Cicada is a welcoming Vietnamese restaurant in Cambridge, MA, where down-home comfort meets thoughtful, high-quality dining. Known for its inviting café feel and lively yet relaxed atmosphere, Cicada serves a flavorful mix of banh mi, noodle salads, pastries, coffee, and specialty drinks that make it a favorite for breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner.
Whether you’re stopping in for a quick bite, settling in for a full meal, or simply looking for a great cup of coffee or tea, Cicada brings together the warmth of Vietnamese cooking with the ease of a neighborhood café.
Guests appreciate the fast service, the strong selection of coffee and tea, and the restaurant’s signature local specialties, all of which make it a reliable choice for both everyday meals and special outings.
With a 4.40-star rating based on 688 reviews, Cicada has earned a reputation for consistency, quality, and hospitality. The menu offers something for nearly every kind of diner, from healthy options and organic dishes to small plates, desserts, alcohol, beer, and cocktails.
Its dining experience is equally versatile, with outdoor seating, dine-in, takeaway, delivery, and on-site service available to fit different schedules and preferences. The restaurant’s counter service, bar on site, and comfortable seating make it a convenient and appealing stop for solo dining, casual meetups, romantic evenings, or a more trendy night out.
Reservations are accepted, and dinner reservations are recommended for those planning ahead.
Cicada is also designed with accessibility and comfort in mind, featuring a wheelchair-accessible entrance and toilet so more guests can enjoy a smooth and welcoming visit. Payment is simple and convenient, with credit cards, debit cards, and NFC mobile payments accepted.
Located at 106 Prospect St in Cambridge, Cicada is more than just a place to eat—it is a dependable destination for fresh Vietnamese flavors, quality drinks, and a dining experience that feels both approachable and memorable.
For guests seeking a café that combines great food, excellent service, and a warm atmosphere, Cicada offers a satisfying experience worth returning to again and again.
Popular Items
Frequently ordered and highly recommended items at Cicada
Our Story
Welcome to a place where great food meets warm hospitality. We believe dining is more than just a meal - it's an experience to be savored and shared.
Our kitchen is dedicated to creating dishes that bring people together, using recipes that honor tradition while embracing innovation.
Photos
A glimpse of our restaurant experience
Food & Drinks
(Vegan option)
(Vegan option)
Iggy’s baguette, chicken liver mousse, pickles, and cucumber
Iggy’s baguette, chicken liver mousse, pickles, and cucumber
cashew pesto, pickles, cashews, cilantro/thai basil
cashew pesto, pickles, cashews, cilantro/thai basil
cashew pesto, pickles, cashews, cilantro/thai basil
cashew pesto, cucumber, pickles, cilantro, herbs
cashew pesto, cucumber, pickles, cilantro, herbs
cashew pesto, cucumber, pickles, cilantro, herbs
cashew pesto, cucumber, pickles, cilantro, herbs
Hear from our valued guests
Tried the salmon noodles, very delicious cashew paste! Recommend the sea salt condensed milk coffee, extra hot
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!
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.
Amazing food and a wonderful atmosphere. The flavors are authentic and the service is great. A solid 5-star experience for any Vietnamese food lover. 😘😍🥰❤️
Honestly a lovely dining experience. The food was delicious (I got the duck noodle salad), the atmosphere was delightful and the staff were lovely. But since there's limited seating, don't forget to reserv in advance.
Food is authentic and very refined for the price range. We love the innovative duck pho and the sticky rice. Super friendly hosts also
First time coming here for brunch on a rainy Sunday and while there was a line, it moved quick. Before you try this place, they have signs outside telling you what they have on their menu and how their system works — no laptops, folks order by party, wait for a table and pick up your own food. I would not recommend this spot for anybody wanting a typical sit down experience nor for anyone wanting a place to spend hours in a cafe. That said, this spot is well worth the hype for brunch. I had the pho salad and my friend had the banh mi. Both were incredibly flavorful and refreshing. The iced coffees, though already made half-sweet, were still a tad too sweet for our taste; but that’s expected for Vietnamese coffee.
So good!! The menu is kinda limited, but everything we tried was honestly amazing. Inside is super cute—like, such a perfect date spot. It’s pretty small though, so I’d definitely make a reservation if you’re going on the weekend.
A block away from Central Sq, Cicada is one of our favorite for a cosy dinner. We went there for the second time on a Friday night and had the chicken sticky rice, the salmon avocado tartare as well as the seared salmon rice together with a glass of sparkling wine. The food is inventive and flavorful with appropriate prices for the quality, although not cheap. The perfect place for a date night in Cambridge!
The baked salmon fresh noodle is fresh, light and flavorful. The sea salt coffee here is amazing as well. Outdoor seating is nice, no laptop policy but great to chat and eat with friends.
Common questions about Cicada
Cicada is located at 106 Prospect St, Cambridge, MA 02139, United States, Cambridge, MA, United States.
You can reach Cicada by calling +1 617-714-4766.
Cicada has a rating of 4.4 out of 5 based on 688 customer reviews.
Cicada features the following accessibility: Wheelchair-accessible entrance, Wheelchair-accessible toilet.
Cicada features the following service options: Outdoor seating, On-site services, Takeaway, Dine-in, Delivery.
Cicada features the following highlights: Fast service, Great coffee, Great tea selection, Serves local specialty.
Cicada features the following popular for: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Solo dining.
Cicada features the following offerings: Alcohol, Beer, Cocktails, Coffee, Healthy options, Organic dishes, Quick bite, Small plates, Vegan options, Vegetarian options, Wine.
Cicada features the following dining options: Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch, Dinner, Counter service, Dessert, Seating.
Cicada features the following amenities: Bar on site, Restroom.
Cicada features the following atmosphere: Casual, Cozy, Lively, Quiet, Romantic, Trendy.
Cicada features the following crowd: LGBTQ+ friendly, University students.
Cicada features the following planning: Dinner reservations recommended, Accepts reservations.
Cicada features the following payments: Credit cards, Debit cards, NFC mobile payments.
Cicada features the following parking: Paid street parking.
Cicada features the following pets: Dogs allowed outside.
Business Features
We look forward to welcoming you. Make a reservation or stop by - walk-ins welcome!
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