason I bring this up is that this is one of the reasons why I love Ethiopian food. It's all served in a big tray or bowl in the center of the table with injera bread (sort of like a spongy crepe) to scoop it up. Sharing food AND I get to use my fingers? Win! I love taking adventurous friends and big groups to this restaurant. The service is fab and they go out of their way to make sure everyone has a good experience. They even brought out a special child-size bowl of food for a friend's young son without us asking. Also, Ethiopian food is very vegetarian friendly so this is a good pick if you have a mixed meat eater/vegetarian crowd. If you are new to Ethiopian food I would suggest picking a meat combo and a vegetarian combo to try both so you can see what you like without getting a huge amount of any one thing.
(4)
Hollie W.
Great ethio joint! Had the veggie combo with six fantastically delicious selections. The inerja was so tasty. Only one person front of house, so service was as good as it could be for one server (aka super slow). Huge portions with plenty left over to take home. I've been to Arada's several times and while the veg combo is always good, it is a bit inconsistent.
(3)
Cara G.
Yum. Things I like about Ethopian food: - fun experience (share! eat with your hands!) - new flavors, delicious spices - healthy (well, at least it seems to be) I had no idea what to order but our server was very helpful. We tried a couple combination plates full of deliciously spiced meats, lentils and other veggies. Each scoop of meat/veggies goes on top of a big, round, spongy bread (kind of like a thick crepe) that you use for scooping in place of silverware. Arada looks unassuming from the outside but is pretty roomy -- and a little funky. It had light traffic we went (random time on a week night) but lots of people came in for take-out orders. If you frequent First Fridays on Santa Fe, add Arada to your list.
(4)
Kell R.
Awesome! Delicious! Gored Gored! I love coming here! Fantastic food paired with great prices make this place perfect for a night out whether it be for a first date to an ordinary night out!
(4)
Stephen W.
I love this place. The food is fantastic and atmosphere isn't bad either. The price is quite reasonable. It can be slow if there are a lot of people in there, and they won't take a reservation on first friday, which is a great day to go.
(5)
Jeremy K.
Arada's "Doro Wat" was listed by Denver Magazine as one of the top 100 must eat dishes in Denver, so I gave it a shot: Rating: 5.5 (out of 10) Price: $10.50 The Skinny: I am no expert on Ethiopian dining, that's for sure. Nor do I hide it well either. After asking the waitress/cook for a fork, she smiled at me with amused pity and suggested that I use the things at the end of my arms (my hands). Ohhhhh snap!! In your face, uncultured American, IN YO FACE! Hands in full use, I dug into the Doro Wat - a chicken dish that takes 10 hours to cook, and is served along with a few sides atop a thin spongy flatbread. The flatbread is interesting because of its uniqueness - half crepe, half bread, it tasted decent and did a pretty good job as a wrapper to the chicken and 4 sides on the plate. The idea is to jam everything together in a strip of the flatbread and let them blend together in your mouth. I found the sides to be a little above average in flavor, but mostly the chicken was a letdown. Overcooked and dry. Not even the scorching spicy heat could save it. Overall, it was something different and decent. And I'm not really convinced I got their best shot. If the chicken was cooked to be tender, it could go up to a 6.5. I've got a picture of it up on the blog on my profile jko
(3)
Natalie M.
I went to Arada last night with a small group and wasn't sure what to expect since I had never had Ethiopian food. The place was very sparse in the way of other guests, but yet it was 7:00pm on a Sunday night. The food was good, although my picky daughter was a bit disappointed with the chicken that she ordered. Pricing was moderate for what you get...roughly $10 to $14 a person. Our server was a bit scattered....I think that she was more interesting in the Muppet special that was on television than bringing us our bill. I would go back for the food, but not so much for the service. Also, probably not the best place for a first date given that you are going to town with your hands and making a mess of your self (which I guess is most of the fun).
(3)
Lauren K.
I have eaten at a LOT of Ethiopian restaurants, and because I grew up outside of Washington DC where there are a myriad of incredible Ethiopian restaurants to choose from, I have become quite picky as far as the quality and authenticity of Ethiopian food. I discovered Arada when it was on East Colfax 6 or 7 years ago. This was when Haime, the owner, was the hostess, waitress, and chef, and I was the only one eating there. I got Kitfo as it is traditionally prepared- raw. It was incredible!!!! The next time I tried the Doro Wot, which was equally incredible. Over the years, my husband and I have tried everything on the menu and those two dishes continue to be our favorites. We usually get either the Arada six or Super Arada combination dishes, and an order of Kitfo. If you've never had Ethiopian food, know that you eat with your fingers using delicious spongy bread, though I bet if you asked they would give you some silverware. The spices are unique and probably unlike anything you've had before- they are delicious! Expect a dining experience like no other. You'll have enough leftovers for at least another meal, too! Sure, the service may not be lightning fast or anything but everyone is friendly and my water glass is never empty. If you can't make it to DC for your first Ethiopian dining experience, go here because it's the best Ethiopian food in Colorado!
(5)
Evey M.
I went to Arada last night with a group of 5 others. The place was completely empty at 7 pm. I don't know if it is like that frequently or if it was because outside it was 10 degrees; regardless, the place was a ghost town. A quaint, clean, and warm ghost town. Every reviewer before me that has told you Arada has slow service is 100% correct. Even on a night when there are only 6 people in the restaurant things are still at a snails pace; however, the service is attentive and thorough. Luckily for me I had read up on the yelp reviews before going and knew to expect the slow service. One of my friends and of course myself are vegetarians so we got a seperate plate from the 4 non-veggies. We tried: - Vegetable Sambusa: which is beyond delicious - Yate Alitcha - Yatukilt Alitcha - Yemiser Wot (by far my favorite, next time I will order this dish as an entree size) - Gomen - Injera Bread - Tomato Fit-Fit Every single thing on the plate was delicious. It's spicy and vinegary so if you don't like both of those then this place is not for you. They also have mango juice as a main beverage and a full bar. If you are looking for something a little different then your normal everyday fare that won't cost you an arm and a leg try Arada.
(4)
Jonny D.
A consistently great time. You can get messy with your friends because you're eating some absolutely irresistible food with your hands and a thin layer of sour-in-a-good-way injera bread. I love Ethiopian cuisine and this place is the best Ethiopian I've had in the US. I really like how Ethiopian has a knack for making a vegetarian food hearty and delicious, so I'd recommend getting the Vegetarian Combo and then supplementing it with some of the Doro Wot, if you're into the whole meat thing. The one complaint I can register is that the service here, while friendly and engaging, seems completely unaware of the necessity of keeping me well-watered. For a place with spicy food, you'd expect to have large glasses and attention paid to when you empty them out. Not so here--small goblets that can go minute upon minute without refills (I've been compelled to grab a nearby pitcher and refill myself on several occasions). Apart from that, this is in my estimation among the best restaurants in Denver.
(4)
Lacey M.
Arada was my first Ethiopian food experience, and I wasn't that impressed. It was pretty good food, I suppose, but I probably won't go back. I went with my sister, Natalie M., and her daughter on a Sunday night for dinner. We were one of only 2 tables in the whole restaurant. That being said, the service was REALLY slow. The 1 lady working the front of the house seemed to be more focused on the T.V. then on giving good service. Since 2 of us were meat-eaters, and 2 vegetarians, we got 2 separate platters for the table. I really liked the bread it was served with/on, to use as your utensil...kind of a fun experience. I ordered one of the meat combos, that came with 4 different selections. I wasn't exactly sure which one was which, but do know that the one lamb dish was very delicious. Everything else was just okay. The sides were nothing to write home about either. I was wishing for a lot more flavor...with pretty much everything on that giant platter. I'm definitely glad I went, and was able to finally try Ethiopian food...but left a little disappointed. Not only with the service and food, but also with the price...little too pricey for not that great of food.
(3)
Dave T.
I thought this place was pretty good. A good starting point for the Santa Fe Art Walk. I enjoyed it. I have tried a few other Ethiopian restaurants around the country and found them to be better, but am certainly no expert on what is truly authentic. Definitely worth a visit, though I will visit others to compare, and update. Dave
(3)
Jelena W.
I can't say that I had high expectations the first time I tried Ethiopian cuisine. Actually, I couldn't really picture what it was- a less tactful friend, referring to the famine conditions in Africa, opined, "Ethiopian food? What is that- they serve you 30 grams of food, then take it away and tell you that the American aid money all went to promote abstinence so you don't get to eat today?" On the contrary- this Ethiopian cuisine is spectacular, and if you can't figure out what the words on the menu mean, either ask the very friendly employees or just order it anyway- it's bound to be good. There are plenty of choices, and each that I've tried has been excellent. It seems like lots of folks stop in here after the First Friday Art Walk for a quick, yummy, and extra inexpensive post-free snacks nosh.
(4)
Clint J.
Went here for a friend's birthday. There were 8 of us at the table, and we each ordered an entree. ALL the entrees came on a single platter. Each "entree" was in a wee cup. I could've eaten all 8 entrees myself. You pay for an entree and get a tapa. Unacceptable. Let us now discuss the Ethiopian honey wine. I think they pissed in it. Tasted like no honey wine I ever had, and that includes a half dozen based on authentic Ethiopian recipes. Server was unsmiling, discourteous, and morose. Bread is supposed to be spongy, but not damp and doughy. Food tasted okay, although each entree was a mere 3 forkfuls. I would like to try Ethiopian food again, but I won't be going back to Arada.
(2)
betsy s.
I have tried five or six Ethiopian restaurants in Denver, and I think that Arada is - hands down - the best! As far as I can tell, each restaurant has their own (closely guarded?) recipe for injera, and Arada's has the perfect texture and "sour-ness." Arada also appears to be the only place in town that serves tomato fit-fit - a mixture of small pieces of injera, diced tomato, onion and jalapenos in a vinegar-based dressing. I don't much like tomatos and I don't much like jalapenos, but I LOVE tomato fit-fit. Go figure! I am also highly addicted to their Kitffo - finely ground lean beef with spiced Ethiopian butter and house-made cottage cheese. YUM!
(5)
Hope A.
Nice little restaurant in the Santa Fe arts district, which doesn't have many good places to eat. The service was prompt and friendly. They did their best to accommodate my husband's dietary needs, he has an allergy to garlic. It's hard to find a place that will accommodate garlic issues.
(4)
y k.
I have to say, my experience with Arada was not the best. Now I should preface this by saying that I love, love, LOVE ethiopian food. I've had many excellent meals at two of the places on East Colfax (Ethiopian Restaurant and Abyssinia, I think). So I was very excited to try this place, since it's right in my neighborhood, much as I knew it would be extremely dangerous to discover a delicious Ethiopian place so close to my home (dangerous on the wallet, that is). But, alas, my wallet can rest in peace. The food was fine, but, no colfax Ethiopian Restaurant. Everything was just a little blander, a little greasier, not quite as flavorful and robust. (We just got the veggie combo, which is what we always get everywhere). Not only was the food not as good, but it was a couple dollars more expensive. It's possible I just caught them on a bad day, but for now I think I'll be making the trek over to Colfax, for more reliable deliciousness.
(2)
Heather C.
Good food, small portions and slow service in traditional Ethiopian Restaurant fashion.
(3)
Tristan T.
Oh...My...God. I would eat this every day, if there weren't so many other things I wanted to eat on any given day.
(5)
Andrea P.
I would give it five if the meat servings were a bit bigger. BUT I do like this place a lot! Yummy food, authentic menu and authentic service (yes, that does mean it's a bit slower than American restaurants, but it is supposed to be!). I'm going again this weekend!! And bringing friends this time.
(4)
jo m.
My first time experiencing Ethiopian food here. I have seen my coworkers eat Ethiopian food before and wanted to try. After art walk, a girlfriend and I wanted to try something tasty and different so we walked past by 2 Mexican restaurant and walked into this place. This place did not look like the picture posted here. It was ugly which I was OK with it; I've figured maybe the people here focus more on the food than the ambiance. To be a good sport (this friend of mine is a vegetarian), we ordered 2 vegetarian plates ($10 each) and a glass of honey wine. The food was served on a big platter with sponge flat bread layered on the platter and her food on one side and mine on opposite side with 4 small rolled up sponge flat bread. I was extremely sad to see the food. portion was small and food served luke warm. Bread was cold. I know I am not a very cultural person but I am willing try new stuff and based on what I ate (potato vegetarian dish and something chickpea vegetarian dish (#14? #15? on menu), I will not be visiting this place again. To sum it up, the food was boring, too small of portion and over priced. Now I know why Ethiopians are skinny and poor. At the end of the meal, I promised my friend that I would take her out for a Korean dinner next week.
(2)
Russell G.
This is a cool little spot in the Santa Fe district. Came here with the girl because a few weeks prior, we arrived early for a gallery show and found this place to be a good fit for a drink. The guys next to us at the bar were munching on a super Arada and I knew I had to return! We ordered a super Arada and a meat combo. The plates are the size of a tray so prepare for a lot of food. Everything was flavorful and I love the wraps used for bread and your utensils. Yes, you eat with your hands! The bread alternative is light and fluffy but I cannot identify exactly what it is. Anyways, it compliments the food very well and my girl and I had a great time eating with our hands. You just have to own it! I appreciated the experience very much. Out of your norm and a good time. Two people can easily share one entree here. Worth checking out!
(4)
rusty r.
A couple weeks back, my good ethiopian friend took me to her favorite place... Arada. We skipped Boulder's ethiopian and made our way to Santa Fe Ave... so, we really committed to giving this place a shot. The food was extremely tasty! The spices jumped and rattled around in my mouth... the lamb and chicken were great, but the lentils were amazing! Also had some "Ethiopian Beer", as listed on the menu. It's called "Meta" and apparently is a standard ethiopian brew. kind of sweet, but very dry like an asian brew. very tasty. Only drawback was the small portions, they could have been way bigger, but luckily the injera (spongey bread) filled us up!
(3)
MM M.
Horrible service. Mediocre food. We went on First Friday for my sister's birthday. We got there at 5:30pm and there were no other people in the restaurant. We had 6 adults, one toddler in a highchair (who actually eats a lot) and a baby in a stroller in our group, along with a bunch of birthday presents. The waitress pushed two small square tables together with space for the 6 adults. When we asked if we could have another table so that there would also be room for the toddler and stroller next to the table, she got really annoyed and said they were going to be too busy. So we just pushed the extra table over ourselves and then worried that they were going to spit in our food or something. It never got full in there while we were there, so it never came up again. But it definitely soured our experience. The rest of the service was also poor. She rarely came around for drink refills, and we had to flag her down to get more injera. She didn't seem to care whether we liked the food or not. As for the food itself, I'm a bit of a snob about Ethiopian food. Having lived in LA and then the Bay area, I've had my share of really, really good Ethiopian food. There was definitely no comparison between Arada's food and our favorite places in California. The meat dishes were chewy and all the food just lacked the normal rich combination of spices (not necessarily hot spicy) that I love about Ethiopian food. Overall, we will not be returning here. I'll have to try some of the other Ethiopian restaurants in Denver and hope to find some place good.
(2)
Kathi C.
I've been to Ethiopian in several large cities, but because of where I live and work, I only get to enjoy it about once a year. For that reason, I usually get the sampler to try everything at a new place. I ordered the meat combination (4 kinds of meat) and the vegetable combination (all 6 kinds of vegetables), the vegetable sambusa, and a glass of honey wine. What can I say? Just delicious. This place was up there with some of the other Ethiopian restaurants I've tried in other cities. Now I want to try the other Ethiopian restaurants in Denver too. Yum!
(4)
Jonathan D.
Very strange. I cant seem to find my review that I wrote on Arada. I will repost and I guess see if this one mysteriously disappears. If I my other review decides to magically show up again I will delete this one. Just to recap, if you are looking for the worst and I mean absolute worst service in not only all of Denver but I would say probably north of the equator, then please go here on any night of the week and have dinner. Just to give you an idea of how bad the service is, I am soooooooo lazy I have used Yelp for 3+ years and I have never created an account. One night at this place made me so angry that my lazy butt created an account, sat at my computer and wrote a review just to see it go missing 5 days later. I am on a serious mission to let the world know that this place is by far a giant waste of time. Cheers
(1)
Sam S.
I'm an extremely picky eater when it comes to ethnic food and a group of colleagues want to come here. I was extremely hesitant but I must say I am so very glad that I decided to go. We ordered a few appetizers which were very tasty and 2 sample platters: 1 vegetarian and 1 meat. There was plenty of food to feed 3 men and 1 lady. The lady who served us was also the owner. She had been in business for 15 years and now we know why so long. The food was great and she was extremely sweet. I also recommend trying the Ethiopian Beer. It was a heavy Amber beer that was very tasty as well. I would absolutely go back!
(5)
Matt D.
I stopped by Arada for lunch, trying it for the first time. I've had ethiopian many times before, but this was one of the best (and least expensive) ethiopian means I've ever had. I ordered the spicy chicken lunch item, and it was delicious. Not too spicy, just very flavorful, and the side tomato dish was tart and refreshing. The injera was a bit cold, but I think that's how it's supposed to be served, and it tasted fine. The owner served me herself -- they've been in business 17 years, and was very hospitable and friendly. Even gave me a walkthrough of different Ethiopian beers.
(5)
Dave T.
I thought this place was pretty good. A good starting point for the Santa Fe Art Walk. I enjoyed it. I have tried a few other Ethiopian restaurants around the country and found them to be better, but am certainly no expert on what is truly authentic. Definitely worth a visit, though I will visit others to compare, and update. Dave
(3)
Lindy L.
Hmmm. A weird experience, which was especially disappointing because it was my boyfriend's first Ethiopian food experience. We started with the honey wine, and that's when the weirdness started. The wine was opaque, smelled funny, and tasted vinegary. When we asked our server about the wine, she said that honey wine is only sweet when it's first opened and that most people think that it's too sweet then. She did bring us new glasses, and that wine looked, smelled, and tasted good, but she didn't even check the wine in our first set of glasses. We saw our still-full wine glasses sitting on the bar at the end of the night. I really hope that the wine didn't get served to other people. Our server seemed to think that we weren't familiar with honey wine, although I've actually had it a number of times. And it doesn't take an expert to taste vinegar. The food part of the evening was just fine. We went with the Arada Special, which was pretty good overall and included three meat dishes and three vegetarian dishes. Two of the vegetarian dishes were disappointingly bland though, the yater alitcha (yellow split peas) and the yemiser wot (lentils) The food here was served in an interesting way. The server brought out all of the dishes in small bowls, and told us what each dish was as she emptied it onto the platter of injera. I really liked that. Usually, the platter of injera is brought out with all of the dishes already placed on top of the injera, without any explanation about which dish is which. The pieces of injera for us to use for scooping were placed along the outside of the platter, which is a prettier way of presentation than the usual basket of injera on the side, although they didn't provide many extra pieces for scooping. We wanted more injera, and it took awhile for us to get the server's attention, even though there were only two other couples in the restaurant. For people who've never had Ethiopian food, the dishes that you order are placed on top of a huge, communal piece of injera that's the size of a platter. Injera is spongy and slightly sour tasting, in a good way. Maybe tangy is a better word--like sourdough bread, but different. You eat the dishes by breaking up another piece of injera and using that to scoop up the food, like you do with a tortilla. Ethiopian food is usually really flavorful because of the spices used. Back to the experience at Arada: at least thirty minutes had passed since our server last checked on us, and we wanted our check. We had a hard time getting our server's attention to ask for the check because she was talking on the phone. Even after we told her that we didn't have much more time because we were trying to catch a movie, she still continued talking on the phone and took a long time to return the credit card. We didn't bother trying to take the leftovers because that would have created an even bigger delay. Given the spoiled wine, a couple of bland dishes, and the very slow time taking care of our check, despite being politely told that we had time pressure and despite an empty restaurant, the experience was a 2. A final weird thing to note is that I'd tried going here two other times before, but wasn't able to because they weren't open, even though I went on days and at times when they were supposed to be open. In retrospect, that seems like a sign.
(2)
Paula H.
I walk by here once a week and finally dropped in. Glad I did. The vegetarian sambusa was a delicious start followed by the yemiser wot which is perfectly spicy! Yes, the ambiance is in the dive category. Which I don't mind. I did enjoy my meal, and would give that a 4. Ambiance rated at 2.
(3)
April O.
We came here at the instigation of friends, while in town on business. The main selling points were that it was within walking distance of the place we were currently at, and that it was "awesome." Neither Brice nor I have ever had this type of food, so I couldn't vouch for the truth of the awesomeness. Nor did I want to be the sole voice begging to eat somewhere else. So we went. Since we didn't know what to get or expect (and because the meals all seemed to be $17 for one plate) I told Brice that I would eat whatever he was eating. Brice decided on Doro Wat, which is all meat. The lamb is excellent and was the mutual favorite. The chicken was enjoyable, the beef chunks seemed bland. Neither of us ate much of the ground beef and eventually the spice was so intense that we couldn't physically eat more of the food. I didn't really like my meal, but I blame myself for that. Others at the table who ordered more balanced dinners and had vegetables along with their meat seemed much more happy, so that's probably the way to go. The bread (injera?) was soft and citrus-y, and I suspect would have been delicious with greens or lentils. As it was, I didn't think it went too well with just meat. But once again, I think that's my own fault. Bonus half-star for the homeless dude cursing up a storm as we crossed the street. He was loud enough to make you think he was being chased by at least five police dogs. Dude was completely ALONE. I'd return to give it another shot with a different meal. 3.5 stars.
(3)
Anna F.
Got two to-go cokes and beef sambusas. The cups that the drinks were in had questionable hairs and loads of dust in them. The Sambusas were okay...but after seeing how dirty the cups were I didn't have much of an appetite for the food...I didn't trust that it was safe to eat. Needless to say I won't be heading back there.
(2)
Ellen L.
Delicious and flavorful
(4)
Andrea P.
I would give it five if the meat servings were a bit bigger. BUT I do like this place a lot! Yummy food, authentic menu and authentic service (yes, that does mean it's a bit slower than American restaurants, but it is supposed to be!). I'm going again this weekend!! And bringing friends this time.
(4)
Mo C.
Not as good as Queen of Sheba in Santa Clara CA, but still pretty damn good. Beer: So, on the beer menu is listed "Ethiopian Beer". I have been to a few Ethiopian restaurants and know some of the beers. When I asked the server what brand the beer was, I kind of got a blank stare. When I asked if it was dark, he said, no, so I ordered an iced tea. The iced tea never made it to the table. In fact, no non-alcoholic drinks with the exception of water ever made it over. No problem, water works for me. Bathroom: Weirdest bathroom I have ever been in. It's a single stall/room with two toilets, side by side. WTF? Fork: Yes, I know, this is a hands on eating experience. But, I like to have a fork, just in case I want to reach all the way over the injera to try my friend's food. Asked for a fork, twice, it never made its way to the table. Food: The food was good. Again, not as good as Queen of Sheba, but still quite tasty. The injera was warm and plentiful. I recommend the #6, a dish of beef that is cooked with spiced and injera, then served on injera. The lamb stew was quite good as well. Ambiance: Well, they tried to make this place look like a nice cafe, rather than have any ethnic music, ornaments, etc. I miss the voo-doo looking dolls at Queen of Sheba :) It was just a little strange eating with my hands (sans fork) and listening to Brittney Spears, you know? Overall, I would definitely head back here, for the takeout if nothing else. I just wish there was better parking. WARNING on Parking: Although there is a nice empty lot across the street to the left of the restaruant, DO NOT PARK THERE! As we walked out of the restaurant we saw that our friend's car window had been bashed in and items stolen from her car. Those of us who parked on the street were not broken into.
(4)
john W.
Nothing compares to ethiopian. Eating with your hands, yummy bread and great meat and lentil dishes. The service has vastly improved! The first few times we went, about a year ago, the service was kinda slow. This time, it was awesome! The waiter was all over it, even when it was busy! Worth every penny! The Super Arada is the one to get. If you're not big eaters, you can probly split the Super Arada for 1, that's what we do.
(5)
Maha K.
The women's bathroom has two toilets. That's right ladies, you have to pee sans stalls because it helps cut building costs. One toilet has duct tape across it from flooding and the other would make relieving yourself on Santa Fe Drive a better alternative. '90s R&B music blares overhead. It makes awkward conversations at the table even worse because Keith Sweat is moaning through the ceiling and walls about how badly he wants to make love to you. By the end of our night, Mariah Carey was screaming something or another about being "so alone" and Michael Jackson's voice kept reminding us that he was dead. The servers are so depressed and annoyed that you might be more inclined to order 20mg of Prozac to-go than a real dinner. The bar feels faintly like that "junk liquor store on Colfax". I ordered the Ethiopian "honey" wine and got what looked like unfiltered apple juice with sedimentary layers of dirt at the bottom. The drink smelled like Wal-Mart grade garden soil. I would have better choked it down if it at least smelled like TARGET-grade garden soil. It costs $7 per glass. We nicknamed the hummus appetizer "Hum-Whiz" after Cheez-Whiz (both are cheap, artificial knock-offs of the real thing). It tasted like watery, cinnamon-flavored Nutella. No trace of a single chick pea. It costs $6. Splitting an entree costs you $5.50, driving the total cost of your plate near or over the original cost, depending on what you order. Manipulative business strategy, but definitely a turn-off. I'm not a big fan of injera bread as it is, but the pricing and quality prompted me to opt out of dining here altogether. 1 "Ethiopian" beer (tastes like Coors Light) + 1 "Ethiopian" honey wine + 2 shots of whiskey + 1 "hummus" plate = $40. I'd rather have saved the money for a real trip to Ethiopia. Or better yet, given the money to an Ethiopian charity in-need.
(2)
Riza H. C.
A unique experience some will tell. Since from where I am from, we often have "communal" eating events and when you use your fingers and hands to eat, all in all things are ok. Food wise: They have a distint flavor to it, depends on what you order. I had my first experience at Arada with like about 11 other friends for dinner sometime on April 29 2008. The service was indeed at a slow mode pace aka laid-back. The host do provide us with plenty of the "special" chewy bread in called Injera. Injera or Taita is a pancake-like bread made out from Teff Flour. The table that I am seated, my friends and I ordered these: Yebeg Siga Alitcha ~ lamb Doro Wot ~ chicken Meat Combination ~ Minchetabush and gomen Besega Yebeg Alitcha, Siga wot, Bozena shiro The rest of the dishes I cant recall. All the entrees include Injera, Tomato Fit-Fit, Tomato Salad or the choice of any dishes in the Vegetarian menu. Since its a communal type of eating, the people at my table indeed enjoyed their experiences and the food. We are the only guests at my table who finish our dishes from the communal plate at the end of that evening. If only the entrees comes with a larger portion I would come for more. For now, I would rather check some other places in Colorado that offers Ethiopian dishes.
(3)
Peter M.
Way to go Yelpers! I tried this place out after reading my fellow Yelper's reviews, and it was great! What a gem! I had my folks out to dinner, and there was a great deal of skepticism when I suggested Ethiopian food, as neither of my parents had ever tried it. We got the lamb, and a beef dish. It was STELLAR! I highly recommend that if you have never tried this interesting cuisine, you drop by Arada some day soon! Fantastic staff, too! Well done!
(5)
Kirsten M.
I love restaurants that are set up around family-style dining. I've always found it weird when people want to go to Thai or Chinese restaurants and order their own dish for themselves instead of passing it around the table. This was officially one of the first fights I ever picked with my husband, ("Order something we BOTH like!"). Yeah, I'm demanding and high maintenance like that. The reason I bring this up is that this is one of the reasons why I love Ethiopian food. It's all served in a big tray or bowl in the center of the table with injera bread (sort of like a spongy crepe) to scoop it up. Sharing food AND I get to use my fingers? Win! I love taking adventurous friends and big groups to this restaurant. The service is fab and they go out of their way to make sure everyone has a good experience. They even brought out a special child-size bowl of food for a friend's young son without us asking. Also, Ethiopian food is very vegetarian friendly so this is a good pick if you have a mixed meat eater/vegetarian crowd. If you are new to Ethiopian food I would suggest picking a meat combo and a vegetarian combo to try both so you can see what you like without getting a huge amount of any one thing.
(4)
Hollie W.
Great ethio joint! Had the veggie combo with six fantastically delicious selections. The inerja was so tasty. Only one person front of house, so service was as good as it could be for one server (aka super slow). Huge portions with plenty left over to take home. I've been to Arada's several times and while the veg combo is always good, it is a bit inconsistent.
(3)
Cara G.
Yum. Things I like about Ethopian food: - fun experience (share! eat with your hands!) - new flavors, delicious spices - healthy (well, at least it seems to be) I had no idea what to order but our server was very helpful. We tried a couple combination plates full of deliciously spiced meats, lentils and other veggies. Each scoop of meat/veggies goes on top of a big, round, spongy bread (kind of like a thick crepe) that you use for scooping in place of silverware. Arada looks unassuming from the outside but is pretty roomy -- and a little funky. It had light traffic we went (random time on a week night) but lots of people came in for take-out orders. If you frequent First Fridays on Santa Fe, add Arada to your list.
(4)
Kell R.
Awesome! Delicious! Gored Gored! I love coming here! Fantastic food paired with great prices make this place perfect for a night out whether it be for a first date to an ordinary night out!
(4)
Stephen W.
I love this place. The food is fantastic and atmosphere isn't bad either. The price is quite reasonable. It can be slow if there are a lot of people in there, and they won't take a reservation on first friday, which is a great day to go.
(5)
Jake L.
Arada just became one of my top 3 favorite restaurants in Denver. This place is seriously delicious. The Ethiopian dining experience is a unique one. Personally, I enjoy eating without silverware off of a shared plate.. it's a lot of fun! And if you haven't tried it, I would highly recommend letting your hair back and getting playful with it. Holding that piece of bread with that perfectly spiced food may just set you free. Every vegetarian item on the menu is 5-star worthy. The flavors are unique, explosive, and offer something you won't find anywhere but here. The Yater Alitcha (yellow split peas) were a personal favorite, although it was almost impossible to decide. The day after my first experience at Arad and I am already dying to go back.
(5)
Amy S.
So, I'll start out by saying that I love Ethiopian food! I have had it more times than I can count on my fingers and toes combined, and at several different locations. I'll start with the meal. I ordered honey wine, which was decent, but very unlike the other honey wines I have had before. This wine was cloudy and a brighter yellow than I am familiar with. It was also pricey for the amount served. I had the spicy chicken entree, and was also allowed to sample the lamb. The lamb was down right gross. Not tender at all, and not very flavorful. The chicken was okay, but I really wasn't impressed, it was tough/chewy, but the flavors were spot on. The tomato fit-fit and tomato salads were delicious! I think the weirdest part of the meal was that the injera was mushy and sticky. I kept wiping my fingers and particles of napkin were ripping off and getting stuck to my fingertips. Very odd... I've never seen that before. Also, the atmosphere is not very pleasing. The tables were covered in plastic that was not only unsightly, but also annoying. The bathroom had two toilets in it, side by side, with no stalls/barriers, and one toilet was blocked off with duct tape. So in conclusion, I won't be back.
(2)
Masha B.
Nice! Lovely meal, delicious food, veggie-friendly menu...Ethiopian beer to try. Very gracious owner, nice ambiance.... I saw one of the reviewers mentioned the quirky toilet situation. Please, I don't go to a restaurant to sit in the bathroom. The food is great and that's what counts. I shall be back for more!
(5)
Doug H.
Enjoyed my meal at Arada. The dishes were very tasty and spiced to taste different and distinct, unlike other places where the stews are all the same but they just have different proteins or vegetables. We had the chicken, lamb, steamed greens and chickpeas (sorry I don't remember the Ethiopian names!) The servings could have been larger too. We had four dishes for four of us and we wiped that plate clean. The injera was so-so. They don't give you enough and it's cold, so it's not that great. I can't put my finger on it but I like the injera at Ethiopian Restaurant more. Service is slow as others have written, but it wasn't too bad. I wish the tables were larger and the chairs more comfortable. The four of us were squeezed into such a small round cocktail table; Ethiopian food should give you ample room to spread out!
(4)
Alicia J.
My boyfriend ordered the Doro Wot and I ordered one of the beef specials. When we only saw one big plate coming out, I thought, "Oh, good, one of our dinners is ready!" Not so. We were apparently splitting the main plate, which kinda peeved me, based on the price of the meal. Together, we each got four side dishes with our main entrees. We were given so little of each side dish that it literally looked like someone had given us a teaspoon of each. Maybe a tablespoon, but not a heaping one. It was shocking how little we got considering price and the fact that we're talking about some beans and spice. What's cheaper to make? But, the most unbelievable part of the meal was my boyfriend's Doro Wot. The waitress overturned his bowl onto the plate and out fell a SINGLE DRUMSTICK and an egg. The waitress even pointed it out as she told us what was what and said, "Your drumstick and an egg." So, what it boils down to is....pay $14, get a drumstick and an egg as an entree. I don't think so. And, by the complete and utter emptiness of the place when we were there...no one else does, either. We walked out and won't be back.
(1)
Julio T.
