This place is a Godsend! The food is always on point! I recently implemented a vegan diet and Life Alive made the transition a whole lot easier lol. I usually order the garlic noodles, mushroom shawarma pita, and the rainbow harvest. You can't go wrong with either! Service is notable as the workers are friendly and accommodating when it comes to the menu. The ambiance is just as inviting as their food! read more

Life Alive Organic Cafe Central Square - Vegetarian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

I came here to get lunch while visiting Boston. The space itself is really cool -- makes me feel a lot cooler than I actually am! It also seemed like a nice place to read/get some work done. The menu is really varied -- a lot of different cuisines. It took me a bit to order but staff were patient and friendly. I ordered the mushroom shawarma pita and an açaí bowl. The bowl was delicious! They have their own smoothie bar that's separate from the rest of the kitchen and was served quickly. The mushroom shawarma pita was a bit disappointing. The flavors were good, but it was layered poorly, with all of the mushroom at the top of the pita, making for inconsistent bites. The sauces themselves seemed delicious. I would definitely come back to try different things! read more

Life Alive Organic Cafe Central Square - Mushroom Shawarma Pita - Vegetarian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Took 45 minutes to make a single drink. Service was extremely slow and they told me the smoothie machine was broken after I placed an order, then proceeded make one for the staff. read more

The food is pretty damn good! I love that it's so nourishing, filling, and healthy. So many vegan and vegetarian options as well as gluten free. I especially love the pb and j smoothie and the bowls are great for a quick lunch! The service is mostly quick. They have an upstairs and downstairs area, both of which are nicely designed and spacious. read more

Don't get their Bibimbap dish if you like Bibimbap. I've loved this place since it opened. Since it was sold several years ago, there are some new additions to the menu - I'm all for that. But, yesterday I tried Garlic Sesame Bibimbap. It's not a good addition. It's nothing like Bibimbap, especially because it's missing Gochujang sauce! The dish is not spicy, missing that particular flavor. At least the tofu should have it on it when cooked. Don't get this dish if you like the Korean dish, Bibimbap. read more

Life Alive Organic Cafe Central Square - Life Alive's version of Bibimbap. - Vegetarian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

This was really good food. We came on a Friday night. It wasn't too crowded. No TVs or noise. Nice atmosphere. Everything was fresh. I ordered a salad. The food that you get looks like the pictures on the website. I ordered the market Mediterranean salad without the feta. It was a large portion, enough for two meals. Highly recommend. read more

I'm disappointed the matcha came out of a green squeezy bottle of some premade mixture no idea how much Matcha is in it or when that was made or if it was even mixed. And I got a ginger shot again not fresh mostly tasted like water and a little bit of ginger in it overall $10 later and I'm honestly disappointed. read more

Great food. The bibimbap came with great portion with good flavor punch. The tofu was firm and filling , and the veggies made the bowl healthy. My favorite part was that unlike most Korean-style food, the gochujang-sauce wasn't overly sweet and I was actually able to mix into the food. Not pricey either. Feels great eating on a busy weekday night. The only wish was for the bowl to be warmer when it comes. read more

Life Alive Organic Cafe Central Square - Bibimbap and ginger lemon tea - Vegetarian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Awesome food. The menu includes nothing but healing delicious food. Great place to work on your laptop or read too.

This is by far my favorite of their locations- such a cute space! The workers were friendly, and I particularly love how this cafe is open so late. We got the pb&j acai bowl- it was a refreshing snack with a bunch of different toppings. read more

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Food: I loved the hot Mexican chocolate. Came here on a rainy day and it was so heart-warming. Service: Food is always really fast here. Ambiance: I love how there are 2 floors here, it has such a cozy ambiance in a lovely area of Cambridge :) read more

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I love everything about life alive! The food is deliciously fresh and you really can't go wrong ordering. I love making the warm bowls into a wrap. Their açaí bowls are also a perfect breakfast treat in the summer. There's a lot of places to sit (downstairs also has seating) and the staff is always very kind and helpful. read more

This place is SO COOL! Wonderful stop to get some real nutrients and energy while traveling. My friends and I got a variety of items and loved them all. I had the green smoothie and it was yummy and refreshing. A little heavier on the ginger than I'd prefer, burns a little but otherwise great and smooth. My friend had the Ocean Blue latte and said it tasted mostly like salted coconut milk but it was good. read more

