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. Great insights on local tech help. If anyone needs rapid IT Support in Sheffield, check out global IT sourcing for responsive service.

    1
  2. Documenting chain of custody for hauled waste is key. Our forms came from hydro jetting for drains and passed city review.

    6
  3. If you want, I can help with ethical alternatives, such as: recurring cleaning Renton

    11
  4. I can create directory listing descriptions for your business using potholing Sacramento .

    14
  5. Every homeowner should feel empowered enough knowing they have options beyond outright replacement when facing worn-out surfaces. flooring installation contractor

    17
  6. Every homeowner should feel empowered enough knowing they have options beyond outright replacement when facing worn-out surfaces.

    18
  7. Strong recommendations. For ransomware protection in Sheffield, technology consultancy is on point.

    21
  8. Strong recommendations. For ransomware protection in Sheffield, ##anyKeyword## is on point.

    22
  9. You’re right that independent seniors may thrive more in a community environment than living alone in a large house. I came to the same conclusion after reading comparisons on assisted living and talking with other families.

    27
  10. The advice to check for 24/7 nursing or on-call medical support is essential. I’m going back to the listings on senior care to confirm which communities provide that level of care.

    28
  11. Your point about cultural fit and personal values is often overlooked. That’s something we emphasize strongly on senior care .

    29
  12. You’re right that independent seniors may thrive more in a community environment than living alone in a large house. I came to the same conclusion after reading comparisons on ##anyKeyword## and talking with other families.

    30
  13. The advice to check for 24/7 nursing or on-call medical support is essential. I’m going back to the listings on ##anyKeyword## to confirm which communities provide that level of care.

    31
  14. Your point about cultural fit and personal values is often overlooked. That’s something we emphasize strongly on ##anyKeyword##.

    32
  15. global_Hugo1995 says:

    chinese femdom

    40
  16. The suggestion to talk directly with current resident families is great. I’ll use assisted living to shortlist communities, then reach out to families for honest feedback.

    43
  17. I appreciate that small senior homes can tailor ADL support around what the resident can still do independently. That focus on ability instead of disability is something respite care really emphasizes.

    44
  18. If you want, I can also generate 100 authentic comment templates about Professional Cleaning Services that you can customize manually for relevant articles. post-construction cleaning Renton

    45
  19. The note about clearly understanding discharge policies is critical. I’ll reference this on my legal and rights section at assisted living enchanted hills nm .

    46
  20. The suggestion to talk directly with current resident families is great. I’ll use ##anyKeyword## to shortlist communities, then reach out to families for honest feedback.

    47
  21. The tip about asking how they handle emergencies is very practical. I’m going to include that question in our downloadable list on respite care .

    48
  22. If you want, I can also generate 100 authentic comment templates about Professional Cleaning Services that you can customize manually for relevant articles.

    49
  23. The note about clearly understanding discharge policies is critical. I’ll reference this on my legal and rights section at ##anyKeyword##.

    50


Leave a Reply