I wonder if the reason Denver has so many Ethiopian people and restaurants is because Denver has a similarly high elevation. Ethiopia's largest city, Addis Ababa, is actually 7,726 feet in elevation, even higher than Denver and sits on plains near a mountainous region just like we do. I'm not sure if that's the reason for Denver's large Ethiopian population, but I am glad they have opened up places like Arada and shared their country's fine food with all of us. My friend and I got the vegetarian plate and enjoyed every bite of the yatakilt alitcha, fosolio and gomen piled upon pieces of spongy injera bread. The yatakilt alitcha was especially good with it's huge potato chunks and tender cabbage pieces soaked in a warm, gingery sauce. The greens were hearty and spicy and the green beans had that unique sour/savory/spicy/sweet flavor combination that only seems to be available at Ethiopian restaurants. Arada is certainly a bit more higher priced that other Ethiopian restaurants in town, averaging about $15 per person when many places have it for about $10-12 with about the same quality. But the food was still quite excellent and the service was very attentive, with our server quickly refilling our waters and baskets of injera. I've always enjoyed living the "Mile-High" life in Denver. I am even more grateful if our elevation and mountainous geography is responsible for bringing the warm and generous Ethiopian people and their fantastic cuisine to our city.
(4)
Kelly A.
I liked this place! I'm new to Ethiopian food. Portion size on veg dishes seemed smaller than I've had at the two other Ethiopian restaurants I've been to. Chicken was a little dry and chewy, but the spicy sauce made up for it. The injera was great! The iced tea was fantastic!
(4)
Gena L.
A friend and I went here after a run for some post-run carbs. We are both Ethiopian cuisine fans, so we decided on Arada. It was not very busy, so the service was pretty attentive. We ordered the Vegetarian Sampler, which was really lovely. They were very generous with the injera, giving us multiple refills without delay. For those of you who haven't tried Ethiopian food, I really must encourage you to do so. They say if you like Indian cuisine, you will love Ethiopian cuisine, and Ethiopian cuisine is better for you and very social.
(4)
Heather M.
It was fine. Higher priced than places on Colfax, and not as tasty.
(2)
Kate C.
One star for ambiance. Let's just say, I expected more. I had bought the Abssynia Groupon and checked out that place--my expectations of it were low because of the ambiance, but, for a total whole in the wall, zomg the food was sooo sooo delish that two weeks later I was craving Ethiopian food again. Instead of going to the same place, I thought I'd try Arada. I expected more because it had more reviews, looked cute, and is down in the art district. The honey wine was decent (I didn't think it was too sweet). My guy and I ordered the Meat Combo plate for two. Unfortunately, I couldn't do the injera (gluten), so our server brought me out a plate of rice with veggies that looked like it had been cooked a week ago. The vegetables were gross, dry, overcooked, overall just mealy. I can totally just eat the meat and Tomato Fit-Fit, I thought. Wrong--all four of the options on the platter were overcooked and the meat extremely dry. There was nothing special about the flavors, to the extent that my boyfriend and I repeated quietly back and forth "This is terrible! Terrible to the extent that I don't even want to eat it!!" As soon as we exited the restaurant, we both exclaimed, "THAT WAS TERRIBLE!" I left full, and completely unsatisfied, wishing I'd just gone back to Abssynia. Even though the ambiance is less-than-desired, the food at Abssynia knocks Arada out of the water. You'll also be surrounded by Ethiopian peeps chatting up in their native language. The only thing good about the food at Arada was the Tomato Fit-Fit, appropriately seasoned, however that is not enough to get me back in the door, so... I will not be back! But I can't wait to satisfy my hankering for Ethiopian with a visit to Abssynia again.
(1)
Trevor C.
I've never before had Ethiopian food. Was attending an event in the Arts District and my wife pointed it out that we should try it out. We were not disappointed! To start, we had some Ethiopian honey wine. It's a different taste. You can definitely taste alcohol, which I am a fan of, but it is sweetened with a taste of honey as well. Not sure how else to describe it, but you will definitely not find this in many other places so give it a try. Second, we met the owner. She is such a nice woman. I asked her what her favorite was and she said, "Everything. I am the cook, so I love everything!" We enjoy vegetarian dishes and as such went with the Yatakilt Alicha for two. It was delectable. The bread is something I've never had before. She served the dish on a pizza pan that was covered with this spongy bread and then topped with four rolls of bread that surround the mixture of tomatoes, jalapeños, potatoes, carrots, and a hummus type mixture. I wrapped everything I could fit into the first roll of bread and it was the sweetest taste I would have never imagined! As she told us, the bread that everything sits on top of is the best. It collects all of these flavor a from the dish during your meal. Now for the ambience. She plays a really happy Ethiopian mix of music that made me smile the entire time. She also has a full bar stocked with many liquors that would please anyone's palate. Check this one out!
My first time experiencing Ethiopian food here. I have seen my coworkers eat Ethiopian food before and wanted to try. After art walk, a girlfriend and I wanted to try something tasty and different so we walked past by 2 Mexican restaurant and walked into this place. This place did not look like the picture posted here. It was ugly which I was OK with it; I've figured maybe the people here focus more on the food than the ambiance. To be a good sport (this friend of mine is a vegetarian), we ordered 2 vegetarian plates ($10 each) and a glass of honey wine. The food was served on a big platter with sponge flat bread layered on the platter and her food on one side and mine on opposite side with 4 small rolled up sponge flat bread. I was extremely sad to see the food. portion was small and food served luke warm. Bread was cold. I know I am not a very cultural person but I am willing try new stuff and based on what I ate (potato vegetarian dish and something chickpea vegetarian dish (#14? #15? on menu), I will not be visiting this place again. To sum it up, the food was boring, too small of portion and over priced. Now I know why Ethiopians are skinny and poor. At the end of the meal, I promised my friend that I would take her out for a Korean dinner next week.
(2)
Ali W.
I love ethnic food e.g. Ethiopian, Moroccan, Korean, Greek, Peruvian, etc. I'm kind of like that weird girl Polly from the movie Along Came Polly (although I have yet made anyone have diarrhea -- go watch the movie). I like Ethiopian food because it's flavorful, communal, and different. Here are my comments on the items I've tried: Siga Wot (spicy beef): very good, had just the right amount of spicy-ness Yebeg Siga Alitcha (lamb stew): had an overwhelming lamby flavor, but what do you expect, it is *lamb* I guess Yater Alicha (yellow split peas): the texture was a little too hard for me, I didn't think it was cooked through enough Yatakelt Alitcha (steamed cabbage and carrots): loved this veggie dish, I wish I can get more Yemiser Wot (lentils): the menu description said it was cooked with a red pepper sauce, so I expected it to be spicy, but it wasn't; I'm not a big lentils fan though Greens (eh, greens): very soft and flavorful, one of my favorite veggie dishes I also tried their honey wine. It was *very* sweet. I would recommend it with dessert rather than with dinner. If it's your first time, a combination plate is always a good idea to try multiple different dishes. One word of advice though, eating too much of the Ingera (bread) can fill you up pretty quickly. So take it easy on those. The Ingera is like a giant sponge that sucks up all the things you ate plus all the things you didn't think you ate and makes them expand even bigger in your stomach. 1 star off: small portions on the good stuff
(4)
Lynn V.
I really wanted to like this, but had some issues. First, we got the combination plate (meat and veg). This is the first Ethiopian place I've been to where the waitress put the food on the injera at the table. That was nice, as she told us what each dish was as she scooped it out! Sadly, I found no balance in the spices. There seemed to an overabundance of spicy pepper, which just overshadowed all the other subtle spices. I can usually balance out the spicy dishes with the milder ones, but on this combo platter, they all seemed to have a lot of spicy peppers. My main problem was that there was ONE waitress for the entire restaurant, for the entire time we were there. (which was about 3 hours!) While we were the FIRST to arrive for dinner, we were not given the check in a timely manner. Even though we asked for it a few times, other, more 'in your face' customers got their bills first. I was actually very tempted to just stand up and walk out, and I have NEVER done that. One aggressive customer even grabbed OUR check (with my credit card in the holder) out of the waitresses hand, because he thought it was his. RUDE! While our waitress was nice enough, there was no way she could keep up with an entire restaurant of filled tables, and the food wasn't good enough for me to go through that again. I honesty will not be back.
(2)
Jeremy K.
Arada's "Doro Wat" was listed by Denver Magazine as one of the top 100 must eat dishes in Denver, so I gave it a shot: Rating: 5.5 (out of 10) Price: $10.50 The Skinny: I am no expert on Ethiopian dining, that's for sure. Nor do I hide it well either. After asking the waitress/cook for a fork, she smiled at me with amused pity and suggested that I use the things at the end of my arms (my hands). Ohhhhh snap!! In your face, uncultured American, IN YO FACE! Hands in full use, I dug into the Doro Wat - a chicken dish that takes 10 hours to cook, and is served along with a few sides atop a thin spongy flatbread. The flatbread is interesting because of its uniqueness - half crepe, half bread, it tasted decent and did a pretty good job as a wrapper to the chicken and 4 sides on the plate. The idea is to jam everything together in a strip of the flatbread and let them blend together in your mouth. I found the sides to be a little above average in flavor, but mostly the chicken was a letdown. Overcooked and dry. Not even the scorching spicy heat could save it. Overall, it was something different and decent. And I'm not really convinced I got their best shot. If the chicken was cooked to be tender, it could go up to a 6.5. I've got a picture of it up on the blog on my profile jko
(3)
Natalie M.
I went to Arada last night with a small group and wasn't sure what to expect since I had never had Ethiopian food. The place was very sparse in the way of other guests, but yet it was 7:00pm on a Sunday night. The food was good, although my picky daughter was a bit disappointed with the chicken that she ordered. Pricing was moderate for what you get...roughly $10 to $14 a person. Our server was a bit scattered....I think that she was more interesting in the Muppet special that was on television than bringing us our bill. I would go back for the food, but not so much for the service. Also, probably not the best place for a first date given that you are going to town with your hands and making a mess of your self (which I guess is most of the fun).
(3)
Lauren K.
I have eaten at a LOT of Ethiopian restaurants, and because I grew up outside of Washington DC where there are a myriad of incredible Ethiopian restaurants to choose from, I have become quite picky as far as the quality and authenticity of Ethiopian food. I discovered Arada when it was on East Colfax 6 or 7 years ago. This was when Haime, the owner, was the hostess, waitress, and chef, and I was the only one eating there. I got Kitfo as it is traditionally prepared- raw. It was incredible!!!! The next time I tried the Doro Wot, which was equally incredible. Over the years, my husband and I have tried everything on the menu and those two dishes continue to be our favorites. We usually get either the Arada six or Super Arada combination dishes, and an order of Kitfo. If you've never had Ethiopian food, know that you eat with your fingers using delicious spongy bread, though I bet if you asked they would give you some silverware. The spices are unique and probably unlike anything you've had before- they are delicious! Expect a dining experience like no other. You'll have enough leftovers for at least another meal, too! Sure, the service may not be lightning fast or anything but everyone is friendly and my water glass is never empty. If you can't make it to DC for your first Ethiopian dining experience, go here because it's the best Ethiopian food in Colorado!
(5)
Evey M.
I went to Arada last night with a group of 5 others. The place was completely empty at 7 pm. I don't know if it is like that frequently or if it was because outside it was 10 degrees; regardless, the place was a ghost town. A quaint, clean, and warm ghost town. Every reviewer before me that has told you Arada has slow service is 100% correct. Even on a night when there are only 6 people in the restaurant things are still at a snails pace; however, the service is attentive and thorough. Luckily for me I had read up on the yelp reviews before going and knew to expect the slow service. One of my friends and of course myself are vegetarians so we got a seperate plate from the 4 non-veggies. We tried: - Vegetable Sambusa: which is beyond delicious - Yate Alitcha - Yatukilt Alitcha - Yemiser Wot (by far my favorite, next time I will order this dish as an entree size) - Gomen - Injera Bread - Tomato Fit-Fit Every single thing on the plate was delicious. It's spicy and vinegary so if you don't like both of those then this place is not for you. They also have mango juice as a main beverage and a full bar. If you are looking for something a little different then your normal everyday fare that won't cost you an arm and a leg try Arada.
(4)
Jonny D.
A consistently great time. You can get messy with your friends because you're eating some absolutely irresistible food with your hands and a thin layer of sour-in-a-good-way injera bread. I love Ethiopian cuisine and this place is the best Ethiopian I've had in the US. I really like how Ethiopian has a knack for making a vegetarian food hearty and delicious, so I'd recommend getting the Vegetarian Combo and then supplementing it with some of the Doro Wot, if you're into the whole meat thing. The one complaint I can register is that the service here, while friendly and engaging, seems completely unaware of the necessity of keeping me well-watered. For a place with spicy food, you'd expect to have large glasses and attention paid to when you empty them out. Not so here--small goblets that can go minute upon minute without refills (I've been compelled to grab a nearby pitcher and refill myself on several occasions). Apart from that, this is in my estimation among the best restaurants in Denver.
(4)
Lacey M.
Arada was my first Ethiopian food experience, and I wasn't that impressed. It was pretty good food, I suppose, but I probably won't go back. I went with my sister, Natalie M., and her daughter on a Sunday night for dinner. We were one of only 2 tables in the whole restaurant. That being said, the service was REALLY slow. The 1 lady working the front of the house seemed to be more focused on the T.V. then on giving good service. Since 2 of us were meat-eaters, and 2 vegetarians, we got 2 separate platters for the table. I really liked the bread it was served with/on, to use as your utensil...kind of a fun experience. I ordered one of the meat combos, that came with 4 different selections. I wasn't exactly sure which one was which, but do know that the one lamb dish was very delicious. Everything else was just okay. The sides were nothing to write home about either. I was wishing for a lot more flavor...with pretty much everything on that giant platter. I'm definitely glad I went, and was able to finally try Ethiopian food...but left a little disappointed. Not only with the service and food, but also with the price...little too pricey for not that great of food.
(3)
Chandra W.
Here's the deal--I don't think that anyone can argue that the food isn't yummy. Ethiopian flavors are incredibly warm and comforting even if it's your first time trying it. I mean, who doesn't love spiced beef (sorry vegetarians--but it is pretty good) wrapped in fried dough (beef sambusa). PLUS, you get to eat with your hands!!! Not "I'm-eating-with-my-fingers-cuz-I'm-eating-finger-Âfood" noshing with my hands. I'm talking, unadulterated, full-on hand-to-mouth yumminess. Also, unlike previous reviews, the service here was fabulous. Very attentive and helpful. I'm deducting a star because of the price. While exotic flavors sometimes warrant a slightly higher-than-expected price tag, the quantity of food for the price was a bit of a letdown. After ordering an app and two entrees with two Ethiopian beers, I can say that I was barely full--granted I steered clear of over eating the injera (delicious but takes up valuable real-estate in my tummy). The entrees were minimal--perhaps I expected too much but I really thought that I might be able to have doggy-bag breakfast, but no such luck. Overall: yummy. soul-satisfying, adventerous, albeit a bit small, but TOTALLY worth a second (and third) trip.
(4)
Doug Y.
To skip this overly wordy review skip to the last paragraph. Nice server albeit his clock seems to run at a slower pace than the rest of the world's. I went with a large group of people (13) and not knowing the logisitics of eating Ethiopian food with a large group I learned a few things. Arada's menu has pricing for one person or two people for each of their entree dishes which includes two veg. sides from the veg. entrees menu. What wasn't explained before we ordered is that all our food would be served on two large platters divided 6 orders on each and one vegan plate for our veggie guy. We ordered one of the special higher priced multi-combos to sample several items (Arada Six Combo) and also a Doro Wot (chicken) before realizing that six of us would be sharing each other's orders. After an indeterminable amount of time the two large-ish (emphasis on the -ish) platters were brought out with a smattering of veggie type piles placed around the rim (way fewer than what I perceived 12 per platter would amount to by the way (2 sides times six orders). there were maybe 4 small piles. Then the dumping of the little bowls began (chawan or rice bowl sized). I know that two of the people on our platter ordered the Doro Wot but the portions for all the entrees were all the same size except that there was a hard boiled egg in the center of the chicken (maybe they figured they were giving us a whole bird that way). The injera was cold and some of it wet and we had to wait bread/utensil-less and ask several times for more. The couple across from us ordered Sambusas near the end of the long wait for our dinner and did indeed get them... after we were pretty much finished eating (the sambusas were by the way the most flavorful thing I tasted that night). If you're dining with a big party here, know that your food comes on a communal platter so order entrees to share, you'll eat with injira (sponge textured slightly sour pancake shaped bread) as your only utensil, it'll be pretty pricey if you're a big eater, and forget it if you're in a hurry, this is the exact opposite of fast food. Adequately tasty but, Arada's? I think I'll pass.
(3)
Jeramyn F.
This is about how our dinner went: Enter restaurant, find a seat, wait 20 minutes, no water no greeting, no service Waiter comes, order two coffees, waters and an assortment of food wait 10 minutes, go find someone to ask for water again, get some water in a few minutes wait for 10 minutes we are out of water again we again need to go find someone to get water wait for 10 minutes more, finally the food comes, out of water again coffee still hasn't arrived eat some relatively flavorless food with bones in the sauces (bite carefully) wait 20 more minutes ask about coffee and find that "it is still brewing it takes a while to brew" wait 10 minutes finally the coffee arrives luke warm and over brewed Finish eating, wait for bill, leave disappointed and hungry the portions were tiny, going home to have dinner =(
(1)
D M.
Consistently the best Ethiopian restaurant in the Denver area. And this is coming from someone who lived in Ethiopia for years
(4)
Yona S.
This is the first time I've ever had Ethiopian food, and I actually consulted Yelp to decide which Ethiopian restaurant to try. This one had the best reviews and so I went. It's nestled in the middle of the Santa Fe art district, which is awesome if you want to make a night of it, or if you want to try to get a table during a First Friday. Our waiter was so adorable and nice. I just loved him so much because of his dazzling smile, his polite respectful demeanor and his patient willingness to help us decide what to order. I'm writing this for the audience who has never tried Ethiopian food. If you like spicy, you'll love this fare. I ordered something that was a sampler of two meats and three side dishes of my choice. The gal I was with ordered just one thing and it came with one meat and two sides. I highly recommend the sampler because who wants to try three things when you can try five? The tomato salad (two types) was hands down the best thing there. It was spicy, but not the way a fresh jalapeno pepper is spicy, haunting your mouth for hours afterward. It was an enjoyable spicy that hits you and then you're ok (kind of like Wasabe). And it was so flavorful without tasting like it was doused in salt! There are some familiar foods on the menu as well. Lentils is a staple, and their lentils were wonderful. The chicken was probably my least favorite because everything else was so good. The ground beef was awesome and again, very spicy. They also let me try a traditional Ethiopian Honey Wine. It was delicious and I could tell by smelling it that it was way more alcoholic than most wines. It was sweet and thick and potent but very delicious. I didn't go for a full glass, only because I was afraid to drive afterward! Another thing when you eat Ethiopian food is that you have to prepare yourself to experience something totally different than what you are used to. Their bread is not like bread. It's more like a spongy tortilla, simply meant to be a utensil for the rest of the food, since forks and spoons are not automatically offered. Another thing is, that you are not going to get a meal that serves 3 when you order an entree (even though between the two of us we only ate half of what we ordered and we each just ordered one entree). If you order the chicken you won't get half a chicken. So just keep that in mind and you won't be disappointed. We even met the manager (not sure if she's the owner too?) and she was very gracious, humble and really wanted to talk to her customers. I just loved the experience and I will definitely be back.
(4)
Scott B.
My favorite restaurant in Denver, and has been for years since way back when it was in that tiny little space on Coflax. We've become friends with the owner over all that time so it's hard for me to give an objective review. I don't understand the complaints about small portion size- we typically get the veggie combo for two, and are usually unable to finish it and have to be rolled out the door on gurneys. And I can eat. If you're a vegetarian, you need to get acquainted with Arada. You can have a fantastic, varied, healthy, delicious meal without seeing a single piece of tofu. One of the things I find most interesting about Arada is how the seasoning in the dishes is always changing a bit. The Yemiser Wot went through a period for a while where it had a really strong cinnamon flavor, the spiciness level on the shiro is always going up and down, the greens are sometime really tart and vinegary like southern greens, and sometimes really smooth. She's always tinkering with everything. Makes things interesting. Also, try the Ethiopian stout (if it's in stock- it's not always available). Interestingly sweet and refreshing. A really nice beer that suits the food perfectly.
(5)
Alden C.
Great Ethiopian food! Yummy! Be prepared to eat with your hands! That is how it is done!
(5)
Cassie G.
We've been going to this restaurant for ten years and always pick it for any type of nice celebration dinner. Tonight we went for an end of the summer feast before me and the brother start up school again! We always get the Vegetarian Delight for 2 and the Super Arada for 2 with an extra order of Alitcha. It is always too much food for the four of us to finish but it is always amazing. The owner and waiters are always very nice and tonight I had the Mango Juice which was wonderful as well! Definitely a must try for anybody looking for a great meal in Denver!
(5)
Andrew O.
Usually I venture out to east Colfax for my Ethiopian food, but I finally decided to try Arada, which is much closer to home. Despite the restaurant being almost completely empty for dinner (only one other party), I was pleasantly surprised with the friendly service and great food. One area that Arada surpasses my usual favorite spots is speed of food. I've been to some Ethiopian places and waited almost an hour for my food, this food was out in about 5 minutes. Food quality was great, and the red lentils in particular were nice and spicy. If you've never had Ethiopian food I highly recommend it, if only for the novelty. A lot of the dishes are almost like baby food, and you eat it by pinching it up with a thin, spongy sourdough-y bread called Injera. There is no silverware, you just use the delicious bread as your only utensil. Not recommended for germaphobes or awkward first dates.
(4)
David C.
I've eaten here a few times, and all of my visits were a lot of fun, so I definitely head here when I want good Ethiopian food. As most will tell you, food is eaten with injera, the spongy bread, rather than a fork or chopsticks, so you will be eating with your hands. There's a really nice mix of meats and vegetarian dishes on the menu, and it's very easy to get a good combination of things to try. I recommend the combination platters so that you get a taste of many different items. When they bring out your meal in a giant pottery-style dish, it honestly doesn't look like very much food. But as you eat bite after bite of food wrapped in the injera, it will fill you up without much trouble. I enjoyed the lamb and seasoned beef (Minchet) amongst the meats, and the Vegetarian Delight had several tasty things on it along with the tomato salads that come standard. The greens (Gomen) were my favorite, and the potato dish was good too. I'm not much for spicy food, but there's plenty here for those that are. When you want a really enjoyable meal that's different from pretty much anything you've ever had, give Arada a try.
(4)
Hoang L.
Pretty awesome... only my second time having Ethiopian food and I'll def come back. The portions are pretty large, so come with a big appetite. Great spot for groups as it's fun to share and try a bit of everything.
(4)
Nicole W.
We love this place! We hadn't been in a while, but we always think of it! The wait staff is definitely quicker than they used to be, the bread supply is more prolific and my water glass definitely stayed full! The presentation of the meal has also changed a bit. Instead of bringing all the food in little bowls and then putting it on your plate, they bring the plate all set up! They also bring rolls of bread instead of having it hanging over the plate. That was really great! My hubby and I split the super arada - definitely enough food for 2 when you order for 1. Our friend ordered the veggie delight and she was pleased with her choices as well. The food was fabulous as always!
(4)
Adriana A.
I don't remember what the waiter said any of our food was called, but I 'do' remember everything was deeeelicious. It was my friend's first time venturing into the excting and spicey arena of Ethiopian cuisine. He was a good sport and wanted to go full steam ahead, so we started off on our adventure with some Ethiopian honey wine and some Ethiopian beer. After quenching our thirst, our waiter talked up a meat and vegetable dish that featured lamb, lentils an array of beans and some yummy pork scoop that all came nessled on a very thin pancake-like bread. The same bread was also rolled up neatly around the plate so it could be torn off and used to grab tastes for your mouth. Yes, contrary to Miss Manner's etiquette, forks and knives are 'not' allowed at the table, so you want to make sure to wash your hands before the food arrives!
(5)
Todd S.
I'm a little confused about some of the negative reviews below, particularly those mentioning small main/meat portions, and I wonder if people writing reviews are just less familiar with Ethiopian food. I'm no expert, but Arada reminded me a lot of my favorite Ethiopian restaurant in Portland (Queen of Sheba), and I'd be happy to go back next time I'm in Denver. In general, though, expect to sample from several small dishes that cross a good spectrum of flavor, not just meat plus injera (the delicious sourdough-like, spongy flatbread). Anyhow, I wouldn't say the waiter was slow -- we got our water, drinks, and food all in good, if relaxed, time. There was one screw-up on one of the sides, but they brought out the right one soon after. The waiter certainly was very nice and explained things for us. The food was quite tasty, though I can't remember the names now. We both got meat entrees and opted to choose from the vegetarian menu for "sides". We both liked the lentils and split peas. My wife got the spicy chicken with the egg (good), and I got what looked like ground beef with cottage cheese -- except way more tasty than I realize that sounds (trust me). I also had the Ethiopian beer, just to try it. It was surprisingly sweet (malty), but I enjoyed it with the food.
(4)
Elizabeth W.
Great food and service. The place is open and inviting. I have a veggie combo and was full until the same time the next day. I tried the honey wine, and it was a little too strong alcohol tasting for me. But it was the first time I had it, so I am certainly going to try it again. The location is great, and I sure it is really a great place during the art walk. We didn't have to wait for a table, even at dinner time on a Friday and the restaurant was comfortably full, but not crowded. Certainly a place in the art district to try.
(4)
Heather T.
I'm no expert on Ethiopian food, but am a big fan from living in DC - and have tried in in Edmonton as well. Adored this place - best meat dishes I have ever eaten and the vegetarian dishes were excellent, as well. Four of us went, so we ordered two different sampler platters - I always order Ethiopian this way and have never been disappointed. We had a great time and introduced some new eaters to Ethiopian. Overall, friendly service - but you do have to really advocate for water, amazing spicy comfort food (even if you've never tried it before - you can tell it is food with SOUL), and a great experience with friends. Messy, but delicious!
(4)
Jelena W.
I can't say that I had high expectations the first time I tried Ethiopian cuisine. Actually, I couldn't really picture what it was- a less tactful friend, referring to the famine conditions in Africa, opined, "Ethiopian food? What is that- they serve you 30 grams of food, then take it away and tell you that the American aid money all went to promote abstinence so you don't get to eat today?" On the contrary- this Ethiopian cuisine is spectacular, and if you can't figure out what the words on the menu mean, either ask the very friendly employees or just order it anyway- it's bound to be good. There are plenty of choices, and each that I've tried has been excellent. It seems like lots of folks stop in here after the First Friday Art Walk for a quick, yummy, and extra inexpensive post-free snacks nosh.
(4)
Clint J.
Went here for a friend's birthday. There were 8 of us at the table, and we each ordered an entree. ALL the entrees came on a single platter. Each "entree" was in a wee cup. I could've eaten all 8 entrees myself. You pay for an entree and get a tapa. Unacceptable. Let us now discuss the Ethiopian honey wine. I think they pissed in it. Tasted like no honey wine I ever had, and that includes a half dozen based on authentic Ethiopian recipes. Server was unsmiling, discourteous, and morose. Bread is supposed to be spongy, but not damp and doughy. Food tasted okay, although each entree was a mere 3 forkfuls. I would like to try Ethiopian food again, but I won't be going back to Arada.
(2)
betsy s.
I have tried five or six Ethiopian restaurants in Denver, and I think that Arada is - hands down - the best! As far as I can tell, each restaurant has their own (closely guarded?) recipe for injera, and Arada's has the perfect texture and "sour-ness." Arada also appears to be the only place in town that serves tomato fit-fit - a mixture of small pieces of injera, diced tomato, onion and jalapenos in a vinegar-based dressing. I don't much like tomatos and I don't much like jalapenos, but I LOVE tomato fit-fit. Go figure! I am also highly addicted to their Kitffo - finely ground lean beef with spiced Ethiopian butter and house-made cottage cheese. YUM!
(5)
Hope A.
Nice little restaurant in the Santa Fe arts district, which doesn't have many good places to eat. The service was prompt and friendly. They did their best to accommodate my husband's dietary needs, he has an allergy to garlic. It's hard to find a place that will accommodate garlic issues.
(4)
y k.
I have to say, my experience with Arada was not the best. Now I should preface this by saying that I love, love, LOVE ethiopian food. I've had many excellent meals at two of the places on East Colfax (Ethiopian Restaurant and Abyssinia, I think). So I was very excited to try this place, since it's right in my neighborhood, much as I knew it would be extremely dangerous to discover a delicious Ethiopian place so close to my home (dangerous on the wallet, that is). But, alas, my wallet can rest in peace. The food was fine, but, no colfax Ethiopian Restaurant. Everything was just a little blander, a little greasier, not quite as flavorful and robust. (We just got the veggie combo, which is what we always get everywhere). Not only was the food not as good, but it was a couple dollars more expensive. It's possible I just caught them on a bad day, but for now I think I'll be making the trek over to Colfax, for more reliable deliciousness.
(2)
Heather C.
Good food, small portions and slow service in traditional Ethiopian Restaurant fashion.
(3)
Tristan T.
Oh...My...God. I would eat this every day, if there weren't so many other things I wanted to eat on any given day.
(5)
Jeremy K.
Arada's "Doro Wat" was listed by Denver Magazine as one of the top 100 must eat dishes in Denver, so I gave it a shot: Rating: 5.5 (out of 10) Price: $10.50 The Skinny: I am no expert on Ethiopian dining, that's for sure. Nor do I hide it well either. After asking the waitress/cook for a fork, she smiled at me with amused pity and suggested that I use the things at the end of my arms (my hands). Ohhhhh snap!! In your face, uncultured American, IN YO FACE! Hands in full use, I dug into the Doro Wat - a chicken dish that takes 10 hours to cook, and is served along with a few sides atop a thin spongy flatbread. The flatbread is interesting because of its uniqueness - half crepe, half bread, it tasted decent and did a pretty good job as a wrapper to the chicken and 4 sides on the plate. The idea is to jam everything together in a strip of the flatbread and let them blend together in your mouth. I found the sides to be a little above average in flavor, but mostly the chicken was a letdown. Overcooked and dry. Not even the scorching spicy heat could save it. Overall, it was something different and decent. And I'm not really convinced I got their best shot. If the chicken was cooked to be tender, it could go up to a 6.5. I've got a picture of it up on the blog on my profile jko
(3)
Natalie M.
I went to Arada last night with a small group and wasn't sure what to expect since I had never had Ethiopian food. The place was very sparse in the way of other guests, but yet it was 7:00pm on a Sunday night. The food was good, although my picky daughter was a bit disappointed with the chicken that she ordered. Pricing was moderate for what you get...roughly $10 to $14 a person. Our server was a bit scattered....I think that she was more interesting in the Muppet special that was on television than bringing us our bill. I would go back for the food, but not so much for the service. Also, probably not the best place for a first date given that you are going to town with your hands and making a mess of your self (which I guess is most of the fun).
(3)
Lauren K.
I have eaten at a LOT of Ethiopian restaurants, and because I grew up outside of Washington DC where there are a myriad of incredible Ethiopian restaurants to choose from, I have become quite picky as far as the quality and authenticity of Ethiopian food. I discovered Arada when it was on East Colfax 6 or 7 years ago. This was when Haime, the owner, was the hostess, waitress, and chef, and I was the only one eating there. I got Kitfo as it is traditionally prepared- raw. It was incredible!!!! The next time I tried the Doro Wot, which was equally incredible. Over the years, my husband and I have tried everything on the menu and those two dishes continue to be our favorites. We usually get either the Arada six or Super Arada combination dishes, and an order of Kitfo. If you've never had Ethiopian food, know that you eat with your fingers using delicious spongy bread, though I bet if you asked they would give you some silverware. The spices are unique and probably unlike anything you've had before- they are delicious! Expect a dining experience like no other. You'll have enough leftovers for at least another meal, too! Sure, the service may not be lightning fast or anything but everyone is friendly and my water glass is never empty. If you can't make it to DC for your first Ethiopian dining experience, go here because it's the best Ethiopian food in Colorado!
I love ethnic food e.g. Ethiopian, Moroccan, Korean, Greek, Peruvian, etc. I'm kind of like that weird girl Polly from the movie Along Came Polly (although I have yet made anyone have diarrhea -- go watch the movie). I like Ethiopian food because it's flavorful, communal, and different. Here are my comments on the items I've tried: Siga Wot (spicy beef): very good, had just the right amount of spicy-ness Yebeg Siga Alitcha (lamb stew): had an overwhelming lamby flavor, but what do you expect, it is *lamb* I guess Yater Alicha (yellow split peas): the texture was a little too hard for me, I didn't think it was cooked through enough Yatakelt Alitcha (steamed cabbage and carrots): loved this veggie dish, I wish I can get more Yemiser Wot (lentils): the menu description said it was cooked with a red pepper sauce, so I expected it to be spicy, but it wasn't; I'm not a big lentils fan though Greens (eh, greens): very soft and flavorful, one of my favorite veggie dishes I also tried their honey wine. It was *very* sweet. I would recommend it with dessert rather than with dinner. If it's your first time, a combination plate is always a good idea to try multiple different dishes. One word of advice though, eating too much of the Ingera (bread) can fill you up pretty quickly. So take it easy on those. The Ingera is like a giant sponge that sucks up all the things you ate plus all the things you didn't think you ate and makes them expand even bigger in your stomach. 1 star off: small portions on the good stuff
(4)
Lynn V.