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I loved everything about Life Alive: the vibe, decor, aesthetic, drinks, and vegan food. I loved that there was so much room downstairs and there was an assortment of different types of seating--from sofa-seats with pillows to chairs. This is a great place to come for college students and visitors as it's right in Cambridge. The drinks were great. I particularly loved my Watermelon Poke. I will never have real poke in my life, but I don't feel bad when I can eat this vegan version and that too with watermelon. The ginger-sesame and watermelon flavors combined so well together. I'm sure other dishes may be average, but the watermelon poke I highly recommend! A++ for concept and physical space for sure! read more

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Everything was really delicious and nicely prepared! As a meat eater, I was surprised this was very filling! My friend and I both really enjoyed. read more

Life Alive Organic Cafe Central Square - Some kind of celery lemon Spritzer - Vegetarian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

I'm not going to say it's the Panera guy, but it's probably the Panera guy. I've always been kind of on the fence about Life Alive. On the one hand, it's quirky and veggie and kind of fun, on the other hand I just paid $17 for blended kale. But I feel like their quality has been dropping for a while. This last time was kind of the last straw for me. The Taco Verde bowl was basically a flavorless mix of half-cooked peppers and beans. The "avocado" was a single half of a (small) avocado slapped on top of my hot food. Warm avocado may have been one of the original sins. It inspires the opposite of gluttony. Most of their bowls are things I could make out of a few pennies of raw material. Their prices seem like some kind of social experiment. I don't know if they got worse or I did, but Life Alive is Dead to me. read more

Finding out about Life Alive was the best part of my move to Boston. I love a healthy meal that keeps me full throughout the day and doesn't make me feel all groggy and nasty inside. The best part of this Cafe is that there's quite a few of them so whenever I have to run errands, I just go to the nearest one. My favorites from their grains are their buddha bowl, green goddess bowl (truly feel like a goddess after), adventurer bowl, and their avocado sol. From their salads, I usually opt for the avocado greens or their sesame shiitake tofu (minus the shiitake because unfortunately shiitake and my body don't go well together). But, ALL of their salads are super refreshing and suprisingly very filling. They even have acai bowl and a bunch of smoothies and lattes you can choose from! This place is practically heaven for organic, plant based lovers like me!! I also do recommend trying their homemade hot sauce and umami sauce that they have next to their self serve water bottles. I usually buy their hot sauce which is a little on the pricier side, but so worth it. read more

Life Alive Organic Cafe Central Square - Buddha bowl - Vegetarian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

I love this place for their vibrant bowls packed with flavor and fresh veggies! Their sauces complement each bowl so well and they are incredibly filling. I love the Buddha and Adventure bowl. Their butternut squash bisque and smoothies are also amazing! This is a great place for a quiet, fast casual meal that you know will be delicious and good for you. read more

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The worse. The barista is in such an angry mood and made a horrible drink. I would have asked for refund but long line (god knows how people eat here). I'd rather Drink the oat milk directly from the box than the blue ocean here which is basically oat milk with a drop of whatever blue spirulina syrup. Fancy description zero delivery. Hate that I wasted my money here as I threw it read more

This cafe is SO cool. The decorations, the ambiance, the number of nooks and crannies you can hide away in... it's a perfect place to study, go on a date, meet up with friends, anything. They have so much space in there! Their basement is really cool. Anyways, onto the food. Green Goddess: Delicious. It's so simple, yet so delicious. I think the secret is in the sauce. They have just the right amount of sauce and the flavor of the sauce is finely tuned to perfectly bring together the bowl. It's honestly great inspiration for some DIY veggie bowls at home. Eating these makes me feel so healthy. Prices are fair, too. I would definitely come back. read more

Stopped by while walking through Central Square and this place caught my eye since I was looking for a drink. Cafe has much drink options that revolve around kombucha, wellness shots, etc. The Mexican Hot Chocolate was a very solid choice. I really liked the texture--it was very creamy/foamy, but light due to the coconut milk (I guess like a whipped smoothie or milkshake). The chocolate was very light with a hint of sweetness from the maple and cinnamon, and the cayenne was just enough to give it a kick. The cafe vibe seems like a good place to catch up with friends or study for local students. The service was also very quick and the people very friendly! read more

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I came here for a lunch with coworkers, and I can't believe I haven't tried it earlier even though I work in the area. I got The Fool II, a ginger-sesame udon noodle bowl. It looked like stir fried noodles topped with kale, tofu, onions, shiitake mushrooms, scallions, and carrots. But when I ate it, I was blown away by how good it was. The togarashi flakes at the top added a little bit of a kick to the sesame ginger flavor and I inhaled that bowl in probably under 5 minutes. I also got a coconut milk matcha latte. It was really unique because I've never had coconut milk with matcha before but it worked well together. The coconut flavor made the latte a little bit more refreshing than typical matcha lattes you would get at other places. The best part was that I felt so healthy after eating it! Definitely will be coming back again to try their other dishes too. read more

Life Alive Organic Cafe Central Square - The Fool II - Vegetarian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Life Alive is always a nice choice when you're looking for a meatless meals. Their menu has a variety of dishes including noode-based items, greens, soups, small sides, juices like lemonade, cold press juice, tea, and smoothies. I liked the Fool II, a miso bowl with tofu and lots of veggies. Also enjoyed the açaí bowl (sans coconut because I'm not about coconut life), although it is more a snack size acaí bowl than anything that will keep you full for very long. There is an interesting seating setup downstairs, which is somewhat dimly lit. There are also tables along the window upstairs, but there is usually such a line that it's much calmer to go downstairs to dine. They have also been timely in the past with my pickup orders, and I have appreciated that attention to service. Always a good stop! read more

This is my go-to spot when I want something clean yet tasty. My favorite breakfasts are the blueberry superfood waffles and the breakfast hash. The runny egg on top of the hash is the winner for me. The superfood waffles also have a good amount of blueberries in them. The açaí bowls here are great too. I've tried almost all of them and like the PB&J one the most. I like to mix in the PB with the açaí to get more of a peanutty taste with every bite. The strawberries are fresh and you can watch them prep the açai in front of you! I've stopped by a few times since and also got the breakfast hash both in the restaurant and to-go. It is consistently great, but I do think the portions when you dine in are larger than when you get it to go. The service here is great and the workers are friendly! There is a downstairs as well, and I have never had issues getting a table. read more

Life Alive Organic Cafe Central Square - Breakfast hash - Vegetarian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Wow! I am impressed and not at all surprised this cafe remains in business! I frequented this place nearly a decade ago when I was in school in Boston. It was an early adopter of vegetarian/vegan food that was truly plant based, not synthetic, not solely tofu/falafels. It has cutesy vibe with comfortable, laid back, cushioned seating. The servers were friendly and always giving accurate advice. I am leaving this review so many years later because when my friends travel to Boston, I always have to google "vegan Cambridge" to remember the name. This is of no fault of the cafe- merely many years of hard schooling and being a single parent of twins. I look forward to visiting when I can take my twins back east! read more

Even when I'm not feeling like lunch I know that I can come here for an amazing juice that will leave me feeling nourished and much better than when I came in. The thing I love most about life alive is their interior design, it's very chic and comfy across all locations. I think the one in Kendall square may be my new favorite because of the dark back room for cozy vibes read more

The food used to be so good. I don't know what happened to the quality... I got Swami and it was oily and bland..... The portion was small and they are skimping on the sauce too. Unfortunately, will not go back. read more

Love the feel of this Life Alive location, the seating and decor are really pretty and fit the vibe of Life Alive's food. I got the acai bowl, which was super sweet and yummy, though on the smaller side. It's typically a little packed in there so sometimes it takes some time to find a seat but I've always been able to find a spot to eat. It's a little on the pricier side but worth the cost. read more

Life Alive Organic Cafe Central Square - Acai bowl - Vegetarian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Real cute place with beautiful decor upstairs and downstairs. good and comfortable seating options and a great healthy menu. food and service were both great :) read more

Great to have a vegan food place. The spicy noodle were good though not well mixed with sauce as one big ball of noodles on the plate. The green goddess grain bowl was well executed but short of flavorful due to the bitter sauce. The strawberry smoothie was yummy. Service was mixed as they are understaffed and the chef with the blue bandana, gold rimmed glasses and mustache and beard yelled at us when we asked if we were supposed to wait at the counter or order at the table. Shame. His shitty attitude made its way into the food. read more

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This place was great!! I got the sesame shiitake tofu bowl and added extra tofu and black rice, and it was super filling (in hindsight, could only have added rice and think would've been perfectly filling dinner. Or for lunch, could do just extra tofu without rice). My fav thing about this place is a) the labeling for vegan and gluten free etc and b) the menu! Like I wanted every single thing on there. So many good choices. Ordered to-go for pick up and it was ready when I got there, only spent about 30 sec in the restaurant (aka super efficient). It did look super cute tho. This location had a fair amount of people studying in the back row but there were also date nights going on. Friend loved her açaí bowl, too. read more

Life Alive Organic Cafe Central Square - Sesame shiitake tofu bowl - Vegetarian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

I remember loving Life Alive years ago, and after seeing poor reviews for their Harvard Sq location, thought I'd give the original a try during a recent trip! Food/drinks: I ordered something for take out that was hearty and wholesome but not as good as the Buddha Bowl. I love how easy it was to make modifications to my bowl (it used to be more complicated). I love feeling full but nourished after a meal. Staff were generally helpful, including the dear person who helped me find my food, bag it, and get me cutlery and hot sauce after I'd been waiting. Plenty of seating upstairs and downstairs if you want to stay. read more

One of my favorite options in Central Square. When I first tried Life Alive, I was skeptical as a carnivore and picky salad eater... but now I come by at least once a week! The Emperor is my favorite, so umami and unique. I also love the seasonal specials like the Southwestern Sol. Definitely a staple in the area and one of the cheapest food options as well. I recommend ordering online to skip the line and wait. Those with food allergies should be careful because occasionally, they overlook my request to exclude cheese. I'd just double check the food before diving in. But again this happens maybe every couple of months for me. read more

Cute little spot in Cambridge! Highly recommend if you have the time. It's not very big for seating but overall a great vibe. Lots of variety read more

Life Alive Organic Cafe Central Square - Thai sutra - Vegetarian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Great healthy option with fresh ingredients. Drinks are overpriced, but food is good. I recommend the adventurer bowl if you like hearty and savory grain-based bowls. read more

You walk in, the ambiance is bright yet relaxed. You order at the front, take your time looking at the menu, the servers offer to answer any questions and strike up a friendly conversation. You grab a seat by the window looking onto city hall, enjoying the view as the server brings your Buddha grain bowl in a timely manner. You look at the food, it's VIBRANT and colorful with a healthy & artistic scattering of almonds across the top. You dig in. You become absolutely convinced that you must learn to make this bowl at home. This is honestly the best grain bowl I have ever had. The ginger dressing sitting atop a warm perfectly cooked bed of grains mixed with the crunch of the almonds and the cabbage-- chef's kiss! This place makes healthy food, GOOD food. And all of this for $10.95! Honestly a steal. read more

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I'm not the healthiest eater but really trying to be better this year. Started coming here and I absolutely love it! I'm doing Dry January and replacing tequila shots with wellness shots and they're amazing! I've tried the ginger, turmeric, and wheatgrass - all fresh and made me feel great. I don't even think I've ever had tofu but really enjoyed it in their Elote Salad. It's actually one of the best salads I've ever had. Their Greek Tahini salad was also flavorful and delicious. Staff is super friendly and the ambiance is lovely. I'll be making my way through their menu this year. read more

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Loved the food and drinks and service at the Central Sq location! Had the Swami bowl with the Hot Golden Milk and loved both; so yummy and filling portions! Also, can I say I love healthy food that's earthy and soulful; this was perfectly accomplished The staff was pleasant, too; feels good to spend your money on somebody who actually appreciates your presence with a smile and personable interaction. Worth the monies and time read more

I am not a vegan place. Everything is delicious! My ONLY complaint is that they put salad dressing on the to go salads. Please stop doing this! Salad dressing should never be on salads to go because they get soggy. Most restaurants automatically put sauces on the side with ordering to go, so I didn't remember to ask. read more

Honestly I don't even really know what I ordered but it was amazing. Incredibly fresh and flavorful vegetables and broths. And the fresh pressed juices are wonderful. read more

Life Alive Organic Cafe Central Square - Mellow atmosphere - Vegetarian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts