I already love a small and cute cafe, but a cafe with an amazing menu will always take the cake! I didn't know what to expect coming here, but upon more research, Bica serves Mediterranean style eats. Lately, the menu consists of house smoked fish, ricotta toast, crudo, croquettes, sandwiches, and pickled plates. I'm a huge fan of the menu and only had two of their items so far. We had the Tuna Conserva, House Cured Lox, an Americano and an Espresso Tonic w/house made orange blossom syrup. You can taste the difference of their house smoked salmon from a regular smoked salmon in terms of the heavy smoked fishy flavor. Theirs wasn't fishy at all and the salmon was served on a thick piece of toast with cream cheese and dill. The Tuna Conserva is an albacore sandwich with roasted peppers, tapenade, arugula, and house made aioli. It was a well composed sandwich and I loved every bite! Their bread they use is noteworthy and is made from their in house baking partner, Companion Bread. Their menu changes quite often, so my visit to Bica was based upon the first week of December. I saw one the chefs going around talking to different groups and it was nice to observe and soak up the warmth in the patio. I'm looking forward to my next visit to Bica to try even more of the items I didn't get to the first time! Super invested in the great food and great vibes Bica brings out to the community! read more

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Bica was an extremely delicious and yummy cafe. I love their matcha drink and the food options they have. Although it is a bit pricy, it's high quality and taste super great! I love how they have canned sardine options! I love that - not many places in San Diego has that. Outdoor seating sometimes is hard to get, especially if you have people studying. If you wait long enough, people will leave. It may be easier to come early and get a spot. Otherwise, maybe take it to go for convenience. Parking is just okay. It's free, but a lot of the street parking is full during business hours. read more

Bica - Sardines - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

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Bica is so cuteeee y'all. The food menu changes often so it's unique dishes every time. The vibe of the place is so chill like it gives minimalist interior design inside and outside. And they also have this moped in their seating area that I was OBSESSED with. Also, the staff there are so nice and funny!! Definitely adds to the atmosphere of the place!! Food was so good too like my friends and I shared our dishes and we INHALED the food. So don't overthink it bestie, go get u some bica today!! kk bye! read more

Bica - Chai tea w/oat milk (10/10); Baba ghanoush (top dish & came with the toast); Croquette (bottom left dish) - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

STEPH JUDGEMENT: Good coffee and eats, but a little spendy. After having tried Dos Palmas Cafe the day before (see my review), I wanted to try this other place. According to my friends, it's newer and slightly fancier, with prices to match. It was indeed a nice clean new establishment, and the prices did seem higher than at Dos Palmas, but I'd say pretty in line with what these things go for nowadays. I got an Americano with cream (very good), and an Avocado tartine, which was delicious--especially the bread. There was some confusion, however, as I'd asked for it to go and they brought it out on a plate. The problem was immediately rectified, but some of the servers did seem a bit green. They have a nice side patio, too, and it was perfectly pleasant visit. I wouldn't be averse to coming back when next in the area. read more

Bica - Avocado tartine - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

Bica = best service and best coffee. Been wanting to come here for their pop ups but everyone I know raves about this place and I had to see if the hype was real. It is! They're a bit experimental so there's definitely something new for everyone to try. I also got some peppercorn as they have a little market selection inside too of food products. Thank you Bica for coming to our Avenue! read more

This is the kind of place that we need more in San Diego. They offer simple yet delicious food. We can taste the freshness and quality of the ingredients from the dishes. - Ham & cheese sandwich: nicely grilled crust with just the right amount of filling. The chili sauce and the pickled veggies make it more fun to eat the sandwich. - Mushroom tartine: seems to be a new item on their menu. I enjoyed the umami and earthy flavor of the variety of mushrooms. Could've used a touch more of seasoning. - Ricotta & peach jam tartine: the item that I was most intrigued about didn't disappoint. I love a good homemade jam- the subtle sweetness and tartness elevated the original taste of the fruit. They also gave you a generous amount of ricotta cheese. Staff is very nice. You can tell that they love working there as everyone seems to be very cheerful. They will bring the food out to your table after you order at the counter. We went on a Saturday morning just past 10 AM and got the last available table at the patio. It got pretty busy around 11 AM. They change up their menu pretty often. We will definitely come back to try other dishes! read more

Bica - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

I come here whenever I need a healthy, fresh meal on a sunny day. I even stole the Tuna Conserva recipe and have been making it at home for my lunches at work. Oopsie. The girl with the turquoise eyes is always great chat. I wish more cafes in San Diego had as much personality as this one. Alas, since they don't, I'm forced to return here. Happily! read more

New favorite place after just one visit, I can't wait to try more ‍ The food is so fresh the menu changes often (stalk their instagram to see). I ordered the ricotta toast and it was perfectly sweet with fresh peach jam. I'm always hesitant about ordering toasts because sometimes the bread is too thick, there's not enough topping, or the crust is too hard- absolutely not an issue here and I ate every bite. They had great looking sandwhiches too and a little shopping area before the cash register with salami, cheese, and sardines. I also ordered the sea salt honey latte which is perfect if you're looking for a drink that's sweetened but not too sweet. They have outdoor seating that's spread out and shaded which was nice but keep in mind there's a line out the door on weekends and if you have a big group you might want to send someone to the patio to grab a table! If you're alone or a duo you'll likely find a spot quicker. Even with a consistent line out the door I got my food and drink fast. Service was great, the staff seemed happy and free to talk (and sing lol). Also there were two young kids (im talking 10y/os) who were serving outback and they were very attentive and sweet -kudos to whoever taught them how to serve read more

Bica - Ricotta toast - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

Great ambiance, this has become my daily morning stop to get caffeinated. Haven't tried the food, but looks delicious! read more

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Sitting in the patio waiting for my orders was simply relaxing and i felt transported to some place else! The vibe is chill and laid back even though most of the tables were taken. Was it the weather? The color scheme that's totally Instagram-worthy? It was just a beautiful day for me as i spent time with my son, who came home visiting from Arizona. I didn't even know about this place until we drove here this morning. Ordering was a breeze. The guys on the front were very helpful and answered all our questions well. They were very knowledgeable with the menu. I love everything that we ordered. Please see the pictures. The salmon tasted buttery and the capers complements it well and having it on thick toasted bread slathered with cream cheese spread, top with pickled red onion. Simple dish. Balanced and satisfying. The yogurt with homemade granola, topped with figs and honey was really good. The donut with the yellow custard? Not too sweet and the perfect punctuation to my breakfast! I cannot wait to bring my hubby here and I'm sure he is going to love it too! Oh by the way, they have coffee also and lots of variety to choose from! The avocado toast is excellent! They just didn't slather it but they put a generous amount of avocado on it! According to their website, "the menu changes and they update their offerings based on what's fresh." Now that's exciting! Happy Dining!! read more

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Yummy matcha and yogurt bowl - only outside seating and street parking was easy to find on a Sunday morning read more

Bica - Seasonal yogurt bowl - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

Great new coffee shop and cafe. I stopped in for a cortado and an avocado toast and they were both delicious. The cortado was very well made and offered a terrific smoothness and richness. It had a great robust flavor. The avocado was very good. I loved that they used a local multigrain bread. It was thick and very tasty. The only thing I wish they would of done is put a better toast on it. I also liked that they used freshly sliced avocado, lots of healthy greens, and thinly sliced radishes, and seasoning. I really liked the seasoning. It was good. I would certainly order this again. They sport a nice outside patio and free WiFi. Customer service was quite friendly. read more

