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    Phinista Cafe

    4.3 (46 reviews)
    Open 8:00 am - 8:00 pm
    Updated 3 weeks ago

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    PHINISTA CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Good for groups
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Phinista Cafe

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    sea salt coffee
    Ilmaa H.

    They currently have a $3 coffee deal between 8am-10am. We tried the regular and the sea salt vietnamese coffee. I got the regular one less sweet, which I think meant they just added less condensed milk which resulted in basically an americano. I wish I could have still had a creamy drink, just less sugary, but I get it. The sea salt cream was also decent, and for $3 it can't be beat. The cafe is great to do some work from. There is a variety of seating and outlets. I even tried a taro bun and it was pretty tasty. You definitely need some carbs to go with the super acidic vietnamese coffee.

    Pandan cheesecake Ube tiramisu
    Evelyn W.

    Really enjoyed the drinks I had here! The kyoto fog was delicious and their matcha tastes good. The desserts I got were okay, they didn't have a strong ube or pandan flavor like I thought they would. Really interested in trying their coffees and other pastries.

    London Fog, Pandan Matcha Latte
    Thao L.

    The drinks were REALLY good!! Their kyoto fog is to die for and their matcha lattes are really bomb. But their pandan and ube flavor are really bland and you can't taste it in drinks or pastries. Their pastries are mid though so you can go without.

    Strawberry Matcha Latte
    Mia S.

    Such lovely ambience, kind employees, and everything I've tried is delicious! The Iced Saigonese is so dreamy. Can't wait to visit again next time I'm in Cambridge :)

    Maple 5 Spice Latte.
    Lindsey H.

    Loved it here! A cute little cafe with a good amount of seating if you want to work or just stop in for a quick drink they have space for it all. They have a pretty solid menu with bites, pastries, and of course multiple drink options. I'll give them a couple of extra points for their taste in music. It was a really nice vibe in there. The service was standard. They were a tad busy, so it took a while for my drink, but the food was ready almost immediately.

    Ayatt A.

    This is such a cute cafe with lots of seating and natural sunlight. The staff working are so nice and are willing to explain different drinks to you. I had a strawberry matcha and got one of the vietnamese inspired coffees for my mom. We both loved our drinks and thought the quality of ingredients used was excellent. Can't wait to come back!

    Ube Cheesecake (Gluten Free)
    Nat B.

    One of my favorite cafes in Cambridge! It is a cute little Viet cafe that sells multi-Asian food fare and beverages, and it is conveniently located next to Porter Square. I got their Ube Matcha Latte with Whole Milk and Ube Cheesecake, and they are both authentically ube and delicious! They have several seating areas ranging from high top tables to couches. Near the entrance, there is a community board area, where people can post advertisements and event fliers. It's great that a cafe has a space for people to share what's going on in the community. Also, they used to have a piano, but it looks like it has since been replaced with a table. They play chill music in the background, great for getting work done, and they also have free fast Wi-Fi. There are cute Polaroids of the staff and artwork on the pillar that I enjoy looking at.

    Grilled BBQ Pork Banh Mi & Iced Saigonese Sea Salt Phin
    Connie L.

    Phinista is a great addition to Porter Square - It's the perfect spot for a cozy cafe day. They're very busy, so you'll have better luck finding a spot on the weekdays compared to the weekends. In terms of the menu, their Iced Saigonese is the most popular drink and for good reason. It's a bold coffee combined with a salty & sweet cold foam. Very delicious. I think their banh mis are good but not great. The bread is nicely toasted, but the pork was a tad dry. Otherwise the flavors are decent. Staff is nice too, they're very sociable and helpful.

    Cold brew with orange cold foam
    Niamh M.

    Nice cold brew with orange cold foam! Giving 4/5 because it was $8 which is very expensive! Will go back to try the biscoff cheesecake but will get a different coffee, $8 is a bit much

    Banana bread pudding iced matcha latte
    Casey A.