I really wanted to like this, but had some issues. First, we got the combination plate (meat and veg). This is the first Ethiopian place I've been to where the waitress put the food on the injera at the table. That was nice, as she told us what each dish was as she scooped it out! Sadly, I found no balance in the spices. There seemed to an overabundance of spicy pepper, which just overshadowed all the other subtle spices. I can usually balance out the spicy dishes with the milder ones, but on this combo platter, they all seemed to have a lot of spicy peppers. My main problem was that there was ONE waitress for the entire restaurant, for the entire time we were there. (which was about 3 hours!) While we were the FIRST to arrive for dinner, we were not given the check in a timely manner. Even though we asked for it a few times, other, more 'in your face' customers got their bills first. I was actually very tempted to just stand up and walk out, and I have NEVER done that. One aggressive customer even grabbed OUR check (with my credit card in the holder) out of the waitresses hand, because he thought it was his. RUDE! While our waitress was nice enough, there was no way she could keep up with an entire restaurant of filled tables, and the food wasn't good enough for me to go through that again. I honesty will not be back.
(2)
April O.
We came here at the instigation of friends, while in town on business. The main selling points were that it was within walking distance of the place we were currently at, and that it was "awesome." Neither Brice nor I have ever had this type of food, so I couldn't vouch for the truth of the awesomeness. Nor did I want to be the sole voice begging to eat somewhere else. So we went. Since we didn't know what to get or expect (and because the meals all seemed to be $17 for one plate) I told Brice that I would eat whatever he was eating. Brice decided on Doro Wat, which is all meat. The lamb is excellent and was the mutual favorite. The chicken was enjoyable, the beef chunks seemed bland. Neither of us ate much of the ground beef and eventually the spice was so intense that we couldn't physically eat more of the food. I didn't really like my meal, but I blame myself for that. Others at the table who ordered more balanced dinners and had vegetables along with their meat seemed much more happy, so that's probably the way to go. The bread (injera?) was soft and citrus-y, and I suspect would have been delicious with greens or lentils. As it was, I didn't think it went too well with just meat. But once again, I think that's my own fault. Bonus half-star for the homeless dude cursing up a storm as we crossed the street. He was loud enough to make you think he was being chased by at least five police dogs. Dude was completely ALONE. I'd return to give it another shot with a different meal. 3.5 stars.
(3)
Anna F.
Got two to-go cokes and beef sambusas. The cups that the drinks were in had questionable hairs and loads of dust in them. The Sambusas were okay...but after seeing how dirty the cups were I didn't have much of an appetite for the food...I didn't trust that it was safe to eat. Needless to say I won't be heading back there.
(2)
Ellen L.
Delicious and flavorful
(4)
Mo C.
Not as good as Queen of Sheba in Santa Clara CA, but still pretty damn good. Beer: So, on the beer menu is listed "Ethiopian Beer". I have been to a few Ethiopian restaurants and know some of the beers. When I asked the server what brand the beer was, I kind of got a blank stare. When I asked if it was dark, he said, no, so I ordered an iced tea. The iced tea never made it to the table. In fact, no non-alcoholic drinks with the exception of water ever made it over. No problem, water works for me. Bathroom: Weirdest bathroom I have ever been in. It's a single stall/room with two toilets, side by side. WTF? Fork: Yes, I know, this is a hands on eating experience. But, I like to have a fork, just in case I want to reach all the way over the injera to try my friend's food. Asked for a fork, twice, it never made its way to the table. Food: The food was good. Again, not as good as Queen of Sheba, but still quite tasty. The injera was warm and plentiful. I recommend the #6, a dish of beef that is cooked with spiced and injera, then served on injera. The lamb stew was quite good as well. Ambiance: Well, they tried to make this place look like a nice cafe, rather than have any ethnic music, ornaments, etc. I miss the voo-doo looking dolls at Queen of Sheba :) It was just a little strange eating with my hands (sans fork) and listening to Brittney Spears, you know? Overall, I would definitely head back here, for the takeout if nothing else. I just wish there was better parking. WARNING on Parking: Although there is a nice empty lot across the street to the left of the restaruant, DO NOT PARK THERE! As we walked out of the restaurant we saw that our friend's car window had been bashed in and items stolen from her car. Those of us who parked on the street were not broken into.
(4)
john W.
Nothing compares to ethiopian. Eating with your hands, yummy bread and great meat and lentil dishes. The service has vastly improved! The first few times we went, about a year ago, the service was kinda slow. This time, it was awesome! The waiter was all over it, even when it was busy! Worth every penny! The Super Arada is the one to get. If you're not big eaters, you can probly split the Super Arada for 1, that's what we do.
(5)
rusty r.
A couple weeks back, my good ethiopian friend took me to her favorite place... Arada. We skipped Boulder's ethiopian and made our way to Santa Fe Ave... so, we really committed to giving this place a shot. The food was extremely tasty! The spices jumped and rattled around in my mouth... the lamb and chicken were great, but the lentils were amazing! Also had some "Ethiopian Beer", as listed on the menu. It's called "Meta" and apparently is a standard ethiopian brew. kind of sweet, but very dry like an asian brew. very tasty. Only drawback was the small portions, they could have been way bigger, but luckily the injera (spongey bread) filled us up!
(3)
Maha K.
The women's bathroom has two toilets. That's right ladies, you have to pee sans stalls because it helps cut building costs. One toilet has duct tape across it from flooding and the other would make relieving yourself on Santa Fe Drive a better alternative. '90s R&B music blares overhead. It makes awkward conversations at the table even worse because Keith Sweat is moaning through the ceiling and walls about how badly he wants to make love to you. By the end of our night, Mariah Carey was screaming something or another about being "so alone" and Michael Jackson's voice kept reminding us that he was dead. The servers are so depressed and annoyed that you might be more inclined to order 20mg of Prozac to-go than a real dinner. The bar feels faintly like that "junk liquor store on Colfax". I ordered the Ethiopian "honey" wine and got what looked like unfiltered apple juice with sedimentary layers of dirt at the bottom. The drink smelled like Wal-Mart grade garden soil. I would have better choked it down if it at least smelled like TARGET-grade garden soil. It costs $7 per glass. We nicknamed the hummus appetizer "Hum-Whiz" after Cheez-Whiz (both are cheap, artificial knock-offs of the real thing). It tasted like watery, cinnamon-flavored Nutella. No trace of a single chick pea. It costs $6. Splitting an entree costs you $5.50, driving the total cost of your plate near or over the original cost, depending on what you order. Manipulative business strategy, but definitely a turn-off. I'm not a big fan of injera bread as it is, but the pricing and quality prompted me to opt out of dining here altogether. 1 "Ethiopian" beer (tastes like Coors Light) + 1 "Ethiopian" honey wine + 2 shots of whiskey + 1 "hummus" plate = $40. I'd rather have saved the money for a real trip to Ethiopia. Or better yet, given the money to an Ethiopian charity in-need.
(2)
Riza H. C.
A unique experience some will tell. Since from where I am from, we often have "communal" eating events and when you use your fingers and hands to eat, all in all things are ok. Food wise: They have a distint flavor to it, depends on what you order. I had my first experience at Arada with like about 11 other friends for dinner sometime on April 29 2008. The service was indeed at a slow mode pace aka laid-back. The host do provide us with plenty of the "special" chewy bread in called Injera. Injera or Taita is a pancake-like bread made out from Teff Flour. The table that I am seated, my friends and I ordered these: Yebeg Siga Alitcha ~ lamb Doro Wot ~ chicken Meat Combination ~ Minchetabush and gomen Besega Yebeg Alitcha, Siga wot, Bozena shiro The rest of the dishes I cant recall. All the entrees include Injera, Tomato Fit-Fit, Tomato Salad or the choice of any dishes in the Vegetarian menu. Since its a communal type of eating, the people at my table indeed enjoyed their experiences and the food. We are the only guests at my table who finish our dishes from the communal plate at the end of that evening. If only the entrees comes with a larger portion I would come for more. For now, I would rather check some other places in Colorado that offers Ethiopian dishes.
(3)
Peter M.
Way to go Yelpers! I tried this place out after reading my fellow Yelper's reviews, and it was great! What a gem! I had my folks out to dinner, and there was a great deal of skepticism when I suggested Ethiopian food, as neither of my parents had ever tried it. We got the lamb, and a beef dish. It was STELLAR! I highly recommend that if you have never tried this interesting cuisine, you drop by Arada some day soon! Fantastic staff, too! Well done!
(5)
Kirsten M.
I love restaurants that are set up around family-style dining. I've always found it weird when people want to go to Thai or Chinese restaurants and order their own dish for themselves instead of passing it around the table. This was officially one of the first fights I ever picked with my husband, ("Order something we BOTH like!"). Yeah, I'm demanding and high maintenance like that. The reason I bring this up is that this is one of the reasons why I love Ethiopian food. It's all served in a big tray or bowl in the center of the table with injera bread (sort of like a spongy crepe) to scoop it up. Sharing food AND I get to use my fingers? Win! I love taking adventurous friends and big groups to this restaurant. The service is fab and they go out of their way to make sure everyone has a good experience. They even brought out a special child-size bowl of food for a friend's young son without us asking. Also, Ethiopian food is very vegetarian friendly so this is a good pick if you have a mixed meat eater/vegetarian crowd. If you are new to Ethiopian food I would suggest picking a meat combo and a vegetarian combo to try both so you can see what you like without getting a huge amount of any one thing.
(4)
Hollie W.
Great ethio joint! Had the veggie combo with six fantastically delicious selections. The inerja was so tasty. Only one person front of house, so service was as good as it could be for one server (aka super slow). Huge portions with plenty left over to take home. I've been to Arada's several times and while the veg combo is always good, it is a bit inconsistent.
(3)
Cara G.
Yum. Things I like about Ethopian food: - fun experience (share! eat with your hands!) - new flavors, delicious spices - healthy (well, at least it seems to be) I had no idea what to order but our server was very helpful. We tried a couple combination plates full of deliciously spiced meats, lentils and other veggies. Each scoop of meat/veggies goes on top of a big, round, spongy bread (kind of like a thick crepe) that you use for scooping in place of silverware. Arada looks unassuming from the outside but is pretty roomy -- and a little funky. It had light traffic we went (random time on a week night) but lots of people came in for take-out orders. If you frequent First Fridays on Santa Fe, add Arada to your list.
(4)
Evey M.
I went to Arada last night with a group of 5 others. The place was completely empty at 7 pm. I don't know if it is like that frequently or if it was because outside it was 10 degrees; regardless, the place was a ghost town. A quaint, clean, and warm ghost town. Every reviewer before me that has told you Arada has slow service is 100% correct. Even on a night when there are only 6 people in the restaurant things are still at a snails pace; however, the service is attentive and thorough. Luckily for me I had read up on the yelp reviews before going and knew to expect the slow service. One of my friends and of course myself are vegetarians so we got a seperate plate from the 4 non-veggies. We tried: - Vegetable Sambusa: which is beyond delicious - Yate Alitcha - Yatukilt Alitcha - Yemiser Wot (by far my favorite, next time I will order this dish as an entree size) - Gomen - Injera Bread - Tomato Fit-Fit Every single thing on the plate was delicious. It's spicy and vinegary so if you don't like both of those then this place is not for you. They also have mango juice as a main beverage and a full bar. If you are looking for something a little different then your normal everyday fare that won't cost you an arm and a leg try Arada.
(4)
Jonny D.
A consistently great time. You can get messy with your friends because you're eating some absolutely irresistible food with your hands and a thin layer of sour-in-a-good-way injera bread. I love Ethiopian cuisine and this place is the best Ethiopian I've had in the US. I really like how Ethiopian has a knack for making a vegetarian food hearty and delicious, so I'd recommend getting the Vegetarian Combo and then supplementing it with some of the Doro Wot, if you're into the whole meat thing. The one complaint I can register is that the service here, while friendly and engaging, seems completely unaware of the necessity of keeping me well-watered. For a place with spicy food, you'd expect to have large glasses and attention paid to when you empty them out. Not so here--small goblets that can go minute upon minute without refills (I've been compelled to grab a nearby pitcher and refill myself on several occasions). Apart from that, this is in my estimation among the best restaurants in Denver.
(4)
Lacey M.
Arada was my first Ethiopian food experience, and I wasn't that impressed. It was pretty good food, I suppose, but I probably won't go back. I went with my sister, Natalie M., and her daughter on a Sunday night for dinner. We were one of only 2 tables in the whole restaurant. That being said, the service was REALLY slow. The 1 lady working the front of the house seemed to be more focused on the T.V. then on giving good service. Since 2 of us were meat-eaters, and 2 vegetarians, we got 2 separate platters for the table. I really liked the bread it was served with/on, to use as your utensil...kind of a fun experience. I ordered one of the meat combos, that came with 4 different selections. I wasn't exactly sure which one was which, but do know that the one lamb dish was very delicious. Everything else was just okay. The sides were nothing to write home about either. I was wishing for a lot more flavor...with pretty much everything on that giant platter. I'm definitely glad I went, and was able to finally try Ethiopian food...but left a little disappointed. Not only with the service and food, but also with the price...little too pricey for not that great of food.
(3)
Chandra W.
Here's the deal--I don't think that anyone can argue that the food isn't yummy. Ethiopian flavors are incredibly warm and comforting even if it's your first time trying it. I mean, who doesn't love spiced beef (sorry vegetarians--but it is pretty good) wrapped in fried dough (beef sambusa). PLUS, you get to eat with your hands!!! Not "I'm-eating-with-my-fingers-cuz-I'm-eating-finger-Âfood" noshing with my hands. I'm talking, unadulterated, full-on hand-to-mouth yumminess. Also, unlike previous reviews, the service here was fabulous. Very attentive and helpful. I'm deducting a star because of the price. While exotic flavors sometimes warrant a slightly higher-than-expected price tag, the quantity of food for the price was a bit of a letdown. After ordering an app and two entrees with two Ethiopian beers, I can say that I was barely full--granted I steered clear of over eating the injera (delicious but takes up valuable real-estate in my tummy). The entrees were minimal--perhaps I expected too much but I really thought that I might be able to have doggy-bag breakfast, but no such luck. Overall: yummy. soul-satisfying, adventerous, albeit a bit small, but TOTALLY worth a second (and third) trip.
(4)
Doug Y.
To skip this overly wordy review skip to the last paragraph. Nice server albeit his clock seems to run at a slower pace than the rest of the world's. I went with a large group of people (13) and not knowing the logisitics of eating Ethiopian food with a large group I learned a few things. Arada's menu has pricing for one person or two people for each of their entree dishes which includes two veg. sides from the veg. entrees menu. What wasn't explained before we ordered is that all our food would be served on two large platters divided 6 orders on each and one vegan plate for our veggie guy. We ordered one of the special higher priced multi-combos to sample several items (Arada Six Combo) and also a Doro Wot (chicken) before realizing that six of us would be sharing each other's orders. After an indeterminable amount of time the two large-ish (emphasis on the -ish) platters were brought out with a smattering of veggie type piles placed around the rim (way fewer than what I perceived 12 per platter would amount to by the way (2 sides times six orders). there were maybe 4 small piles. Then the dumping of the little bowls began (chawan or rice bowl sized). I know that two of the people on our platter ordered the Doro Wot but the portions for all the entrees were all the same size except that there was a hard boiled egg in the center of the chicken (maybe they figured they were giving us a whole bird that way). The injera was cold and some of it wet and we had to wait bread/utensil-less and ask several times for more. The couple across from us ordered Sambusas near the end of the long wait for our dinner and did indeed get them... after we were pretty much finished eating (the sambusas were by the way the most flavorful thing I tasted that night). If you're dining with a big party here, know that your food comes on a communal platter so order entrees to share, you'll eat with injira (sponge textured slightly sour pancake shaped bread) as your only utensil, it'll be pretty pricey if you're a big eater, and forget it if you're in a hurry, this is the exact opposite of fast food. Adequately tasty but, Arada's? I think I'll pass.
(3)
Jeramyn F.
This is about how our dinner went: Enter restaurant, find a seat, wait 20 minutes, no water no greeting, no service Waiter comes, order two coffees, waters and an assortment of food wait 10 minutes, go find someone to ask for water again, get some water in a few minutes wait for 10 minutes we are out of water again we again need to go find someone to get water wait for 10 minutes more, finally the food comes, out of water again coffee still hasn't arrived eat some relatively flavorless food with bones in the sauces (bite carefully) wait 20 more minutes ask about coffee and find that "it is still brewing it takes a while to brew" wait 10 minutes finally the coffee arrives luke warm and over brewed Finish eating, wait for bill, leave disappointed and hungry the portions were tiny, going home to have dinner =(
(1)
D M.
Consistently the best Ethiopian restaurant in the Denver area. And this is coming from someone who lived in Ethiopia for years
(4)
Yona S.
This is the first time I've ever had Ethiopian food, and I actually consulted Yelp to decide which Ethiopian restaurant to try. This one had the best reviews and so I went. It's nestled in the middle of the Santa Fe art district, which is awesome if you want to make a night of it, or if you want to try to get a table during a First Friday. Our waiter was so adorable and nice. I just loved him so much because of his dazzling smile, his polite respectful demeanor and his patient willingness to help us decide what to order. I'm writing this for the audience who has never tried Ethiopian food. If you like spicy, you'll love this fare. I ordered something that was a sampler of two meats and three side dishes of my choice. The gal I was with ordered just one thing and it came with one meat and two sides. I highly recommend the sampler because who wants to try three things when you can try five? The tomato salad (two types) was hands down the best thing there. It was spicy, but not the way a fresh jalapeno pepper is spicy, haunting your mouth for hours afterward. It was an enjoyable spicy that hits you and then you're ok (kind of like Wasabe). And it was so flavorful without tasting like it was doused in salt! There are some familiar foods on the menu as well. Lentils is a staple, and their lentils were wonderful. The chicken was probably my least favorite because everything else was so good. The ground beef was awesome and again, very spicy. They also let me try a traditional Ethiopian Honey Wine. It was delicious and I could tell by smelling it that it was way more alcoholic than most wines. It was sweet and thick and potent but very delicious. I didn't go for a full glass, only because I was afraid to drive afterward! Another thing when you eat Ethiopian food is that you have to prepare yourself to experience something totally different than what you are used to. Their bread is not like bread. It's more like a spongy tortilla, simply meant to be a utensil for the rest of the food, since forks and spoons are not automatically offered. Another thing is, that you are not going to get a meal that serves 3 when you order an entree (even though between the two of us we only ate half of what we ordered and we each just ordered one entree). If you order the chicken you won't get half a chicken. So just keep that in mind and you won't be disappointed. We even met the manager (not sure if she's the owner too?) and she was very gracious, humble and really wanted to talk to her customers. I just loved the experience and I will definitely be back.
(4)
Scott B.
My favorite restaurant in Denver, and has been for years since way back when it was in that tiny little space on Coflax. We've become friends with the owner over all that time so it's hard for me to give an objective review. I don't understand the complaints about small portion size- we typically get the veggie combo for two, and are usually unable to finish it and have to be rolled out the door on gurneys. And I can eat. If you're a vegetarian, you need to get acquainted with Arada. You can have a fantastic, varied, healthy, delicious meal without seeing a single piece of tofu. One of the things I find most interesting about Arada is how the seasoning in the dishes is always changing a bit. The Yemiser Wot went through a period for a while where it had a really strong cinnamon flavor, the spiciness level on the shiro is always going up and down, the greens are sometime really tart and vinegary like southern greens, and sometimes really smooth. She's always tinkering with everything. Makes things interesting. Also, try the Ethiopian stout (if it's in stock- it's not always available). Interestingly sweet and refreshing. A really nice beer that suits the food perfectly.
(5)
Alden C.
Great Ethiopian food! Yummy! Be prepared to eat with your hands! That is how it is done!
(5)
Cassie G.
We've been going to this restaurant for ten years and always pick it for any type of nice celebration dinner. Tonight we went for an end of the summer feast before me and the brother start up school again! We always get the Vegetarian Delight for 2 and the Super Arada for 2 with an extra order of Alitcha. It is always too much food for the four of us to finish but it is always amazing. The owner and waiters are always very nice and tonight I had the Mango Juice which was wonderful as well! Definitely a must try for anybody looking for a great meal in Denver!
(5)
Andrew O.
Usually I venture out to east Colfax for my Ethiopian food, but I finally decided to try Arada, which is much closer to home. Despite the restaurant being almost completely empty for dinner (only one other party), I was pleasantly surprised with the friendly service and great food. One area that Arada surpasses my usual favorite spots is speed of food. I've been to some Ethiopian places and waited almost an hour for my food, this food was out in about 5 minutes. Food quality was great, and the red lentils in particular were nice and spicy. If you've never had Ethiopian food I highly recommend it, if only for the novelty. A lot of the dishes are almost like baby food, and you eat it by pinching it up with a thin, spongy sourdough-y bread called Injera. There is no silverware, you just use the delicious bread as your only utensil. Not recommended for germaphobes or awkward first dates.
(4)
David C.
I've eaten here a few times, and all of my visits were a lot of fun, so I definitely head here when I want good Ethiopian food. As most will tell you, food is eaten with injera, the spongy bread, rather than a fork or chopsticks, so you will be eating with your hands. There's a really nice mix of meats and vegetarian dishes on the menu, and it's very easy to get a good combination of things to try. I recommend the combination platters so that you get a taste of many different items. When they bring out your meal in a giant pottery-style dish, it honestly doesn't look like very much food. But as you eat bite after bite of food wrapped in the injera, it will fill you up without much trouble. I enjoyed the lamb and seasoned beef (Minchet) amongst the meats, and the Vegetarian Delight had several tasty things on it along with the tomato salads that come standard. The greens (Gomen) were my favorite, and the potato dish was good too. I'm not much for spicy food, but there's plenty here for those that are. When you want a really enjoyable meal that's different from pretty much anything you've ever had, give Arada a try.
(4)
Hoang L.
Pretty awesome... only my second time having Ethiopian food and I'll def come back. The portions are pretty large, so come with a big appetite. Great spot for groups as it's fun to share and try a bit of everything.
(4)
Nicole W.
We love this place! We hadn't been in a while, but we always think of it! The wait staff is definitely quicker than they used to be, the bread supply is more prolific and my water glass definitely stayed full! The presentation of the meal has also changed a bit. Instead of bringing all the food in little bowls and then putting it on your plate, they bring the plate all set up! They also bring rolls of bread instead of having it hanging over the plate. That was really great! My hubby and I split the super arada - definitely enough food for 2 when you order for 1. Our friend ordered the veggie delight and she was pleased with her choices as well. The food was fabulous as always!
(4)
Adriana A.
I don't remember what the waiter said any of our food was called, but I 'do' remember everything was deeeelicious. It was my friend's first time venturing into the excting and spicey arena of Ethiopian cuisine. He was a good sport and wanted to go full steam ahead, so we started off on our adventure with some Ethiopian honey wine and some Ethiopian beer. After quenching our thirst, our waiter talked up a meat and vegetable dish that featured lamb, lentils an array of beans and some yummy pork scoop that all came nessled on a very thin pancake-like bread. The same bread was also rolled up neatly around the plate so it could be torn off and used to grab tastes for your mouth. Yes, contrary to Miss Manner's etiquette, forks and knives are 'not' allowed at the table, so you want to make sure to wash your hands before the food arrives!
(5)
Andrea P.
I would give it five if the meat servings were a bit bigger. BUT I do like this place a lot! Yummy food, authentic menu and authentic service (yes, that does mean it's a bit slower than American restaurants, but it is supposed to be!). I'm going again this weekend!! And bringing friends this time.
(4)
Todd S.
I'm a little confused about some of the negative reviews below, particularly those mentioning small main/meat portions, and I wonder if people writing reviews are just less familiar with Ethiopian food. I'm no expert, but Arada reminded me a lot of my favorite Ethiopian restaurant in Portland (Queen of Sheba), and I'd be happy to go back next time I'm in Denver. In general, though, expect to sample from several small dishes that cross a good spectrum of flavor, not just meat plus injera (the delicious sourdough-like, spongy flatbread). Anyhow, I wouldn't say the waiter was slow -- we got our water, drinks, and food all in good, if relaxed, time. There was one screw-up on one of the sides, but they brought out the right one soon after. The waiter certainly was very nice and explained things for us. The food was quite tasty, though I can't remember the names now. We both got meat entrees and opted to choose from the vegetarian menu for "sides". We both liked the lentils and split peas. My wife got the spicy chicken with the egg (good), and I got what looked like ground beef with cottage cheese -- except way more tasty than I realize that sounds (trust me). I also had the Ethiopian beer, just to try it. It was surprisingly sweet (malty), but I enjoyed it with the food.
(4)
Elizabeth W.
Great food and service. The place is open and inviting. I have a veggie combo and was full until the same time the next day. I tried the honey wine, and it was a little too strong alcohol tasting for me. But it was the first time I had it, so I am certainly going to try it again. The location is great, and I sure it is really a great place during the art walk. We didn't have to wait for a table, even at dinner time on a Friday and the restaurant was comfortably full, but not crowded. Certainly a place in the art district to try.
(4)
Heather T.
I'm no expert on Ethiopian food, but am a big fan from living in DC - and have tried in in Edmonton as well. Adored this place - best meat dishes I have ever eaten and the vegetarian dishes were excellent, as well. Four of us went, so we ordered two different sampler platters - I always order Ethiopian this way and have never been disappointed. We had a great time and introduced some new eaters to Ethiopian. Overall, friendly service - but you do have to really advocate for water, amazing spicy comfort food (even if you've never tried it before - you can tell it is food with SOUL), and a great experience with friends. Messy, but delicious!
(4)
Jelena W.
I can't say that I had high expectations the first time I tried Ethiopian cuisine. Actually, I couldn't really picture what it was- a less tactful friend, referring to the famine conditions in Africa, opined, "Ethiopian food? What is that- they serve you 30 grams of food, then take it away and tell you that the American aid money all went to promote abstinence so you don't get to eat today?" On the contrary- this Ethiopian cuisine is spectacular, and if you can't figure out what the words on the menu mean, either ask the very friendly employees or just order it anyway- it's bound to be good. There are plenty of choices, and each that I've tried has been excellent. It seems like lots of folks stop in here after the First Friday Art Walk for a quick, yummy, and extra inexpensive post-free snacks nosh.
(4)
Clint J.
Went here for a friend's birthday. There were 8 of us at the table, and we each ordered an entree. ALL the entrees came on a single platter. Each "entree" was in a wee cup. I could've eaten all 8 entrees myself. You pay for an entree and get a tapa. Unacceptable. Let us now discuss the Ethiopian honey wine. I think they pissed in it. Tasted like no honey wine I ever had, and that includes a half dozen based on authentic Ethiopian recipes. Server was unsmiling, discourteous, and morose. Bread is supposed to be spongy, but not damp and doughy. Food tasted okay, although each entree was a mere 3 forkfuls. I would like to try Ethiopian food again, but I won't be going back to Arada.
(2)
betsy s.
I have tried five or six Ethiopian restaurants in Denver, and I think that Arada is - hands down - the best! As far as I can tell, each restaurant has their own (closely guarded?) recipe for injera, and Arada's has the perfect texture and "sour-ness." Arada also appears to be the only place in town that serves tomato fit-fit - a mixture of small pieces of injera, diced tomato, onion and jalapenos in a vinegar-based dressing. I don't much like tomatos and I don't much like jalapenos, but I LOVE tomato fit-fit. Go figure! I am also highly addicted to their Kitffo - finely ground lean beef with spiced Ethiopian butter and house-made cottage cheese. YUM!
(5)
Hope A.
Nice little restaurant in the Santa Fe arts district, which doesn't have many good places to eat. The service was prompt and friendly. They did their best to accommodate my husband's dietary needs, he has an allergy to garlic. It's hard to find a place that will accommodate garlic issues.
(4)
y k.
I have to say, my experience with Arada was not the best. Now I should preface this by saying that I love, love, LOVE ethiopian food. I've had many excellent meals at two of the places on East Colfax (Ethiopian Restaurant and Abyssinia, I think). So I was very excited to try this place, since it's right in my neighborhood, much as I knew it would be extremely dangerous to discover a delicious Ethiopian place so close to my home (dangerous on the wallet, that is). But, alas, my wallet can rest in peace. The food was fine, but, no colfax Ethiopian Restaurant. Everything was just a little blander, a little greasier, not quite as flavorful and robust. (We just got the veggie combo, which is what we always get everywhere). Not only was the food not as good, but it was a couple dollars more expensive. It's possible I just caught them on a bad day, but for now I think I'll be making the trek over to Colfax, for more reliable deliciousness.
(2)
Heather C.
Good food, small portions and slow service in traditional Ethiopian Restaurant fashion.
(3)
Tristan T.
Oh...My...God. I would eat this every day, if there weren't so many other things I wanted to eat on any given day.
(5)
jo m.
My first time experiencing Ethiopian food here. I have seen my coworkers eat Ethiopian food before and wanted to try. After art walk, a girlfriend and I wanted to try something tasty and different so we walked past by 2 Mexican restaurant and walked into this place. This place did not look like the picture posted here. It was ugly which I was OK with it; I've figured maybe the people here focus more on the food than the ambiance. To be a good sport (this friend of mine is a vegetarian), we ordered 2 vegetarian plates ($10 each) and a glass of honey wine. The food was served on a big platter with sponge flat bread layered on the platter and her food on one side and mine on opposite side with 4 small rolled up sponge flat bread. I was extremely sad to see the food. portion was small and food served luke warm. Bread was cold. I know I am not a very cultural person but I am willing try new stuff and based on what I ate (potato vegetarian dish and something chickpea vegetarian dish (#14? #15? on menu), I will not be visiting this place again. To sum it up, the food was boring, too small of portion and over priced. Now I know why Ethiopians are skinny and poor. At the end of the meal, I promised my friend that I would take her out for a Korean dinner next week.
(2)
Trevor C.
I've never before had Ethiopian food. Was attending an event in the Arts District and my wife pointed it out that we should try it out. We were not disappointed! To start, we had some Ethiopian honey wine. It's a different taste. You can definitely taste alcohol, which I am a fan of, but it is sweetened with a taste of honey as well. Not sure how else to describe it, but you will definitely not find this in many other places so give it a try. Second, we met the owner. She is such a nice woman. I asked her what her favorite was and she said, "Everything. I am the cook, so I love everything!" We enjoy vegetarian dishes and as such went with the Yatakilt Alicha for two. It was delectable. The bread is something I've never had before. She served the dish on a pizza pan that was covered with this spongy bread and then topped with four rolls of bread that surround the mixture of tomatoes, jalapeños, potatoes, carrots, and a hummus type mixture. I wrapped everything I could fit into the first roll of bread and it was the sweetest taste I would have never imagined! As she told us, the bread that everything sits on top of is the best. It collects all of these flavor a from the dish during your meal. Now for the ambience. She plays a really happy Ethiopian mix of music that made me smile the entire time. She also has a full bar stocked with many liquors that would please anyone's palate. Check this one out!
(5)
Alice G.
Tucked in a hole in the wall on Santa Fe in the art district, this little restaurant is a good option for dining, but be patient! The service in here is a little slow and disjointed, but you will be VERY pleased with your food! We order the super Arada combo and you get everything you need. Delish. The honey wine is always fun...and funky enough we always switch to beer or wine after the first glass. One thing is for certain, you will feel you left the country for a few hours!
(3)
Jake L.
Arada just became one of my top 3 favorite restaurants in Denver. This place is seriously delicious. The Ethiopian dining experience is a unique one. Personally, I enjoy eating without silverware off of a shared plate.. it's a lot of fun! And if you haven't tried it, I would highly recommend letting your hair back and getting playful with it. Holding that piece of bread with that perfectly spiced food may just set you free. Every vegetarian item on the menu is 5-star worthy. The flavors are unique, explosive, and offer something you won't find anywhere but here. The Yater Alitcha (yellow split peas) were a personal favorite, although it was almost impossible to decide. The day after my first experience at Arad and I am already dying to go back.
(5)
Doug H.
Enjoyed my meal at Arada. The dishes were very tasty and spiced to taste different and distinct, unlike other places where the stews are all the same but they just have different proteins or vegetables. We had the chicken, lamb, steamed greens and chickpeas (sorry I don't remember the Ethiopian names!) The servings could have been larger too. We had four dishes for four of us and we wiped that plate clean. The injera was so-so. They don't give you enough and it's cold, so it's not that great. I can't put my finger on it but I like the injera at Ethiopian Restaurant more. Service is slow as others have written, but it wasn't too bad. I wish the tables were larger and the chairs more comfortable. The four of us were squeezed into such a small round cocktail table; Ethiopian food should give you ample room to spread out!
(4)
Sam S.
I'm an extremely picky eater when it comes to ethnic food and a group of colleagues want to come here. I was extremely hesitant but I must say I am so very glad that I decided to go. We ordered a few appetizers which were very tasty and 2 sample platters: 1 vegetarian and 1 meat. There was plenty of food to feed 3 men and 1 lady. The lady who served us was also the owner. She had been in business for 15 years and now we know why so long. The food was great and she was extremely sweet. I also recommend trying the Ethiopian Beer. It was a heavy Amber beer that was very tasty as well. I would absolutely go back!
