went here for the third time last night! the menu changes up a bit but i know the food is always amazing and balanced. lunchtime torched salmon was like poké where the outside was torched and crispy and the inside was juicy. at dinnertime the torched cured salmon was served in a clay pot and seemed to be fully baked through. amazing pesto sauce. my friends and i like the black rice more than the noodles (both are good, the black rice is deliciously fulfilling). Tried the (newly added?) dinnertime blue crab with noodles and was delighted by the texture and portion. sea salt shaker and cortada are very good coffees and great mouthfeel. Amazing ambiance and very nice staff. hope to try the banh mi some day! also, if planning to come late at night -- they stop seating at 9:30 pm! read more

Delicious coffee, super cute space, and refreshing food. It's a bus yourself restaurant with an unassuming outdoor space in the back for additional seating. They generally require you to order before sitting given the small space so keep that in mind when you arrive. Service is friendly and very quick. Their food is delicious and refreshing, however I'd say the star of the show is their coffee. I really enjoyed the Saigon latte especially paired with the DELICIOUS pastry. Definitely want to come back to try their dinner menu! read more

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Came here on a sunday evening around 7:45 PM without a reservation, and were quickly seated at the bar. The restaurant had a really great ambiance, and I enjoyed being able to watch the chefs prepare the food. We ordered the ginger cabbage salad, the coconut eggplant, and the duck noodles. I would have loved to have tried their sushi grade salmon, but they were unfortunately sold out for the night. So I would recommend arriving earlier if you would like to try it. My favorite dish was the duck noodles. I liked the freshness of the basil in the pesto, and the tenderness and juiciness of the duck. The coconut eggplant was a close second favorite. The coconut flavor was delicious, and I liked the nuts on top for crunch. I also found the ginger cabbage salad to be yummy, but not as much as a standout as the other two dishes. Overall, I really enjoyed this spot for dinner. I liked how fresh everything was, and how the dishes felt very light and healthy. It's definitely a bit on the pricier side, but I found it to be very worth it. I definitely come back and try their lattes and other dishes. read more

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The vibe is super chill and the food/drink is even better! I always like their salad with rice noodles and fresh salmon, or veggies. They are refreshing and spicy. The coffees are delicious as well, my favorite is Ha Noi hot latte in winter and sea salt shaker in summer time. You can't go wrong with Sai Gon Latte either, which my wife likes a lot. The only thing I don't like is that you usually have to wait outside since there are not many sitting places in the venue. I recommend either ordering takeout or visiting at non-busy hours. read more

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Oasis in the middle of busy Cambridge. I love the vibe of this spot and the food is so fresh. There's plenty of seating in the back. It was so busy when I arrived and they try to manage it by having one party at a time ordering. No laptops allowed fyi. I tried the golden milk turmeric iced latte and it was fabulous. Not too sweet, sprinkled with cinnamon and it tasted very authentic. I also tried the pesto noodles with tofu and mushrooms. The flavors blended together and the ingredients were fresh. This is a perfect spot for a relaxed earthy vibe to enjoy with a friend. The outdoor seating feels like someone's backyard and there is an outdoor bookshelf to read at your leisure. read more

Cicada Coffee Bar - Outdoor seating - Vietnamese Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Lovely spot with a unique atmosphere inside. Line to order was relatively long but once you ordered the service was very quick. I love the latte served in a huge handmade mug, it was satisfying to drink. read more

Cicada Coffee Bar - Saigon espresso latte - Vietnamese Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

One of my favorite brunch spot in central. Both their coffee and bowls are amazing. I always get the sai gon coffee and black rice baked salmon bowl. They also have a patio outside that's great for when the weather is warmer Tried to come for dinner without a reservation but they are always fully booked! read more

Cicada Coffee Bar - Salmon black rice - Vietnamese Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Cicada is an amazing modern Vietnamese cafe and brunch spot. It's popular so there's usually a line on the weekends. It's fast casual so you order the food at the counter, grab your food, and put your own dishes away. It has an artsy, vintage, slightly hipster kinda vibe to it. They have bar seating and tables in the front plus an outdoor back area with additional tables. The sushi grade salmon and the charred eggplant noodle salad are good choices. The salmon is fresh and the eggplant flavorful. It's a decent portion with excellent flavor. This is a good place to stop by with your partner or small group of friends to enjoy their extensive coffee and tea menu and modern Vietnamese dishes. read more