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The Portuguese word for "little cafe" has opened in the Normal Heights neighborhood where a hookah bar used to be located. Bica has been described as a Mediterranean-style cafe owned by two local proprietors. The space was pretty nice, highlighted by an adjacent outdoor patio with canopies strung up to provide shade. At the soft opening in mid-July, there was quite a gathering of customers, some of which were likely family and friends of the ownership. I don't think I have seen that many people holding traditional camera gear to take photos in a long time. The food menu offerings were limited to two sandwiches (porchetta, veggie), Companion Bread, one veggie bread, and one cookie. I bought the last two items for my order which each cost $4. The Zucchini Bread had toasty walnuts, golden raisins, and matcha as ingredients. The Brown Butter Brownie Cookie was made up of dark chocolate, toffee, and maldon salt. Both were sweet and tasty, however I gave an edge to the cookie. For beverages, there was a list of ten coffees and teas. I assume that both the food and drink choices will increase as the business grows over time. Until I return for another visit, my current rating for Bica was restrained to a three star experience. read more

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I can't believe how good this place is! Bica is located on a very cute street in normal heights. Personally, I knew how good it would be just by looking at the adorable cafe front. You need to get their tuna sandwich, and you need to get the ricotta toast. The quality of bread that they use is through the roof, especially the ricotta toast, which features thickly sliced bread like no other. The tuna sandwich's bread was toast to crispy perfection. Last of all, their veggie sandwich was a pleasant surprise! It featured a tangy olive spread and cauliflower and sprouts -- packed with incredible flavor. We also tried the cardamom and orange lattes , and I have to say it was a little disappointing that I could not taste neither cardamom nor orange. But I will not remove any stars because the food was just so good!! Be prepared to "fight" other people for their limited tables and chairs. We were lucky to get one on the street front. The servers will bring the food right out to you, which is very convenient. read more

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This place was so good! Ordered the seasonal toast with the seasonal lattes. The staff is very friendly as well! Definitely will be back to try more of the seasonal options. read more

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Came in on a saturday around 10am. It was poppin, and there was a small line but it wasn't too bad. I was a little nervous because the menu was so small, but I think we picked the best items. The Tuna sandwich ($15) and the turkish eggs ($17). The tuna sandwich was SO good. at he bread was so fresh and light and the tuna wasn't super heavy in mayo which I liked. The turkish eggs also was quite good, reminded us of shakshuka. I also got an espresso ($3.50), which came with a tonic- definitely need be used the espresso was stroooong. Overall, I think it would be more of a nice snack than a full brunch for me, but loved the outdoor vibes and the food! read more

Bica - tuna sando - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

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A cute little coffee shop!! There's outdoor seating on the sidewalk and in their patio area. Everything we ordered tasted great! They look like they get pretty busy as my friends and I went on a Thursday morning and there was a good crowd of people. You can have your food there or to go and they bring it out to you. Service was nice and friendly! Would definitely come again for the tuna sandwich! Tuna Sandwich: SO GOOD! The pesto, arugula, onions, tuna and bread was so good. One of the best tuna sandwiches I've had. Ricotta and Fig Tartine: A good balance of creaminess and sweetness and was so good to share after the tuna sandwich. Egg tart: Loved the filling and the outside crust had a nice chewiness to it but I do wish it was warmed up. read more

Bica - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

I arrived shortly after they opened on a weekday morning, so the pastries were not out yet. After seeing so many photos of the ricotta tartine, I wanted to give that a try. I also order the vanilla cardamom latte with almond milk. The tartine was quite good. The bread was thick to hold up to the large amount of ricotta and jam. I ended up being full with eating only one piece, so the overall price seemed decent since I made 2 breakfasts out of it. The drizzle of olive oil gave it that little extra decadence. My latte was good. The flavors were subtle. The people working were super friendly, and it's a cute little spot. Hoping maybe they can squeeze a couple tables inside for cooler weather, but for now the outdoor seating is good. Will come back and try something else next time! read more

Bica - Ricotta and jam tartine - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

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My go to! Love the menu, everything is good and fresh. I recommend the feta toast. The staff is down to earth and very friendly. read more

Bica - Lox and feta! Yum! - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

Cute little spot with a great patio for hanging and enjoying some treats and a drink. I had a cortado and the bread and butter plate. It was everything I wanted for a nice breakfast treat. Three different breads thickly sliced, delicious gooey butter, and homemade jam. Something I will crave for in the future so I'll see ya again soon Bica! read more

New coffee spot in Normal Heights. I happen to be across the street eating lunch at White Rice and this shop was conveniently near by when I was just thinking about coffee. I got my usual cappuccino with oat milk and it was good! Nothing too crazy in my opinion but its good and smooth. I would come back if I was in the neighborhood but I wouldn't go out of my way to get coffee here. There was a food menu that had some yummy sounding things, but I didn't get a chance to try it since I just came from lunch. I may come back to try the food at least! Staff was friendly and seemed like a fun bunch. Parking is street only, good luck on Adams Ave lol read more

Bica - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

Bica is a fairly new Portuguese cafe located in one of my favorite neighborhoods, Adams Ave, known for its row of cute cafes and restaurants. Their menu mostly consists of toasts and they also have a display of pastries at the counter. We got their hot and iced version of the honey sea salt latte which were both amazing. For food, we got the peach ricotta on a sourdough toast which was delicious and filling. It's hefty and can be shared. I wish it was sweeter with maybe a bit of honey as the savoriness from the ricotta was the dominant flavor. The lemon loaf was delicious as well and very moist. We loved staying at their outdoor patio as it was breezy and spacious. Overall, very cute and food was okay. I wish to see more variety in their menu in the future. Price point, a little steep in my opinion as everything came out to $35. read more

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This is a brand-new coffee spot in the neighborhood. It has been open for 1 month and has brought the vibes & the tastes. Nicole works the front and is super sweet and helpful. If you don't know what to order ask Nicole for some tips and direction. It's a Euro-inspired coffee spot with delicious coffee, food, and out-door seating. I will be back! read more

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Took the tour of North Park coffee tastings. What I noticed: * Line grows in the blink of an eye and on a busy day, because the space is pretty small + open cafe concept, it's hard to not notice that the workers in the front are pretty frazzled and you have to be ready with your order (which isn't a bad thing - most of the time spent here is in line with just a few minutes of waiting for your drink - they just aren't wasting any time it seems.) * Their pastries are DELICIOUS. Came back for their portuguese donuts (which either are or are just super similar to malasadas) and egg tarts. Super light & just enough. * Coffee itself was just as good as one would expect. If I still lived here, would probably frequent Bica, especially if there isn't a long line. read more

Passed by Bica via car on the weekend & it was super crowded, which made me turn my head & made me look the place up. It looked super cute, so I ended up coming back during lunch on a Tuesday, which was way less crowded thankfully! I really wanted to get the tuna sandwich, but it was sold out, so I opted for the veggie sandwich instead, as it was highly recommended by the barista. The sandwich was definitely good, but $14 for that pretty small sandwich felt a bit unjustifiably pricey to me, esp because I was still hungry when I left. Also, when it was brought out to me on a plate, the lady didn't provide a napkin with the sandwich, so it got a bit messy quick & there was cheese & veggie bits all over my hand for a while. I eventually flagged her down for a napkin & she was very sweet about it, but just a gentle suggestion to initially give napkins to guests dining in, so that it's a more comfortable & streamlined experience! I also ended up getting their iced honey sea salt latte, which was really good. FYI - they have outside patio seating with a few tables & free wifi here! Overall, the place is cute & clean though & I would love to try their other items on the menu, such as the items listed under the tartines section. read more

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What a cute, local spot for breakfast! I stopped by on a weekend and was pleasantly surprised by my experience. I found street parking easily and there were just a couple groups ahead of me waiting to place their order at the cash register. I was disappointed they didn't have their salmon toast option but I got to try their veggie sandwich and Ricotta, apricot jam toast along with am iced chai. Everything tasted fresh and i really enjoyed the range of flavors from the acidity of the vinegar on the veggie sandwich, to the subtle sweetness of the homemade apricot jam. The service was great in their outdoor patio area and I would highly recommend this spot next time you're in the area. read more

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Coffee and food is good! However the service sucks. You can get good food and coffee elsewhere without the poor quality of service.

