*cue David Attenborough's voice* the cicada, an elusive creature that spends much of its life underground, only emerging every 17 years. While common knowledge is that they emerge into be adults and mate, what people might not know is that another of their adult goals is to seek out good coffee. And it is in this quaint little store, aptly named cicada that we find some of the most creative coffees. Their sea salt espresso is delectable. The contrast of the sea salt and the sweetness imparted by the condensed milk blends together with coffee to form a truly great drink. The only thing that would make it truly great is if they have wifi so I could live here like one of those underground cicadas, emerging for coffee read more

Cicada Coffee Bar - Vietnamese Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Cicada is probably my favorite Viet cafe in the area! Their take on Viet food is very novel, but the flavors are still authentic. We got the baked salmon banh mi and the cured salmon pho noodle salad. The portions were bigger than expected as well. The cured salmon noodle salad was both our favorite, but the banh mi was great as well! We had a pumpkin orange peel cookie, which was delicious. I want to go back to try their dinner too! read more

Cicada Coffee Bar - Baked salmon banh mi and cured salmon noodle salad - Vietnamese Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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The positive reviews are for good reason. This place is so cozy, has great vibes, and delicious drinks and food. The signage gives a clear picture of what to expect before you enter and the menu at lunchtime is simple but everything was flavorful. I got the turmeric latte and it was so good. Just a tad sweet to offset the spicy turmeric. I also got the smoked salmon bowl and love that it comes with black rice. It was pretty salty for my taste buds but I ate the whole thing (much better when the salmon pieces are all mixed in.) My friend and I sat outside in the small courtyard. You bus your own tables so sometimes if a party prior forgets to do that there's just empty plates on tables which is kind of frustrating. Bathroom is tiny. Overall had a great time with my friend and would totally return to try more menu items. read more

Cicada Coffee Bar - Salmon bowl - Vietnamese Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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the decoration is so pretty, all the polaroids and photos are soo vibey, i would go to cicada to do some light drawing and writing, i wouldn't go there for the food, i just don't like it as much. i do recommend the iced sea salt shaker (drink) it's very yummy! read more

I love the interior of this place -- it kinda feels like you're stepping into someone's home. The space is tight but the atmosphere is cozy. It's self-service here, so you order at the front, pick up your order by the bar, and clean up after yourself. My friends and I usually just walk in and grab a seat, but I know you can make reservations (you might want to consider this if going at a busier time since the space is small and it's not unusual to see a line out the door here). The food here is rooted in traditional Vietnamese dishes and flavors, and puts them in new and less common contexts -- a few examples include their baked salmon bahn mi, and their pho noodle salads. I would recommend coming here for dinner since (I think) the menu is a little bigger and I prefer the items available on their dinner menu. For me, this is a good choice for special night out where you're looking for a place with a cool atmosphere and a unique menu. The dishes here are not super filling (at least for me) but most really yummy! Personal favorites include their purple rice bowls and their pho salads. There are a few protein options for each but I recommend the baked salmon or duck confit options if they are available! If you come earlier in the day (when they are still serving coffee drinks), I definitely recommend the sea salt shaker (it's one of their more popular items, and deservingly so). read more

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A quaint coffee spot! Seating indoors is harder to come by, but there is more seating outside in the back patio area that's also quieter (and much cuter). We ordered at the front counter and had our drinks made in front of us while we paid. The service was pretty quick and the wait in line was only about 10 minutes. The iced sea salt shaker drink itself is premade, but shaken with ice when you order. It's a little on the sweet side and has the classic cafe sua da flavor. The saigon espresso latte was rich and pretty standard. Overall, a cute coffee shop with limited but solid coffee options. Would love to come back to try the food offerings as I've heard many good things! read more

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4.5 rounded up to 5 (5 for cafe section, 4 for dinner) The sea salt shaker coffee is fantastic - the perfect balance of sweet and saltiness, extremely creamy, and quite a potent caffeine kick. There are several small tables that make it perfect for catching up with a small group of people, though there are often waits on weekends. Additional bonus that they stock pastries from Cafe Beatrice. Tried their duck noodle soup off the dinner menu - the duck was tender, but the soup portion fell a bit flat for me. Noodles were on the thicker side. Also, their level of spiciness is higher than other vietnamese restaurants (mild = medium spice at other restaurants). Vibes are fun though with great mood lighting. Dishes are picked up at the counter and have to be bused to the back at the end of the meal, though they do take your order at your table. read more