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Wow! So tasty; such an adorable place for a lunch date! We ordered the Babylon Tonic, a coffee drink made with tonic and calamansi, and were pleasantly surprised by how much we enjoyed it. The citrussy flavor was so refreshing. To eat, we shared the chicken black rice bowl and absolutely loved it! The chicken was so tender and flavorful. read more

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I have wanted to try Cicada for a little while now. Finally, was able to join a friend for lunch here. We got there at around 1pm ~ish on a Wednesday afternoon, and it was relatively full. Thankfully we had just beat the rush of customers that came in around 2pm. Both of us were first timers and we opted to try the recommended dishes: pho noodle salad lemongrass chicken confit and the black rice chicken confit (next time we might try the highly recommended salmon). Shortly after ordering, we discovered that there was seating available in the back patio area. Thankfully the weather was clear and nice, so we sat outdoors. There was no placards that you would take back to your table, instead you just have to have an open ear to hear when your items are ready. The food was ready pretty quickly, roughly only 8-10 minutes after ordering! You just have to go back to the counter where you ordered and grab your dishes/drinks. The dishes were freshly made, and you could tell that the chef in the kitchen was focused on the small details (assembly and plating were top tier!). Personally, I thought the pho noodle salad with lemongrass chicken confit was very FRESH and TASTY. The dish in itself was light and complimented by the flavorful and tender chicken. I would give it high marks! My friend who had the black rice chicken confit enjoyed their dish as well. Overall, the staff were super patient, kind, and helpful. The service was great and the place had a very cozy and quaint vibe. I think it would be a little helpful they told you that you would have to come get your food from the counter when it was ready. Navigating the tight spaces as it got crowded with a warm bowl of goodness in your hands was a little confusing at first. But, I get that doing it other ways might disrupt the cozy setup they have going on. Either way, I would recommend it to try! read more

Cicada Coffee Bar - pho salad lemongrass chicken confit - Vietnamese Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Came here for lunch and they had super tasty bowls and great coffee! Tried the lemongrass chicken noodle bowl and the cured salmon noodle bowl, both were delicious and super light. Their outdoor seating is also so nice and serene. You'll find lots of people working there, even on a weekday. read more

Cicada Coffee Bar - Lemongrass chicken noodle bowl - Vietnamese Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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Their pho salad cured salmon (5/5) was one of my favorite foods from my Boston/Cambridge trip. It was a unique dish that I'd never seen at any Vietnamese restaurant before and it was so good! While toppings were cold and fresh, the noodle was warm and it was delicious. Strongly recommend it! Turmeric golden latte was just okay (3/5). Everything is self serve here - you get in line, pay for your food, find yourself a seat, and go grab your food/utensils/water when they call you. read more

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This review is way delayed so the dishes are my review may not exist anymore in their menu, and if that is the case then I would consider it a good thing because this establishment gives the vibes that they change up their menus every now and then to provide novelties. If the items are still present in the menu, then good because consider it a treat if you get to try any of them because every dish that my friend and I had there was a hit! So far this is one of my favorite places within the Boston area. First, we tried the shiitake mushroom springs rolls, or gười cuộn nấm đông cô in Vietnamese, and they were as conventionally good as we thought they would be, and actually had more flavor that the equivalent items I have had elsewhere, considering it didn't have meat. Both the cured salmon and the cured duck were outstanding in terms of flavor, having that strong savory taste that allowed the meat juice to immerse with the rice, and the red wine in the duck dish provided an additional layer of depth. Finally, the yogurt was amazing as well, which had a yolk-looking yellow spot in the middle that made it visually appealing. It wasn't too sweet and wasn't too solid, so overall served as a very nice dessert. I must also mention that at night, the lights really make this place have a mystic feel, and the fact that they have books in several Asian languages, along with the autobiography of Malcolm X, and a calendar in Vietnamese, all give extra points for this place. Highly recommend! read more

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I went there during a weekday afternoon for a quick coffee and was not surprised to see it being full. Cicada has been on my list for so long and I finally got to check it out. The decorations, the ambiance and everything else about this place is very vibey and welcoming. We both got the classic latte and it was so good! The only thing is that you won't be able to adjust the sweetness level for coffee. I will be back to try the food since it smelled really good! -8/10 for coffee and the cafe read more

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I've had this place bookmarked for years, but the line always deterred me. Finally made it and I have to say that cuiada might make the best coffee/latte I have had in the Boston area -- dare I say New England. I got the salted ice coffee with condensed milk & my friend got the unsalted version. Both were great. I was drinking slowly to savor it, but also wanted more. It wasn't too sweet, and the balance of the salt & sweet was perfect imo. They have a honey mousse drink that they sold out of, so I do intend to come back & try that, along with their food. They have indoor & woodsy outdoor seating. Staff is so charming and easy to blab on to. Pricing was reasonable - like $6ish per drink. It is worth waiting in line for. read more

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Salt shaker is the best coffee I had in Cambridge. The people there is nice and the vibes are so cute. I go there like every other week.

Items ordered: Seared Cured Salmon and orange wine (ginger notes). Value: Unfortunately this is the lowest part of the review. Prices do not correspond with food portions. Quite overpriced. The Review: A dimly-lit and intimate wine bar at night, Cicada is definitely a cool Cambridge experience. Next time, I'd probably stick with sharing a bottle of wine and an appetizer because prices were pretty steep for the quality of food. The servers were wonderful and the ambience is fun. I just wouldn't come here for dinner. read more

Cicada Coffee Bar - Vietnamese Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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Came here on a Saturday early afternoon. Read the rules on the door in which one party at a time comes in to order and others wait in line outside for their turn. We're rule followers so we waited outside. Others cut in front of us until went ahead and doubled up inside. Person who took our order was very nice. Limited menu. Pastries were already sold out. Salt Shake coffee was delicious. We both had banh mi. Mine was okay but not much flavor. Bread was nice and crusty. Interior is cute and cozy but beware is it's incredibly loud in there. Typical patron seemed to be pretentious student with no volume control. read more

Cicada Coffee Bar - Vietnamese Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Came here with a friend for dinner and were easily able to get same day reservations for bar seating. Food: On the pricier side for their portion sizes but still very good. I had the braised short rib and really enjoyed all the flavors. Even the bowl it came in was super cute. I did not get a drink but my friend did and the waitress was so nice about asking if she wanted to try different wines and recommending which would pair well with her meal. Definitely want to go again just to split a bottle with some friends and try their appetizers. Service: it is a small restaurant so service was quick and we didn't wait long for our food or to order. It was also nice because we never felt rushed throughout the night and even after we paid we stayed to chat a little longer. Ambiance: It is super cute inside! Very artsy vibes. I love how if you are at the bar you can see the person cooking. I also like all the Polaroids they have up and the cozy feel of the restaurant. Overall, it is on the pricier side but the quality of the food justifies the price. When I go next time I'll definitely order an appetizer and an entree! Other than that it was a great place to catch up with my friend while enjoying good food. Can't wait to go back, especially because they have outdoor seating in the warmer months which I want to check out. read more

Cicada Coffee Bar - Inside - Vietnamese Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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I came on a weekend morning to get coffee, and there was a line out the door. There was a bit of a wait, but a staff member passed out a few menus to those in line. I got the sea salt shaker, and the order was made quickly. All the indoor tables were taken, so I took it to-go. The coffee itself was good, and I would come again for a coffee. read more

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Don't let the long line stop you from visiting Cicada Coffee Bar! Glad I waited it out for a bit to try this coffee spot. The staff is super friendly and efficient and everything we ordered came out super quick even though it was a busy weekend morning. The vibe inside is really fun with even more seating in their backyard area. Their coffee drinks are delicious - tried the sai gon latte and it was the perfect balance of sweetness! We also tried a pastry with a lunch plate which were great. I hope they're able to expand the menu and provide more options in the future for breakfast/lunch! read more

Cicada Coffee Bar - Vietnamese Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

I've had coffee here before and enjoyed it so decided to come for dinner. I really enjoyed the lower key vibe here. Shared a plate of the seared duck and the noodle salad, both had a great amount of flavor and just the right amount of spice for the duck. I've been disappointed before with other wine bars offerings for orange wine but the one I got that was Greek was excellent. All in all with tip and two bottles of wine total was $300 for 4 which I found to be very fair for a well regarded restaurant in central square. read more

Honestly was disappointed by my latest time here. This was my favorite restaurant when I visited Boston 2 years ago. So much so that we came back again for dinner the next night. I was amazed by the bahn mi with the cured salmon. Flavors were so well balanced. This time around they didn't have the bahn mi on the menu ?? Idk why they would get rid of something that they were known for (apparently the bakers that they bought their bread from stopped producing that bread, but find another bakery then???) we ordered the vegan noodle salad and the cured salmon on black rice. They were out of the spring rolls so we couldn't try those as well. Honestly would not come back again and I am so sad to say that. read more

Cicada Coffee Bar - Vegan noodle bowl and cured salmon bowl - Vietnamese Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

This is my second time at Cicada and I can't decide whether I prefer dining here in the evening or for brunch. It's romantic and cozy at night but brunch offers a light and airy take. Both menus are fairly small but the dishes that are offered are thoughtfully curated for sure. Packed with lots of fresh ingredients, flavors, and colorful arrangements, I had a difficult time deciding my distorted dish. Nonetheless, the pho noodle salad, the black rice with chicken, the coconut eggplant, and the passion fruit yogurt were to die for. Dinner time requires a reservation in advance. Lunch time is first come, first serve. There is usually a line regardless. read more

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Always a line around lunchtime, so go early or after 3! The food is so tasty -- their Hanoi-style lunch dishes are packed with flavor. Don't skip the coffee, it's a must. Bonus: the backyard seating is super cute and chill. read more

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Delicious! Limited menu but really great food. The interior is so cute, such a good date spot. The restaurant is pretty small, so I recommend making a reservation if you want to come during the weekend. read more

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Cool fusion concept cafe w drinks and food. Great for studying, lunch date, or catch up with friends. Has indoor and outdoor seating in patio. I had the eggplant and tofu noodle salad, it was very refreshing. I liked the sauce but can't exactly explain what it was. I also had the pho spiced nitro cold brew, which was quite delicious. Highly recommend if you like black/strong coffee drinks as opposed to sweet drinks. You order at the counter and get your food/drinks from the counter, and you bus your own table. They don't come to you at all, but the service is friendly. There is one restroom inside. read more

Cicada Coffee Bar - Eggplant + tofu pho noodle salad - Vietnamese Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

I've been here a number of times for lunch and for an afternoon pick me up. Their coffees are all really good - especially the sea salt shaker. As the drinks are mostly Vietnamese style, they might be on the sweeter side. The pastries here are also delicious - they are sourced from Cafe Beatrice, located in East Cambridge. My favorite was a pastry with passion fruit filling. Lunch and dinner menus are really simple - there's a few main entrees to choose from. I really like the rice bowl with cooked salmon - the seasoning is delicious and you leave feeling really satisfied. Tonight I tried the Cicada noodle salad, with duck meat. This meal was also delicious but portions are a bit smaller and thus it felt kind of pricy. The duck meat was cooked rare, but all the flavors of the noodle salad came together nicely. Their outdoor patio is nice and there are plenty of seating options. I always prefer sitting outside as the inside of the cafe is quite small and tends to feel packed. May not be the best for large groups. read more

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A small and cute Vietnamese fusion coffee bar that serves comfort food in a small restaurant in Cambridge. Their menu is light and healthy, definitely not like your traditional Vietnamese food. I got the lemongrass chicken confit and it was decent and lightly flavored. The sea salt shaker was good. The portions are quite small given the price you're paying but the vibe is really nice and it's a good spot for friends to catch up over brunch. Food: 7.8/10 Value: 7/10 Experience: 8/10 Service: 8/10 read more

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Cicada was honestly SO amazing! The perfect spot for a solo lunch date and reading. The food was delicious and was flavorful and the team is incredibly nice! read more

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Cicada is an excellent restaurant for Vietnamese food & coffee in Cambridge - if you're nearby and can swing a visit, make it happen! Some friends and I recently stopped through Cicada for brunch on a Sunday. If it's a peak time, you can expect there to be a line out the door, but trust me -- it's worth it. It's definitely less of a conventional restaurant and more of a coffee bar that has food, but as long as you align your expectations that way, you're in for a great time. The line out the door is just to order your coffee/ food at the bar, but afterward you'll have to find some seating. Generally speaking, it seems like people flow in and out quickly, but depending on how packed it is, it may be more of a challenge for a larger group to find seats together. The restaurant has 10-15 seats indoors, but also has a few tables outdoors that provide open spots for bigger groups (I'll also mention that this means you may end up sitting at a big table next to another group). The food options are good all around, but if you're there for coffee... don't miss the Salt Shaker. It's by far one of the best coffee drinks I've ever had. Overall - definitely swing by Cicada if you are in the area and wanting to try something new! read more

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Such an interesting concept and a very solid meal! We were initially seated at the counter, which is a bit tight, but when a high top table opened up they so graciously moved us to have more space. Our servers were friendly, fast, and knowledgable, but it was odd having to bus your own table after the meal for what it costs. Not a dealbreaker, though. Everything we ordered was flavorful, well cooked, and fresh. But our absolute favorite dish of the night was the duck. So so yummy. While we were there the owner even popped in with his dog, which was just awesome! Highly recommend Cicada for dinner. We're already excited to come back to try coffee and lunch! read more

Cicada Coffee Bar - Vietnamese Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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Fabulous spot for lunch -- everything we had was delicious, including the tea and pastries. The process for ordering is pretty particular, so make sure you follow what you're asked to do. read more

Very cute cafe (coffee, tea, and light bites) between Central and Inman. We came here for brunch on a rainy Saturday, so there wasn't any wait. However, the line on weekends usually goes onto the sidewalk. We both got noodle bowls (one eggplant and one tofu) and they were both delicious. My only wish was that the eggplant to noodles ratio was higher, but it was still decent considering it was listed as a noodle dish. The vibes are definitely cute cafe (order at the counter and help yourself to tables, water, and utensils), so it would be a great spot for catching up with friends, going on a date, or any other occasion that would benefit from the laidback but cozy vibes. read more

Cicada Coffee Bar - eggplant noodles - Vietnamese Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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A cozy little corner off of the Central stop. Cicada serves lunch and dinner with a Viet fusion twist. But what's to die for is their wine! Quick service and friendly, I recommend this spot especially if you're a college student around the area. read more

Cicada Coffee Bar - Vietnamese Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

We came here for lunch. It is a very charming small space, with outdoor garden seating in the back as well. We got chicken banh mi and a salmon noodle bowl. The food was good, but I think I prefer my salmon raw. The two coffee drinks (I forget what they were but I think one was salted) were stunning. The cookies were so so good (one fudgy and one I think was pumpkin). I would say the coffee and cookies here wowed me a lot more than the food. Would definitely come again. read more

Cicada Coffee Bar - Vietnamese Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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Stopped here on a weekday afternoon for lunch and there was a small line outside. The restaurant was very cozy and there were parties sitting outside in the garden even in the cold weather. You order at the counter and then find your seats. I ordered the Saigon latte and the baked salmon noodle salad. The latte was delicious, definitely hit the spot on a cold day. The baked salmon salad was good, light and refreshing but I felt like the portion size was on the smaller side. If you come hungry, just plan to order more than one entree. Planning on coming back to try other menu options! read more

Cicada Coffee Bar - Vietnamese Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

my bf and I stopped in on Sunday afternoon for a quick coffee after hearing about this place, but we were both a little disappointed. We ordered the Saigon latte, which was pretty good but the sea salt latte fell flat. For starters, we got the same size for both coffees but the sea salt latte was significantly less filled (as seen from the photo). Flavor-wise, the latte was sweet and salty but in a good way. Not sure if we'll be back but it had tasty coffee flavors. Service was also pretty slow. We ordered online because they said they were busy. We waited inside, but people who were ordering coffees to go inside were getting their orders way faster than we were. Sad. read more

Cicada Coffee Bar - Sai gon latte, sea salt shaker - Vietnamese Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Ambience was cozy, eclectic and great vibe. We ordered a variety of things off the dinner menu. All was delicious except the duck Pho that was undercooked and lacked.... something. My partner did not enjoy his meal. I think if the duck was roasted/crispy or cooked thoroughly it would have elevated the dish. read more

The Saigon latte is the best! Care goes into crafting each beverage and the staff is always friendly. It's a calm environment, with outdoor seating in the back. read more