(5)
Dave T.
I thought this place was pretty good. A good starting point for the Santa Fe Art Walk. I enjoyed it. I have tried a few other Ethiopian restaurants around the country and found them to be better, but am certainly no expert on what is truly authentic. Definitely worth a visit, though I will visit others to compare, and update. Dave
(3)
Lindy L.
Hmmm. A weird experience, which was especially disappointing because it was my boyfriend's first Ethiopian food experience. We started with the honey wine, and that's when the weirdness started. The wine was opaque, smelled funny, and tasted vinegary. When we asked our server about the wine, she said that honey wine is only sweet when it's first opened and that most people think that it's too sweet then. She did bring us new glasses, and that wine looked, smelled, and tasted good, but she didn't even check the wine in our first set of glasses. We saw our still-full wine glasses sitting on the bar at the end of the night. I really hope that the wine didn't get served to other people. Our server seemed to think that we weren't familiar with honey wine, although I've actually had it a number of times. And it doesn't take an expert to taste vinegar. The food part of the evening was just fine. We went with the Arada Special, which was pretty good overall and included three meat dishes and three vegetarian dishes. Two of the vegetarian dishes were disappointingly bland though, the yater alitcha (yellow split peas) and the yemiser wot (lentils) The food here was served in an interesting way. The server brought out all of the dishes in small bowls, and told us what each dish was as she emptied it onto the platter of injera. I really liked that. Usually, the platter of injera is brought out with all of the dishes already placed on top of the injera, without any explanation about which dish is which. The pieces of injera for us to use for scooping were placed along the outside of the platter, which is a prettier way of presentation than the usual basket of injera on the side, although they didn't provide many extra pieces for scooping. We wanted more injera, and it took awhile for us to get the server's attention, even though there were only two other couples in the restaurant. For people who've never had Ethiopian food, the dishes that you order are placed on top of a huge, communal piece of injera that's the size of a platter. Injera is spongy and slightly sour tasting, in a good way. Maybe tangy is a better word--like sourdough bread, but different. You eat the dishes by breaking up another piece of injera and using that to scoop up the food, like you do with a tortilla. Ethiopian food is usually really flavorful because of the spices used. Back to the experience at Arada: at least thirty minutes had passed since our server last checked on us, and we wanted our check. We had a hard time getting our server's attention to ask for the check because she was talking on the phone. Even after we told her that we didn't have much more time because we were trying to catch a movie, she still continued talking on the phone and took a long time to return the credit card. We didn't bother trying to take the leftovers because that would have created an even bigger delay. Given the spoiled wine, a couple of bland dishes, and the very slow time taking care of our check, despite being politely told that we had time pressure and despite an empty restaurant, the experience was a 2. A final weird thing to note is that I'd tried going here two other times before, but wasn't able to because they weren't open, even though I went on days and at times when they were supposed to be open. In retrospect, that seems like a sign.
(2)
Paula H.
I walk by here once a week and finally dropped in. Glad I did. The vegetarian sambusa was a delicious start followed by the yemiser wot which is perfectly spicy! Yes, the ambiance is in the dive category. Which I don't mind. I did enjoy my meal, and would give that a 4. Ambiance rated at 2.
(3)
Julio T.
I wonder if the reason Denver has so many Ethiopian people and restaurants is because Denver has a similarly high elevation. Ethiopia's largest city, Addis Ababa, is actually 7,726 feet in elevation, even higher than Denver and sits on plains near a mountainous region just like we do. I'm not sure if that's the reason for Denver's large Ethiopian population, but I am glad they have opened up places like Arada and shared their country's fine food with all of us. My friend and I got the vegetarian plate and enjoyed every bite of the yatakilt alitcha, fosolio and gomen piled upon pieces of spongy injera bread. The yatakilt alitcha was especially good with it's huge potato chunks and tender cabbage pieces soaked in a warm, gingery sauce. The greens were hearty and spicy and the green beans had that unique sour/savory/spicy/sweet flavor combination that only seems to be available at Ethiopian restaurants. Arada is certainly a bit more higher priced that other Ethiopian restaurants in town, averaging about $15 per person when many places have it for about $10-12 with about the same quality. But the food was still quite excellent and the service was very attentive, with our server quickly refilling our waters and baskets of injera. I've always enjoyed living the "Mile-High" life in Denver. I am even more grateful if our elevation and mountainous geography is responsible for bringing the warm and generous Ethiopian people and their fantastic cuisine to our city.
(4)
Kelly A.
I liked this place! I'm new to Ethiopian food. Portion size on veg dishes seemed smaller than I've had at the two other Ethiopian restaurants I've been to. Chicken was a little dry and chewy, but the spicy sauce made up for it. The injera was great! The iced tea was fantastic!
(4)
Gena L.
A friend and I went here after a run for some post-run carbs. We are both Ethiopian cuisine fans, so we decided on Arada. It was not very busy, so the service was pretty attentive. We ordered the Vegetarian Sampler, which was really lovely. They were very generous with the injera, giving us multiple refills without delay. For those of you who haven't tried Ethiopian food, I really must encourage you to do so. They say if you like Indian cuisine, you will love Ethiopian cuisine, and Ethiopian cuisine is better for you and very social.
(4)
Heather M.
It was fine. Higher priced than places on Colfax, and not as tasty.
(2)
Matt D.
I stopped by Arada for lunch, trying it for the first time. I've had ethiopian many times before, but this was one of the best (and least expensive) ethiopian means I've ever had. I ordered the spicy chicken lunch item, and it was delicious. Not too spicy, just very flavorful, and the side tomato dish was tart and refreshing. The injera was a bit cold, but I think that's how it's supposed to be served, and it tasted fine. The owner served me herself -- they've been in business 17 years, and was very hospitable and friendly. Even gave me a walkthrough of different Ethiopian beers.
(5)
Amy S.
So, I'll start out by saying that I love Ethiopian food! I have had it more times than I can count on my fingers and toes combined, and at several different locations. I'll start with the meal. I ordered honey wine, which was decent, but very unlike the other honey wines I have had before. This wine was cloudy and a brighter yellow than I am familiar with. It was also pricey for the amount served. I had the spicy chicken entree, and was also allowed to sample the lamb. The lamb was down right gross. Not tender at all, and not very flavorful. The chicken was okay, but I really wasn't impressed, it was tough/chewy, but the flavors were spot on. The tomato fit-fit and tomato salads were delicious! I think the weirdest part of the meal was that the injera was mushy and sticky. I kept wiping my fingers and particles of napkin were ripping off and getting stuck to my fingertips. Very odd... I've never seen that before. Also, the atmosphere is not very pleasing. The tables were covered in plastic that was not only unsightly, but also annoying. The bathroom had two toilets in it, side by side, with no stalls/barriers, and one toilet was blocked off with duct tape. So in conclusion, I won't be back.
(2)
Masha B.
Nice! Lovely meal, delicious food, veggie-friendly menu...Ethiopian beer to try. Very gracious owner, nice ambiance.... I saw one of the reviewers mentioned the quirky toilet situation. Please, I don't go to a restaurant to sit in the bathroom. The food is great and that's what counts. I shall be back for more!
(5)
Kate C.
One star for ambiance. Let's just say, I expected more. I had bought the Abssynia Groupon and checked out that place--my expectations of it were low because of the ambiance, but, for a total whole in the wall, zomg the food was sooo sooo delish that two weeks later I was craving Ethiopian food again. Instead of going to the same place, I thought I'd try Arada. I expected more because it had more reviews, looked cute, and is down in the art district. The honey wine was decent (I didn't think it was too sweet). My guy and I ordered the Meat Combo plate for two. Unfortunately, I couldn't do the injera (gluten), so our server brought me out a plate of rice with veggies that looked like it had been cooked a week ago. The vegetables were gross, dry, overcooked, overall just mealy. I can totally just eat the meat and Tomato Fit-Fit, I thought. Wrong--all four of the options on the platter were overcooked and the meat extremely dry. There was nothing special about the flavors, to the extent that my boyfriend and I repeated quietly back and forth "This is terrible! Terrible to the extent that I don't even want to eat it!!" As soon as we exited the restaurant, we both exclaimed, "THAT WAS TERRIBLE!" I left full, and completely unsatisfied, wishing I'd just gone back to Abssynia. Even though the ambiance is less-than-desired, the food at Abssynia knocks Arada out of the water. You'll also be surrounded by Ethiopian peeps chatting up in their native language. The only thing good about the food at Arada was the Tomato Fit-Fit, appropriately seasoned, however that is not enough to get me back in the door, so... I will not be back! But I can't wait to satisfy my hankering for Ethiopian with a visit to Abssynia again.
(1)
Russell G.
This is a cool little spot in the Santa Fe district. Came here with the girl because a few weeks prior, we arrived early for a gallery show and found this place to be a good fit for a drink. The guys next to us at the bar were munching on a super Arada and I knew I had to return! We ordered a super Arada and a meat combo. The plates are the size of a tray so prepare for a lot of food. Everything was flavorful and I love the wraps used for bread and your utensils. Yes, you eat with your hands! The bread alternative is light and fluffy but I cannot identify exactly what it is. Anyways, it compliments the food very well and my girl and I had a great time eating with our hands. You just have to own it! I appreciated the experience very much. Out of your norm and a good time. Two people can easily share one entree here. Worth checking out!
(4)
Kell R.
Awesome! Delicious! Gored Gored! I love coming here! Fantastic food paired with great prices make this place perfect for a night out whether it be for a first date to an ordinary night out!
(4)
Stephen W.
I love this place. The food is fantastic and atmosphere isn't bad either. The price is quite reasonable. It can be slow if there are a lot of people in there, and they won't take a reservation on first friday, which is a great day to go.
(5)
Alicia J.
My boyfriend ordered the Doro Wot and I ordered one of the beef specials. When we only saw one big plate coming out, I thought, "Oh, good, one of our dinners is ready!" Not so. We were apparently splitting the main plate, which kinda peeved me, based on the price of the meal. Together, we each got four side dishes with our main entrees. We were given so little of each side dish that it literally looked like someone had given us a teaspoon of each. Maybe a tablespoon, but not a heaping one. It was shocking how little we got considering price and the fact that we're talking about some beans and spice. What's cheaper to make? But, the most unbelievable part of the meal was my boyfriend's Doro Wot. The waitress overturned his bowl onto the plate and out fell a SINGLE DRUMSTICK and an egg. The waitress even pointed it out as she told us what was what and said, "Your drumstick and an egg." So, what it boils down to is....pay $14, get a drumstick and an egg as an entree. I don't think so. And, by the complete and utter emptiness of the place when we were there...no one else does, either. We walked out and won't be back.
(1)
MM M.
Horrible service. Mediocre food. We went on First Friday for my sister's birthday. We got there at 5:30pm and there were no other people in the restaurant. We had 6 adults, one toddler in a highchair (who actually eats a lot) and a baby in a stroller in our group, along with a bunch of birthday presents. The waitress pushed two small square tables together with space for the 6 adults. When we asked if we could have another table so that there would also be room for the toddler and stroller next to the table, she got really annoyed and said they were going to be too busy. So we just pushed the extra table over ourselves and then worried that they were going to spit in our food or something. It never got full in there while we were there, so it never came up again. But it definitely soured our experience. The rest of the service was also poor. She rarely came around for drink refills, and we had to flag her down to get more injera. She didn't seem to care whether we liked the food or not. As for the food itself, I'm a bit of a snob about Ethiopian food. Having lived in LA and then the Bay area, I've had my share of really, really good Ethiopian food. There was definitely no comparison between Arada's food and our favorite places in California. The meat dishes were chewy and all the food just lacked the normal rich combination of spices (not necessarily hot spicy) that I love about Ethiopian food. Overall, we will not be returning here. I'll have to try some of the other Ethiopian restaurants in Denver and hope to find some place good.
(2)
Kathi C.
I've been to Ethiopian in several large cities, but because of where I live and work, I only get to enjoy it about once a year. For that reason, I usually get the sampler to try everything at a new place. I ordered the meat combination (4 kinds of meat) and the vegetable combination (all 6 kinds of vegetables), the vegetable sambusa, and a glass of honey wine. What can I say? Just delicious. This place was up there with some of the other Ethiopian restaurants I've tried in other cities. Now I want to try the other Ethiopian restaurants in Denver too. Yum!
(4)
Jonathan D.
Very strange. I cant seem to find my review that I wrote on Arada. I will repost and I guess see if this one mysteriously disappears. If I my other review decides to magically show up again I will delete this one. Just to recap, if you are looking for the worst and I mean absolute worst service in not only all of Denver but I would say probably north of the equator, then please go here on any night of the week and have dinner. Just to give you an idea of how bad the service is, I am soooooooo lazy I have used Yelp for 3+ years and I have never created an account. One night at this place made me so angry that my lazy butt created an account, sat at my computer and wrote a review just to see it go missing 5 days later. I am on a serious mission to let the world know that this place is by far a giant waste of time. Cheers
(1)
Alice G.
Tucked in a hole in the wall on Santa Fe in the art district, this little restaurant is a good option for dining, but be patient! The service in here is a little slow and disjointed, but you will be VERY pleased with your food! We order the super Arada combo and you get everything you need. Delish. The honey wine is always fun...and funky enough we always switch to beer or wine after the first glass. One thing is for certain, you will feel you left the country for a few hours!
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes
Adriana A.
I don't remember what the waiter said any of our food was called, but I 'do' remember everything was deeeelicious. It was my friend's first time venturing into the excting and spicey arena of Ethiopian cuisine. He was a good sport and wanted to go full steam ahead, so we started off on our adventure with some Ethiopian honey wine and some Ethiopian beer. After quenching our thirst, our waiter talked up a meat and vegetable dish that featured lamb, lentils an array of beans and some yummy pork scoop that all came nessled on a very thin pancake-like bread. The same bread was also rolled up neatly around the plate so it could be torn off and used to grab tastes for your mouth. Yes, contrary to Miss Manner's etiquette, forks and knives are 'not' allowed at the table, so you want to make sure to wash your hands before the food arrives!
(5)Todd S.
I'm a little confused about some of the negative reviews below, particularly those mentioning small main/meat portions, and I wonder if people writing reviews are just less familiar with Ethiopian food. I'm no expert, but Arada reminded me a lot of my favorite Ethiopian restaurant in Portland (Queen of Sheba), and I'd be happy to go back next time I'm in Denver. In general, though, expect to sample from several small dishes that cross a good spectrum of flavor, not just meat plus injera (the delicious sourdough-like, spongy flatbread). Anyhow, I wouldn't say the waiter was slow -- we got our water, drinks, and food all in good, if relaxed, time. There was one screw-up on one of the sides, but they brought out the right one soon after. The waiter certainly was very nice and explained things for us. The food was quite tasty, though I can't remember the names now. We both got meat entrees and opted to choose from the vegetarian menu for "sides". We both liked the lentils and split peas. My wife got the spicy chicken with the egg (good), and I got what looked like ground beef with cottage cheese -- except way more tasty than I realize that sounds (trust me). I also had the Ethiopian beer, just to try it. It was surprisingly sweet (malty), but I enjoyed it with the food.
(4)Elizabeth W.
Great food and service. The place is open and inviting. I have a veggie combo and was full until the same time the next day. I tried the honey wine, and it was a little too strong alcohol tasting for me. But it was the first time I had it, so I am certainly going to try it again. The location is great, and I sure it is really a great place during the art walk. We didn't have to wait for a table, even at dinner time on a Friday and the restaurant was comfortably full, but not crowded. Certainly a place in the art district to try.
(4)Heather T.
I'm no expert on Ethiopian food, but am a big fan from living in DC - and have tried in in Edmonton as well. Adored this place - best meat dishes I have ever eaten and the vegetarian dishes were excellent, as well. Four of us went, so we ordered two different sampler platters - I always order Ethiopian this way and have never been disappointed. We had a great time and introduced some new eaters to Ethiopian. Overall, friendly service - but you do have to really advocate for water, amazing spicy comfort food (even if you've never tried it before - you can tell it is food with SOUL), and a great experience with friends. Messy, but delicious!
(4)Chandra W.
Here's the deal--I don't think that anyone can argue that the food isn't yummy. Ethiopian flavors are incredibly warm and comforting even if it's your first time trying it. I mean, who doesn't love spiced beef (sorry vegetarians--but it is pretty good) wrapped in fried dough (beef sambusa). PLUS, you get to eat with your hands!!! Not "I'm-eating-with-my-fingers-cuz-I'm-eating-finger-Âfood" noshing with my hands. I'm talking, unadulterated, full-on hand-to-mouth yumminess. Also, unlike previous reviews, the service here was fabulous. Very attentive and helpful. I'm deducting a star because of the price. While exotic flavors sometimes warrant a slightly higher-than-expected price tag, the quantity of food for the price was a bit of a letdown. After ordering an app and two entrees with two Ethiopian beers, I can say that I was barely full--granted I steered clear of over eating the injera (delicious but takes up valuable real-estate in my tummy). The entrees were minimal--perhaps I expected too much but I really thought that I might be able to have doggy-bag breakfast, but no such luck. Overall: yummy. soul-satisfying, adventerous, albeit a bit small, but TOTALLY worth a second (and third) trip.
(4)Doug Y.
To skip this overly wordy review skip to the last paragraph. Nice server albeit his clock seems to run at a slower pace than the rest of the world's. I went with a large group of people (13) and not knowing the logisitics of eating Ethiopian food with a large group I learned a few things. Arada's menu has pricing for one person or two people for each of their entree dishes which includes two veg. sides from the veg. entrees menu. What wasn't explained before we ordered is that all our food would be served on two large platters divided 6 orders on each and one vegan plate for our veggie guy. We ordered one of the special higher priced multi-combos to sample several items (Arada Six Combo) and also a Doro Wot (chicken) before realizing that six of us would be sharing each other's orders. After an indeterminable amount of time the two large-ish (emphasis on the -ish) platters were brought out with a smattering of veggie type piles placed around the rim (way fewer than what I perceived 12 per platter would amount to by the way (2 sides times six orders). there were maybe 4 small piles. Then the dumping of the little bowls began (chawan or rice bowl sized). I know that two of the people on our platter ordered the Doro Wot but the portions for all the entrees were all the same size except that there was a hard boiled egg in the center of the chicken (maybe they figured they were giving us a whole bird that way). The injera was cold and some of it wet and we had to wait bread/utensil-less and ask several times for more. The couple across from us ordered Sambusas near the end of the long wait for our dinner and did indeed get them... after we were pretty much finished eating (the sambusas were by the way the most flavorful thing I tasted that night). If you're dining with a big party here, know that your food comes on a communal platter so order entrees to share, you'll eat with injira (sponge textured slightly sour pancake shaped bread) as your only utensil, it'll be pretty pricey if you're a big eater, and forget it if you're in a hurry, this is the exact opposite of fast food. Adequately tasty but, Arada's? I think I'll pass.
(3)Yona S.
This is the first time I've ever had Ethiopian food, and I actually consulted Yelp to decide which Ethiopian restaurant to try. This one had the best reviews and so I went. It's nestled in the middle of the Santa Fe art district, which is awesome if you want to make a night of it, or if you want to try to get a table during a First Friday. Our waiter was so adorable and nice. I just loved him so much because of his dazzling smile, his polite respectful demeanor and his patient willingness to help us decide what to order. I'm writing this for the audience who has never tried Ethiopian food. If you like spicy, you'll love this fare. I ordered something that was a sampler of two meats and three side dishes of my choice. The gal I was with ordered just one thing and it came with one meat and two sides. I highly recommend the sampler because who wants to try three things when you can try five? The tomato salad (two types) was hands down the best thing there. It was spicy, but not the way a fresh jalapeno pepper is spicy, haunting your mouth for hours afterward. It was an enjoyable spicy that hits you and then you're ok (kind of like Wasabe). And it was so flavorful without tasting like it was doused in salt! There are some familiar foods on the menu as well. Lentils is a staple, and their lentils were wonderful. The chicken was probably my least favorite because everything else was so good. The ground beef was awesome and again, very spicy. They also let me try a traditional Ethiopian Honey Wine. It was delicious and I could tell by smelling it that it was way more alcoholic than most wines. It was sweet and thick and potent but very delicious. I didn't go for a full glass, only because I was afraid to drive afterward! Another thing when you eat Ethiopian food is that you have to prepare yourself to experience something totally different than what you are used to. Their bread is not like bread. It's more like a spongy tortilla, simply meant to be a utensil for the rest of the food, since forks and spoons are not automatically offered. Another thing is, that you are not going to get a meal that serves 3 when you order an entree (even though between the two of us we only ate half of what we ordered and we each just ordered one entree). If you order the chicken you won't get half a chicken. So just keep that in mind and you won't be disappointed. We even met the manager (not sure if she's the owner too?) and she was very gracious, humble and really wanted to talk to her customers. I just loved the experience and I will definitely be back.
(4)Scott B.
My favorite restaurant in Denver, and has been for years since way back when it was in that tiny little space on Coflax. We've become friends with the owner over all that time so it's hard for me to give an objective review. I don't understand the complaints about small portion size- we typically get the veggie combo for two, and are usually unable to finish it and have to be rolled out the door on gurneys. And I can eat. If you're a vegetarian, you need to get acquainted with Arada. You can have a fantastic, varied, healthy, delicious meal without seeing a single piece of tofu. One of the things I find most interesting about Arada is how the seasoning in the dishes is always changing a bit. The Yemiser Wot went through a period for a while where it had a really strong cinnamon flavor, the spiciness level on the shiro is always going up and down, the greens are sometime really tart and vinegary like southern greens, and sometimes really smooth. She's always tinkering with everything. Makes things interesting. Also, try the Ethiopian stout (if it's in stock- it's not always available). Interestingly sweet and refreshing. A really nice beer that suits the food perfectly.
(5)Cassie G.
We've been going to this restaurant for ten years and always pick it for any type of nice celebration dinner. Tonight we went for an end of the summer feast before me and the brother start up school again! We always get the Vegetarian Delight for 2 and the Super Arada for 2 with an extra order of Alitcha. It is always too much food for the four of us to finish but it is always amazing. The owner and waiters are always very nice and tonight I had the Mango Juice which was wonderful as well! Definitely a must try for anybody looking for a great meal in Denver!
(5)Alden C.
Great Ethiopian food! Yummy! Be prepared to eat with your hands! That is how it is done!
(5)Andrew O.
Usually I venture out to east Colfax for my Ethiopian food, but I finally decided to try Arada, which is much closer to home. Despite the restaurant being almost completely empty for dinner (only one other party), I was pleasantly surprised with the friendly service and great food. One area that Arada surpasses my usual favorite spots is speed of food. I've been to some Ethiopian places and waited almost an hour for my food, this food was out in about 5 minutes. Food quality was great, and the red lentils in particular were nice and spicy. If you've never had Ethiopian food I highly recommend it, if only for the novelty. A lot of the dishes are almost like baby food, and you eat it by pinching it up with a thin, spongy sourdough-y bread called Injera. There is no silverware, you just use the delicious bread as your only utensil. Not recommended for germaphobes or awkward first dates.
(4)David C.
I've eaten here a few times, and all of my visits were a lot of fun, so I definitely head here when I want good Ethiopian food. As most will tell you, food is eaten with injera, the spongy bread, rather than a fork or chopsticks, so you will be eating with your hands. There's a really nice mix of meats and vegetarian dishes on the menu, and it's very easy to get a good combination of things to try. I recommend the combination platters so that you get a taste of many different items. When they bring out your meal in a giant pottery-style dish, it honestly doesn't look like very much food. But as you eat bite after bite of food wrapped in the injera, it will fill you up without much trouble. I enjoyed the lamb and seasoned beef (Minchet) amongst the meats, and the Vegetarian Delight had several tasty things on it along with the tomato salads that come standard. The greens (Gomen) were my favorite, and the potato dish was good too. I'm not much for spicy food, but there's plenty here for those that are. When you want a really enjoyable meal that's different from pretty much anything you've ever had, give Arada a try.
(4)Hoang L.
Pretty awesome... only my second time having Ethiopian food and I'll def come back. The portions are pretty large, so come with a big appetite. Great spot for groups as it's fun to share and try a bit of everything.
(4)Nicole W.
We love this place! We hadn't been in a while, but we always think of it! The wait staff is definitely quicker than they used to be, the bread supply is more prolific and my water glass definitely stayed full! The presentation of the meal has also changed a bit. Instead of bringing all the food in little bowls and then putting it on your plate, they bring the plate all set up! They also bring rolls of bread instead of having it hanging over the plate. That was really great! My hubby and I split the super arada - definitely enough food for 2 when you order for 1. Our friend ordered the veggie delight and she was pleased with her choices as well. The food was fabulous as always!
(4)Jeramyn F.
This is about how our dinner went: Enter restaurant, find a seat, wait 20 minutes, no water no greeting, no service Waiter comes, order two coffees, waters and an assortment of food wait 10 minutes, go find someone to ask for water again, get some water in a few minutes wait for 10 minutes we are out of water again we again need to go find someone to get water wait for 10 minutes more, finally the food comes, out of water again coffee still hasn't arrived eat some relatively flavorless food with bones in the sauces (bite carefully) wait 20 more minutes ask about coffee and find that "it is still brewing it takes a while to brew" wait 10 minutes finally the coffee arrives luke warm and over brewed Finish eating, wait for bill, leave disappointed and hungry the portions were tiny, going home to have dinner =(
(1)D M.
Consistently the best Ethiopian restaurant in the Denver area. And this is coming from someone who lived in Ethiopia for years
(4)Mo C.
Not as good as Queen of Sheba in Santa Clara CA, but still pretty damn good. Beer: So, on the beer menu is listed "Ethiopian Beer". I have been to a few Ethiopian restaurants and know some of the beers. When I asked the server what brand the beer was, I kind of got a blank stare. When I asked if it was dark, he said, no, so I ordered an iced tea. The iced tea never made it to the table. In fact, no non-alcoholic drinks with the exception of water ever made it over. No problem, water works for me. Bathroom: Weirdest bathroom I have ever been in. It's a single stall/room with two toilets, side by side. WTF? Fork: Yes, I know, this is a hands on eating experience. But, I like to have a fork, just in case I want to reach all the way over the injera to try my friend's food. Asked for a fork, twice, it never made its way to the table. Food: The food was good. Again, not as good as Queen of Sheba, but still quite tasty. The injera was warm and plentiful. I recommend the #6, a dish of beef that is cooked with spiced and injera, then served on injera. The lamb stew was quite good as well. Ambiance: Well, they tried to make this place look like a nice cafe, rather than have any ethnic music, ornaments, etc. I miss the voo-doo looking dolls at Queen of Sheba :) It was just a little strange eating with my hands (sans fork) and listening to Brittney Spears, you know? Overall, I would definitely head back here, for the takeout if nothing else. I just wish there was better parking. WARNING on Parking: Although there is a nice empty lot across the street to the left of the restaruant, DO NOT PARK THERE! As we walked out of the restaurant we saw that our friend's car window had been bashed in and items stolen from her car. Those of us who parked on the street were not broken into.
(4)john W.
Nothing compares to ethiopian. Eating with your hands, yummy bread and great meat and lentil dishes. The service has vastly improved! The first few times we went, about a year ago, the service was kinda slow. This time, it was awesome! The waiter was all over it, even when it was busy! Worth every penny! The Super Arada is the one to get. If you're not big eaters, you can probly split the Super Arada for 1, that's what we do.
(5)Trevor C.
I've never before had Ethiopian food. Was attending an event in the Arts District and my wife pointed it out that we should try it out. We were not disappointed! To start, we had some Ethiopian honey wine. It's a different taste. You can definitely taste alcohol, which I am a fan of, but it is sweetened with a taste of honey as well. Not sure how else to describe it, but you will definitely not find this in many other places so give it a try. Second, we met the owner. She is such a nice woman. I asked her what her favorite was and she said, "Everything. I am the cook, so I love everything!" We enjoy vegetarian dishes and as such went with the Yatakilt Alicha for two. It was delectable. The bread is something I've never had before. She served the dish on a pizza pan that was covered with this spongy bread and then topped with four rolls of bread that surround the mixture of tomatoes, jalapeños, potatoes, carrots, and a hummus type mixture. I wrapped everything I could fit into the first roll of bread and it was the sweetest taste I would have never imagined! As she told us, the bread that everything sits on top of is the best. It collects all of these flavor a from the dish during your meal. Now for the ambience. She plays a really happy Ethiopian mix of music that made me smile the entire time. She also has a full bar stocked with many liquors that would please anyone's palate. Check this one out!
(5)Alice G.
Tucked in a hole in the wall on Santa Fe in the art district, this little restaurant is a good option for dining, but be patient! The service in here is a little slow and disjointed, but you will be VERY pleased with your food! We order the super Arada combo and you get everything you need. Delish. The honey wine is always fun...and funky enough we always switch to beer or wine after the first glass. One thing is for certain, you will feel you left the country for a few hours!
(3)Jake L.
Arada just became one of my top 3 favorite restaurants in Denver. This place is seriously delicious. The Ethiopian dining experience is a unique one. Personally, I enjoy eating without silverware off of a shared plate.. it's a lot of fun! And if you haven't tried it, I would highly recommend letting your hair back and getting playful with it. Holding that piece of bread with that perfectly spiced food may just set you free. Every vegetarian item on the menu is 5-star worthy. The flavors are unique, explosive, and offer something you won't find anywhere but here. The Yater Alitcha (yellow split peas) were a personal favorite, although it was almost impossible to decide. The day after my first experience at Arad and I am already dying to go back.
(5)Matt D.
I stopped by Arada for lunch, trying it for the first time. I've had ethiopian many times before, but this was one of the best (and least expensive) ethiopian means I've ever had. I ordered the spicy chicken lunch item, and it was delicious. Not too spicy, just very flavorful, and the side tomato dish was tart and refreshing. The injera was a bit cold, but I think that's how it's supposed to be served, and it tasted fine. The owner served me herself -- they've been in business 17 years, and was very hospitable and friendly. Even gave me a walkthrough of different Ethiopian beers.
(5)Amy S.
So, I'll start out by saying that I love Ethiopian food! I have had it more times than I can count on my fingers and toes combined, and at several different locations. I'll start with the meal. I ordered honey wine, which was decent, but very unlike the other honey wines I have had before. This wine was cloudy and a brighter yellow than I am familiar with. It was also pricey for the amount served. I had the spicy chicken entree, and was also allowed to sample the lamb. The lamb was down right gross. Not tender at all, and not very flavorful. The chicken was okay, but I really wasn't impressed, it was tough/chewy, but the flavors were spot on. The tomato fit-fit and tomato salads were delicious! I think the weirdest part of the meal was that the injera was mushy and sticky. I kept wiping my fingers and particles of napkin were ripping off and getting stuck to my fingertips. Very odd... I've never seen that before. Also, the atmosphere is not very pleasing. The tables were covered in plastic that was not only unsightly, but also annoying. The bathroom had two toilets in it, side by side, with no stalls/barriers, and one toilet was blocked off with duct tape. So in conclusion, I won't be back.
(2)Masha B.
Nice! Lovely meal, delicious food, veggie-friendly menu...Ethiopian beer to try. Very gracious owner, nice ambiance.... I saw one of the reviewers mentioned the quirky toilet situation. Please, I don't go to a restaurant to sit in the bathroom. The food is great and that's what counts. I shall be back for more!
(5)Doug H.
Enjoyed my meal at Arada. The dishes were very tasty and spiced to taste different and distinct, unlike other places where the stews are all the same but they just have different proteins or vegetables. We had the chicken, lamb, steamed greens and chickpeas (sorry I don't remember the Ethiopian names!) The servings could have been larger too. We had four dishes for four of us and we wiped that plate clean. The injera was so-so. They don't give you enough and it's cold, so it's not that great. I can't put my finger on it but I like the injera at Ethiopian Restaurant more. Service is slow as others have written, but it wasn't too bad. I wish the tables were larger and the chairs more comfortable. The four of us were squeezed into such a small round cocktail table; Ethiopian food should give you ample room to spread out!
(4)Sam S.
I'm an extremely picky eater when it comes to ethnic food and a group of colleagues want to come here. I was extremely hesitant but I must say I am so very glad that I decided to go. We ordered a few appetizers which were very tasty and 2 sample platters: 1 vegetarian and 1 meat. There was plenty of food to feed 3 men and 1 lady. The lady who served us was also the owner. She had been in business for 15 years and now we know why so long. The food was great and she was extremely sweet. I also recommend trying the Ethiopian Beer. It was a heavy Amber beer that was very tasty as well. I would absolutely go back!
(5)Lindy L.
