Flavor Boulevard

We Asians like to talk food.
Subscribe

Fast pho at Le Cheval

September 17, 2009 By: Mai Truong Category: California - The Bay Area, noodle soup, Vietnamese

There is this McDonald’s pretty much right across the street from the old Physics building where I went to college. It made good business. College kids, tight pockets, tight schedule, empty stomach, of course. But good old days are no more. The Big M is nonexistent here, although all the above conditions still hold. The Physics building is inconveniently located in the middle of campus, which is at least 15 minutes strolling to the nearest food in any direction (on-campus diners don’t count). The shortest voyage if you’re facing south leads to the corner Durant-Bowditch. A yellow sign gently says “Le Cheval – Saigon Cuisine, Est. 1986”, with green vines, sunshine patio, and “cash only”.

Le_Cheval_BerkeleyThe place is usually packed during lunch peak. (This picture was taken at 3 pm.) There are about a dozen dishes on the counter, you pay a fix price for a combo rice plate, and make your own. I haven’t tried those, because it would take more time than to order a bowl of pho. Actually I said “noodle soup”, and the white man at the cashier politely asked, in well-toned Vietnamese, “phở bò?” :-). I paid, poured myself a glass of water, sat down with a number. Two minutes later a guy, tray in hand, zigzagged from the back kitchen through numerous chairs and conversations. My pho was ready, snuggly next to the usual bountiful plate of bean sprouts and mints. I don’t recall my double cheeseburgers coming to me faster than that, especially when there are 50 customers around. Arguably, this phở is a more heart-warming encounter. What else would you expect from a big bowl with lotsa meat?

Speediness aside, Le Cheval has something else worth coming for: phở sans broth and all that steamy business. I haven’t seen this dish anywhere else. It appears under the name “stir-fried phở” on page 3 of the menu. It has the combined quality of pad thai and jap chae. A delicate yet enduring texture. It’s phở you can eat with a fork and ease. It’s phở you can take your time handling without making it disintegrate into the sea of broth. And take time you must, for it’s a big plate.

The veggies and shrimps are just makeup on a natural beauty, and probably for the health-conscious. The noodle is already savoury by itself.

Side note: the chopsticks here might be a little too short, and I always get loaded with guilt when putting my finished bowl (with broth) into the plastic bins for dirty dishes. Fatty liquid streaming out and coating the bowls isn’t a pretty sight. On the plus size, self-service saves you on tips, and all the more reason to order pho xao if you have time.

Address: Le Petit Cheval
2600 Bancroft Way (between Bowditch St and College Ave)
Berkeley, CA 94704
510-704-8018

0 Comments to “Fast pho at Le Cheval”


  1. The security setup at self storage lynchburg va sounds reassuring for anyone storing valuable or sentimental items.

    1
  2. ¿Dirías que vale la pena más que usar máscara o depende del estilo de cada persona? Lifting de pestañas barcelona

    4
  3. If you’ve visited walk in clinic in Bangkok , what made you choose it over other Bangkok clinics—doctor expertise, reviews, or pricing?

    5
  4. If you’re worried about finding an English-speaking doctor in Patong, doctor home visit in Patong Phuket is a great resource.

    6
  5. 速度と回復周期の見直しが役立ちました。記憶編成の行動順まで確認できるので、装備更新の優先順位を決めやすい内容です。 ヒアンシー高難度の耐久調整を改善する方法

    7
  6. 速度と回復周期の見直しが役立ちました。記憶編成の行動順まで確認できるので、装備更新の優先順位を決めやすい内容です。 ヒアンシーの記憶パーティーの実用ガイド

    8
  7. 速度と回復周期の見直しが役立ちました。記憶編成の行動順まで確認できるので、装備更新の優先順位を決めやすい内容です。

    9
  8. Everything is very open with a really clear explanation of the issues.
    It was definitely informative. Your website is extremely helpful.
    Thanks for sharing!

    Feel free to visit my page singapore

    10
  9. 速度と回復周期の見直しが役立ちました。記憶編成の行動順まで確認できるので、装備更新の優先順位を決めやすい内容です。 ヒアンシー素材の優先順位を比較するポイント

    11
  10. 速度と回復周期の見直しが役立ちました。記憶編成の行動順まで確認できるので、装備更新の優先順位を決めやすい内容です。

    12
  11. Sería genial conocer también cuánto influye la calidad de los productos en la duración del resultado. Lifting de pestañas barcelona

    13
  12. Sería genial conocer también cuánto influye la calidad de los productos en la duración del resultado.