Loved the milky oolong, had to be quick to take a photo before we chugged it! Staff is friendly and helpful, plenty of outdoor seating to do work or hangout at, and an awesome selection of drinks and misc items. I love their logo! Definitely will be coming back. read more

Bica - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

Came here for coffee and breakfast and we loved it!!! The tahini toast was so good. I've been craving it ever since read more

Bica - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

Playing Chappell Roan on the radio. It's got to be a great place, right? I tried the Lemon Vanilla Latte because I had never heard of one before. Also, I like lemon. I love, love, love vanilla and really like lattes. What could go wrong? Probably too much lemon would be bad. This was not the case in my experience. A wonderful blend of lemon and vanilla. Ambiance is wonderful. The employees seem very friendly. Only downside I experienced was the flys outside. Difficult to control. read more

Bica - Lemon Vanilla Latte - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

I stopped into Bica because I have been trying to find a good matcha in the neighborhood. Unfortunately this one missed the mark. It was grainy and yet somehow mostly milk, so it tasted like grainy milk. I wanted to like this place so badly because of the side dog friendly patio, and the fun DJ they had performing that day. The only upside was this was one of the cheaper matchas in the area, at only $6.50. Also the service was fine, but I seemed to have gotten in line right after a rush. Maybe I will go back to try the food because the ambiance was cool and it smelled good, but I would skip grabbing a drink when I'm in the area. read more

Bica is my favorite cafe in our neighborhood. Just good vibes, music, good food and service. I love walking here with my family or friends to grab a quick bite or to have a fresh breakfast with some good coffee. The menu changes but I have tried their tuna sandwich, whipped ricotta with pistachio and the yogurt plate. All are delicious and truly fresh. The back patio is cute and my son always finds something to play with out of the little toy collection they have. I am sad that we are moving away and Bica wont be walking distance to us, but I am sure we will keep this place as one of our regulars. read more

House smoked fish plate. So close to being great. Balance was kinda off. Cortado was yummy. read more

Bica - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

Appreciated the menu was short and sweet. Just a few choices of very well done dishes. All creative, making the choosing challenging. And served dishes were attractive. Tuna sandwich lived up to its reputation - fresh and flavorful and generous. Kohlrabi & fennel salad was bright, crisp, & flavorful, tho priced too high. read more

Finally made my way to Bica Cafe after having this pinned for quite some time. Bica is a charming mediterranean style cafe complete with a full espresso menu, healthy tartines and plates that I would consider blue zone. I only got to try the honey sea salt latte, but would definitely return to try the food. Ambiance was on point and the latte was smooth! read more

The ricotta toast was really good but it is a little pricey. Would recommend to try once but not sure I'll be back.

The matcha here is my favorite in San Diego. It's perfectly milky and sweetened just the right amount. The matcha tastes strong and high quality. The vibes are always so awesome and everyone is so nice! read more

Bica - Iced Matcha Latte - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

Was strolling through the neighborhood and saw this highly recommended coffee spot. Didn't realize it was one of my bucket list items until I walked in LOL. I was instantly drawn to the orange cardamom latte. It was super sweet (which I like) with subtle orange and cardamom flavors. I personally like the orange to be on the stronger more noticeable side, but will say this was a good latte. Place has outdoor seating and a few indoor seating. Service was good and quick. read more

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1st timer I ordered smoked salmon or lox with cream cheese on their home made bread. Lox was good, but bread was not. You have to order by computer in their place and no cash read more

Small-ish coffee shop with big vibes in the outdoor patio. We coincidentally tried Bica when they had a party for 10K followers. You would think this skews things, but what matters is the coffee.. and somewhat the pastries as well. Very friendly and fast baristas. Our oat milk specialty lattes were unique and flavorful - read: can taste the espresso balanced with whatever flavor they were going for and it's not overly sweet! Would have loved the outdoor patio vibe even if it wasn't their celebration. Love that they have Portuguese tarts and fresh made cookies among their pasties plus a full lunch menu. I loved visiting Portugal and didn't know this was Portuguese inspired cafe, but definitely learned what bica meant that day. I'm a fan of their merch and the fact they sell canned sardines. Absolutely would come back next time I'm in SD! read more