Hmmm. A weird experience, which was especially disappointing because it was my boyfriend's first Ethiopian food experience. We started with the honey wine, and that's when the weirdness started. The wine was opaque, smelled funny, and tasted vinegary. When we asked our server about the wine, she said that honey wine is only sweet when it's first opened and that most people think that it's too sweet then. She did bring us new glasses, and that wine looked, smelled, and tasted good, but she didn't even check the wine in our first set of glasses. We saw our still-full wine glasses sitting on the bar at the end of the night. I really hope that the wine didn't get served to other people. Our server seemed to think that we weren't familiar with honey wine, although I've actually had it a number of times. And it doesn't take an expert to taste vinegar. The food part of the evening was just fine. We went with the Arada Special, which was pretty good overall and included three meat dishes and three vegetarian dishes. Two of the vegetarian dishes were disappointingly bland though, the yater alitcha (yellow split peas) and the yemiser wot (lentils) The food here was served in an interesting way. The server brought out all of the dishes in small bowls, and told us what each dish was as she emptied it onto the platter of injera. I really liked that. Usually, the platter of injera is brought out with all of the dishes already placed on top of the injera, without any explanation about which dish is which. The pieces of injera for us to use for scooping were placed along the outside of the platter, which is a prettier way of presentation than the usual basket of injera on the side, although they didn't provide many extra pieces for scooping. We wanted more injera, and it took awhile for us to get the server's attention, even though there were only two other couples in the restaurant. For people who've never had Ethiopian food, the dishes that you order are placed on top of a huge, communal piece of injera that's the size of a platter. Injera is spongy and slightly sour tasting, in a good way. Maybe tangy is a better word--like sourdough bread, but different. You eat the dishes by breaking up another piece of injera and using that to scoop up the food, like you do with a tortilla. Ethiopian food is usually really flavorful because of the spices used. Back to the experience at Arada: at least thirty minutes had passed since our server last checked on us, and we wanted our check. We had a hard time getting our server's attention to ask for the check because she was talking on the phone. Even after we told her that we didn't have much more time because we were trying to catch a movie, she still continued talking on the phone and took a long time to return the credit card. We didn't bother trying to take the leftovers because that would have created an even bigger delay. Given the spoiled wine, a couple of bland dishes, and the very slow time taking care of our check, despite being politely told that we had time pressure and despite an empty restaurant, the experience was a 2. A final weird thing to note is that I'd tried going here two other times before, but wasn't able to because they weren't open, even though I went on days and at times when they were supposed to be open. In retrospect, that seems like a sign.
(2)Paula H.
I walk by here once a week and finally dropped in. Glad I did. The vegetarian sambusa was a delicious start followed by the yemiser wot which is perfectly spicy! Yes, the ambiance is in the dive category. Which I don't mind. I did enjoy my meal, and would give that a 4. Ambiance rated at 2.
(3)Julio T.
I wonder if the reason Denver has so many Ethiopian people and restaurants is because Denver has a similarly high elevation. Ethiopia's largest city, Addis Ababa, is actually 7,726 feet in elevation, even higher than Denver and sits on plains near a mountainous region just like we do. I'm not sure if that's the reason for Denver's large Ethiopian population, but I am glad they have opened up places like Arada and shared their country's fine food with all of us. My friend and I got the vegetarian plate and enjoyed every bite of the yatakilt alitcha, fosolio and gomen piled upon pieces of spongy injera bread. The yatakilt alitcha was especially good with it's huge potato chunks and tender cabbage pieces soaked in a warm, gingery sauce. The greens were hearty and spicy and the green beans had that unique sour/savory/spicy/sweet flavor combination that only seems to be available at Ethiopian restaurants. Arada is certainly a bit more higher priced that other Ethiopian restaurants in town, averaging about $15 per person when many places have it for about $10-12 with about the same quality. But the food was still quite excellent and the service was very attentive, with our server quickly refilling our waters and baskets of injera. I've always enjoyed living the "Mile-High" life in Denver. I am even more grateful if our elevation and mountainous geography is responsible for bringing the warm and generous Ethiopian people and their fantastic cuisine to our city.
(4)Kelly A.
I liked this place! I'm new to Ethiopian food. Portion size on veg dishes seemed smaller than I've had at the two other Ethiopian restaurants I've been to. Chicken was a little dry and chewy, but the spicy sauce made up for it. The injera was great! The iced tea was fantastic!
(4)Gena L.
A friend and I went here after a run for some post-run carbs. We are both Ethiopian cuisine fans, so we decided on Arada. It was not very busy, so the service was pretty attentive. We ordered the Vegetarian Sampler, which was really lovely. They were very generous with the injera, giving us multiple refills without delay. For those of you who haven't tried Ethiopian food, I really must encourage you to do so. They say if you like Indian cuisine, you will love Ethiopian cuisine, and Ethiopian cuisine is better for you and very social.
(4)Heather M.
It was fine. Higher priced than places on Colfax, and not as tasty.
(2)rusty r.
A couple weeks back, my good ethiopian friend took me to her favorite place... Arada. We skipped Boulder's ethiopian and made our way to Santa Fe Ave... so, we really committed to giving this place a shot. The food was extremely tasty! The spices jumped and rattled around in my mouth... the lamb and chicken were great, but the lentils were amazing! Also had some "Ethiopian Beer", as listed on the menu. It's called "Meta" and apparently is a standard ethiopian brew. kind of sweet, but very dry like an asian brew. very tasty. Only drawback was the small portions, they could have been way bigger, but luckily the injera (spongey bread) filled us up!
(3)Kate C.
One star for ambiance. Let's just say, I expected more. I had bought the Abssynia Groupon and checked out that place--my expectations of it were low because of the ambiance, but, for a total whole in the wall, zomg the food was sooo sooo delish that two weeks later I was craving Ethiopian food again. Instead of going to the same place, I thought I'd try Arada. I expected more because it had more reviews, looked cute, and is down in the art district. The honey wine was decent (I didn't think it was too sweet). My guy and I ordered the Meat Combo plate for two. Unfortunately, I couldn't do the injera (gluten), so our server brought me out a plate of rice with veggies that looked like it had been cooked a week ago. The vegetables were gross, dry, overcooked, overall just mealy. I can totally just eat the meat and Tomato Fit-Fit, I thought. Wrong--all four of the options on the platter were overcooked and the meat extremely dry. There was nothing special about the flavors, to the extent that my boyfriend and I repeated quietly back and forth "This is terrible! Terrible to the extent that I don't even want to eat it!!" As soon as we exited the restaurant, we both exclaimed, "THAT WAS TERRIBLE!" I left full, and completely unsatisfied, wishing I'd just gone back to Abssynia. Even though the ambiance is less-than-desired, the food at Abssynia knocks Arada out of the water. You'll also be surrounded by Ethiopian peeps chatting up in their native language. The only thing good about the food at Arada was the Tomato Fit-Fit, appropriately seasoned, however that is not enough to get me back in the door, so... I will not be back! But I can't wait to satisfy my hankering for Ethiopian with a visit to Abssynia again.
(1)Russell G.
This is a cool little spot in the Santa Fe district. Came here with the girl because a few weeks prior, we arrived early for a gallery show and found this place to be a good fit for a drink. The guys next to us at the bar were munching on a super Arada and I knew I had to return! We ordered a super Arada and a meat combo. The plates are the size of a tray so prepare for a lot of food. Everything was flavorful and I love the wraps used for bread and your utensils. Yes, you eat with your hands! The bread alternative is light and fluffy but I cannot identify exactly what it is. Anyways, it compliments the food very well and my girl and I had a great time eating with our hands. You just have to own it! I appreciated the experience very much. Out of your norm and a good time. Two people can easily share one entree here. Worth checking out!
(4)Alicia J.
My boyfriend ordered the Doro Wot and I ordered one of the beef specials. When we only saw one big plate coming out, I thought, "Oh, good, one of our dinners is ready!" Not so. We were apparently splitting the main plate, which kinda peeved me, based on the price of the meal. Together, we each got four side dishes with our main entrees. We were given so little of each side dish that it literally looked like someone had given us a teaspoon of each. Maybe a tablespoon, but not a heaping one. It was shocking how little we got considering price and the fact that we're talking about some beans and spice. What's cheaper to make? But, the most unbelievable part of the meal was my boyfriend's Doro Wot. The waitress overturned his bowl onto the plate and out fell a SINGLE DRUMSTICK and an egg. The waitress even pointed it out as she told us what was what and said, "Your drumstick and an egg." So, what it boils down to is....pay $14, get a drumstick and an egg as an entree. I don't think so. And, by the complete and utter emptiness of the place when we were there...no one else does, either. We walked out and won't be back.
(1)MM M.
Horrible service. Mediocre food. We went on First Friday for my sister's birthday. We got there at 5:30pm and there were no other people in the restaurant. We had 6 adults, one toddler in a highchair (who actually eats a lot) and a baby in a stroller in our group, along with a bunch of birthday presents. The waitress pushed two small square tables together with space for the 6 adults. When we asked if we could have another table so that there would also be room for the toddler and stroller next to the table, she got really annoyed and said they were going to be too busy. So we just pushed the extra table over ourselves and then worried that they were going to spit in our food or something. It never got full in there while we were there, so it never came up again. But it definitely soured our experience. The rest of the service was also poor. She rarely came around for drink refills, and we had to flag her down to get more injera. She didn't seem to care whether we liked the food or not. As for the food itself, I'm a bit of a snob about Ethiopian food. Having lived in LA and then the Bay area, I've had my share of really, really good Ethiopian food. There was definitely no comparison between Arada's food and our favorite places in California. The meat dishes were chewy and all the food just lacked the normal rich combination of spices (not necessarily hot spicy) that I love about Ethiopian food. Overall, we will not be returning here. I'll have to try some of the other Ethiopian restaurants in Denver and hope to find some place good.
(2)Kathi C.
I've been to Ethiopian in several large cities, but because of where I live and work, I only get to enjoy it about once a year. For that reason, I usually get the sampler to try everything at a new place. I ordered the meat combination (4 kinds of meat) and the vegetable combination (all 6 kinds of vegetables), the vegetable sambusa, and a glass of honey wine. What can I say? Just delicious. This place was up there with some of the other Ethiopian restaurants I've tried in other cities. Now I want to try the other Ethiopian restaurants in Denver too. Yum!
(4)Jonathan D.
Very strange. I cant seem to find my review that I wrote on Arada. I will repost and I guess see if this one mysteriously disappears. If I my other review decides to magically show up again I will delete this one. Just to recap, if you are looking for the worst and I mean absolute worst service in not only all of Denver but I would say probably north of the equator, then please go here on any night of the week and have dinner. Just to give you an idea of how bad the service is, I am soooooooo lazy I have used Yelp for 3+ years and I have never created an account. One night at this place made me so angry that my lazy butt created an account, sat at my computer and wrote a review just to see it go missing 5 days later. I am on a serious mission to let the world know that this place is by far a giant waste of time. Cheers
(1)Christopher S.
Arada is located in the heart of the Sante Fe Art district between seventh and eighth avenues. The charming store-front restaurant is small in size but big in flavors and style. The décor is hip and modern inside an older shop building that is characteristic of this part of the Baker district. The bar is oversized for the room, but it did not seem out of place. I appreciated the table linens, place settings, and stellar service. We had the luxury of being able to sit in the front over looking the street. Like most Ethiopian restaurants, they have beverages to match; Tej and Ethiopian beers started off our meal. For the vegetarian in the group, the server was smart enough to suggest a separate injera platter. I had the Doro Wot, the rest of the meal was vegetarian. While we plucked, picked and scooped our way through the meal, the server was constantly on top of his game, refilling waters, bringing napkins, offering assistance when needed. The food is good at Arada, the service exceptional and it feels good to support a local, small business. For the seasoned Ethiopian diner or the novice, I would recommend Arada.
(4)Ali W.
I love ethnic food e.g. Ethiopian, Moroccan, Korean, Greek, Peruvian, etc. I'm kind of like that weird girl Polly from the movie Along Came Polly (although I have yet made anyone have diarrhea -- go watch the movie). I like Ethiopian food because it's flavorful, communal, and different. Here are my comments on the items I've tried: Siga Wot (spicy beef): very good, had just the right amount of spicy-ness Yebeg Siga Alitcha (lamb stew): had an overwhelming lamby flavor, but what do you expect, it is *lamb* I guess Yater Alicha (yellow split peas): the texture was a little too hard for me, I didn't think it was cooked through enough Yatakelt Alitcha (steamed cabbage and carrots): loved this veggie dish, I wish I can get more Yemiser Wot (lentils): the menu description said it was cooked with a red pepper sauce, so I expected it to be spicy, but it wasn't; I'm not a big lentils fan though Greens (eh, greens): very soft and flavorful, one of my favorite veggie dishes I also tried their honey wine. It was *very* sweet. I would recommend it with dessert rather than with dinner. If it's your first time, a combination plate is always a good idea to try multiple different dishes. One word of advice though, eating too much of the Ingera (bread) can fill you up pretty quickly. So take it easy on those. The Ingera is like a giant sponge that sucks up all the things you ate plus all the things you didn't think you ate and makes them expand even bigger in your stomach. 1 star off: small portions on the good stuff
(4)Lynn V.
I really wanted to like this, but had some issues. First, we got the combination plate (meat and veg). This is the first Ethiopian place I've been to where the waitress put the food on the injera at the table. That was nice, as she told us what each dish was as she scooped it out! Sadly, I found no balance in the spices. There seemed to an overabundance of spicy pepper, which just overshadowed all the other subtle spices. I can usually balance out the spicy dishes with the milder ones, but on this combo platter, they all seemed to have a lot of spicy peppers. My main problem was that there was ONE waitress for the entire restaurant, for the entire time we were there. (which was about 3 hours!) While we were the FIRST to arrive for dinner, we were not given the check in a timely manner. Even though we asked for it a few times, other, more 'in your face' customers got their bills first. I was actually very tempted to just stand up and walk out, and I have NEVER done that. One aggressive customer even grabbed OUR check (with my credit card in the holder) out of the waitresses hand, because he thought it was his. RUDE! While our waitress was nice enough, there was no way she could keep up with an entire restaurant of filled tables, and the food wasn't good enough for me to go through that again. I honesty will not be back.
(2)April O.
We came here at the instigation of friends, while in town on business. The main selling points were that it was within walking distance of the place we were currently at, and that it was "awesome." Neither Brice nor I have ever had this type of food, so I couldn't vouch for the truth of the awesomeness. Nor did I want to be the sole voice begging to eat somewhere else. So we went. Since we didn't know what to get or expect (and because the meals all seemed to be $17 for one plate) I told Brice that I would eat whatever he was eating. Brice decided on Doro Wat, which is all meat. The lamb is excellent and was the mutual favorite. The chicken was enjoyable, the beef chunks seemed bland. Neither of us ate much of the ground beef and eventually the spice was so intense that we couldn't physically eat more of the food. I didn't really like my meal, but I blame myself for that. Others at the table who ordered more balanced dinners and had vegetables along with their meat seemed much more happy, so that's probably the way to go. The bread (injera?) was soft and citrus-y, and I suspect would have been delicious with greens or lentils. As it was, I didn't think it went too well with just meat. But once again, I think that's my own fault. Bonus half-star for the homeless dude cursing up a storm as we crossed the street. He was loud enough to make you think he was being chased by at least five police dogs. Dude was completely ALONE. I'd return to give it another shot with a different meal. 3.5 stars.
(3)Anna F.
Got two to-go cokes and beef sambusas. The cups that the drinks were in had questionable hairs and loads of dust in them. The Sambusas were okay...but after seeing how dirty the cups were I didn't have much of an appetite for the food...I didn't trust that it was safe to eat. Needless to say I won't be heading back there.
(2)Ellen L.
Delicious and flavorful
(4)Maha K.
The women's bathroom has two toilets. That's right ladies, you have to pee sans stalls because it helps cut building costs. One toilet has duct tape across it from flooding and the other would make relieving yourself on Santa Fe Drive a better alternative. '90s R&B music blares overhead. It makes awkward conversations at the table even worse because Keith Sweat is moaning through the ceiling and walls about how badly he wants to make love to you. By the end of our night, Mariah Carey was screaming something or another about being "so alone" and Michael Jackson's voice kept reminding us that he was dead. The servers are so depressed and annoyed that you might be more inclined to order 20mg of Prozac to-go than a real dinner. The bar feels faintly like that "junk liquor store on Colfax". I ordered the Ethiopian "honey" wine and got what looked like unfiltered apple juice with sedimentary layers of dirt at the bottom. The drink smelled like Wal-Mart grade garden soil. I would have better choked it down if it at least smelled like TARGET-grade garden soil. It costs $7 per glass. We nicknamed the hummus appetizer "Hum-Whiz" after Cheez-Whiz (both are cheap, artificial knock-offs of the real thing). It tasted like watery, cinnamon-flavored Nutella. No trace of a single chick pea. It costs $6. Splitting an entree costs you $5.50, driving the total cost of your plate near or over the original cost, depending on what you order. Manipulative business strategy, but definitely a turn-off. I'm not a big fan of injera bread as it is, but the pricing and quality prompted me to opt out of dining here altogether. 1 "Ethiopian" beer (tastes like Coors Light) + 1 "Ethiopian" honey wine + 2 shots of whiskey + 1 "hummus" plate = $40. I'd rather have saved the money for a real trip to Ethiopia. Or better yet, given the money to an Ethiopian charity in-need.
(2)Riza H. C.
A unique experience some will tell. Since from where I am from, we often have "communal" eating events and when you use your fingers and hands to eat, all in all things are ok. Food wise: They have a distint flavor to it, depends on what you order. I had my first experience at Arada with like about 11 other friends for dinner sometime on April 29 2008. The service was indeed at a slow mode pace aka laid-back. The host do provide us with plenty of the "special" chewy bread in called Injera. Injera or Taita is a pancake-like bread made out from Teff Flour. The table that I am seated, my friends and I ordered these: Yebeg Siga Alitcha ~ lamb Doro Wot ~ chicken Meat Combination ~ Minchetabush and gomen Besega Yebeg Alitcha, Siga wot, Bozena shiro The rest of the dishes I cant recall. All the entrees include Injera, Tomato Fit-Fit, Tomato Salad or the choice of any dishes in the Vegetarian menu. Since its a communal type of eating, the people at my table indeed enjoyed their experiences and the food. We are the only guests at my table who finish our dishes from the communal plate at the end of that evening. If only the entrees comes with a larger portion I would come for more. For now, I would rather check some other places in Colorado that offers Ethiopian dishes.
(3)Peter M.
Way to go Yelpers! I tried this place out after reading my fellow Yelper's reviews, and it was great! What a gem! I had my folks out to dinner, and there was a great deal of skepticism when I suggested Ethiopian food, as neither of my parents had ever tried it. We got the lamb, and a beef dish. It was STELLAR! I highly recommend that if you have never tried this interesting cuisine, you drop by Arada some day soon! Fantastic staff, too! Well done!
(5)Kirsten M.
I love restaurants that are set up around family-style dining. I've always found it weird when people want to go to Thai or Chinese restaurants and order their own dish for themselves instead of passing it around the table. This was officially one of the first fights I ever picked with my husband, ("Order something we BOTH like!"). Yeah, I'm demanding and high maintenance like that. The reason I bring this up is that this is one of the reasons why I love Ethiopian food. It's all served in a big tray or bowl in the center of the table with injera bread (sort of like a spongy crepe) to scoop it up. Sharing food AND I get to use my fingers? Win! I love taking adventurous friends and big groups to this restaurant. The service is fab and they go out of their way to make sure everyone has a good experience. They even brought out a special child-size bowl of food for a friend's young son without us asking. Also, Ethiopian food is very vegetarian friendly so this is a good pick if you have a mixed meat eater/vegetarian crowd. If you are new to Ethiopian food I would suggest picking a meat combo and a vegetarian combo to try both so you can see what you like without getting a huge amount of any one thing.
(4)Hollie W.
Great ethio joint! Had the veggie combo with six fantastically delicious selections. The inerja was so tasty. Only one person front of house, so service was as good as it could be for one server (aka super slow). Huge portions with plenty left over to take home. I've been to Arada's several times and while the veg combo is always good, it is a bit inconsistent.
(3)Cara G.
Yum. Things I like about Ethopian food: - fun experience (share! eat with your hands!) - new flavors, delicious spices - healthy (well, at least it seems to be) I had no idea what to order but our server was very helpful. We tried a couple combination plates full of deliciously spiced meats, lentils and other veggies. Each scoop of meat/veggies goes on top of a big, round, spongy bread (kind of like a thick crepe) that you use for scooping in place of silverware. Arada looks unassuming from the outside but is pretty roomy -- and a little funky. It had light traffic we went (random time on a week night) but lots of people came in for take-out orders. If you frequent First Fridays on Santa Fe, add Arada to your list.
(4)Kell R.
Awesome! Delicious! Gored Gored! I love coming here! Fantastic food paired with great prices make this place perfect for a night out whether it be for a first date to an ordinary night out!
(4)Stephen W.
I love this place. The food is fantastic and atmosphere isn't bad either. The price is quite reasonable. It can be slow if there are a lot of people in there, and they won't take a reservation on first friday, which is a great day to go.
(5)Jeremy K.
Arada's "Doro Wat" was listed by Denver Magazine as one of the top 100 must eat dishes in Denver, so I gave it a shot: Rating: 5.5 (out of 10) Price: $10.50 The Skinny: I am no expert on Ethiopian dining, that's for sure. Nor do I hide it well either. After asking the waitress/cook for a fork, she smiled at me with amused pity and suggested that I use the things at the end of my arms (my hands). Ohhhhh snap!! In your face, uncultured American, IN YO FACE! Hands in full use, I dug into the Doro Wat - a chicken dish that takes 10 hours to cook, and is served along with a few sides atop a thin spongy flatbread. The flatbread is interesting because of its uniqueness - half crepe, half bread, it tasted decent and did a pretty good job as a wrapper to the chicken and 4 sides on the plate. The idea is to jam everything together in a strip of the flatbread and let them blend together in your mouth. I found the sides to be a little above average in flavor, but mostly the chicken was a letdown. Overcooked and dry. Not even the scorching spicy heat could save it. Overall, it was something different and decent. And I'm not really convinced I got their best shot. If the chicken was cooked to be tender, it could go up to a 6.5. I've got a picture of it up on the blog on my profile jko
(3)Natalie M.
I went to Arada last night with a small group and wasn't sure what to expect since I had never had Ethiopian food. The place was very sparse in the way of other guests, but yet it was 7:00pm on a Sunday night. The food was good, although my picky daughter was a bit disappointed with the chicken that she ordered. Pricing was moderate for what you get...roughly $10 to $14 a person. Our server was a bit scattered....I think that she was more interesting in the Muppet special that was on television than bringing us our bill. I would go back for the food, but not so much for the service. Also, probably not the best place for a first date given that you are going to town with your hands and making a mess of your self (which I guess is most of the fun).
(3)Lauren K.
I have eaten at a LOT of Ethiopian restaurants, and because I grew up outside of Washington DC where there are a myriad of incredible Ethiopian restaurants to choose from, I have become quite picky as far as the quality and authenticity of Ethiopian food. I discovered Arada when it was on East Colfax 6 or 7 years ago. This was when Haime, the owner, was the hostess, waitress, and chef, and I was the only one eating there. I got Kitfo as it is traditionally prepared- raw. It was incredible!!!! The next time I tried the Doro Wot, which was equally incredible. Over the years, my husband and I have tried everything on the menu and those two dishes continue to be our favorites. We usually get either the Arada six or Super Arada combination dishes, and an order of Kitfo. If you've never had Ethiopian food, know that you eat with your fingers using delicious spongy bread, though I bet if you asked they would give you some silverware. The spices are unique and probably unlike anything you've had before- they are delicious! Expect a dining experience like no other. You'll have enough leftovers for at least another meal, too! Sure, the service may not be lightning fast or anything but everyone is friendly and my water glass is never empty. If you can't make it to DC for your first Ethiopian dining experience, go here because it's the best Ethiopian food in Colorado!
(5)Evey M.
I went to Arada last night with a group of 5 others. The place was completely empty at 7 pm. I don't know if it is like that frequently or if it was because outside it was 10 degrees; regardless, the place was a ghost town. A quaint, clean, and warm ghost town. Every reviewer before me that has told you Arada has slow service is 100% correct. Even on a night when there are only 6 people in the restaurant things are still at a snails pace; however, the service is attentive and thorough. Luckily for me I had read up on the yelp reviews before going and knew to expect the slow service. One of my friends and of course myself are vegetarians so we got a seperate plate from the 4 non-veggies. We tried: - Vegetable Sambusa: which is beyond delicious - Yate Alitcha - Yatukilt Alitcha - Yemiser Wot (by far my favorite, next time I will order this dish as an entree size) - Gomen - Injera Bread - Tomato Fit-Fit Every single thing on the plate was delicious. It's spicy and vinegary so if you don't like both of those then this place is not for you. They also have mango juice as a main beverage and a full bar. If you are looking for something a little different then your normal everyday fare that won't cost you an arm and a leg try Arada.
(4)Jonny D.
A consistently great time. You can get messy with your friends because you're eating some absolutely irresistible food with your hands and a thin layer of sour-in-a-good-way injera bread. I love Ethiopian cuisine and this place is the best Ethiopian I've had in the US. I really like how Ethiopian has a knack for making a vegetarian food hearty and delicious, so I'd recommend getting the Vegetarian Combo and then supplementing it with some of the Doro Wot, if you're into the whole meat thing. The one complaint I can register is that the service here, while friendly and engaging, seems completely unaware of the necessity of keeping me well-watered. For a place with spicy food, you'd expect to have large glasses and attention paid to when you empty them out. Not so here--small goblets that can go minute upon minute without refills (I've been compelled to grab a nearby pitcher and refill myself on several occasions). Apart from that, this is in my estimation among the best restaurants in Denver.
(4)Lacey M.
Arada was my first Ethiopian food experience, and I wasn't that impressed. It was pretty good food, I suppose, but I probably won't go back. I went with my sister, Natalie M., and her daughter on a Sunday night for dinner. We were one of only 2 tables in the whole restaurant. That being said, the service was REALLY slow. The 1 lady working the front of the house seemed to be more focused on the T.V. then on giving good service. Since 2 of us were meat-eaters, and 2 vegetarians, we got 2 separate platters for the table. I really liked the bread it was served with/on, to use as your utensil...kind of a fun experience. I ordered one of the meat combos, that came with 4 different selections. I wasn't exactly sure which one was which, but do know that the one lamb dish was very delicious. Everything else was just okay. The sides were nothing to write home about either. I was wishing for a lot more flavor...with pretty much everything on that giant platter. I'm definitely glad I went, and was able to finally try Ethiopian food...but left a little disappointed. Not only with the service and food, but also with the price...little too pricey for not that great of food.
(3)Dave T.
I thought this place was pretty good. A good starting point for the Santa Fe Art Walk. I enjoyed it. I have tried a few other Ethiopian restaurants around the country and found them to be better, but am certainly no expert on what is truly authentic. Definitely worth a visit, though I will visit others to compare, and update. Dave
(3)Jelena W.
I can't say that I had high expectations the first time I tried Ethiopian cuisine. Actually, I couldn't really picture what it was- a less tactful friend, referring to the famine conditions in Africa, opined, "Ethiopian food? What is that- they serve you 30 grams of food, then take it away and tell you that the American aid money all went to promote abstinence so you don't get to eat today?" On the contrary- this Ethiopian cuisine is spectacular, and if you can't figure out what the words on the menu mean, either ask the very friendly employees or just order it anyway- it's bound to be good. There are plenty of choices, and each that I've tried has been excellent. It seems like lots of folks stop in here after the First Friday Art Walk for a quick, yummy, and extra inexpensive post-free snacks nosh.
(4)Clint J.
Went here for a friend's birthday. There were 8 of us at the table, and we each ordered an entree. ALL the entrees came on a single platter. Each "entree" was in a wee cup. I could've eaten all 8 entrees myself. You pay for an entree and get a tapa. Unacceptable. Let us now discuss the Ethiopian honey wine. I think they pissed in it. Tasted like no honey wine I ever had, and that includes a half dozen based on authentic Ethiopian recipes. Server was unsmiling, discourteous, and morose. Bread is supposed to be spongy, but not damp and doughy. Food tasted okay, although each entree was a mere 3 forkfuls. I would like to try Ethiopian food again, but I won't be going back to Arada.
(2)betsy s.
I have tried five or six Ethiopian restaurants in Denver, and I think that Arada is - hands down - the best! As far as I can tell, each restaurant has their own (closely guarded?) recipe for injera, and Arada's has the perfect texture and "sour-ness." Arada also appears to be the only place in town that serves tomato fit-fit - a mixture of small pieces of injera, diced tomato, onion and jalapenos in a vinegar-based dressing. I don't much like tomatos and I don't much like jalapenos, but I LOVE tomato fit-fit. Go figure! I am also highly addicted to their Kitffo - finely ground lean beef with spiced Ethiopian butter and house-made cottage cheese. YUM!
(5)Hope A.
Nice little restaurant in the Santa Fe arts district, which doesn't have many good places to eat. The service was prompt and friendly. They did their best to accommodate my husband's dietary needs, he has an allergy to garlic. It's hard to find a place that will accommodate garlic issues.
(4)y k.
I have to say, my experience with Arada was not the best. Now I should preface this by saying that I love, love, LOVE ethiopian food. I've had many excellent meals at two of the places on East Colfax (Ethiopian Restaurant and Abyssinia, I think). So I was very excited to try this place, since it's right in my neighborhood, much as I knew it would be extremely dangerous to discover a delicious Ethiopian place so close to my home (dangerous on the wallet, that is). But, alas, my wallet can rest in peace. The food was fine, but, no colfax Ethiopian Restaurant. Everything was just a little blander, a little greasier, not quite as flavorful and robust. (We just got the veggie combo, which is what we always get everywhere). Not only was the food not as good, but it was a couple dollars more expensive. It's possible I just caught them on a bad day, but for now I think I'll be making the trek over to Colfax, for more reliable deliciousness.
(2)Heather C.
Good food, small portions and slow service in traditional Ethiopian Restaurant fashion.
(3)Tristan T.
Oh...My...God. I would eat this every day, if there weren't so many other things I wanted to eat on any given day.
(5)Andrea P.
I would give it five if the meat servings were a bit bigger. BUT I do like this place a lot! Yummy food, authentic menu and authentic service (yes, that does mean it's a bit slower than American restaurants, but it is supposed to be!). I'm going again this weekend!! And bringing friends this time.
(4)jo m.
My first time experiencing Ethiopian food here. I have seen my coworkers eat Ethiopian food before and wanted to try. After art walk, a girlfriend and I wanted to try something tasty and different so we walked past by 2 Mexican restaurant and walked into this place. This place did not look like the picture posted here. It was ugly which I was OK with it; I've figured maybe the people here focus more on the food than the ambiance. To be a good sport (this friend of mine is a vegetarian), we ordered 2 vegetarian plates ($10 each) and a glass of honey wine. The food was served on a big platter with sponge flat bread layered on the platter and her food on one side and mine on opposite side with 4 small rolled up sponge flat bread. I was extremely sad to see the food. portion was small and food served luke warm. Bread was cold. I know I am not a very cultural person but I am willing try new stuff and based on what I ate (potato vegetarian dish and something chickpea vegetarian dish (#14? #15? on menu), I will not be visiting this place again. To sum it up, the food was boring, too small of portion and over priced. Now I know why Ethiopians are skinny and poor. At the end of the meal, I promised my friend that I would take her out for a Korean dinner next week.
(2)Russell G.
This is a cool little spot in the Santa Fe district. Came here with the girl because a few weeks prior, we arrived early for a gallery show and found this place to be a good fit for a drink. The guys next to us at the bar were munching on a super Arada and I knew I had to return! We ordered a super Arada and a meat combo. The plates are the size of a tray so prepare for a lot of food. Everything was flavorful and I love the wraps used for bread and your utensils. Yes, you eat with your hands! The bread alternative is light and fluffy but I cannot identify exactly what it is. Anyways, it compliments the food very well and my girl and I had a great time eating with our hands. You just have to own it! I appreciated the experience very much. Out of your norm and a good time. Two people can easily share one entree here. Worth checking out!
(4)rusty r.
A couple weeks back, my good ethiopian friend took me to her favorite place... Arada. We skipped Boulder's ethiopian and made our way to Santa Fe Ave... so, we really committed to giving this place a shot. The food was extremely tasty! The spices jumped and rattled around in my mouth... the lamb and chicken were great, but the lentils were amazing! Also had some "Ethiopian Beer", as listed on the menu. It's called "Meta" and apparently is a standard ethiopian brew. kind of sweet, but very dry like an asian brew. very tasty. Only drawback was the small portions, they could have been way bigger, but luckily the injera (spongey bread) filled us up!
(3)MM M.
Horrible service. Mediocre food. We went on First Friday for my sister's birthday. We got there at 5:30pm and there were no other people in the restaurant. We had 6 adults, one toddler in a highchair (who actually eats a lot) and a baby in a stroller in our group, along with a bunch of birthday presents. The waitress pushed two small square tables together with space for the 6 adults. When we asked if we could have another table so that there would also be room for the toddler and stroller next to the table, she got really annoyed and said they were going to be too busy. So we just pushed the extra table over ourselves and then worried that they were going to spit in our food or something. It never got full in there while we were there, so it never came up again. But it definitely soured our experience. The rest of the service was also poor. She rarely came around for drink refills, and we had to flag her down to get more injera. She didn't seem to care whether we liked the food or not. As for the food itself, I'm a bit of a snob about Ethiopian food. Having lived in LA and then the Bay area, I've had my share of really, really good Ethiopian food. There was definitely no comparison between Arada's food and our favorite places in California. The meat dishes were chewy and all the food just lacked the normal rich combination of spices (not necessarily hot spicy) that I love about Ethiopian food. Overall, we will not be returning here. I'll have to try some of the other Ethiopian restaurants in Denver and hope to find some place good.