    I love the matcha at this cafe. In full disclosure, I've only had the matcha and one pastry, so I can't speak to the actual savory food. But I'll give the cafe 5 stars for the matcha alone. I love that the matcha is whisked for every order, and you can control your sweetness level. I've had just a plain matcha and it's the perfect level of grassiness/not bitter. I also tried their banana bread pudding matcha, and it might be my favorite thing ever. It's slightly sweet and a little salty. I would warn that every time I've stopped in, it's been really busy on the weekend so there may not be available seating. However, definitely recommend!

    Ube matcha latte
    Alyanna T.

    My partner and I shared an ube matcha latte and nutella walnut cookie - TASTE: 5/5 - wasn't expecting much ube from the latte, but the flavor was actually there! And the sweet Nutella and contrasting walnut hit the spot. Curious to try their food TEXTURE: 4/5 - satisfying cookie w creamy Nutella and crunchy walnut pieces PRICE: 4/5 - paid $13 total SERVING SIZE: 4/5 - the cookie we got was smaller than the one on display, but otherwise satisfied our post-lunch sweet treat craving SERVICE: 4/5 - walked in at 1:30pm on a Saturday and the space was packed w almost every seat taken. Drink was ready 5min after ordering ATMOSPHERE: 4/5 - cafe vibe w lots of students and cozy touches PARKING: 4/5 - got a metered street spot on Mass Ave

    Lemongrass Steak Banh MiLemongrass
    Tiffany C.

    Been hearing great things about this new spot and wanted to check it out! Great ambiance with nice music playing - definitely hard to get seats on a weekend and most seats are communal. Long line when we arrived so we ordered online which was the wrong move haha, our order ended up taking much longer because we didn't just order at the counter. Staff was kind albeit stressed! Matcha is authentic and a good portion. I tried the strawberry matcha and appreciated that they used real strawberries The sandwich is decent but mine may have suffered from getting caught in the rain Saw someone with a delicious looking plate eating in, if I return I'll have to give that a try!

    Karla C.

    I am obsessed with matcha lattes and have tried a bunch of coffee shops in the Cambridge/Boston area and Phinista is my #1 go-to spot. Service is always great and staff are friendly. Drinks always come out fast. My go-to is an iced matcha latte with oat milk, 50% sweetness. Their matcha is ceremonial grade and the perfect strength. At other places I usually have to ask to double the matcha, but here their 5 gram serving is perfect. It's hand whisked and not a prepped concentrate which is important. Have also tried their rice bowls and breakfast croissants and loved both. Ooh and their cinnamon rolls are so yummy! Atmosphere is a cute vibe. Couches are available to sit at as well as high top counters which you can sit at to people watch, and other tables and chairs. It's usually busy, but I can always find a table to work at. WiFi is available which is also a plus. May sometimes be spotty though. Overall, love this spot.

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    Ask the Community - Phinista Cafe

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    An Nam - BEEF - VERMICELLI PLATE

    An Nam

    4.0(129 reviews)
    2.0 mi

    Came here on a saturday evening for dinner. We didn't have a reservation so we had to wait roughly…read more20-25 minutes. Service was friendly and helpful, we got everything we needed and within a reasonable time. For appetizers we ordered the banh khot which were tasty and crispy, the shrimp tasted fresh. For entrees the table shared the signature fine vermicelli platter. The menu stated that the proteins are the chef's choice and the server mentioned that portions were enough for 3-4 people. The meat included in the platter were all deliciously flavored and cooked nicely. It came with fresh lettuce and herbs to pair with the meat. Our table also ordered a clay pot catfish which was caramelized in a tasty sauce that paired perfectly with the plain white rice. Overall, this is a good place for a meal with family or friends. The seating is comfortable and the restaurant interior is clean and nicely decorated.

    I've been coming to this restaurant since it first opened, and it's been a hit in the area ever…read moresince! Their food is consistently top-notch and made with high-quality ingredients. You really can't go wrong, and I always enjoy trying something different from the menu. The space is on the smaller side and can get busy in the evenings, but the wait usually isn't too long. I highly recommend this spot if you're craving pho or authentic Vietnamese food. Definitely worth checking out!