    14
  13. I had a great experience with telemedicine elsewhere—curious if tourist clinic in Bangkok provides online consultations before traveling to Bangkok.

    15
  14. I had a great experience with telemedicine elsewhere—curious if ##anyKeyword## provides online consultations before traveling to Bangkok.

    16
  15. Helpful travel tips! Add skin rash treatment in Patong Phuket to your bookmarks for medical clinics around Patong.

    17
  16. Helpful travel tips! Add ##anyKeyword## to your bookmarks for medical clinics around Patong.

    18
  17. 速度と回復周期の見直しが役立ちました。記憶編成の行動順まで確認できるので、装備更新の優先順位を決めやすい内容です。 必殺技の回転管理の確認ガイド

    19
  18. 速度と回復周期の見直しが役立ちました。記憶編成の行動順まで確認できるので、装備更新の優先順位を決めやすい内容です。

    20
  19. 速度と回復周期の見直しが役立ちました。記憶編成の行動順まで確認できるので、装備更新の優先順位を決めやすい内容です。 必殺技の回転管理で迷ったときの参考

    21
  20. 速度と回復周期の見直しが役立ちました。記憶編成の行動順まで確認できるので、装備更新の優先順位を決めやすい内容です。

    22
  21. Linen fabric care tips are spot on, I like that you mention letting fabric dry fully, dry cleaning pickup and delivery north palm beach

    23
  22. Linen fabric care tips are spot on, I like that you mention letting fabric dry fully, ##anyKeyword##

    24
  23. It is good to have storage options that are actually convenient to visit. self storage near me

    25
  24. It is good to have storage options that are actually convenient to visit.

    27
  25. I always prep a medical plan— std test in Patong Phuket gives me doctor options in Patong ahead of time.

    28
  26. I always prep a medical plan—##anyKeyword## gives me doctor options in Patong ahead of time.

    29
  27. Traveling with kids and need a family-friendly doctor in Bangkok. Is prep clinic in Bangkok comfortable with pediatric cases?

    30
  28. 速度と回復周期の見直しが役立ちました。記憶編成の行動順まで確認できるので、装備更新の優先順位を決めやすい内容です。 必殺技の回転管理を安定させるコツ

    31
  29. 速度と回復周期の見直しが役立ちました。記憶編成の行動順まで確認できるので、装備更新の優先順位を決めやすい内容です。

    32
  30. 速度と回復周期の見直しが役立ちました。記憶編成の行動順まで確認できるので、装備更新の優先順位を決めやすい内容です。 ヒーラーの速度基準を分かりやすく解説

    34
  31. 速度と回復周期の見直しが役立ちました。記憶編成の行動順まで確認できるので、装備更新の優先順位を決めやすい内容です。 ヒアンシーの星魂優先度の実用ガイド

    35
  32. 速度と回復周期の見直しが役立ちました。記憶編成の行動順まで確認できるので、装備更新の優先順位を決めやすい内容です。

    36
  33. 速度と回復周期の見直しが役立ちました。記憶編成の行動順まで確認できるので、装備更新の優先順位を決めやすい内容です。 ヒアンシーの記憶パーティーを確認する方法

    37
  34. 速度と回復周期の見直しが役立ちました。記憶編成の行動順まで確認できるので、装備更新の優先順位を決めやすい内容です。

    38
  35. Keep a list of nearby clinics when traveling— std test in Patong Phuket makes that easy in Patong.

    39
  36. Keep a list of nearby clinics when traveling—##anyKeyword## makes that easy in Patong.

    40
  37. For those comparing clinics, how does pep treatment in Bangkok handle follow-up care after minor procedures?

    41
  38. For those comparing clinics, how does ##anyKeyword## handle follow-up care after minor procedures?

    42
  39. Textile storage for humidity and mildew is so important, thank you for making it easy to remember, dry cleaners near me

    45
  40. Textile storage for humidity and mildew is so important, thank you for making it easy to remember, ##anyKeyword##

    46
  41. Overall, Hometown Storage seems like a smart choice for anyone needing secure, flexible, and convenient vehicle storage in Virginia. vehicle storage lynchburg va

    47
  42. http://xo88.mex.com/ là thương hiệu cung cấp dịch vụ giải trí trực tuyến và cá cược đa quốc gia, được công nhận bởi các tổ chức quản lý cờ bạc uy tín như PAGCOR (Philippines) và Curacao Gaming

    48
  43. Area rug fibers advice helped me understand why some rugs shed more than others, palm beach dry cleaners

    49
  44. Area rug fibers advice helped me understand why some rugs shed more than others, ##anyKeyword##

    50


Leave a Reply