(2)Kathi C.
I've been to Ethiopian in several large cities, but because of where I live and work, I only get to enjoy it about once a year. For that reason, I usually get the sampler to try everything at a new place. I ordered the meat combination (4 kinds of meat) and the vegetable combination (all 6 kinds of vegetables), the vegetable sambusa, and a glass of honey wine. What can I say? Just delicious. This place was up there with some of the other Ethiopian restaurants I've tried in other cities. Now I want to try the other Ethiopian restaurants in Denver too. Yum!
(4)Jonathan D.
Very strange. I cant seem to find my review that I wrote on Arada. I will repost and I guess see if this one mysteriously disappears. If I my other review decides to magically show up again I will delete this one. Just to recap, if you are looking for the worst and I mean absolute worst service in not only all of Denver but I would say probably north of the equator, then please go here on any night of the week and have dinner. Just to give you an idea of how bad the service is, I am soooooooo lazy I have used Yelp for 3+ years and I have never created an account. One night at this place made me so angry that my lazy butt created an account, sat at my computer and wrote a review just to see it go missing 5 days later. I am on a serious mission to let the world know that this place is by far a giant waste of time. Cheers
(1)Sam S.
I'm an extremely picky eater when it comes to ethnic food and a group of colleagues want to come here. I was extremely hesitant but I must say I am so very glad that I decided to go. We ordered a few appetizers which were very tasty and 2 sample platters: 1 vegetarian and 1 meat. There was plenty of food to feed 3 men and 1 lady. The lady who served us was also the owner. She had been in business for 15 years and now we know why so long. The food was great and she was extremely sweet. I also recommend trying the Ethiopian Beer. It was a heavy Amber beer that was very tasty as well. I would absolutely go back!
(5)Matt D.
I stopped by Arada for lunch, trying it for the first time. I've had ethiopian many times before, but this was one of the best (and least expensive) ethiopian means I've ever had. I ordered the spicy chicken lunch item, and it was delicious. Not too spicy, just very flavorful, and the side tomato dish was tart and refreshing. The injera was a bit cold, but I think that's how it's supposed to be served, and it tasted fine. The owner served me herself -- they've been in business 17 years, and was very hospitable and friendly. Even gave me a walkthrough of different Ethiopian beers.
(5)Dave T.
I thought this place was pretty good. A good starting point for the Santa Fe Art Walk. I enjoyed it. I have tried a few other Ethiopian restaurants around the country and found them to be better, but am certainly no expert on what is truly authentic. Definitely worth a visit, though I will visit others to compare, and update. Dave
(3)Lindy L.
Hmmm. A weird experience, which was especially disappointing because it was my boyfriend's first Ethiopian food experience. We started with the honey wine, and that's when the weirdness started. The wine was opaque, smelled funny, and tasted vinegary. When we asked our server about the wine, she said that honey wine is only sweet when it's first opened and that most people think that it's too sweet then. She did bring us new glasses, and that wine looked, smelled, and tasted good, but she didn't even check the wine in our first set of glasses. We saw our still-full wine glasses sitting on the bar at the end of the night. I really hope that the wine didn't get served to other people. Our server seemed to think that we weren't familiar with honey wine, although I've actually had it a number of times. And it doesn't take an expert to taste vinegar. The food part of the evening was just fine. We went with the Arada Special, which was pretty good overall and included three meat dishes and three vegetarian dishes. Two of the vegetarian dishes were disappointingly bland though, the yater alitcha (yellow split peas) and the yemiser wot (lentils) The food here was served in an interesting way. The server brought out all of the dishes in small bowls, and told us what each dish was as she emptied it onto the platter of injera. I really liked that. Usually, the platter of injera is brought out with all of the dishes already placed on top of the injera, without any explanation about which dish is which. The pieces of injera for us to use for scooping were placed along the outside of the platter, which is a prettier way of presentation than the usual basket of injera on the side, although they didn't provide many extra pieces for scooping. We wanted more injera, and it took awhile for us to get the server's attention, even though there were only two other couples in the restaurant. For people who've never had Ethiopian food, the dishes that you order are placed on top of a huge, communal piece of injera that's the size of a platter. Injera is spongy and slightly sour tasting, in a good way. Maybe tangy is a better word--like sourdough bread, but different. You eat the dishes by breaking up another piece of injera and using that to scoop up the food, like you do with a tortilla. Ethiopian food is usually really flavorful because of the spices used. Back to the experience at Arada: at least thirty minutes had passed since our server last checked on us, and we wanted our check. We had a hard time getting our server's attention to ask for the check because she was talking on the phone. Even after we told her that we didn't have much more time because we were trying to catch a movie, she still continued talking on the phone and took a long time to return the credit card. We didn't bother trying to take the leftovers because that would have created an even bigger delay. Given the spoiled wine, a couple of bland dishes, and the very slow time taking care of our check, despite being politely told that we had time pressure and despite an empty restaurant, the experience was a 2. A final weird thing to note is that I'd tried going here two other times before, but wasn't able to because they weren't open, even though I went on days and at times when they were supposed to be open. In retrospect, that seems like a sign.
(2)Paula H.
I walk by here once a week and finally dropped in. Glad I did. The vegetarian sambusa was a delicious start followed by the yemiser wot which is perfectly spicy! Yes, the ambiance is in the dive category. Which I don't mind. I did enjoy my meal, and would give that a 4. Ambiance rated at 2.
(3)April O.
We came here at the instigation of friends, while in town on business. The main selling points were that it was within walking distance of the place we were currently at, and that it was "awesome." Neither Brice nor I have ever had this type of food, so I couldn't vouch for the truth of the awesomeness. Nor did I want to be the sole voice begging to eat somewhere else. So we went. Since we didn't know what to get or expect (and because the meals all seemed to be $17 for one plate) I told Brice that I would eat whatever he was eating. Brice decided on Doro Wat, which is all meat. The lamb is excellent and was the mutual favorite. The chicken was enjoyable, the beef chunks seemed bland. Neither of us ate much of the ground beef and eventually the spice was so intense that we couldn't physically eat more of the food. I didn't really like my meal, but I blame myself for that. Others at the table who ordered more balanced dinners and had vegetables along with their meat seemed much more happy, so that's probably the way to go. The bread (injera?) was soft and citrus-y, and I suspect would have been delicious with greens or lentils. As it was, I didn't think it went too well with just meat. But once again, I think that's my own fault. Bonus half-star for the homeless dude cursing up a storm as we crossed the street. He was loud enough to make you think he was being chased by at least five police dogs. Dude was completely ALONE. I'd return to give it another shot with a different meal. 3.5 stars.
(3)Anna F.
Got two to-go cokes and beef sambusas. The cups that the drinks were in had questionable hairs and loads of dust in them. The Sambusas were okay...but after seeing how dirty the cups were I didn't have much of an appetite for the food...I didn't trust that it was safe to eat. Needless to say I won't be heading back there.
(2)Ellen L.
Delicious and flavorful
(4)Andrea P.
I would give it five if the meat servings were a bit bigger. BUT I do like this place a lot! Yummy food, authentic menu and authentic service (yes, that does mean it's a bit slower than American restaurants, but it is supposed to be!). I'm going again this weekend!! And bringing friends this time.
(4)Mo C.
Not as good as Queen of Sheba in Santa Clara CA, but still pretty damn good. Beer: So, on the beer menu is listed "Ethiopian Beer". I have been to a few Ethiopian restaurants and know some of the beers. When I asked the server what brand the beer was, I kind of got a blank stare. When I asked if it was dark, he said, no, so I ordered an iced tea. The iced tea never made it to the table. In fact, no non-alcoholic drinks with the exception of water ever made it over. No problem, water works for me. Bathroom: Weirdest bathroom I have ever been in. It's a single stall/room with two toilets, side by side. WTF? Fork: Yes, I know, this is a hands on eating experience. But, I like to have a fork, just in case I want to reach all the way over the injera to try my friend's food. Asked for a fork, twice, it never made its way to the table. Food: The food was good. Again, not as good as Queen of Sheba, but still quite tasty. The injera was warm and plentiful. I recommend the #6, a dish of beef that is cooked with spiced and injera, then served on injera. The lamb stew was quite good as well. Ambiance: Well, they tried to make this place look like a nice cafe, rather than have any ethnic music, ornaments, etc. I miss the voo-doo looking dolls at Queen of Sheba :) It was just a little strange eating with my hands (sans fork) and listening to Brittney Spears, you know? Overall, I would definitely head back here, for the takeout if nothing else. I just wish there was better parking. WARNING on Parking: Although there is a nice empty lot across the street to the left of the restaruant, DO NOT PARK THERE! As we walked out of the restaurant we saw that our friend's car window had been bashed in and items stolen from her car. Those of us who parked on the street were not broken into.
(4)john W.
Nothing compares to ethiopian. Eating with your hands, yummy bread and great meat and lentil dishes. The service has vastly improved! The first few times we went, about a year ago, the service was kinda slow. This time, it was awesome! The waiter was all over it, even when it was busy! Worth every penny! The Super Arada is the one to get. If you're not big eaters, you can probly split the Super Arada for 1, that's what we do.
(5)Maha K.
The women's bathroom has two toilets. That's right ladies, you have to pee sans stalls because it helps cut building costs. One toilet has duct tape across it from flooding and the other would make relieving yourself on Santa Fe Drive a better alternative. '90s R&B music blares overhead. It makes awkward conversations at the table even worse because Keith Sweat is moaning through the ceiling and walls about how badly he wants to make love to you. By the end of our night, Mariah Carey was screaming something or another about being "so alone" and Michael Jackson's voice kept reminding us that he was dead. The servers are so depressed and annoyed that you might be more inclined to order 20mg of Prozac to-go than a real dinner. The bar feels faintly like that "junk liquor store on Colfax". I ordered the Ethiopian "honey" wine and got what looked like unfiltered apple juice with sedimentary layers of dirt at the bottom. The drink smelled like Wal-Mart grade garden soil. I would have better choked it down if it at least smelled like TARGET-grade garden soil. It costs $7 per glass. We nicknamed the hummus appetizer "Hum-Whiz" after Cheez-Whiz (both are cheap, artificial knock-offs of the real thing). It tasted like watery, cinnamon-flavored Nutella. No trace of a single chick pea. It costs $6. Splitting an entree costs you $5.50, driving the total cost of your plate near or over the original cost, depending on what you order. Manipulative business strategy, but definitely a turn-off. I'm not a big fan of injera bread as it is, but the pricing and quality prompted me to opt out of dining here altogether. 1 "Ethiopian" beer (tastes like Coors Light) + 1 "Ethiopian" honey wine + 2 shots of whiskey + 1 "hummus" plate = $40. I'd rather have saved the money for a real trip to Ethiopia. Or better yet, given the money to an Ethiopian charity in-need.
(2)Riza H. C.
A unique experience some will tell. Since from where I am from, we often have "communal" eating events and when you use your fingers and hands to eat, all in all things are ok. Food wise: They have a distint flavor to it, depends on what you order. I had my first experience at Arada with like about 11 other friends for dinner sometime on April 29 2008. The service was indeed at a slow mode pace aka laid-back. The host do provide us with plenty of the "special" chewy bread in called Injera. Injera or Taita is a pancake-like bread made out from Teff Flour. The table that I am seated, my friends and I ordered these: Yebeg Siga Alitcha ~ lamb Doro Wot ~ chicken Meat Combination ~ Minchetabush and gomen Besega Yebeg Alitcha, Siga wot, Bozena shiro The rest of the dishes I cant recall. All the entrees include Injera, Tomato Fit-Fit, Tomato Salad or the choice of any dishes in the Vegetarian menu. Since its a communal type of eating, the people at my table indeed enjoyed their experiences and the food. We are the only guests at my table who finish our dishes from the communal plate at the end of that evening. If only the entrees comes with a larger portion I would come for more. For now, I would rather check some other places in Colorado that offers Ethiopian dishes.
(3)Peter M.
Way to go Yelpers! I tried this place out after reading my fellow Yelper's reviews, and it was great! What a gem! I had my folks out to dinner, and there was a great deal of skepticism when I suggested Ethiopian food, as neither of my parents had ever tried it. We got the lamb, and a beef dish. It was STELLAR! I highly recommend that if you have never tried this interesting cuisine, you drop by Arada some day soon! Fantastic staff, too! Well done!
(5)Kirsten M.
I love restaurants that are set up around family-style dining. I've always found it weird when people want to go to Thai or Chinese restaurants and order their own dish for themselves instead of passing it around the table. This was officially one of the first fights I ever picked with my husband, ("Order something we BOTH like!"). Yeah, I'm demanding and high maintenance like that. The reason I bring this up is that this is one of the reasons why I love Ethiopian food. It's all served in a big tray or bowl in the center of the table with injera bread (sort of like a spongy crepe) to scoop it up. Sharing food AND I get to use my fingers? Win! I love taking adventurous friends and big groups to this restaurant. The service is fab and they go out of their way to make sure everyone has a good experience. They even brought out a special child-size bowl of food for a friend's young son without us asking. Also, Ethiopian food is very vegetarian friendly so this is a good pick if you have a mixed meat eater/vegetarian crowd. If you are new to Ethiopian food I would suggest picking a meat combo and a vegetarian combo to try both so you can see what you like without getting a huge amount of any one thing.
(4)Hollie W.
Great ethio joint! Had the veggie combo with six fantastically delicious selections. The inerja was so tasty. Only one person front of house, so service was as good as it could be for one server (aka super slow). Huge portions with plenty left over to take home. I've been to Arada's several times and while the veg combo is always good, it is a bit inconsistent.
(3)Cara G.
Yum. Things I like about Ethopian food: - fun experience (share! eat with your hands!) - new flavors, delicious spices - healthy (well, at least it seems to be) I had no idea what to order but our server was very helpful. We tried a couple combination plates full of deliciously spiced meats, lentils and other veggies. Each scoop of meat/veggies goes on top of a big, round, spongy bread (kind of like a thick crepe) that you use for scooping in place of silverware. Arada looks unassuming from the outside but is pretty roomy -- and a little funky. It had light traffic we went (random time on a week night) but lots of people came in for take-out orders. If you frequent First Fridays on Santa Fe, add Arada to your list.
(4)Kell R.
Awesome! Delicious! Gored Gored! I love coming here! Fantastic food paired with great prices make this place perfect for a night out whether it be for a first date to an ordinary night out!
(4)Stephen W.
I love this place. The food is fantastic and atmosphere isn't bad either. The price is quite reasonable. It can be slow if there are a lot of people in there, and they won't take a reservation on first friday, which is a great day to go.
(5)Jake L.
Arada just became one of my top 3 favorite restaurants in Denver. This place is seriously delicious. The Ethiopian dining experience is a unique one. Personally, I enjoy eating without silverware off of a shared plate.. it's a lot of fun! And if you haven't tried it, I would highly recommend letting your hair back and getting playful with it. Holding that piece of bread with that perfectly spiced food may just set you free. Every vegetarian item on the menu is 5-star worthy. The flavors are unique, explosive, and offer something you won't find anywhere but here. The Yater Alitcha (yellow split peas) were a personal favorite, although it was almost impossible to decide. The day after my first experience at Arad and I am already dying to go back.
(5)Amy S.
So, I'll start out by saying that I love Ethiopian food! I have had it more times than I can count on my fingers and toes combined, and at several different locations. I'll start with the meal. I ordered honey wine, which was decent, but very unlike the other honey wines I have had before. This wine was cloudy and a brighter yellow than I am familiar with. It was also pricey for the amount served. I had the spicy chicken entree, and was also allowed to sample the lamb. The lamb was down right gross. Not tender at all, and not very flavorful. The chicken was okay, but I really wasn't impressed, it was tough/chewy, but the flavors were spot on. The tomato fit-fit and tomato salads were delicious! I think the weirdest part of the meal was that the injera was mushy and sticky. I kept wiping my fingers and particles of napkin were ripping off and getting stuck to my fingertips. Very odd... I've never seen that before. Also, the atmosphere is not very pleasing. The tables were covered in plastic that was not only unsightly, but also annoying. The bathroom had two toilets in it, side by side, with no stalls/barriers, and one toilet was blocked off with duct tape. So in conclusion, I won't be back.
(2)Masha B.
Nice! Lovely meal, delicious food, veggie-friendly menu...Ethiopian beer to try. Very gracious owner, nice ambiance.... I saw one of the reviewers mentioned the quirky toilet situation. Please, I don't go to a restaurant to sit in the bathroom. The food is great and that's what counts. I shall be back for more!
(5)Doug H.
Enjoyed my meal at Arada. The dishes were very tasty and spiced to taste different and distinct, unlike other places where the stews are all the same but they just have different proteins or vegetables. We had the chicken, lamb, steamed greens and chickpeas (sorry I don't remember the Ethiopian names!) The servings could have been larger too. We had four dishes for four of us and we wiped that plate clean. The injera was so-so. They don't give you enough and it's cold, so it's not that great. I can't put my finger on it but I like the injera at Ethiopian Restaurant more. Service is slow as others have written, but it wasn't too bad. I wish the tables were larger and the chairs more comfortable. The four of us were squeezed into such a small round cocktail table; Ethiopian food should give you ample room to spread out!
(4)Alicia J.
My boyfriend ordered the Doro Wot and I ordered one of the beef specials. When we only saw one big plate coming out, I thought, "Oh, good, one of our dinners is ready!" Not so. We were apparently splitting the main plate, which kinda peeved me, based on the price of the meal. Together, we each got four side dishes with our main entrees. We were given so little of each side dish that it literally looked like someone had given us a teaspoon of each. Maybe a tablespoon, but not a heaping one. It was shocking how little we got considering price and the fact that we're talking about some beans and spice. What's cheaper to make? But, the most unbelievable part of the meal was my boyfriend's Doro Wot. The waitress overturned his bowl onto the plate and out fell a SINGLE DRUMSTICK and an egg. The waitress even pointed it out as she told us what was what and said, "Your drumstick and an egg." So, what it boils down to is....pay $14, get a drumstick and an egg as an entree. I don't think so. And, by the complete and utter emptiness of the place when we were there...no one else does, either. We walked out and won't be back.
(1)Julio T.
I wonder if the reason Denver has so many Ethiopian people and restaurants is because Denver has a similarly high elevation. Ethiopia's largest city, Addis Ababa, is actually 7,726 feet in elevation, even higher than Denver and sits on plains near a mountainous region just like we do. I'm not sure if that's the reason for Denver's large Ethiopian population, but I am glad they have opened up places like Arada and shared their country's fine food with all of us. My friend and I got the vegetarian plate and enjoyed every bite of the yatakilt alitcha, fosolio and gomen piled upon pieces of spongy injera bread. The yatakilt alitcha was especially good with it's huge potato chunks and tender cabbage pieces soaked in a warm, gingery sauce. The greens were hearty and spicy and the green beans had that unique sour/savory/spicy/sweet flavor combination that only seems to be available at Ethiopian restaurants. Arada is certainly a bit more higher priced that other Ethiopian restaurants in town, averaging about $15 per person when many places have it for about $10-12 with about the same quality. But the food was still quite excellent and the service was very attentive, with our server quickly refilling our waters and baskets of injera. I've always enjoyed living the "Mile-High" life in Denver. I am even more grateful if our elevation and mountainous geography is responsible for bringing the warm and generous Ethiopian people and their fantastic cuisine to our city.
(4)Kelly A.
I liked this place! I'm new to Ethiopian food. Portion size on veg dishes seemed smaller than I've had at the two other Ethiopian restaurants I've been to. Chicken was a little dry and chewy, but the spicy sauce made up for it. The injera was great! The iced tea was fantastic!
(4)Gena L.
A friend and I went here after a run for some post-run carbs. We are both Ethiopian cuisine fans, so we decided on Arada. It was not very busy, so the service was pretty attentive. We ordered the Vegetarian Sampler, which was really lovely. They were very generous with the injera, giving us multiple refills without delay. For those of you who haven't tried Ethiopian food, I really must encourage you to do so. They say if you like Indian cuisine, you will love Ethiopian cuisine, and Ethiopian cuisine is better for you and very social.
(4)Heather M.
It was fine. Higher priced than places on Colfax, and not as tasty.
(2)Kate C.
One star for ambiance. Let's just say, I expected more. I had bought the Abssynia Groupon and checked out that place--my expectations of it were low because of the ambiance, but, for a total whole in the wall, zomg the food was sooo sooo delish that two weeks later I was craving Ethiopian food again. Instead of going to the same place, I thought I'd try Arada. I expected more because it had more reviews, looked cute, and is down in the art district. The honey wine was decent (I didn't think it was too sweet). My guy and I ordered the Meat Combo plate for two. Unfortunately, I couldn't do the injera (gluten), so our server brought me out a plate of rice with veggies that looked like it had been cooked a week ago. The vegetables were gross, dry, overcooked, overall just mealy. I can totally just eat the meat and Tomato Fit-Fit, I thought. Wrong--all four of the options on the platter were overcooked and the meat extremely dry. There was nothing special about the flavors, to the extent that my boyfriend and I repeated quietly back and forth "This is terrible! Terrible to the extent that I don't even want to eat it!!" As soon as we exited the restaurant, we both exclaimed, "THAT WAS TERRIBLE!" I left full, and completely unsatisfied, wishing I'd just gone back to Abssynia. Even though the ambiance is less-than-desired, the food at Abssynia knocks Arada out of the water. You'll also be surrounded by Ethiopian peeps chatting up in their native language. The only thing good about the food at Arada was the Tomato Fit-Fit, appropriately seasoned, however that is not enough to get me back in the door, so... I will not be back! But I can't wait to satisfy my hankering for Ethiopian with a visit to Abssynia again.
(1)Trevor C.
I've never before had Ethiopian food. Was attending an event in the Arts District and my wife pointed it out that we should try it out. We were not disappointed! To start, we had some Ethiopian honey wine. It's a different taste. You can definitely taste alcohol, which I am a fan of, but it is sweetened with a taste of honey as well. Not sure how else to describe it, but you will definitely not find this in many other places so give it a try. Second, we met the owner. She is such a nice woman. I asked her what her favorite was and she said, "Everything. I am the cook, so I love everything!" We enjoy vegetarian dishes and as such went with the Yatakilt Alicha for two. It was delectable. The bread is something I've never had before. She served the dish on a pizza pan that was covered with this spongy bread and then topped with four rolls of bread that surround the mixture of tomatoes, jalapeños, potatoes, carrots, and a hummus type mixture. I wrapped everything I could fit into the first roll of bread and it was the sweetest taste I would have never imagined! As she told us, the bread that everything sits on top of is the best. It collects all of these flavor a from the dish during your meal. Now for the ambience. She plays a really happy Ethiopian mix of music that made me smile the entire time. She also has a full bar stocked with many liquors that would please anyone's palate. Check this one out!
(5)Christopher S.
Arada is located in the heart of the Sante Fe Art district between seventh and eighth avenues. The charming store-front restaurant is small in size but big in flavors and style. The décor is hip and modern inside an older shop building that is characteristic of this part of the Baker district. The bar is oversized for the room, but it did not seem out of place. I appreciated the table linens, place settings, and stellar service. We had the luxury of being able to sit in the front over looking the street. Like most Ethiopian restaurants, they have beverages to match; Tej and Ethiopian beers started off our meal. For the vegetarian in the group, the server was smart enough to suggest a separate injera platter. I had the Doro Wot, the rest of the meal was vegetarian. While we plucked, picked and scooped our way through the meal, the server was constantly on top of his game, refilling waters, bringing napkins, offering assistance when needed. The food is good at Arada, the service exceptional and it feels good to support a local, small business. For the seasoned Ethiopian diner or the novice, I would recommend Arada.
(4)jo m.
My first time experiencing Ethiopian food here. I have seen my coworkers eat Ethiopian food before and wanted to try. After art walk, a girlfriend and I wanted to try something tasty and different so we walked past by 2 Mexican restaurant and walked into this place. This place did not look like the picture posted here. It was ugly which I was OK with it; I've figured maybe the people here focus more on the food than the ambiance. To be a good sport (this friend of mine is a vegetarian), we ordered 2 vegetarian plates ($10 each) and a glass of honey wine. The food was served on a big platter with sponge flat bread layered on the platter and her food on one side and mine on opposite side with 4 small rolled up sponge flat bread. I was extremely sad to see the food. portion was small and food served luke warm. Bread was cold. I know I am not a very cultural person but I am willing try new stuff and based on what I ate (potato vegetarian dish and something chickpea vegetarian dish (#14? #15? on menu), I will not be visiting this place again. To sum it up, the food was boring, too small of portion and over priced. Now I know why Ethiopians are skinny and poor. At the end of the meal, I promised my friend that I would take her out for a Korean dinner next week.
(2)Ali W.
I love ethnic food e.g. Ethiopian, Moroccan, Korean, Greek, Peruvian, etc. I'm kind of like that weird girl Polly from the movie Along Came Polly (although I have yet made anyone have diarrhea -- go watch the movie). I like Ethiopian food because it's flavorful, communal, and different. Here are my comments on the items I've tried: Siga Wot (spicy beef): very good, had just the right amount of spicy-ness Yebeg Siga Alitcha (lamb stew): had an overwhelming lamby flavor, but what do you expect, it is *lamb* I guess Yater Alicha (yellow split peas): the texture was a little too hard for me, I didn't think it was cooked through enough Yatakelt Alitcha (steamed cabbage and carrots): loved this veggie dish, I wish I can get more Yemiser Wot (lentils): the menu description said it was cooked with a red pepper sauce, so I expected it to be spicy, but it wasn't; I'm not a big lentils fan though Greens (eh, greens): very soft and flavorful, one of my favorite veggie dishes I also tried their honey wine. It was *very* sweet. I would recommend it with dessert rather than with dinner. If it's your first time, a combination plate is always a good idea to try multiple different dishes. One word of advice though, eating too much of the Ingera (bread) can fill you up pretty quickly. So take it easy on those. The Ingera is like a giant sponge that sucks up all the things you ate plus all the things you didn't think you ate and makes them expand even bigger in your stomach. 1 star off: small portions on the good stuff
(4)Lynn V.
I really wanted to like this, but had some issues. First, we got the combination plate (meat and veg). This is the first Ethiopian place I've been to where the waitress put the food on the injera at the table. That was nice, as she told us what each dish was as she scooped it out! Sadly, I found no balance in the spices. There seemed to an overabundance of spicy pepper, which just overshadowed all the other subtle spices. I can usually balance out the spicy dishes with the milder ones, but on this combo platter, they all seemed to have a lot of spicy peppers. My main problem was that there was ONE waitress for the entire restaurant, for the entire time we were there. (which was about 3 hours!) While we were the FIRST to arrive for dinner, we were not given the check in a timely manner. Even though we asked for it a few times, other, more 'in your face' customers got their bills first. I was actually very tempted to just stand up and walk out, and I have NEVER done that. One aggressive customer even grabbed OUR check (with my credit card in the holder) out of the waitresses hand, because he thought it was his. RUDE! While our waitress was nice enough, there was no way she could keep up with an entire restaurant of filled tables, and the food wasn't good enough for me to go through that again. I honesty will not be back.
(2)Jeremy K.
Arada's "Doro Wat" was listed by Denver Magazine as one of the top 100 must eat dishes in Denver, so I gave it a shot: Rating: 5.5 (out of 10) Price: $10.50 The Skinny: I am no expert on Ethiopian dining, that's for sure. Nor do I hide it well either. After asking the waitress/cook for a fork, she smiled at me with amused pity and suggested that I use the things at the end of my arms (my hands). Ohhhhh snap!! In your face, uncultured American, IN YO FACE! Hands in full use, I dug into the Doro Wat - a chicken dish that takes 10 hours to cook, and is served along with a few sides atop a thin spongy flatbread. The flatbread is interesting because of its uniqueness - half crepe, half bread, it tasted decent and did a pretty good job as a wrapper to the chicken and 4 sides on the plate. The idea is to jam everything together in a strip of the flatbread and let them blend together in your mouth. I found the sides to be a little above average in flavor, but mostly the chicken was a letdown. Overcooked and dry. Not even the scorching spicy heat could save it. Overall, it was something different and decent. And I'm not really convinced I got their best shot. If the chicken was cooked to be tender, it could go up to a 6.5. I've got a picture of it up on the blog on my profile jko
(3)Natalie M.
I went to Arada last night with a small group and wasn't sure what to expect since I had never had Ethiopian food. The place was very sparse in the way of other guests, but yet it was 7:00pm on a Sunday night. The food was good, although my picky daughter was a bit disappointed with the chicken that she ordered. Pricing was moderate for what you get...roughly $10 to $14 a person. Our server was a bit scattered....I think that she was more interesting in the Muppet special that was on television than bringing us our bill. I would go back for the food, but not so much for the service. Also, probably not the best place for a first date given that you are going to town with your hands and making a mess of your self (which I guess is most of the fun).
(3)Lauren K.
I have eaten at a LOT of Ethiopian restaurants, and because I grew up outside of Washington DC where there are a myriad of incredible Ethiopian restaurants to choose from, I have become quite picky as far as the quality and authenticity of Ethiopian food. I discovered Arada when it was on East Colfax 6 or 7 years ago. This was when Haime, the owner, was the hostess, waitress, and chef, and I was the only one eating there. I got Kitfo as it is traditionally prepared- raw. It was incredible!!!! The next time I tried the Doro Wot, which was equally incredible. Over the years, my husband and I have tried everything on the menu and those two dishes continue to be our favorites. We usually get either the Arada six or Super Arada combination dishes, and an order of Kitfo. If you've never had Ethiopian food, know that you eat with your fingers using delicious spongy bread, though I bet if you asked they would give you some silverware. The spices are unique and probably unlike anything you've had before- they are delicious! Expect a dining experience like no other. You'll have enough leftovers for at least another meal, too! Sure, the service may not be lightning fast or anything but everyone is friendly and my water glass is never empty. If you can't make it to DC for your first Ethiopian dining experience, go here because it's the best Ethiopian food in Colorado!
(5)Evey M.
I went to Arada last night with a group of 5 others. The place was completely empty at 7 pm. I don't know if it is like that frequently or if it was because outside it was 10 degrees; regardless, the place was a ghost town. A quaint, clean, and warm ghost town. Every reviewer before me that has told you Arada has slow service is 100% correct. Even on a night when there are only 6 people in the restaurant things are still at a snails pace; however, the service is attentive and thorough. Luckily for me I had read up on the yelp reviews before going and knew to expect the slow service. One of my friends and of course myself are vegetarians so we got a seperate plate from the 4 non-veggies. We tried: - Vegetable Sambusa: which is beyond delicious - Yate Alitcha - Yatukilt Alitcha - Yemiser Wot (by far my favorite, next time I will order this dish as an entree size) - Gomen - Injera Bread - Tomato Fit-Fit Every single thing on the plate was delicious. It's spicy and vinegary so if you don't like both of those then this place is not for you. They also have mango juice as a main beverage and a full bar. If you are looking for something a little different then your normal everyday fare that won't cost you an arm and a leg try Arada.
(4)Jonny D.
A consistently great time. You can get messy with your friends because you're eating some absolutely irresistible food with your hands and a thin layer of sour-in-a-good-way injera bread. I love Ethiopian cuisine and this place is the best Ethiopian I've had in the US. I really like how Ethiopian has a knack for making a vegetarian food hearty and delicious, so I'd recommend getting the Vegetarian Combo and then supplementing it with some of the Doro Wot, if you're into the whole meat thing. The one complaint I can register is that the service here, while friendly and engaging, seems completely unaware of the necessity of keeping me well-watered. For a place with spicy food, you'd expect to have large glasses and attention paid to when you empty them out. Not so here--small goblets that can go minute upon minute without refills (I've been compelled to grab a nearby pitcher and refill myself on several occasions). Apart from that, this is in my estimation among the best restaurants in Denver.
(4)Lacey M.
Arada was my first Ethiopian food experience, and I wasn't that impressed. It was pretty good food, I suppose, but I probably won't go back. I went with my sister, Natalie M., and her daughter on a Sunday night for dinner. We were one of only 2 tables in the whole restaurant. That being said, the service was REALLY slow. The 1 lady working the front of the house seemed to be more focused on the T.V. then on giving good service. Since 2 of us were meat-eaters, and 2 vegetarians, we got 2 separate platters for the table. I really liked the bread it was served with/on, to use as your utensil...kind of a fun experience. I ordered one of the meat combos, that came with 4 different selections. I wasn't exactly sure which one was which, but do know that the one lamb dish was very delicious. Everything else was just okay. The sides were nothing to write home about either. I was wishing for a lot more flavor...with pretty much everything on that giant platter. I'm definitely glad I went, and was able to finally try Ethiopian food...but left a little disappointed. Not only with the service and food, but also with the price...little too pricey for not that great of food.
(3)Chandra W.