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    An Nam - Chicken bowl

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    Cicada Coffee Bar - Baked salmon with black rice

    Cicada Coffee Bar

    4.4(257 reviews)
    1.7 miCentral Square
    $$

    Delicious coffee, super cute space, and refreshing food…read more 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!

    Came here on a sunday evening around 7:45 PM without a reservation, and were quickly seated at the…read morebar. 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.

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    Coffee bar

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    Decor

    Pho Viet's

    Pho Viet's

    4.2(593 reviews)
    2.5 miAllston/Brighton
    $$

    I wish I have a picture to show but we ate it way too fast!!!…read more Pho Viet is an absolute go to. I might get some angry comments for saying this but pho Viet has the best cold cut banh mi in all of Massachusetts!! I will post again when I go next time and get some pictures. As someone who was born and raised in Dorchester, And ba Le was the only spot we would go. With inflation and increase in cost, I felt like the quality just kept lacking. The cold cuts are extremely thin and lack amounts of butter and pate. Pho Viet banh mi are so filling the ham was the right about of thickness that it gives a good texture when you bite into it, the veggies are extremely fresh and not does look like it's been sitting out all day. Even my parents ask me to grab them some every time I visit them in Dorchester!! Must try!!!

    My true rating would be a 3.5/3.75. Great option if you're looking for a quick, casual meal in…read moreBoston. Ordering was easy. You order at the counter, find a seat, and the food comes out pretty quickly. We had the summer rolls and the vegan ramen. The summer rolls were fresh and flavorful, and the peanut sauce was especially good. The vegan ramen was also enjoyable, with good-quality ingredients and a satisfying broth. My only real critique is that I wish there were more options to add heat. I tend to like my noodle soups on the spicier side, and I would have loved more chili oil, hot sauce, or other spicy condiments to customize the flavor. There was also SO much broccoli and that really took over the soup, I wish there was a bit more variability or balance in the veggies. Overall, the food was tasty, the quality was solid, and the service was fast.

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    Catering Order: Combination Fried Rice, Lo Mein, Egg Rolls & Chicken Wings

    Pho Viet's - 25. Spicy Beef Noodle Soup

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    Viet Citron

    Viet Citron

    4.3(330 reviews)
    7.4 mi
    $$

    I often pop in here after getting my allergy shots in Burlington. It's the perfect place for a…read moreseamlessly, easy lunch, and it quickly became one of my favorite spots in the area for really good Vietnamese food. The inside is modern and bright, and it's great for either sitting down or grabbing takeout. You order through a kiosk, and sometimes the summer rolls aren't listed on it. I usually ask if they have any made that day, and I always grab one order if they do. They have great lunch specials from 11AM to 2PM that come with a drink. My go-to is the Banh Hoi Bowl with Crispy Pork Belly. The pork belly comes in huge chunks, and when you get those extra crispy pieces, it's a real treat. I'm still testing out the drinks to find my favorite, the Fresh Salty Limeade is a little too mild for me and the Passionfruit Jasmine Iced Tea is okay. Parking is easy, with spots right in front and wrapped around to the back in the lot they share with a clinic. Overall Service: The service here is always great, and everyone is friendly. I recently had a newer girl, or maybe I haven't seen her before working, who was telling me about the specials. She made them sound so good that I'm definitely ordering one on my next visit.

    Tasty but oh so expensive. I have the privilege of living near Boston and have options for pho and…read morebanhmi but for the Burlington area- I think this is a solid choice. This is the most expensive banhmi I have ever ordered and while tasty, it's not mind blowing. The pho was also good but for $25, I have complaints that the noodles were a bit over done and broke into small pieces when we got it. The service was quick- perfect for lunch during the middle of a work day and has enough seating to not need to wait.

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    Nice seating

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    Grilled sirloin banh mi

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    Phinista Cafe - breakfast_brunch - Updated September 2026

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