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Cicada Coffee Bar

4.4 (253 reviews)
ModerateVietnamese, Cafes
Open 9:00 am - 3:00 pm, 5:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Updated 3 months ago

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CICADA COFFEE BAR ATMOSPHERE

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Hipster
Casual
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Recommended Reviews - Cicada Coffee Bar

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Saigon espresso latte

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.

Salmon black rice
Angela L.

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!

Rocky W.

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.

pho salad lemongrass chicken confit
Peter N.

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!

Lemongrass chicken noodle bowl
Alex L.

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.

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.

Pho Salad cured salmon (5/5), Turmeric golden latte (3/5)
Allison J.

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.

Yaourt Nhà Làm (Cicada's Own Viet Yogurt)
Jay S.

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!

Yu Ya H.

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

Monica A.

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.

Babylon Tonic
Shannon-Cody M.

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.

Aya R.

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.

Inside
Sasha M.

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.

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Pho Viet's

Pho Viet's

4.2(591 reviews)
1.5 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!!!

Really terrific food here - we ordered takeout beef pho and banh mi and both were really…read moreexceptional. The only thing I'd say is that this is a bit pricier than some of the other Vietnamese places I've been to, but it's definitely a place I'll be back to often. Beef Pho ($15.95) - The broth here is great - so nice and savory. You can tell that it simmers for a really long time to get all of that flavor from the bones. It has a bit of a sweet note to it as well which is a bit more than I'm used to, but I really liked it still. There was a good amount of meat, and the whole soup experience was great, especially for takeout. They did skimp on the bean sprouts and herbs with takeout though - it was a pretty small amount of veggies, but still a really solid pho. Banh Mi ($9.75) - Yes, the price is a bit high for this one as well but the size was HUGE. The pickled veggies were perfectly sweet and tart, and the cilantro added a nice freshness with the cucumbers. The bread was crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, and the balance of flavors here was really spot on. And, like I said, it was HUGE. Definitely not the cheapest Vietnamese food I've had, but also absolutely delicious - I will be back!

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Pho Viet's - 14. Special Beef Noodle Soup 48. Spring Roll with Vermicelli

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Cicada Coffee Bar - vietnamese - Updated May 2026

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