Here's the deal--I don't think that anyone can argue that the food isn't yummy. Ethiopian flavors are incredibly warm and comforting even if it's your first time trying it. I mean, who doesn't love spiced beef (sorry vegetarians--but it is pretty good) wrapped in fried dough (beef sambusa). PLUS, you get to eat with your hands!!! Not "I'm-eating-with-my-fingers-cuz-I'm-eating-finger-Âfood" noshing with my hands. I'm talking, unadulterated, full-on hand-to-mouth yumminess. Also, unlike previous reviews, the service here was fabulous. Very attentive and helpful. I'm deducting a star because of the price. While exotic flavors sometimes warrant a slightly higher-than-expected price tag, the quantity of food for the price was a bit of a letdown. After ordering an app and two entrees with two Ethiopian beers, I can say that I was barely full--granted I steered clear of over eating the injera (delicious but takes up valuable real-estate in my tummy). The entrees were minimal--perhaps I expected too much but I really thought that I might be able to have doggy-bag breakfast, but no such luck. Overall: yummy. soul-satisfying, adventerous, albeit a bit small, but TOTALLY worth a second (and third) trip.
(4)Doug Y.
To skip this overly wordy review skip to the last paragraph. Nice server albeit his clock seems to run at a slower pace than the rest of the world's. I went with a large group of people (13) and not knowing the logisitics of eating Ethiopian food with a large group I learned a few things. Arada's menu has pricing for one person or two people for each of their entree dishes which includes two veg. sides from the veg. entrees menu. What wasn't explained before we ordered is that all our food would be served on two large platters divided 6 orders on each and one vegan plate for our veggie guy. We ordered one of the special higher priced multi-combos to sample several items (Arada Six Combo) and also a Doro Wot (chicken) before realizing that six of us would be sharing each other's orders. After an indeterminable amount of time the two large-ish (emphasis on the -ish) platters were brought out with a smattering of veggie type piles placed around the rim (way fewer than what I perceived 12 per platter would amount to by the way (2 sides times six orders). there were maybe 4 small piles. Then the dumping of the little bowls began (chawan or rice bowl sized). I know that two of the people on our platter ordered the Doro Wot but the portions for all the entrees were all the same size except that there was a hard boiled egg in the center of the chicken (maybe they figured they were giving us a whole bird that way). The injera was cold and some of it wet and we had to wait bread/utensil-less and ask several times for more. The couple across from us ordered Sambusas near the end of the long wait for our dinner and did indeed get them... after we were pretty much finished eating (the sambusas were by the way the most flavorful thing I tasted that night). If you're dining with a big party here, know that your food comes on a communal platter so order entrees to share, you'll eat with injira (sponge textured slightly sour pancake shaped bread) as your only utensil, it'll be pretty pricey if you're a big eater, and forget it if you're in a hurry, this is the exact opposite of fast food. Adequately tasty but, Arada's? I think I'll pass.
(3)Jeramyn F.
This is about how our dinner went: Enter restaurant, find a seat, wait 20 minutes, no water no greeting, no service Waiter comes, order two coffees, waters and an assortment of food wait 10 minutes, go find someone to ask for water again, get some water in a few minutes wait for 10 minutes we are out of water again we again need to go find someone to get water wait for 10 minutes more, finally the food comes, out of water again coffee still hasn't arrived eat some relatively flavorless food with bones in the sauces (bite carefully) wait 20 more minutes ask about coffee and find that "it is still brewing it takes a while to brew" wait 10 minutes finally the coffee arrives luke warm and over brewed Finish eating, wait for bill, leave disappointed and hungry the portions were tiny, going home to have dinner =(
(1)D M.
Consistently the best Ethiopian restaurant in the Denver area. And this is coming from someone who lived in Ethiopia for years
(4)Yona S.
This is the first time I've ever had Ethiopian food, and I actually consulted Yelp to decide which Ethiopian restaurant to try. This one had the best reviews and so I went. It's nestled in the middle of the Santa Fe art district, which is awesome if you want to make a night of it, or if you want to try to get a table during a First Friday. Our waiter was so adorable and nice. I just loved him so much because of his dazzling smile, his polite respectful demeanor and his patient willingness to help us decide what to order. I'm writing this for the audience who has never tried Ethiopian food. If you like spicy, you'll love this fare. I ordered something that was a sampler of two meats and three side dishes of my choice. The gal I was with ordered just one thing and it came with one meat and two sides. I highly recommend the sampler because who wants to try three things when you can try five? The tomato salad (two types) was hands down the best thing there. It was spicy, but not the way a fresh jalapeno pepper is spicy, haunting your mouth for hours afterward. It was an enjoyable spicy that hits you and then you're ok (kind of like Wasabe). And it was so flavorful without tasting like it was doused in salt! There are some familiar foods on the menu as well. Lentils is a staple, and their lentils were wonderful. The chicken was probably my least favorite because everything else was so good. The ground beef was awesome and again, very spicy. They also let me try a traditional Ethiopian Honey Wine. It was delicious and I could tell by smelling it that it was way more alcoholic than most wines. It was sweet and thick and potent but very delicious. I didn't go for a full glass, only because I was afraid to drive afterward! Another thing when you eat Ethiopian food is that you have to prepare yourself to experience something totally different than what you are used to. Their bread is not like bread. It's more like a spongy tortilla, simply meant to be a utensil for the rest of the food, since forks and spoons are not automatically offered. Another thing is, that you are not going to get a meal that serves 3 when you order an entree (even though between the two of us we only ate half of what we ordered and we each just ordered one entree). If you order the chicken you won't get half a chicken. So just keep that in mind and you won't be disappointed. We even met the manager (not sure if she's the owner too?) and she was very gracious, humble and really wanted to talk to her customers. I just loved the experience and I will definitely be back.
(4)Scott B.
My favorite restaurant in Denver, and has been for years since way back when it was in that tiny little space on Coflax. We've become friends with the owner over all that time so it's hard for me to give an objective review. I don't understand the complaints about small portion size- we typically get the veggie combo for two, and are usually unable to finish it and have to be rolled out the door on gurneys. And I can eat. If you're a vegetarian, you need to get acquainted with Arada. You can have a fantastic, varied, healthy, delicious meal without seeing a single piece of tofu. One of the things I find most interesting about Arada is how the seasoning in the dishes is always changing a bit. The Yemiser Wot went through a period for a while where it had a really strong cinnamon flavor, the spiciness level on the shiro is always going up and down, the greens are sometime really tart and vinegary like southern greens, and sometimes really smooth. She's always tinkering with everything. Makes things interesting. Also, try the Ethiopian stout (if it's in stock- it's not always available). Interestingly sweet and refreshing. A really nice beer that suits the food perfectly.
(5)Alden C.
Great Ethiopian food! Yummy! Be prepared to eat with your hands! That is how it is done!
(5)Cassie G.
We've been going to this restaurant for ten years and always pick it for any type of nice celebration dinner. Tonight we went for an end of the summer feast before me and the brother start up school again! We always get the Vegetarian Delight for 2 and the Super Arada for 2 with an extra order of Alitcha. It is always too much food for the four of us to finish but it is always amazing. The owner and waiters are always very nice and tonight I had the Mango Juice which was wonderful as well! Definitely a must try for anybody looking for a great meal in Denver!
(5)Andrew O.
Usually I venture out to east Colfax for my Ethiopian food, but I finally decided to try Arada, which is much closer to home. Despite the restaurant being almost completely empty for dinner (only one other party), I was pleasantly surprised with the friendly service and great food. One area that Arada surpasses my usual favorite spots is speed of food. I've been to some Ethiopian places and waited almost an hour for my food, this food was out in about 5 minutes. Food quality was great, and the red lentils in particular were nice and spicy. If you've never had Ethiopian food I highly recommend it, if only for the novelty. A lot of the dishes are almost like baby food, and you eat it by pinching it up with a thin, spongy sourdough-y bread called Injera. There is no silverware, you just use the delicious bread as your only utensil. Not recommended for germaphobes or awkward first dates.
(4)David C.
I've eaten here a few times, and all of my visits were a lot of fun, so I definitely head here when I want good Ethiopian food. As most will tell you, food is eaten with injera, the spongy bread, rather than a fork or chopsticks, so you will be eating with your hands. There's a really nice mix of meats and vegetarian dishes on the menu, and it's very easy to get a good combination of things to try. I recommend the combination platters so that you get a taste of many different items. When they bring out your meal in a giant pottery-style dish, it honestly doesn't look like very much food. But as you eat bite after bite of food wrapped in the injera, it will fill you up without much trouble. I enjoyed the lamb and seasoned beef (Minchet) amongst the meats, and the Vegetarian Delight had several tasty things on it along with the tomato salads that come standard. The greens (Gomen) were my favorite, and the potato dish was good too. I'm not much for spicy food, but there's plenty here for those that are. When you want a really enjoyable meal that's different from pretty much anything you've ever had, give Arada a try.
(4)Hoang L.
Pretty awesome... only my second time having Ethiopian food and I'll def come back. The portions are pretty large, so come with a big appetite. Great spot for groups as it's fun to share and try a bit of everything.
(4)Nicole W.
We love this place! We hadn't been in a while, but we always think of it! The wait staff is definitely quicker than they used to be, the bread supply is more prolific and my water glass definitely stayed full! The presentation of the meal has also changed a bit. Instead of bringing all the food in little bowls and then putting it on your plate, they bring the plate all set up! They also bring rolls of bread instead of having it hanging over the plate. That was really great! My hubby and I split the super arada - definitely enough food for 2 when you order for 1. Our friend ordered the veggie delight and she was pleased with her choices as well. The food was fabulous as always!
(4)Adriana A.
I don't remember what the waiter said any of our food was called, but I 'do' remember everything was deeeelicious. It was my friend's first time venturing into the excting and spicey arena of Ethiopian cuisine. He was a good sport and wanted to go full steam ahead, so we started off on our adventure with some Ethiopian honey wine and some Ethiopian beer. After quenching our thirst, our waiter talked up a meat and vegetable dish that featured lamb, lentils an array of beans and some yummy pork scoop that all came nessled on a very thin pancake-like bread. The same bread was also rolled up neatly around the plate so it could be torn off and used to grab tastes for your mouth. Yes, contrary to Miss Manner's etiquette, forks and knives are 'not' allowed at the table, so you want to make sure to wash your hands before the food arrives!
(5)Todd S.
I'm a little confused about some of the negative reviews below, particularly those mentioning small main/meat portions, and I wonder if people writing reviews are just less familiar with Ethiopian food. I'm no expert, but Arada reminded me a lot of my favorite Ethiopian restaurant in Portland (Queen of Sheba), and I'd be happy to go back next time I'm in Denver. In general, though, expect to sample from several small dishes that cross a good spectrum of flavor, not just meat plus injera (the delicious sourdough-like, spongy flatbread). Anyhow, I wouldn't say the waiter was slow -- we got our water, drinks, and food all in good, if relaxed, time. There was one screw-up on one of the sides, but they brought out the right one soon after. The waiter certainly was very nice and explained things for us. The food was quite tasty, though I can't remember the names now. We both got meat entrees and opted to choose from the vegetarian menu for "sides". We both liked the lentils and split peas. My wife got the spicy chicken with the egg (good), and I got what looked like ground beef with cottage cheese -- except way more tasty than I realize that sounds (trust me). I also had the Ethiopian beer, just to try it. It was surprisingly sweet (malty), but I enjoyed it with the food.
(4)Elizabeth W.
Great food and service. The place is open and inviting. I have a veggie combo and was full until the same time the next day. I tried the honey wine, and it was a little too strong alcohol tasting for me. But it was the first time I had it, so I am certainly going to try it again. The location is great, and I sure it is really a great place during the art walk. We didn't have to wait for a table, even at dinner time on a Friday and the restaurant was comfortably full, but not crowded. Certainly a place in the art district to try.
(4)Heather T.
I'm no expert on Ethiopian food, but am a big fan from living in DC - and have tried in in Edmonton as well. Adored this place - best meat dishes I have ever eaten and the vegetarian dishes were excellent, as well. Four of us went, so we ordered two different sampler platters - I always order Ethiopian this way and have never been disappointed. We had a great time and introduced some new eaters to Ethiopian. Overall, friendly service - but you do have to really advocate for water, amazing spicy comfort food (even if you've never tried it before - you can tell it is food with SOUL), and a great experience with friends. Messy, but delicious!
(4)Jelena W.
I can't say that I had high expectations the first time I tried Ethiopian cuisine. Actually, I couldn't really picture what it was- a less tactful friend, referring to the famine conditions in Africa, opined, "Ethiopian food? What is that- they serve you 30 grams of food, then take it away and tell you that the American aid money all went to promote abstinence so you don't get to eat today?" On the contrary- this Ethiopian cuisine is spectacular, and if you can't figure out what the words on the menu mean, either ask the very friendly employees or just order it anyway- it's bound to be good. There are plenty of choices, and each that I've tried has been excellent. It seems like lots of folks stop in here after the First Friday Art Walk for a quick, yummy, and extra inexpensive post-free snacks nosh.
(4)Clint J.
Went here for a friend's birthday. There were 8 of us at the table, and we each ordered an entree. ALL the entrees came on a single platter. Each "entree" was in a wee cup. I could've eaten all 8 entrees myself. You pay for an entree and get a tapa. Unacceptable. Let us now discuss the Ethiopian honey wine. I think they pissed in it. Tasted like no honey wine I ever had, and that includes a half dozen based on authentic Ethiopian recipes. Server was unsmiling, discourteous, and morose. Bread is supposed to be spongy, but not damp and doughy. Food tasted okay, although each entree was a mere 3 forkfuls. I would like to try Ethiopian food again, but I won't be going back to Arada.
(2)betsy s.
I have tried five or six Ethiopian restaurants in Denver, and I think that Arada is - hands down - the best! As far as I can tell, each restaurant has their own (closely guarded?) recipe for injera, and Arada's has the perfect texture and "sour-ness." Arada also appears to be the only place in town that serves tomato fit-fit - a mixture of small pieces of injera, diced tomato, onion and jalapenos in a vinegar-based dressing. I don't much like tomatos and I don't much like jalapenos, but I LOVE tomato fit-fit. Go figure! I am also highly addicted to their Kitffo - finely ground lean beef with spiced Ethiopian butter and house-made cottage cheese. YUM!
(5)Hope A.
Nice little restaurant in the Santa Fe arts district, which doesn't have many good places to eat. The service was prompt and friendly. They did their best to accommodate my husband's dietary needs, he has an allergy to garlic. It's hard to find a place that will accommodate garlic issues.
(4)y k.
I have to say, my experience with Arada was not the best. Now I should preface this by saying that I love, love, LOVE ethiopian food. I've had many excellent meals at two of the places on East Colfax (Ethiopian Restaurant and Abyssinia, I think). So I was very excited to try this place, since it's right in my neighborhood, much as I knew it would be extremely dangerous to discover a delicious Ethiopian place so close to my home (dangerous on the wallet, that is). But, alas, my wallet can rest in peace. The food was fine, but, no colfax Ethiopian Restaurant. Everything was just a little blander, a little greasier, not quite as flavorful and robust. (We just got the veggie combo, which is what we always get everywhere). Not only was the food not as good, but it was a couple dollars more expensive. It's possible I just caught them on a bad day, but for now I think I'll be making the trek over to Colfax, for more reliable deliciousness.
(2)Heather C.
Good food, small portions and slow service in traditional Ethiopian Restaurant fashion.
(3)Tristan T.
Oh...My...God. I would eat this every day, if there weren't so many other things I wanted to eat on any given day.
(5)Jeremy K.
Arada's "Doro Wat" was listed by Denver Magazine as one of the top 100 must eat dishes in Denver, so I gave it a shot: Rating: 5.5 (out of 10) Price: $10.50 The Skinny: I am no expert on Ethiopian dining, that's for sure. Nor do I hide it well either. After asking the waitress/cook for a fork, she smiled at me with amused pity and suggested that I use the things at the end of my arms (my hands). Ohhhhh snap!! In your face, uncultured American, IN YO FACE! Hands in full use, I dug into the Doro Wat - a chicken dish that takes 10 hours to cook, and is served along with a few sides atop a thin spongy flatbread. The flatbread is interesting because of its uniqueness - half crepe, half bread, it tasted decent and did a pretty good job as a wrapper to the chicken and 4 sides on the plate. The idea is to jam everything together in a strip of the flatbread and let them blend together in your mouth. I found the sides to be a little above average in flavor, but mostly the chicken was a letdown. Overcooked and dry. Not even the scorching spicy heat could save it. Overall, it was something different and decent. And I'm not really convinced I got their best shot. If the chicken was cooked to be tender, it could go up to a 6.5. I've got a picture of it up on the blog on my profile jko
(3)Natalie M.
I went to Arada last night with a small group and wasn't sure what to expect since I had never had Ethiopian food. The place was very sparse in the way of other guests, but yet it was 7:00pm on a Sunday night. The food was good, although my picky daughter was a bit disappointed with the chicken that she ordered. Pricing was moderate for what you get...roughly $10 to $14 a person. Our server was a bit scattered....I think that she was more interesting in the Muppet special that was on television than bringing us our bill. I would go back for the food, but not so much for the service. Also, probably not the best place for a first date given that you are going to town with your hands and making a mess of your self (which I guess is most of the fun).
(3)Lauren K.
I have eaten at a LOT of Ethiopian restaurants, and because I grew up outside of Washington DC where there are a myriad of incredible Ethiopian restaurants to choose from, I have become quite picky as far as the quality and authenticity of Ethiopian food. I discovered Arada when it was on East Colfax 6 or 7 years ago. This was when Haime, the owner, was the hostess, waitress, and chef, and I was the only one eating there. I got Kitfo as it is traditionally prepared- raw. It was incredible!!!! The next time I tried the Doro Wot, which was equally incredible. Over the years, my husband and I have tried everything on the menu and those two dishes continue to be our favorites. We usually get either the Arada six or Super Arada combination dishes, and an order of Kitfo. If you've never had Ethiopian food, know that you eat with your fingers using delicious spongy bread, though I bet if you asked they would give you some silverware. The spices are unique and probably unlike anything you've had before- they are delicious! Expect a dining experience like no other. You'll have enough leftovers for at least another meal, too! Sure, the service may not be lightning fast or anything but everyone is friendly and my water glass is never empty. If you can't make it to DC for your first Ethiopian dining experience, go here because it's the best Ethiopian food in Colorado!
(5)Christopher S.
Arada is located in the heart of the Sante Fe Art district between seventh and eighth avenues. The charming store-front restaurant is small in size but big in flavors and style. The décor is hip and modern inside an older shop building that is characteristic of this part of the Baker district. The bar is oversized for the room, but it did not seem out of place. I appreciated the table linens, place settings, and stellar service. We had the luxury of being able to sit in the front over looking the street. Like most Ethiopian restaurants, they have beverages to match; Tej and Ethiopian beers started off our meal. For the vegetarian in the group, the server was smart enough to suggest a separate injera platter. I had the Doro Wot, the rest of the meal was vegetarian. While we plucked, picked and scooped our way through the meal, the server was constantly on top of his game, refilling waters, bringing napkins, offering assistance when needed. The food is good at Arada, the service exceptional and it feels good to support a local, small business. For the seasoned Ethiopian diner or the novice, I would recommend Arada.
(4)Ali W.
I love ethnic food e.g. Ethiopian, Moroccan, Korean, Greek, Peruvian, etc. I'm kind of like that weird girl Polly from the movie Along Came Polly (although I have yet made anyone have diarrhea -- go watch the movie). I like Ethiopian food because it's flavorful, communal, and different. Here are my comments on the items I've tried: Siga Wot (spicy beef): very good, had just the right amount of spicy-ness Yebeg Siga Alitcha (lamb stew): had an overwhelming lamby flavor, but what do you expect, it is *lamb* I guess Yater Alicha (yellow split peas): the texture was a little too hard for me, I didn't think it was cooked through enough Yatakelt Alitcha (steamed cabbage and carrots): loved this veggie dish, I wish I can get more Yemiser Wot (lentils): the menu description said it was cooked with a red pepper sauce, so I expected it to be spicy, but it wasn't; I'm not a big lentils fan though Greens (eh, greens): very soft and flavorful, one of my favorite veggie dishes I also tried their honey wine. It was *very* sweet. I would recommend it with dessert rather than with dinner. If it's your first time, a combination plate is always a good idea to try multiple different dishes. One word of advice though, eating too much of the Ingera (bread) can fill you up pretty quickly. So take it easy on those. The Ingera is like a giant sponge that sucks up all the things you ate plus all the things you didn't think you ate and makes them expand even bigger in your stomach. 1 star off: small portions on the good stuff
(4)Lynn V.
I really wanted to like this, but had some issues. First, we got the combination plate (meat and veg). This is the first Ethiopian place I've been to where the waitress put the food on the injera at the table. That was nice, as she told us what each dish was as she scooped it out! Sadly, I found no balance in the spices. There seemed to an overabundance of spicy pepper, which just overshadowed all the other subtle spices. I can usually balance out the spicy dishes with the milder ones, but on this combo platter, they all seemed to have a lot of spicy peppers. My main problem was that there was ONE waitress for the entire restaurant, for the entire time we were there. (which was about 3 hours!) While we were the FIRST to arrive for dinner, we were not given the check in a timely manner. Even though we asked for it a few times, other, more 'in your face' customers got their bills first. I was actually very tempted to just stand up and walk out, and I have NEVER done that. One aggressive customer even grabbed OUR check (with my credit card in the holder) out of the waitresses hand, because he thought it was his. RUDE! While our waitress was nice enough, there was no way she could keep up with an entire restaurant of filled tables, and the food wasn't good enough for me to go through that again. I honesty will not be back.
(2)April O.
We came here at the instigation of friends, while in town on business. The main selling points were that it was within walking distance of the place we were currently at, and that it was "awesome." Neither Brice nor I have ever had this type of food, so I couldn't vouch for the truth of the awesomeness. Nor did I want to be the sole voice begging to eat somewhere else. So we went. Since we didn't know what to get or expect (and because the meals all seemed to be $17 for one plate) I told Brice that I would eat whatever he was eating. Brice decided on Doro Wat, which is all meat. The lamb is excellent and was the mutual favorite. The chicken was enjoyable, the beef chunks seemed bland. Neither of us ate much of the ground beef and eventually the spice was so intense that we couldn't physically eat more of the food. I didn't really like my meal, but I blame myself for that. Others at the table who ordered more balanced dinners and had vegetables along with their meat seemed much more happy, so that's probably the way to go. The bread (injera?) was soft and citrus-y, and I suspect would have been delicious with greens or lentils. As it was, I didn't think it went too well with just meat. But once again, I think that's my own fault. Bonus half-star for the homeless dude cursing up a storm as we crossed the street. He was loud enough to make you think he was being chased by at least five police dogs. Dude was completely ALONE. I'd return to give it another shot with a different meal. 3.5 stars.
(3)Anna F.
Got two to-go cokes and beef sambusas. The cups that the drinks were in had questionable hairs and loads of dust in them. The Sambusas were okay...but after seeing how dirty the cups were I didn't have much of an appetite for the food...I didn't trust that it was safe to eat. Needless to say I won't be heading back there.
(2)Ellen L.
Delicious and flavorful
(4)Mo C.
Not as good as Queen of Sheba in Santa Clara CA, but still pretty damn good. Beer: So, on the beer menu is listed "Ethiopian Beer". I have been to a few Ethiopian restaurants and know some of the beers. When I asked the server what brand the beer was, I kind of got a blank stare. When I asked if it was dark, he said, no, so I ordered an iced tea. The iced tea never made it to the table. In fact, no non-alcoholic drinks with the exception of water ever made it over. No problem, water works for me. Bathroom: Weirdest bathroom I have ever been in. It's a single stall/room with two toilets, side by side. WTF? Fork: Yes, I know, this is a hands on eating experience. But, I like to have a fork, just in case I want to reach all the way over the injera to try my friend's food. Asked for a fork, twice, it never made its way to the table. Food: The food was good. Again, not as good as Queen of Sheba, but still quite tasty. The injera was warm and plentiful. I recommend the #6, a dish of beef that is cooked with spiced and injera, then served on injera. The lamb stew was quite good as well. Ambiance: Well, they tried to make this place look like a nice cafe, rather than have any ethnic music, ornaments, etc. I miss the voo-doo looking dolls at Queen of Sheba :) It was just a little strange eating with my hands (sans fork) and listening to Brittney Spears, you know? Overall, I would definitely head back here, for the takeout if nothing else. I just wish there was better parking. WARNING on Parking: Although there is a nice empty lot across the street to the left of the restaruant, DO NOT PARK THERE! As we walked out of the restaurant we saw that our friend's car window had been bashed in and items stolen from her car. Those of us who parked on the street were not broken into.
(4)john W.
Nothing compares to ethiopian. Eating with your hands, yummy bread and great meat and lentil dishes. The service has vastly improved! The first few times we went, about a year ago, the service was kinda slow. This time, it was awesome! The waiter was all over it, even when it was busy! Worth every penny! The Super Arada is the one to get. If you're not big eaters, you can probly split the Super Arada for 1, that's what we do.
(5)rusty r.
A couple weeks back, my good ethiopian friend took me to her favorite place... Arada. We skipped Boulder's ethiopian and made our way to Santa Fe Ave... so, we really committed to giving this place a shot. The food was extremely tasty! The spices jumped and rattled around in my mouth... the lamb and chicken were great, but the lentils were amazing! Also had some "Ethiopian Beer", as listed on the menu. It's called "Meta" and apparently is a standard ethiopian brew. kind of sweet, but very dry like an asian brew. very tasty. Only drawback was the small portions, they could have been way bigger, but luckily the injera (spongey bread) filled us up!
(3)Maha K.
The women's bathroom has two toilets. That's right ladies, you have to pee sans stalls because it helps cut building costs. One toilet has duct tape across it from flooding and the other would make relieving yourself on Santa Fe Drive a better alternative. '90s R&B music blares overhead. It makes awkward conversations at the table even worse because Keith Sweat is moaning through the ceiling and walls about how badly he wants to make love to you. By the end of our night, Mariah Carey was screaming something or another about being "so alone" and Michael Jackson's voice kept reminding us that he was dead. The servers are so depressed and annoyed that you might be more inclined to order 20mg of Prozac to-go than a real dinner. The bar feels faintly like that "junk liquor store on Colfax". I ordered the Ethiopian "honey" wine and got what looked like unfiltered apple juice with sedimentary layers of dirt at the bottom. The drink smelled like Wal-Mart grade garden soil. I would have better choked it down if it at least smelled like TARGET-grade garden soil. It costs $7 per glass. We nicknamed the hummus appetizer "Hum-Whiz" after Cheez-Whiz (both are cheap, artificial knock-offs of the real thing). It tasted like watery, cinnamon-flavored Nutella. No trace of a single chick pea. It costs $6. Splitting an entree costs you $5.50, driving the total cost of your plate near or over the original cost, depending on what you order. Manipulative business strategy, but definitely a turn-off. I'm not a big fan of injera bread as it is, but the pricing and quality prompted me to opt out of dining here altogether. 1 "Ethiopian" beer (tastes like Coors Light) + 1 "Ethiopian" honey wine + 2 shots of whiskey + 1 "hummus" plate = $40. I'd rather have saved the money for a real trip to Ethiopia. Or better yet, given the money to an Ethiopian charity in-need.
(2)Riza H. C.
A unique experience some will tell. Since from where I am from, we often have "communal" eating events and when you use your fingers and hands to eat, all in all things are ok. Food wise: They have a distint flavor to it, depends on what you order. I had my first experience at Arada with like about 11 other friends for dinner sometime on April 29 2008. The service was indeed at a slow mode pace aka laid-back. The host do provide us with plenty of the "special" chewy bread in called Injera. Injera or Taita is a pancake-like bread made out from Teff Flour. The table that I am seated, my friends and I ordered these: Yebeg Siga Alitcha ~ lamb Doro Wot ~ chicken Meat Combination ~ Minchetabush and gomen Besega Yebeg Alitcha, Siga wot, Bozena shiro The rest of the dishes I cant recall. All the entrees include Injera, Tomato Fit-Fit, Tomato Salad or the choice of any dishes in the Vegetarian menu. Since its a communal type of eating, the people at my table indeed enjoyed their experiences and the food. We are the only guests at my table who finish our dishes from the communal plate at the end of that evening. If only the entrees comes with a larger portion I would come for more. For now, I would rather check some other places in Colorado that offers Ethiopian dishes.
(3)Peter M.
Way to go Yelpers! I tried this place out after reading my fellow Yelper's reviews, and it was great! What a gem! I had my folks out to dinner, and there was a great deal of skepticism when I suggested Ethiopian food, as neither of my parents had ever tried it. We got the lamb, and a beef dish. It was STELLAR! I highly recommend that if you have never tried this interesting cuisine, you drop by Arada some day soon! Fantastic staff, too! Well done!
(5)Kirsten M.
I love restaurants that are set up around family-style dining. I've always found it weird when people want to go to Thai or Chinese restaurants and order their own dish for themselves instead of passing it around the table. This was officially one of the first fights I ever picked with my husband, ("Order something we BOTH like!"). Yeah, I'm demanding and high maintenance like that. The reason I bring this up is that this is one of the reasons why I love Ethiopian food. It's all served in a big tray or bowl in the center of the table with injera bread (sort of like a spongy crepe) to scoop it up. Sharing food AND I get to use my fingers? Win! I love taking adventurous friends and big groups to this restaurant. The service is fab and they go out of their way to make sure everyone has a good experience. They even brought out a special child-size bowl of food for a friend's young son without us asking. Also, Ethiopian food is very vegetarian friendly so this is a good pick if you have a mixed meat eater/vegetarian crowd. If you are new to Ethiopian food I would suggest picking a meat combo and a vegetarian combo to try both so you can see what you like without getting a huge amount of any one thing.
(4)Hollie W.
Great ethio joint! Had the veggie combo with six fantastically delicious selections. The inerja was so tasty. Only one person front of house, so service was as good as it could be for one server (aka super slow). Huge portions with plenty left over to take home. I've been to Arada's several times and while the veg combo is always good, it is a bit inconsistent.
(3)Cara G.
Yum. Things I like about Ethopian food: - fun experience (share! eat with your hands!) - new flavors, delicious spices - healthy (well, at least it seems to be) I had no idea what to order but our server was very helpful. We tried a couple combination plates full of deliciously spiced meats, lentils and other veggies. Each scoop of meat/veggies goes on top of a big, round, spongy bread (kind of like a thick crepe) that you use for scooping in place of silverware. Arada looks unassuming from the outside but is pretty roomy -- and a little funky. It had light traffic we went (random time on a week night) but lots of people came in for take-out orders. If you frequent First Fridays on Santa Fe, add Arada to your list.
(4)Evey M.
I went to Arada last night with a group of 5 others. The place was completely empty at 7 pm. I don't know if it is like that frequently or if it was because outside it was 10 degrees; regardless, the place was a ghost town. A quaint, clean, and warm ghost town. Every reviewer before me that has told you Arada has slow service is 100% correct. Even on a night when there are only 6 people in the restaurant things are still at a snails pace; however, the service is attentive and thorough. Luckily for me I had read up on the yelp reviews before going and knew to expect the slow service. One of my friends and of course myself are vegetarians so we got a seperate plate from the 4 non-veggies. We tried: - Vegetable Sambusa: which is beyond delicious - Yate Alitcha - Yatukilt Alitcha - Yemiser Wot (by far my favorite, next time I will order this dish as an entree size) - Gomen - Injera Bread - Tomato Fit-Fit Every single thing on the plate was delicious. It's spicy and vinegary so if you don't like both of those then this place is not for you. They also have mango juice as a main beverage and a full bar. If you are looking for something a little different then your normal everyday fare that won't cost you an arm and a leg try Arada.
(4)Jonny D.
A consistently great time. You can get messy with your friends because you're eating some absolutely irresistible food with your hands and a thin layer of sour-in-a-good-way injera bread. I love Ethiopian cuisine and this place is the best Ethiopian I've had in the US. I really like how Ethiopian has a knack for making a vegetarian food hearty and delicious, so I'd recommend getting the Vegetarian Combo and then supplementing it with some of the Doro Wot, if you're into the whole meat thing. The one complaint I can register is that the service here, while friendly and engaging, seems completely unaware of the necessity of keeping me well-watered. For a place with spicy food, you'd expect to have large glasses and attention paid to when you empty them out. Not so here--small goblets that can go minute upon minute without refills (I've been compelled to grab a nearby pitcher and refill myself on several occasions). Apart from that, this is in my estimation among the best restaurants in Denver.
(4)Lacey M.
Arada was my first Ethiopian food experience, and I wasn't that impressed. It was pretty good food, I suppose, but I probably won't go back. I went with my sister, Natalie M., and her daughter on a Sunday night for dinner. We were one of only 2 tables in the whole restaurant. That being said, the service was REALLY slow. The 1 lady working the front of the house seemed to be more focused on the T.V. then on giving good service. Since 2 of us were meat-eaters, and 2 vegetarians, we got 2 separate platters for the table. I really liked the bread it was served with/on, to use as your utensil...kind of a fun experience. I ordered one of the meat combos, that came with 4 different selections. I wasn't exactly sure which one was which, but do know that the one lamb dish was very delicious. Everything else was just okay. The sides were nothing to write home about either. I was wishing for a lot more flavor...with pretty much everything on that giant platter. I'm definitely glad I went, and was able to finally try Ethiopian food...but left a little disappointed. Not only with the service and food, but also with the price...little too pricey for not that great of food.