Had a reservation at 8 on a Saturday and it was pretty empty. The service was okay, except it definitely felt like we had to keep asking for more water, to be served, etc. I thought the salmon rolls were fresh and went well with the peanut sauce. The short rib rice bowl was really great- i thought the meat was juicy and the texture of the grainy rice was nice with the soft meat, and the crunchiness of the toppings all went together. It's a pretty small space with an outdoor section, but the atmosphere is very ambient and cozy. read more

Cicada Coffee Bar - short rib bowl - Vietnamese Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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First of all, the restaurant ambience was absolutely on point, old traditional Vietnamese decor inspired. It reminded me of home. The service was fantastic. The foods were so delicious especially the duck salad. We will definitely come back. read more

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Such a cute venue, usually the lines are super long. I came here around 1:30PM on a Saturday and there was maybe a 4-5 person line for the counter. I've seen people line up out onto the sidewalk, though, so be prepared for a little bit of a wait. Would HIGHLY recommend the Sea Salt Shaker. It was almost reminiscent of salted caramel--the salt level perfectly complemented the richness of the sweetened condensed milk and the roast of the coffee. I would come back just for the coffee. Would also recommend the Lemongrass Chicken Banh Mi. The chicken was juicy and super flavorful, and the veggies added a great crunch to the sandwich. Will definitely be coming back to try their other menu items--they all looked delicious! read more

Cicada Coffee Bar - Sea Salt Shaker (coffee, sea salt, sweetened condensed milk) - Vietnamese Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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Not going to update too much but just want to highlight the friendly service (both staff members were super kind). Super slow during the weekday before noontime lunch service. Although it closes at 2 pm they mostly just stop food service but I do believe you can continue sitting outside. read more

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This place is adorable ambiance 10/10 food delicious - had the duck noodle soup and mushroom spring rolls. Quite different from authentic Vietnamese flavors but yummy nonetheless. Also really adorable and sweet workers read more

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The food here is incredible and their signature coffee drink is absolutely delicious (but huge and sweet, we could have split it) I got the noodles which were great but the forbidden rice dish stole the show, definitely will be back! read more

Sea salt latte was amazing but had ALOT of ice. Pretty popular location with fun decorations and ambient lighting. We were served quickly and there is self serve water available in the back. Would come again for that latte! read more

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

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I put in effort to get here on my trip while I'm in town for a conference. It was a whole ordeal with weather, parking, walking, and everything just to come try this shop. Unfortunately I was met with a pretty unfriendly cashier and a less than pleasant experience initially. It's not clear ANYWHERE that their coffee service ends at 5-everything online reflects open until 10. This was SUPER disappointing to me since that was my central purpose in coming here. I got there around 6:30 and didn't have trouble getting a table, although it was packed and a tight space. Once my name was called for my order, things began to look up. The chef was super sweet and the food was dope. Lots of flavors that were pleasantly surprising. I will be thinking about the duck rice bowl for awhile! And I had to try the house made yogurt--it was awesome! This could just be a lesson in kindness because you never know what someone is going through when you treat them inhospitably. read more

Cicada Coffee Bar - Vietnamese Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Cute little restaurant in Central Square. I've walked past this place a couple of times at night and It looks really unassuming from the outside, but there was a line out the door during lunch time. They have a variety of different foods such as noodles, rice, pastries (I believe their pasties come from Cafe Beatrice), and coffee. There isn't a lot of seating inside, so go earlier in the day to avoid the lunch rush. I got their Vietnamese coffee which was really strong and their Chocolate Creme Brulee w/ Marmalade Marshmallow. The pasty was not overly sweet and was just the right item to pair with the coffee. read more

Cicada Coffee Bar - Vietnamese Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

The place didn't look like much from the outside, but you walk in and it feels like the Harry Potter Goblet of Fire tent. The noodle salad with salmon was simply delicious. There is no denying they know what they're doing here. Is it authentic? I have no idea and frankly I do not care. It's so good. Service had a little bit of attitude toward us before we even said anything - likely induced by the stress of the small space and the high volume of visitors. Still, had we been warmly welcomed this place would have ultimately been a taste of Heaven and therefore 5 stars. Check it out if you're in the area! read more

