This place is just lovely. It's the perfect place to chill with a book. I've seen some people bring their laptops too. As a testament to Cicada's popularity, the other day it was packed with brunchers that ventured out on a 7-degree morning. What makes Cicada great? Aside from the atmosphere... Their turmeric golden latte is the best drink I have had in the entire Boston area. They probably get 5 stars just for that. Their pastries always have actual flowers in them, making them not just tasty but also adorable. Their backyard courtyard area is like a naturey sanctuary amidst the city, thoughtfully designed and even inclusive of a sandbox for kids (or kids at heart) to play in. They have not just pastries and cafe drinks but also food food: pho noodle salad is creative and, while not as incredible as their golden latte, tastes fine (and includes protein options for vegans/vegetarians). You want for nothing when at cicada. read more

We had a phenomenal dinner. Great cozy ambience, friendly service, and every dish was subtle and delicious. To top it off, the wine pairings were spot on. What a find! The best new place we've been to in a long time. read more

Great aesthetics, excellent customer service, and delicious coffee! The vibe of the place was also really cool. I can't wait to come back when I visit Boston again. read more

I have passed Cicada Coffee Bar multiple times and was curious about their coffee given the appealing décor and atmosphere. I decided to go in today for the first time to give their coffee a try. I asked for a drip coffee and the barista pointed me toward their Back to Black (hot) which, according to her, is their closest equivalent to a drip coffee. On their website, the Back to Black is described as Viet Phin dripped with pine wood and vanilla notes. However, this was ONE OF THE WORST coffees I have had in my life. I was expecting some freshly made coffee, but received some previously made concentrate mixed with hot water. Perhaps I should have asked for one of their fancy coffees. But, to be fair, I find that the comparing black drip coffee is the best barometer for coffee quality. Forget pine wood and vanilla. This coffee lacked any taste whatsoever. It reminded me of the watered down Folgers or Maxwell House coffee that's been sitting on the pot for 12hrs+ in some remote gas station. It reminded me of the time I mistakenly had old decaf coffee at the school cafeteria during finals week. To add insult to injury, this coffee was priced at $3.75 for 12oz. Take your money and walk a block and half to any of Cambridge's other popular coffee destinations. read more

I used to be a huge fan of this place, it has a great ambiance and had great food. Just went back for the first time in 6 months and got a smoked salmon noodle salad that was half the portion it used to be with thinner, broken noodles, and smoked salmon that tasted like cat food. This same exact dish 6 months ago was delicious, now I cant even get myself to finish it. It is a shame to see this so shortly after the chef was nominated for a James beard. Really hoping this team can bring things back to their previous excellence. read more

Duck confit wasn't very good, recommend the cured salmon dishes instead. Usually very busy so get there early

The food on the dinner menu is wonderful. The flavors are bold, the ingredients are high quality (fish from New Deal seafood I think) and the dishes taste homey but at someone's home who really knows how to cook. The food reminds me of so many amazing meals I had in Hanoi (especially the turmeric fish/ ca cha). In a city full of boring "New American food with a twist" restaurants, Cicada is like a breath of fresh air. It is also super stylish, cozy and run by the genuinely *nicest* people. read more

Incredible coffee and pastries. This is such a unique addition to Cambridge and I hope people will support this small business!

By far my favorite coffee shop and restaurant in the Boston / Cambridge area. I will visit every chance I get!

I had never been to a Vietnamese cafe before so I thought I would give it a try. The outside of this place is adorable and the inside is a perfect study nook. I ordered the sea salt latte and it was very different than any coffee I've ever had. I noticed one of the ingredients is Duxbury sea salt which is so cool because I love that company. It basically tasted like a dessert and coffee and ocean all at once. Very interesting but I will definitely try more on the menu! read more

The cured salmon pho salad was the best bite I had in Boston. So light and refreshing. Combining pesto and vietnamese flavors is so innovative and they made it work. The sea salt shaker is amazing. You can tell this place is beloved by the community. read more

Cicada Coffee Bar - Cured salmon pho salad - Vietnamese Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Had a lemongrass duck confit rice bowl and was pretty impressed. Filling, unique flavors,

Went to this cafe today and had a subpar experience: -no public wifi - lots of pretentious / loud students -overpriced food and limited menu (food is good, but I didn't expect to pay that much) The space is cool tho! Nice patio. But I ate my food and left immediately. read more

So good! The sea salt shaker was delicious and so creamy. The baked salmon bahn mi was really filling. Would recommend.

highly highly recommend this place. the golden latte is out of this world, and the baked bahn mi sandwich is also excellent. great atmosphere in the coffee bar, plus they have outdoor seating. very friendly service too. 10/10 read more

The food was amazing! Had the Baked Salmon Noodle Salad and the hot lemongrass tea. So. Good.

Just in fyi: there's no banh mi with fried egg anymore. The service is... not the best, but they do get a constant stream of customers. Their food is really pricey and you can get better banh mi elsewhere. Their saigon coffee is also not the best. If you want Vietnamese coffee, you're better off at Phin Coffee House. What I like the most is their spacious outdoor seating, which is really nice when you're trying to soak up some sun. Other than that, everything else is something you can get for a better price and taste in Chinatown. read more

Well thought out and executed. They bring a different coffee culture to light. Definitely should try.

the man working in front of the counter at the was cold and inattentive. I was left feeling like he was doing my daughter and I a favor for patronizing this restaurant. The environment felt rushed but the folks working behind the counter were very friendly and helpful, though. The food was OK yet.m didn't have tremendous flavor. I ordered the eggplant Bahn mi and my daughter ordered the salmon noodle salad. The sandwich lacked substance and seemed to have more bread than eggplant, etc. it was boring- like my daughter's salmon noodle salad. The best part, though, besides the friendly folks working BEHIND the counter, were the toffee chocolate chip cookie, coconut pastry, and coffee. The funny thing is, I don't believe either of the pastries were even made at this restaurant. Overall, it was a disappointment, and I'm not sure what the wait line or hype was all about. read more

Amazing coffee and pastries. We went on a Saturday morning around 9am and it got super crowded about 30 minutes later (line out the door and one person behind the bar). They have an awesome party selection that rotates. We got a passion fruit tart that was so good, rich and sweet and sour. Salted shaken espresso is 10/10, such a unique flavor. read more

really nice coffee and teas, pastries, and the bahn mi is yummy! def get spicy imo. pretty busy so sometimes getting indoor seating is hard, but the back patio is so nice in the summer read more

I tried to sea salt shaker, cured salmon, and fish terrine banh mi. I loved the sea salt shaker, perfect amount of sweetness with a light salt. If you like salted caramel or the mix between sweet/salty, i would recommend this. I wasn't fond of the banh mis...but its just a personal preference that i prefer meat banh mis. Nonetheless, I want to come back to try the noodle salads. Place was crowded and not much space to wait, but they had a nice backyard area if you're dining in. Service was pretty quick, so dont be discouraged by the long lines. read more

Very tiny and crowded with a charming, hip ambiance. I got the duck breast banh mi. The baguette was wonderful, light and flaky like it should be. The rest was disappointing. The flavor was utterly bland, and the texture of the fillings was way too wet and slimy. In a banh mi I expect bright fresh herbs, tender protein, and a nice interplay between rich and fresh/light flavors. Theirs fell short on all fronts. They also specifically asked what spice level I wanted when I ordered, and I said hot. It was mild at most. read more

Overhyped. Food is decent but the wait is insane. We got the mushroom bahn mi and the vegan noodle salad. They were good but nothing to write home about. read more

I am super impressed with this place. It will probably to become my daily haunt. I ordered a black coffee (pour over) to test how they do that...because it's a good indicator of how the rest of the drinks will be....HOLY MOLY IT WAS FANTASTIC. Welcome to the neighborhood! read more

The food is amazing! Hidden gem that is reliably good. Place is small but even to go it's worth it!

I got the salted shaker iced coffee and it was the perfect blend of salty, sweet, richness. Perfect treat for a hot day!

Delicious food and coffee, even better community. A wonderful, welcoming space that feels just like home. Could not recommend it more.

We went here last night for drinks and they kicked our party out because we had a pregnant woman with us who would not be able to consume alcohol. I guess their profit margins are higher on alcohol, which I understand from a business perspective, but the rest of our party was drinking and it seems weird to kick people out of a restaurant for ordering items on the menu - just the 'wrong' items. It felt really discriminatory and unethical. A shame because the space is very cute. read more

Fantastic food! They accidentally put in the wrong order (due to miscommunication/clarification issue), but we're quick to give us the actual appetizer we ordered for free. Great vibes! read more

I visited Cicada for the first time this week after walking by and seeing the cute interior. I was excited by the idea of a unique coffee shop popping up in an area that surprisingly does not have many artisan coffee shops. Cicada serves delicious coffee with beans from Vietnam, and their banh mi had the crispiest French bread and delicious filling. Looking forward to visiting again. read more

The Seasalt shaker iced coffee is outrageously good. Haven't had coffee this good since visiting Vietnam! The vegan pho noodle salad was really delicious. Perfect thick noodles and just the right amount of spice if you order it spicy. Good vibes, great music and outstanding service! read more

Dinner at Cicada is SUCH a treat. Great vibes-- nice lighting, music, handmade pottery, and funky reclaimed furniture. And the food is amazing-- we tried lots of dishes and they all were amazing. In particular, the smoked eggplant starter was phenomenal, and the ox tail pho with fresh rice noodles was perfect comfort food while still feeling very elegant. read more

Wonderful spot! Been here for breakfast lunch and dinner, and every meal/snack is 10/10 experience love it here.

I've been patiently waiting for cicada to open and it did not disappoint! Picked up the Pho Noodle Salad with cured salmon and lemongrass-ginger tea, both of which were delish!! The noodle salad had all the satisfying components I was looking for - fresh, thick, noodley-noodles, crispy fried shallots, fresh herbs, good hot sauce, and salty-delicious salmon. Love the menu concept of only seafood and veg items. Definitely recommend trying it out! read more

Cicada Coffee Bar - Pho Noodle Salad with Cured Salmon - Vietnamese Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Food is very good. Just understand that even if you order online, you may have to wait a while for your order. I waited for about 40 minutes for my online order last time. They were swamped and it looked like maybe 3-4 people working! Just be prepared and understanding. It's worth the wait. read more

I had been wanting to try this place out for awhile and finally got around to having lunch. We had the mushroom banh mi, the cured salmon pho noodle bowl and the papaya salad. For drinks, we got the hibiscus brew and the lemon ginger brew and everything was awesome. The entire restaurant had such a fun vibe. We loved the character of the outdoor seating area on the back. Can't wait to go back. read more

This place rules. I had one of their Pho salads and the salt shaker iced coffee...both were superb. The atmosphere is cozy and special. Definitely check it out. read more

Couldn't be happier with Cicada. Delicious lunch, well priced, friendly staff, very cool vibes. Highly recommend.

Stopped here for lunch on vacation. Very fast service and very unique Asian fusion fare! We got a vegan banh mi (spicy) to share and a sea salt shaker. The banh mi was super flavorful (the spicy addition had a nice kick!) and was an awesome twist on a classic banh mi. The sea salt shaker tasted like dessert, and we gulped it down super quickly because it was so delicious. We'd definitely go here again! read more