(3)Chandra W.
Here's the deal--I don't think that anyone can argue that the food isn't yummy. Ethiopian flavors are incredibly warm and comforting even if it's your first time trying it. I mean, who doesn't love spiced beef (sorry vegetarians--but it is pretty good) wrapped in fried dough (beef sambusa). PLUS, you get to eat with your hands!!! Not "I'm-eating-with-my-fingers-cuz-I'm-eating-finger-Âfood" noshing with my hands. I'm talking, unadulterated, full-on hand-to-mouth yumminess. Also, unlike previous reviews, the service here was fabulous. Very attentive and helpful. I'm deducting a star because of the price. While exotic flavors sometimes warrant a slightly higher-than-expected price tag, the quantity of food for the price was a bit of a letdown. After ordering an app and two entrees with two Ethiopian beers, I can say that I was barely full--granted I steered clear of over eating the injera (delicious but takes up valuable real-estate in my tummy). The entrees were minimal--perhaps I expected too much but I really thought that I might be able to have doggy-bag breakfast, but no such luck. Overall: yummy. soul-satisfying, adventerous, albeit a bit small, but TOTALLY worth a second (and third) trip.
(4)Doug Y.
To skip this overly wordy review skip to the last paragraph. Nice server albeit his clock seems to run at a slower pace than the rest of the world's. I went with a large group of people (13) and not knowing the logisitics of eating Ethiopian food with a large group I learned a few things. Arada's menu has pricing for one person or two people for each of their entree dishes which includes two veg. sides from the veg. entrees menu. What wasn't explained before we ordered is that all our food would be served on two large platters divided 6 orders on each and one vegan plate for our veggie guy. We ordered one of the special higher priced multi-combos to sample several items (Arada Six Combo) and also a Doro Wot (chicken) before realizing that six of us would be sharing each other's orders. After an indeterminable amount of time the two large-ish (emphasis on the -ish) platters were brought out with a smattering of veggie type piles placed around the rim (way fewer than what I perceived 12 per platter would amount to by the way (2 sides times six orders). there were maybe 4 small piles. Then the dumping of the little bowls began (chawan or rice bowl sized). I know that two of the people on our platter ordered the Doro Wot but the portions for all the entrees were all the same size except that there was a hard boiled egg in the center of the chicken (maybe they figured they were giving us a whole bird that way). The injera was cold and some of it wet and we had to wait bread/utensil-less and ask several times for more. The couple across from us ordered Sambusas near the end of the long wait for our dinner and did indeed get them... after we were pretty much finished eating (the sambusas were by the way the most flavorful thing I tasted that night). If you're dining with a big party here, know that your food comes on a communal platter so order entrees to share, you'll eat with injira (sponge textured slightly sour pancake shaped bread) as your only utensil, it'll be pretty pricey if you're a big eater, and forget it if you're in a hurry, this is the exact opposite of fast food. Adequately tasty but, Arada's? I think I'll pass.
(3)Jeramyn F.
This is about how our dinner went: Enter restaurant, find a seat, wait 20 minutes, no water no greeting, no service Waiter comes, order two coffees, waters and an assortment of food wait 10 minutes, go find someone to ask for water again, get some water in a few minutes wait for 10 minutes we are out of water again we again need to go find someone to get water wait for 10 minutes more, finally the food comes, out of water again coffee still hasn't arrived eat some relatively flavorless food with bones in the sauces (bite carefully) wait 20 more minutes ask about coffee and find that "it is still brewing it takes a while to brew" wait 10 minutes finally the coffee arrives luke warm and over brewed Finish eating, wait for bill, leave disappointed and hungry the portions were tiny, going home to have dinner =(
(1)D M.
Consistently the best Ethiopian restaurant in the Denver area. And this is coming from someone who lived in Ethiopia for years
(4)Yona S.
This is the first time I've ever had Ethiopian food, and I actually consulted Yelp to decide which Ethiopian restaurant to try. This one had the best reviews and so I went. It's nestled in the middle of the Santa Fe art district, which is awesome if you want to make a night of it, or if you want to try to get a table during a First Friday. Our waiter was so adorable and nice. I just loved him so much because of his dazzling smile, his polite respectful demeanor and his patient willingness to help us decide what to order. I'm writing this for the audience who has never tried Ethiopian food. If you like spicy, you'll love this fare. I ordered something that was a sampler of two meats and three side dishes of my choice. The gal I was with ordered just one thing and it came with one meat and two sides. I highly recommend the sampler because who wants to try three things when you can try five? The tomato salad (two types) was hands down the best thing there. It was spicy, but not the way a fresh jalapeno pepper is spicy, haunting your mouth for hours afterward. It was an enjoyable spicy that hits you and then you're ok (kind of like Wasabe). And it was so flavorful without tasting like it was doused in salt! There are some familiar foods on the menu as well. Lentils is a staple, and their lentils were wonderful. The chicken was probably my least favorite because everything else was so good. The ground beef was awesome and again, very spicy. They also let me try a traditional Ethiopian Honey Wine. It was delicious and I could tell by smelling it that it was way more alcoholic than most wines. It was sweet and thick and potent but very delicious. I didn't go for a full glass, only because I was afraid to drive afterward! Another thing when you eat Ethiopian food is that you have to prepare yourself to experience something totally different than what you are used to. Their bread is not like bread. It's more like a spongy tortilla, simply meant to be a utensil for the rest of the food, since forks and spoons are not automatically offered. Another thing is, that you are not going to get a meal that serves 3 when you order an entree (even though between the two of us we only ate half of what we ordered and we each just ordered one entree). If you order the chicken you won't get half a chicken. So just keep that in mind and you won't be disappointed. We even met the manager (not sure if she's the owner too?) and she was very gracious, humble and really wanted to talk to her customers. I just loved the experience and I will definitely be back.
(4)Scott B.
My favorite restaurant in Denver, and has been for years since way back when it was in that tiny little space on Coflax. We've become friends with the owner over all that time so it's hard for me to give an objective review. I don't understand the complaints about small portion size- we typically get the veggie combo for two, and are usually unable to finish it and have to be rolled out the door on gurneys. And I can eat. If you're a vegetarian, you need to get acquainted with Arada. You can have a fantastic, varied, healthy, delicious meal without seeing a single piece of tofu. One of the things I find most interesting about Arada is how the seasoning in the dishes is always changing a bit. The Yemiser Wot went through a period for a while where it had a really strong cinnamon flavor, the spiciness level on the shiro is always going up and down, the greens are sometime really tart and vinegary like southern greens, and sometimes really smooth. She's always tinkering with everything. Makes things interesting. Also, try the Ethiopian stout (if it's in stock- it's not always available). Interestingly sweet and refreshing. A really nice beer that suits the food perfectly.
(5)Alden C.
Great Ethiopian food! Yummy! Be prepared to eat with your hands! That is how it is done!
(5)Cassie G.
We've been going to this restaurant for ten years and always pick it for any type of nice celebration dinner. Tonight we went for an end of the summer feast before me and the brother start up school again! We always get the Vegetarian Delight for 2 and the Super Arada for 2 with an extra order of Alitcha. It is always too much food for the four of us to finish but it is always amazing. The owner and waiters are always very nice and tonight I had the Mango Juice which was wonderful as well! Definitely a must try for anybody looking for a great meal in Denver!
(5)Andrew O.
Usually I venture out to east Colfax for my Ethiopian food, but I finally decided to try Arada, which is much closer to home. Despite the restaurant being almost completely empty for dinner (only one other party), I was pleasantly surprised with the friendly service and great food. One area that Arada surpasses my usual favorite spots is speed of food. I've been to some Ethiopian places and waited almost an hour for my food, this food was out in about 5 minutes. Food quality was great, and the red lentils in particular were nice and spicy. If you've never had Ethiopian food I highly recommend it, if only for the novelty. A lot of the dishes are almost like baby food, and you eat it by pinching it up with a thin, spongy sourdough-y bread called Injera. There is no silverware, you just use the delicious bread as your only utensil. Not recommended for germaphobes or awkward first dates.
(4)David C.
I've eaten here a few times, and all of my visits were a lot of fun, so I definitely head here when I want good Ethiopian food. As most will tell you, food is eaten with injera, the spongy bread, rather than a fork or chopsticks, so you will be eating with your hands. There's a really nice mix of meats and vegetarian dishes on the menu, and it's very easy to get a good combination of things to try. I recommend the combination platters so that you get a taste of many different items. When they bring out your meal in a giant pottery-style dish, it honestly doesn't look like very much food. But as you eat bite after bite of food wrapped in the injera, it will fill you up without much trouble. I enjoyed the lamb and seasoned beef (Minchet) amongst the meats, and the Vegetarian Delight had several tasty things on it along with the tomato salads that come standard. The greens (Gomen) were my favorite, and the potato dish was good too. I'm not much for spicy food, but there's plenty here for those that are. When you want a really enjoyable meal that's different from pretty much anything you've ever had, give Arada a try.
(4)Hoang L.
Pretty awesome... only my second time having Ethiopian food and I'll def come back. The portions are pretty large, so come with a big appetite. Great spot for groups as it's fun to share and try a bit of everything.
(4)Nicole W.
We love this place! We hadn't been in a while, but we always think of it! The wait staff is definitely quicker than they used to be, the bread supply is more prolific and my water glass definitely stayed full! The presentation of the meal has also changed a bit. Instead of bringing all the food in little bowls and then putting it on your plate, they bring the plate all set up! They also bring rolls of bread instead of having it hanging over the plate. That was really great! My hubby and I split the super arada - definitely enough food for 2 when you order for 1. Our friend ordered the veggie delight and she was pleased with her choices as well. The food was fabulous as always!
(4)Adriana A.
I don't remember what the waiter said any of our food was called, but I 'do' remember everything was deeeelicious. It was my friend's first time venturing into the excting and spicey arena of Ethiopian cuisine. He was a good sport and wanted to go full steam ahead, so we started off on our adventure with some Ethiopian honey wine and some Ethiopian beer. After quenching our thirst, our waiter talked up a meat and vegetable dish that featured lamb, lentils an array of beans and some yummy pork scoop that all came nessled on a very thin pancake-like bread. The same bread was also rolled up neatly around the plate so it could be torn off and used to grab tastes for your mouth. Yes, contrary to Miss Manner's etiquette, forks and knives are 'not' allowed at the table, so you want to make sure to wash your hands before the food arrives!
(5)Andrea P.
I would give it five if the meat servings were a bit bigger. BUT I do like this place a lot! Yummy food, authentic menu and authentic service (yes, that does mean it's a bit slower than American restaurants, but it is supposed to be!). I'm going again this weekend!! And bringing friends this time.
(4)Todd S.
I'm a little confused about some of the negative reviews below, particularly those mentioning small main/meat portions, and I wonder if people writing reviews are just less familiar with Ethiopian food. I'm no expert, but Arada reminded me a lot of my favorite Ethiopian restaurant in Portland (Queen of Sheba), and I'd be happy to go back next time I'm in Denver. In general, though, expect to sample from several small dishes that cross a good spectrum of flavor, not just meat plus injera (the delicious sourdough-like, spongy flatbread). Anyhow, I wouldn't say the waiter was slow -- we got our water, drinks, and food all in good, if relaxed, time. There was one screw-up on one of the sides, but they brought out the right one soon after. The waiter certainly was very nice and explained things for us. The food was quite tasty, though I can't remember the names now. We both got meat entrees and opted to choose from the vegetarian menu for "sides". We both liked the lentils and split peas. My wife got the spicy chicken with the egg (good), and I got what looked like ground beef with cottage cheese -- except way more tasty than I realize that sounds (trust me). I also had the Ethiopian beer, just to try it. It was surprisingly sweet (malty), but I enjoyed it with the food.
(4)Elizabeth W.
Great food and service. The place is open and inviting. I have a veggie combo and was full until the same time the next day. I tried the honey wine, and it was a little too strong alcohol tasting for me. But it was the first time I had it, so I am certainly going to try it again. The location is great, and I sure it is really a great place during the art walk. We didn't have to wait for a table, even at dinner time on a Friday and the restaurant was comfortably full, but not crowded. Certainly a place in the art district to try.
(4)Heather T.
I'm no expert on Ethiopian food, but am a big fan from living in DC - and have tried in in Edmonton as well. Adored this place - best meat dishes I have ever eaten and the vegetarian dishes were excellent, as well. Four of us went, so we ordered two different sampler platters - I always order Ethiopian this way and have never been disappointed. We had a great time and introduced some new eaters to Ethiopian. Overall, friendly service - but you do have to really advocate for water, amazing spicy comfort food (even if you've never tried it before - you can tell it is food with SOUL), and a great experience with friends. Messy, but delicious!
(4)Jelena W.
I can't say that I had high expectations the first time I tried Ethiopian cuisine. Actually, I couldn't really picture what it was- a less tactful friend, referring to the famine conditions in Africa, opined, "Ethiopian food? What is that- they serve you 30 grams of food, then take it away and tell you that the American aid money all went to promote abstinence so you don't get to eat today?" On the contrary- this Ethiopian cuisine is spectacular, and if you can't figure out what the words on the menu mean, either ask the very friendly employees or just order it anyway- it's bound to be good. There are plenty of choices, and each that I've tried has been excellent. It seems like lots of folks stop in here after the First Friday Art Walk for a quick, yummy, and extra inexpensive post-free snacks nosh.
(4)Clint J.
Went here for a friend's birthday. There were 8 of us at the table, and we each ordered an entree. ALL the entrees came on a single platter. Each "entree" was in a wee cup. I could've eaten all 8 entrees myself. You pay for an entree and get a tapa. Unacceptable. Let us now discuss the Ethiopian honey wine. I think they pissed in it. Tasted like no honey wine I ever had, and that includes a half dozen based on authentic Ethiopian recipes. Server was unsmiling, discourteous, and morose. Bread is supposed to be spongy, but not damp and doughy. Food tasted okay, although each entree was a mere 3 forkfuls. I would like to try Ethiopian food again, but I won't be going back to Arada.
(2)betsy s.
I have tried five or six Ethiopian restaurants in Denver, and I think that Arada is - hands down - the best! As far as I can tell, each restaurant has their own (closely guarded?) recipe for injera, and Arada's has the perfect texture and "sour-ness." Arada also appears to be the only place in town that serves tomato fit-fit - a mixture of small pieces of injera, diced tomato, onion and jalapenos in a vinegar-based dressing. I don't much like tomatos and I don't much like jalapenos, but I LOVE tomato fit-fit. Go figure! I am also highly addicted to their Kitffo - finely ground lean beef with spiced Ethiopian butter and house-made cottage cheese. YUM!
(5)Hope A.
Nice little restaurant in the Santa Fe arts district, which doesn't have many good places to eat. The service was prompt and friendly. They did their best to accommodate my husband's dietary needs, he has an allergy to garlic. It's hard to find a place that will accommodate garlic issues.
(4)y k.
I have to say, my experience with Arada was not the best. Now I should preface this by saying that I love, love, LOVE ethiopian food. I've had many excellent meals at two of the places on East Colfax (Ethiopian Restaurant and Abyssinia, I think). So I was very excited to try this place, since it's right in my neighborhood, much as I knew it would be extremely dangerous to discover a delicious Ethiopian place so close to my home (dangerous on the wallet, that is). But, alas, my wallet can rest in peace. The food was fine, but, no colfax Ethiopian Restaurant. Everything was just a little blander, a little greasier, not quite as flavorful and robust. (We just got the veggie combo, which is what we always get everywhere). Not only was the food not as good, but it was a couple dollars more expensive. It's possible I just caught them on a bad day, but for now I think I'll be making the trek over to Colfax, for more reliable deliciousness.
(2)Heather C.
Good food, small portions and slow service in traditional Ethiopian Restaurant fashion.
(3)Tristan T.
Oh...My...God. I would eat this every day, if there weren't so many other things I wanted to eat on any given day.
(5)jo m.
My first time experiencing Ethiopian food here. I have seen my coworkers eat Ethiopian food before and wanted to try. After art walk, a girlfriend and I wanted to try something tasty and different so we walked past by 2 Mexican restaurant and walked into this place. This place did not look like the picture posted here. It was ugly which I was OK with it; I've figured maybe the people here focus more on the food than the ambiance. To be a good sport (this friend of mine is a vegetarian), we ordered 2 vegetarian plates ($10 each) and a glass of honey wine. The food was served on a big platter with sponge flat bread layered on the platter and her food on one side and mine on opposite side with 4 small rolled up sponge flat bread. I was extremely sad to see the food. portion was small and food served luke warm. Bread was cold. I know I am not a very cultural person but I am willing try new stuff and based on what I ate (potato vegetarian dish and something chickpea vegetarian dish (#14? #15? on menu), I will not be visiting this place again. To sum it up, the food was boring, too small of portion and over priced. Now I know why Ethiopians are skinny and poor. At the end of the meal, I promised my friend that I would take her out for a Korean dinner next week.
(2)Trevor C.
I've never before had Ethiopian food. Was attending an event in the Arts District and my wife pointed it out that we should try it out. We were not disappointed! To start, we had some Ethiopian honey wine. It's a different taste. You can definitely taste alcohol, which I am a fan of, but it is sweetened with a taste of honey as well. Not sure how else to describe it, but you will definitely not find this in many other places so give it a try. Second, we met the owner. She is such a nice woman. I asked her what her favorite was and she said, "Everything. I am the cook, so I love everything!" We enjoy vegetarian dishes and as such went with the Yatakilt Alicha for two. It was delectable. The bread is something I've never had before. She served the dish on a pizza pan that was covered with this spongy bread and then topped with four rolls of bread that surround the mixture of tomatoes, jalapeños, potatoes, carrots, and a hummus type mixture. I wrapped everything I could fit into the first roll of bread and it was the sweetest taste I would have never imagined! As she told us, the bread that everything sits on top of is the best. It collects all of these flavor a from the dish during your meal. Now for the ambience. She plays a really happy Ethiopian mix of music that made me smile the entire time. She also has a full bar stocked with many liquors that would please anyone's palate. Check this one out!
(5)Alice G.
Tucked in a hole in the wall on Santa Fe in the art district, this little restaurant is a good option for dining, but be patient! The service in here is a little slow and disjointed, but you will be VERY pleased with your food! We order the super Arada combo and you get everything you need. Delish. The honey wine is always fun...and funky enough we always switch to beer or wine after the first glass. One thing is for certain, you will feel you left the country for a few hours!
(3)Jake L.
Arada just became one of my top 3 favorite restaurants in Denver. This place is seriously delicious. The Ethiopian dining experience is a unique one. Personally, I enjoy eating without silverware off of a shared plate.. it's a lot of fun! And if you haven't tried it, I would highly recommend letting your hair back and getting playful with it. Holding that piece of bread with that perfectly spiced food may just set you free. Every vegetarian item on the menu is 5-star worthy. The flavors are unique, explosive, and offer something you won't find anywhere but here. The Yater Alitcha (yellow split peas) were a personal favorite, although it was almost impossible to decide. The day after my first experience at Arad and I am already dying to go back.
(5)Doug H.
Enjoyed my meal at Arada. The dishes were very tasty and spiced to taste different and distinct, unlike other places where the stews are all the same but they just have different proteins or vegetables. We had the chicken, lamb, steamed greens and chickpeas (sorry I don't remember the Ethiopian names!) The servings could have been larger too. We had four dishes for four of us and we wiped that plate clean. The injera was so-so. They don't give you enough and it's cold, so it's not that great. I can't put my finger on it but I like the injera at Ethiopian Restaurant more. Service is slow as others have written, but it wasn't too bad. I wish the tables were larger and the chairs more comfortable. The four of us were squeezed into such a small round cocktail table; Ethiopian food should give you ample room to spread out!
(4)Sam S.
I'm an extremely picky eater when it comes to ethnic food and a group of colleagues want to come here. I was extremely hesitant but I must say I am so very glad that I decided to go. We ordered a few appetizers which were very tasty and 2 sample platters: 1 vegetarian and 1 meat. There was plenty of food to feed 3 men and 1 lady. The lady who served us was also the owner. She had been in business for 15 years and now we know why so long. The food was great and she was extremely sweet. I also recommend trying the Ethiopian Beer. It was a heavy Amber beer that was very tasty as well. I would absolutely go back!
(5)Dave T.
I thought this place was pretty good. A good starting point for the Santa Fe Art Walk. I enjoyed it. I have tried a few other Ethiopian restaurants around the country and found them to be better, but am certainly no expert on what is truly authentic. Definitely worth a visit, though I will visit others to compare, and update. Dave
(3)Lindy L.
Hmmm. A weird experience, which was especially disappointing because it was my boyfriend's first Ethiopian food experience. We started with the honey wine, and that's when the weirdness started. The wine was opaque, smelled funny, and tasted vinegary. When we asked our server about the wine, she said that honey wine is only sweet when it's first opened and that most people think that it's too sweet then. She did bring us new glasses, and that wine looked, smelled, and tasted good, but she didn't even check the wine in our first set of glasses. We saw our still-full wine glasses sitting on the bar at the end of the night. I really hope that the wine didn't get served to other people. Our server seemed to think that we weren't familiar with honey wine, although I've actually had it a number of times. And it doesn't take an expert to taste vinegar. The food part of the evening was just fine. We went with the Arada Special, which was pretty good overall and included three meat dishes and three vegetarian dishes. Two of the vegetarian dishes were disappointingly bland though, the yater alitcha (yellow split peas) and the yemiser wot (lentils) The food here was served in an interesting way. The server brought out all of the dishes in small bowls, and told us what each dish was as she emptied it onto the platter of injera. I really liked that. Usually, the platter of injera is brought out with all of the dishes already placed on top of the injera, without any explanation about which dish is which. The pieces of injera for us to use for scooping were placed along the outside of the platter, which is a prettier way of presentation than the usual basket of injera on the side, although they didn't provide many extra pieces for scooping. We wanted more injera, and it took awhile for us to get the server's attention, even though there were only two other couples in the restaurant. For people who've never had Ethiopian food, the dishes that you order are placed on top of a huge, communal piece of injera that's the size of a platter. Injera is spongy and slightly sour tasting, in a good way. Maybe tangy is a better word--like sourdough bread, but different. You eat the dishes by breaking up another piece of injera and using that to scoop up the food, like you do with a tortilla. Ethiopian food is usually really flavorful because of the spices used. Back to the experience at Arada: at least thirty minutes had passed since our server last checked on us, and we wanted our check. We had a hard time getting our server's attention to ask for the check because she was talking on the phone. Even after we told her that we didn't have much more time because we were trying to catch a movie, she still continued talking on the phone and took a long time to return the credit card. We didn't bother trying to take the leftovers because that would have created an even bigger delay. Given the spoiled wine, a couple of bland dishes, and the very slow time taking care of our check, despite being politely told that we had time pressure and despite an empty restaurant, the experience was a 2. A final weird thing to note is that I'd tried going here two other times before, but wasn't able to because they weren't open, even though I went on days and at times when they were supposed to be open. In retrospect, that seems like a sign.
(2)Paula H.
I walk by here once a week and finally dropped in. Glad I did. The vegetarian sambusa was a delicious start followed by the yemiser wot which is perfectly spicy! Yes, the ambiance is in the dive category. Which I don't mind. I did enjoy my meal, and would give that a 4. Ambiance rated at 2.
(3)Julio T.
I wonder if the reason Denver has so many Ethiopian people and restaurants is because Denver has a similarly high elevation. Ethiopia's largest city, Addis Ababa, is actually 7,726 feet in elevation, even higher than Denver and sits on plains near a mountainous region just like we do. I'm not sure if that's the reason for Denver's large Ethiopian population, but I am glad they have opened up places like Arada and shared their country's fine food with all of us. My friend and I got the vegetarian plate and enjoyed every bite of the yatakilt alitcha, fosolio and gomen piled upon pieces of spongy injera bread. The yatakilt alitcha was especially good with it's huge potato chunks and tender cabbage pieces soaked in a warm, gingery sauce. The greens were hearty and spicy and the green beans had that unique sour/savory/spicy/sweet flavor combination that only seems to be available at Ethiopian restaurants. Arada is certainly a bit more higher priced that other Ethiopian restaurants in town, averaging about $15 per person when many places have it for about $10-12 with about the same quality. But the food was still quite excellent and the service was very attentive, with our server quickly refilling our waters and baskets of injera. I've always enjoyed living the "Mile-High" life in Denver. I am even more grateful if our elevation and mountainous geography is responsible for bringing the warm and generous Ethiopian people and their fantastic cuisine to our city.
(4)Kelly A.
I liked this place! I'm new to Ethiopian food. Portion size on veg dishes seemed smaller than I've had at the two other Ethiopian restaurants I've been to. Chicken was a little dry and chewy, but the spicy sauce made up for it. The injera was great! The iced tea was fantastic!
(4)Gena L.
A friend and I went here after a run for some post-run carbs. We are both Ethiopian cuisine fans, so we decided on Arada. It was not very busy, so the service was pretty attentive. We ordered the Vegetarian Sampler, which was really lovely. They were very generous with the injera, giving us multiple refills without delay. For those of you who haven't tried Ethiopian food, I really must encourage you to do so. They say if you like Indian cuisine, you will love Ethiopian cuisine, and Ethiopian cuisine is better for you and very social.
(4)Heather M.
It was fine. Higher priced than places on Colfax, and not as tasty.
(2)Matt D.
I stopped by Arada for lunch, trying it for the first time. I've had ethiopian many times before, but this was one of the best (and least expensive) ethiopian means I've ever had. I ordered the spicy chicken lunch item, and it was delicious. Not too spicy, just very flavorful, and the side tomato dish was tart and refreshing. The injera was a bit cold, but I think that's how it's supposed to be served, and it tasted fine. The owner served me herself -- they've been in business 17 years, and was very hospitable and friendly. Even gave me a walkthrough of different Ethiopian beers.
(5)Amy S.
So, I'll start out by saying that I love Ethiopian food! I have had it more times than I can count on my fingers and toes combined, and at several different locations. I'll start with the meal. I ordered honey wine, which was decent, but very unlike the other honey wines I have had before. This wine was cloudy and a brighter yellow than I am familiar with. It was also pricey for the amount served. I had the spicy chicken entree, and was also allowed to sample the lamb. The lamb was down right gross. Not tender at all, and not very flavorful. The chicken was okay, but I really wasn't impressed, it was tough/chewy, but the flavors were spot on. The tomato fit-fit and tomato salads were delicious! I think the weirdest part of the meal was that the injera was mushy and sticky. I kept wiping my fingers and particles of napkin were ripping off and getting stuck to my fingertips. Very odd... I've never seen that before. Also, the atmosphere is not very pleasing. The tables were covered in plastic that was not only unsightly, but also annoying. The bathroom had two toilets in it, side by side, with no stalls/barriers, and one toilet was blocked off with duct tape. So in conclusion, I won't be back.
(2)Masha B.
Nice! Lovely meal, delicious food, veggie-friendly menu...Ethiopian beer to try. Very gracious owner, nice ambiance.... I saw one of the reviewers mentioned the quirky toilet situation. Please, I don't go to a restaurant to sit in the bathroom. The food is great and that's what counts. I shall be back for more!
(5)Kate C.
One star for ambiance. Let's just say, I expected more. I had bought the Abssynia Groupon and checked out that place--my expectations of it were low because of the ambiance, but, for a total whole in the wall, zomg the food was sooo sooo delish that two weeks later I was craving Ethiopian food again. Instead of going to the same place, I thought I'd try Arada. I expected more because it had more reviews, looked cute, and is down in the art district. The honey wine was decent (I didn't think it was too sweet). My guy and I ordered the Meat Combo plate for two. Unfortunately, I couldn't do the injera (gluten), so our server brought me out a plate of rice with veggies that looked like it had been cooked a week ago. The vegetables were gross, dry, overcooked, overall just mealy. I can totally just eat the meat and Tomato Fit-Fit, I thought. Wrong--all four of the options on the platter were overcooked and the meat extremely dry. There was nothing special about the flavors, to the extent that my boyfriend and I repeated quietly back and forth "This is terrible! Terrible to the extent that I don't even want to eat it!!" As soon as we exited the restaurant, we both exclaimed, "THAT WAS TERRIBLE!" I left full, and completely unsatisfied, wishing I'd just gone back to Abssynia. Even though the ambiance is less-than-desired, the food at Abssynia knocks Arada out of the water. You'll also be surrounded by Ethiopian peeps chatting up in their native language. The only thing good about the food at Arada was the Tomato Fit-Fit, appropriately seasoned, however that is not enough to get me back in the door, so... I will not be back! But I can't wait to satisfy my hankering for Ethiopian with a visit to Abssynia again.
(1)Russell G.
This is a cool little spot in the Santa Fe district. Came here with the girl because a few weeks prior, we arrived early for a gallery show and found this place to be a good fit for a drink. The guys next to us at the bar were munching on a super Arada and I knew I had to return! We ordered a super Arada and a meat combo. The plates are the size of a tray so prepare for a lot of food. Everything was flavorful and I love the wraps used for bread and your utensils. Yes, you eat with your hands! The bread alternative is light and fluffy but I cannot identify exactly what it is. Anyways, it compliments the food very well and my girl and I had a great time eating with our hands. You just have to own it! I appreciated the experience very much. Out of your norm and a good time. Two people can easily share one entree here. Worth checking out!
(4)Kell R.
Awesome! Delicious! Gored Gored! I love coming here! Fantastic food paired with great prices make this place perfect for a night out whether it be for a first date to an ordinary night out!
(4)Stephen W.
I love this place. The food is fantastic and atmosphere isn't bad either. The price is quite reasonable. It can be slow if there are a lot of people in there, and they won't take a reservation on first friday, which is a great day to go.
(5)Alicia J.
My boyfriend ordered the Doro Wot and I ordered one of the beef specials. When we only saw one big plate coming out, I thought, "Oh, good, one of our dinners is ready!" Not so. We were apparently splitting the main plate, which kinda peeved me, based on the price of the meal. Together, we each got four side dishes with our main entrees. We were given so little of each side dish that it literally looked like someone had given us a teaspoon of each. Maybe a tablespoon, but not a heaping one. It was shocking how little we got considering price and the fact that we're talking about some beans and spice. What's cheaper to make? But, the most unbelievable part of the meal was my boyfriend's Doro Wot. The waitress overturned his bowl onto the plate and out fell a SINGLE DRUMSTICK and an egg. The waitress even pointed it out as she told us what was what and said, "Your drumstick and an egg." So, what it boils down to is....pay $14, get a drumstick and an egg as an entree. I don't think so. And, by the complete and utter emptiness of the place when we were there...no one else does, either. We walked out and won't be back.
(1)MM M.
Horrible service. Mediocre food. We went on First Friday for my sister's birthday. We got there at 5:30pm and there were no other people in the restaurant. We had 6 adults, one toddler in a highchair (who actually eats a lot) and a baby in a stroller in our group, along with a bunch of birthday presents. The waitress pushed two small square tables together with space for the 6 adults. When we asked if we could have another table so that there would also be room for the toddler and stroller next to the table, she got really annoyed and said they were going to be too busy. So we just pushed the extra table over ourselves and then worried that they were going to spit in our food or something. It never got full in there while we were there, so it never came up again. But it definitely soured our experience. The rest of the service was also poor. She rarely came around for drink refills, and we had to flag her down to get more injera. She didn't seem to care whether we liked the food or not. As for the food itself, I'm a bit of a snob about Ethiopian food. Having lived in LA and then the Bay area, I've had my share of really, really good Ethiopian food. There was definitely no comparison between Arada's food and our favorite places in California. The meat dishes were chewy and all the food just lacked the normal rich combination of spices (not necessarily hot spicy) that I love about Ethiopian food. Overall, we will not be returning here. I'll have to try some of the other Ethiopian restaurants in Denver and hope to find some place good.
(2)Kathi C.
I've been to Ethiopian in several large cities, but because of where I live and work, I only get to enjoy it about once a year. For that reason, I usually get the sampler to try everything at a new place. I ordered the meat combination (4 kinds of meat) and the vegetable combination (all 6 kinds of vegetables), the vegetable sambusa, and a glass of honey wine. What can I say? Just delicious. This place was up there with some of the other Ethiopian restaurants I've tried in other cities. Now I want to try the other Ethiopian restaurants in Denver too. Yum!
(4)Jonathan D.
Very strange. I cant seem to find my review that I wrote on Arada. I will repost and I guess see if this one mysteriously disappears. If I my other review decides to magically show up again I will delete this one. Just to recap, if you are looking for the worst and I mean absolute worst service in not only all of Denver but I would say probably north of the equator, then please go here on any night of the week and have dinner. Just to give you an idea of how bad the service is, I am soooooooo lazy I have used Yelp for 3+ years and I have never created an account. One night at this place made me so angry that my lazy butt created an account, sat at my computer and wrote a review just to see it go missing 5 days later. I am on a serious mission to let the world know that this place is by far a giant waste of time. Cheers
(1)Alice G.
Tucked in a hole in the wall on Santa Fe in the art district, this little restaurant is a good option for dining, but be patient! The service in here is a little slow and disjointed, but you will be VERY pleased with your food! We order the super Arada combo and you get everything you need. Delish. The honey wine is always fun...and funky enough we always switch to beer or wine after the first glass. One thing is for certain, you will feel you left the country for a few hours!
(3)