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A curious concept -- a coffee bar by day and a wine bar by night. We opted for the wine bar. Not sure we made the right choice. The staff was very accommodating, as we tried a variety of different wines -- including a delicious orange wine. We found the menu to be limited for our taste, made even more so because they quickly ran out of the duck dish that we had been eyeing. Place is tiny, which left us feeling cramped by the end of the evening. All told, it was fine but not worth a special trip for us, who don't live in the neighborhood. read more

This tiny little cafe/bar has hands down my favorite golden milk latte. It's almost like a chai but without the tea! As someone who has been taking a break from caffeine, it was the perfect substitute. My friends had the lemongrass ginger iced tea and one of the lattes with condensed milk and both enjoyed them as well. We will definitely be coming back for the drinks! We also tried the two vegan bahn mi's and didn't enjoy them that much. There wasn't enough in there to pack enough flavor for what we were used to in other bahn mi's. The service was great, we had allergies in the party and they were able to tell us what we can and can't have and make accommodations. The space is small so be prepared to wait if you come during busy hours or the weekend. There are a few tables and make sure to clean up after yourself. Some tables are also designated as no laptop zones. They also have a bar and dinner menu when they reopen in the evening. We will definitely be returning to check that out! read more

Cicada Coffee Bar - Lemongrass ginger iced tea, golden milk latte and iced latte - Vietnamese Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Came here for dinner and it was ~okay - the food was fresh and nothing was wrong with the seasoning, it was just not memorable. Felt like a better-plated sweet greens salad that costed 50% more. I would say the spot was quite cozy, so I can see it being a nice cafe during the day. People rave about the coffee so I should probably give that a try next time. read more

A pretty little neat coffee shop that also serves food. We had their sea salt shaker and turmeric golden milk latte. Both the drinks were very good. The sea salt shaker is their version of the Vietnamese iced coffee. I only needed a little bit of that to feel the caffeine kick in. read more

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I cannot understand the hype. The cured salmon pho salad was pretty good, with a bright and fresh pesto sauce. The duck confit banh mi was as dry as a brick. Isn't duck supposed to be tender? Service is meh and they make you bus your own tables (even though they ask for a tip). read more

Cicada Coffee Bar - Duck confit banh mi - Vietnamese Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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The food is amazing, the people are nice, and the backyard seating is idyllic on a nice day. This is one of my favorites places to eat, very vegan friendly. read more

The food was good. Service was okay. We came on a Wednesday night and it was quite busy. There was quite a waitlist so make a reservation if you're planning to come here. We waited outside for 20 minutes for a table. The host mentioned that we would be seated at a communal table which I expected to be a circular table close to each other, but it was a long bench separated with small blocks for dividers. It was the perfect amount of space. The food was so light and refreshing. It was interesting to taste the Vietnamese fusion dishes that incorporated duck. The flavors mixed so well. The lady forgot our wines and also forgot the drinks for the table next to us which was the only downside. It's located on a busy street so there is not parking immediately in front of the restaurant read more

Cicada Coffee Bar - Vietnamese Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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Y'all. What a cute lil spot! There's usually a line so I would either make a reservation or get there when it opens. This place is cozy and cute. Dishes are flavorful, light, and fresh. We ordered the mushroom noodle salad, cured salmon noodle salad, banh mi, and duck rice dish. Everything was really good, though the mushroom noodle salad really stood out to me. These are cold noodle dishes and very refreshing on a summer day. It's a bus-your-own table kind of place, so service wise, it's as good as you make it to be because you serve yourself. I'm excited to try the other offerings on the menu read more

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

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Cicada is a cozy coffee bar that serves delicious coffee and delicious pastries -- what more could you ask for? Sea salt coffee - So sweet, salty, delicious, and gone too soon. Vietnamese coffee is normally quite strong and sweet, so the salt provides a nice and noticeable contrast. Nearly positive I inhaled this in one sip, and I came back just a few days later to get more -- if you are a sweet tooth, you'll love this drink! Passion fruit brioche - My friends and I were obsessed. The passion fruit cream was especially soft with a nice balance between sweetness and tartness. We were incredibly close to buying some to fly home with us. Cicada also seems like a good place to work from before 3PM (after which laptops aren't allowed). There was a pretty sizeable line on a weekend morning around 10am, but it was practically empty when I came by on a weekday morning around 9am. read more

