Arada Ethiopian Restaurant

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The Arada Gebeya, one of the great spice markets of Africa, is located in central Addis Ababa. And now its namesake restaurant, Arada Ethiopian Restaurant, has brought the true flavor of Ethiopian cuisine to the center of Santa Fe Drive. The menu is simple but authentic, offering a dozen-odd entrees all carefully prepared and beautifully spiced, and served with – and sometimes on – injera, a slightly sour, squishy, soft, white flat bread made from fermented teff that acts as side dish, silverware and plate all at the same time.

Cuisine(s): African, Ethiopian

Hours: Sun,Tue,Wed,Thu,Fri,Sat 11:30am-2pm, Sun,Tue,Wed,Thu,Fri,Sat 5pm-10pm

Price: $, $$
Payment Types: All Major Credit Cards

Features: Takeout, Private Party, Catering, Vegetarian Friendly

Serving: Dinner, Lunch
Alcohol: Full bar

Reservations: Accepted, Recommended on Weekends

Parking: Street

Valentine's Day Special

Daily from Tue., February 14 until Sun., February 19

Dinner for two, a bottle of wine, appetizer and dessert for $60.

2008 | Best African Restaurant

The Arada Gebeya, one of the great spice markets of Africa, is located in central Addis Ababa. And now its namesake restaurant, Arada, has brought the true flavors of Ethiopian cuisine to the center of Denver, introducing a flock of customers to... More >
2007 | Best African Restaurant

Last year, Arada moved out of its home on East Colfax and into a small, comfortable space on Santa Fe surrounded by taquer�as and art galleries, in just the right area for catching hungry adventurers looking for an interesting dinner on a Saturday n... More >

Westword Reviews and News

Arada

By Jason Sheehan | Thu, August 16, 2007

When I reviewed Arada last summer ("Stranger in a Strange Land," June 29, 2006), Ethiopian food was still new to me. Somehow, I'd managed to miss this incredible, uncorrupted African mother cuisine for years — even here in Denver, where African cu... More >
The Rest of Denver

By Jason Sheehan | Thu, April 05, 2007

By Thursday, the calls and e-mails had already begun -- the complaints, the disputes, the polite thank-yous from winners and strange, ominous silences from those shut out of the Best of Denver 2007. In the interest of democracy and spirited debate... More >
Stranger in a Strange Land

By Jason Sheehan | Thu, June 29, 2006

It had taken me almost four years to get here, to this small, comfortable storefront surrounded by taquerías and art galleries, in just the right area for catching hungry adventurers looking for an interesting dinner on a Saturday night. Arada Res... More >
Check, Please!

By Kyle Wagner | Thu, February 15, 2001

Q:About a year ago, Westword raved about an Ethiopian restaurant. Is it still worthy? A:Denver has a surprising number of Ethiopian eateries, and Arada Ethiopian Restaurant (3504 East Colfax Avenue, 303-329-3344) remains one of my favorites. It’s... More >
Mouthing Off

By Kyle Wagner | Thu, May 06, 1999

Wot's happening: Arada Restaurant (see review above) isn't the only Ethiopian eatery in this town that's generous with the berbere. There's also the Ethiopian Restaurant (2816 East Colfax Avenue), which has good food--it takes special pains with t... More >

User Reviews

2 User reviews

Write a Review

mfischer7

| Mon, April 12, 2010

We went to this place about a year ago and had the absolute worst service and food ever. The Ethiopian restaurants on Colfax are much friendlier, better priced, and much better quality than our parties experience at the Arada.

What do you think of this review? 0 0
One-O

| Wed, March 18, 2009

Haime is so friendly and LOVES cooking for her customers. Nothing beats great food and her smile!

What do you think of this review? 0 0

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Main Menu

Appetizers

$5.95

Beef Sambusa
(3 per order)

$5.50

Vegetable Sambusa
(3 per order)

$7.95

Azifa
whole lentils marinated with fresh garlic, onions, lemon juic and vegetable oil.

$5.95

Arada Special Hummis Dip

Entree Selections
All Entrees Include Injera, Tomato Fit-fit, Tomato Salad Or Your Choice Of Two Sides From The Vegetarian Menu

For 2 $19.50
For 1 $10.50

Doro Wot
spicy chicken stewed in red pepper sauce with an assortment of arada spices.

For 2 $19.50
For 1 $10.50

Doro Alitcha
pieces of tender chicken are seasoned with arada's unique blend

For 2 $20.95
For 1 $11.95

Siga Wot
tender beef chunks braised in a red pepper sauce with assorted spices

For 2 $20.95
For 1 $11.95

Yebeg Siga Alitcha
a mild lamb stew spiced with garlic, ginger and other spices

For 2 $22.95
For 1 $12.95

Kitffo
finely ground lean beef wirh spiced ethiopian butter and house-made cottage cheese

Vegetarian Entrees
All Served With Ingera And Tomato Salad And Tomato Fitfit

For 2 $17.95
For 1 $9.95

Yater Alitcha
yellow split peas seasoned with fresh onions, garlic and ginger

For 2 $17.95
For 1 $9.95

Yatakilt Alitcha
potatoes, carrots and cabbage with onions, fresh garlic and ginger

For 2 $17.95
For 1 $9.95

Yemiser Wot
split lentils in a red pepper sauce with assorted arada spices

For 2 $17.95
For 1 $9.95

Gomen
greens steamed and delicately seasond with fresh garlic and jalapeno peppers, and onions

For 2 $17.95
For 1 $9.95

Fosolia
green beans cooked with carrots, fresh garlic, ginger, black pepper and ethiopian spices

For 2 $17.95
For 1 $9.95

Shiro Wot
imported chick peas seasoned with fresh onions, fresh garlic, ginger and arada spices

Arada Combination Entrees
All Served With Ingera

For 2 $29.95
For 1 $15.95

Veggie Combination
a wonderful combination of yater alitcha, shiro alitcha, yaterkilt alitcha, yemiser wot, greens, shiro and green beens

For 2 $25.95
For 1 $13.95

Vegetarian Delight
a wonderful combination of our most popular vegetarian dishes (yater alitcha, shiro alitcha, yaterkilt alitcha, yemiser wot, gomen)

Side Orders
Only Available When An Entree Is Ordered

$4.00

Ethiopian House-made Cottage Cheese

$4.50

Tomato Fit-fit

$4.50

Tomato Salad

Arada Specials

For 2 $23.95
For 1 $12.95

Yetibs Fit-fit
tender strips of beef sauteed with onions, jalepeno peppers, tomatoes, spicy ethiopian butter and tossed with injera

For 2 $23.95
For 1 $12.95

Gored Gored
chopped lean beef with spiced ethiopian butter and hot chilies

For 2 $30.95
For 1 $16.95

Arada Six
a delightful combination of siga wot, yebeg siga alitcha, yater alicha, yatakelt alitcha, minchetabesh yemiser wot and greens

For 2 $23.95
For 1 $12.95

Awaze Tibs
tender beef sauteed with berbere sauce, fresh garlic, tomatoes and onion

For 2 $31.95
For 1 $16.95

Super Arada
a combination of doro wot, siga wot, yater alitcha, yemiser wot and greens, minchet

For 2 $21.95
For 1 $11.95

Minchet
finely chopped prime beef first fried in a pan with ginger, onion, cardamom and white pepper until golden, then sautéed in ethiopia's famous keywot.

For 2 $31.95
For 1 $17.95

Meat Combo
a combination of siga wot, yebeg siga alicha, minchet and awaze tibs

Looking for another city?

750 Santa Fe Drive
Denver, CO 80204

303-329-3344 | Website

More Central Denver African Restaurants >

Valentine's Day Special

Daily from Tue., February 14 until Sun., February 19

2008 | Best African Restaurant