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

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The signage is for the coffee shop is hard to see but it's right across from Whole Foods. I walked right by thinking it was a closed plant store because the windows were so dark. Also, the hours on yelp and on their website doesn't indicate that they are open for dinner but they are. Check their instagram for more accurate hours. The vibes were hip coffee shop meets new Vietnamese fusion. We got a few things to share including green papaya salad and roasted mushroom spring rolls. The rolls tasted like classic fresh Vietnamese with mushroom for the protein wi the a good dipping sauce. The papaya salad was light and could use more acid and fish sauce. I got the pho noodle salad which was really good and refreshing! It had a pesto like sauce on thick rice noodles with cucumber and cured salmon. It was different but it worked well together! The service kinda confusing, but you order at the register and pick up your food at the counter. read more

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Very cute place. It feels cozy, like you're entering someone's home. You wait in line and order food at the counter then find a spot and pick up your food. You also bus your own plates. The place gets really busy during lunch and right before they close. We got there at 1 and wasn't too busy! They have smallish bites. I got the sea salt shaker coffee and it is really really sweet, but delicious if that's what you're craving. I also got the charred eggplant banh mi. It was fine. It didn't taste like much. read more

RATS, RATS, RATS, RATS!! They should be closed for allowing customer to eat in the backyard. We spoke to the server and was told it's a neighbor issue and she has to spray the back everyday. There are reviews from 2022 that complains about this. It's crazy to think people still eat here. As for the food. It's way too overpriced for what you get. Instead of having authentic vietnamese food, they rather overcharge for Asian entrees that they label as vietnamese. Save yourself some money and support local authentic locations in Chinatown and Dorchester. read more

Cicada is my go to place to grab a great cup of coffee and a relax. It is such a cute little coffee shop with a great atmosphere- it's very crowded and cozy inside. In the summer they have the most adorable outdoor patio that about doubles how much seating they have. The menu at Cicada is small, but still has plenty of options, including vegan and vegetarian, and everything on the menu is exquisite. It's all Vietnamese, but the dishes are creative and beautifully plated. It's a great date spot or place to go with friends! read more

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Ambiance was great. Didn't like my salmon bowl because the fish was not fresh but service kindly changed to the duck bowl for me read more

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location: located right off central sq red line stop. It's maybe a 5-10 min walk, right near the whole foods. price: main dishes range from $10-16. Drinks/pastries are around $5 each food: really fresh and fusion. The presentation was so colorful for the main dishes. The salmon was so tasty and creamy. I tried both the rice bowls and noodle salad. Both were really solid choices and it felt really healthy to me. The portions were really good as well. The latte was quite refreshing, and the condensed milk really added to a perfect balance of sweetness. The duck broth was also a good palate cleanser and soothing for my throat. The papaya salad was skippable imo. atmosphere: really relaxing and comforting. The outdoor patio in the back was the perfect spot to enjoy a lunch with friends.This could be a really good date spot. It can get very crowded though during meal rushes, but the space was so full of greenery. It def didn't feel like I was in boston, lol, and it felt more like i was in nyc for how trendy the space felt. last remarks: lovely little gem in the cambridge area! the menu is quite limited, and it felt like the options were the same meals but in different presentations (banh mi vs rice vs noodles) either way, all variations were superb. I'd def go again. read more

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Came here for lunch. There's a cute outdoor space outside with a sandlot. I ordered the black rice with baked salmon but they gave me a noodle salad instead. Oh well, it was still good! I also got the hibiscus tea, which is sweetened with honey. For caffeine options, they only have coffee; the only kinds of tea they have are uncaffeinated. read more

Cicada Coffee Bar - Hibiscus tea, baked salmon noodle salad - Vietnamese Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

3/5 Food: 2/5 Service 2.5/5 Vibe: 5/5 Recently came here for dinner, and the ambiance made a first good impression. Overall, prices were steep for portion and quality. We had ordered the cured salmon spring rolls to share as an appetizer. It didn't taste super fresh and the cashew sauce with the salmon was an odd pairing. For the entrees we got the braised short ribs with wild rice and the duck noodle soup, which both lacked flavor and authenticity in the true flavors of Vietnam. The service was fine. We felt a little rushed, however, it was a Friday night. I think you would be better off coming here for the vibe and drinks... read more

This is a hip, fusion Vietnamese cafe. There are select few types of dishes - small plates, rice bowls, and banh mi sandwiches. I enjoyed the baked salmon banh mi, but overpriced. See the photo - it was quite thin. I've had many an authentic banh mi sandwich which has a stuffed-to-the-brim baguette. The salmon was good, and the sandwich was well balanced in flavor (although the baguette could have been served at a warmer temperature). My belly was also satisfied, but again, be warned the prices are on the higher end given the dishes. My friend did report that the coffee here is pretty good! read more

Cicada Coffee Bar - salmon banhmi - Vietnamese Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Cicada has a system where you order at the front and then take a seat somewhere. Although seemingly small, they had outdoor seating further down, which was not too bad. My friend and I took a seat at the bar counter and ordered the Black Rice Baked Salmon, Banh Mi Chicken Confit, and Sea Salt Shaker (iced). I loved the sea salt shaker. It had the perfect balance of coffee, milk, and sea salt without either ingredient overwhelming the other. I would come back here just for the coffee. I took a bite of my friend's banh mi chicken confit. It was not bad, but not so impressive for the price. I really enjoyed the black rice baked salmon. The salmon quality was great, and the flavor of the dish blended well without being too overwhelming. I wish the portion were a bit bigger as I cleaned out the dish sooner than I expected. The food took a bit to come out, but not too long. I liked how they prepare the drinks as soon as you order, so you get them quickly. They had water by the back entrance and containers where you can place your dirty dishes after you are finished. Overall, I would rate this spot as 4.5 stars (rounded up to 5) as everything tasted pretty good, and I would come back mainly for their coffee. read more

Cicada Coffee Bar - Sea Salt Shaker (Iced) - Vietnamese Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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I got the sea salt shaker. It had an excellent Vietnamese iced coffee based, smoky, bitter, and sweet. The sea salt took it to another level, reminding me of salted caramel. read more

Cicada Coffee Bar - Sea salt shaker - Vietnamese Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

This is tied for my favorite Vietnamese coffee in the city it is sooo good and the sea salt is chef's kiss I need to come back here and try the food but I highly highly recommend getting this read more

Cicada Coffee Bar - Sea salt shaker - Vietnamese Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

This place is popping! Lunch starts at 11, but by 11:30 on the weekend, the line was out the door. I ordered to go: food was ready for pickup, and they make drinks when you get there. My order included the pho noodle with smoked salmon, the banh mi with smoked salmon, and the sea salt shaker. Pho noodle salad with smoked salmon: For 14.50, I was surprised by the portion size--it was smaller than I'd expect re: noodles. You can see the amount of noodles in my picture: not a lot. There was a good amount of salmon, plated as a ball. It was not standard smoked salmon; this salmon was more cooked than smoked, and didn't resemble the picture on square site. The flavors were great; I just wish the noodle portion size were more generous. Banh mi with smoked salmon: I felt like the portion of carb to salmon was a lot more reasonable than with the pho noodle salad. The salmon again appeared more cooked than smoked. The flavors were great, and the bread was nice and fluffy. Sea salt shaker: As others have commented, this drink appears sweet by default. Because I got takeout, I was able to dilute it with milk; it was still very flavorful but at a sugar level that's more manageable ! The salt and coffee combination work well. Definitely ask about less sugar if that's a concern for you. read more

Cicada Coffee Bar - Cured salmon pho salad and bahn mi, sea salt shaker - Vietnamese Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

My favorite coffee spot! The inside is very cozy and people come here to do some light work as well. I've only come for breakfast, but after lunch time they serve Vietnamese food. I got a yogurt parfait and the hibiscus cold brew. The yogurt tasted like the yogurt I'd eat in Vietnam growing up, and the hibiscus cold brew was refreshing and you could really taste the hints of hibiscus. I'll definitely come back for the lunch food. read more

Cicada Coffee Bar - Vietnamese Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts