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. When there are fewer residents, caregivers can spend more time helping seniors maintain independence instead of rushing through ADL tasks. elder care seems like a good example of this approach.

    1
  2. I appreciated this article. For more, visit ##anyKeyword##.

    2
  3. Thanks for the detailed guidance. More at Transporte privado Arzúa .

    3
  4. The ratio of staff to residents is critical. In a small community, help with daily activities is more proactive instead of reactive. senior living looks like it emphasizes that responsive care.

    4
  5. Thanks for the helpful article. More like this at abogado accidentes de tráfico Santiago .

    5
  6. “Mi procedimiento favorito es el que más confianza me transmite desde el principio. Si hay claridad y un enfoque personalizado, ya empiezo a verlo con otros ojos.” lifting capa SMAS

    6
  7. “Mi procedimiento favorito es el que más confianza me transmite desde el principio. Si hay claridad y un enfoque personalizado, ya empiezo a verlo con otros ojos.”

    7
  8. For seniors who feel anxious in crowds, a smaller assisted living home can make basic activities like eating or going to the bathroom much less stressful. senior care is a good resource for exploring that option.

    8
  9. I like that you covered both medical and social aspects of assisted living. I plan to share this from our blog at senior living .

    9
  10. For seniors who feel anxious in crowds, a smaller assisted living home can make basic activities like eating or going to the bathroom much less stressful. ##anyKeyword## is a good resource for exploring that option.

    10
  11. I like that you covered both medical and social aspects of assisted living. I plan to share this from our blog at ##anyKeyword##.

    11
  12. Appreciate the useful tips. For more, visit albergue en Palas .

    12
  13. Appreciate the useful tips. For more, visit ##anyKeyword##.

    13
  14. Thanks for the clear advice. More at Transfer hotel Arzúa .

    14
  15. Appreciate the thorough information. For more, visit abogado 24 horas Santiago .

    15
  16. Thanks for the clear advice. More at ##anyKeyword##.

    16
  17. Appreciate the thorough information. For more, visit ##anyKeyword##.

    17
  18. Seniors with mobility challenges often do better in a compact, familiar setting. In a smaller home, it’s easier to safely assist with transfers, bathing, and grooming. senior care appears to understand this need.

    18
  19. It’s interesting how Independent Living is more about lifestyle and amenities rather than medical support. This article reflects what I’ve learned while researching on assisted living portales nm about active retirement options.

    19
  20. Seniors with mobility challenges often do better in a compact, familiar setting. In a smaller home, it’s easier to safely assist with transfers, bathing, and grooming. ##anyKeyword## appears to understand this need.

    20
  21. It’s interesting how Independent Living is more about lifestyle and amenities rather than medical support. This article reflects what I’ve learned while researching on ##anyKeyword## about active retirement options.

    21
  22. бездепозитные коды промокоды бездепозитные

    22
  23. Рик Оуэнс воспринимается как один из самых неординарных дизайнеров современности что разработал собственный эстетический код на границе мрачной красоты и нонконформизма. Рика Оуэнса метод отличается по объёмным драпировкам экспериментальным формам и интересу к плотной коже наряду с минимализмом и мрачными тонами. rick-owens-boutique.ru Рик Оуэнс известен способностью сочетать премиальность и нонконформизм создавая гардероб для выбирает индивидуальность при этом готов выделяться эпатажно. В наши дни этот модельер — это больше чем модельер а узнаваемое эстетическое высказывание охватывающее предметы интерьера экстравагантную обувь и философию личного нонконформизма.

    23
  24. Explaining the flexibility in Assisted Living—how services can be added as needs grow—is very helpful. That progressive-care idea was also covered in depth on elder care , which helped me understand long-term planning.

    24
  25. Families often don’t realize they can negotiate or ask for customized care plans. We highlight that option on respite care as well.

    25
  26. Explaining the flexibility in Assisted Living—how services can be added as needs grow—is very helpful. That progressive-care idea was also covered in depth on ##anyKeyword##, which helped me understand long-term planning.

    26
  27. Thanks for the helpful article. More like this at abogado administrativo Santiago .

    27
  28. Thanks for the insightful write-up. More like this at albergue en Palas .

    28
  29. Thanks for the helpful article. More like this at ##anyKeyword##.

    29
  30. Nicely done! Discover more at Tarifas taxi Arzúa .

    30
  31. Thanks for the insightful write-up. More like this at ##anyKeyword##.

    31
  32. Nicely done! Discover more at ##anyKeyword##.

    32
  33. промокод бездепозитный бонус бездепозитные бонусы за регистрацию новые

    33
  34. For those of us caring for someone with mild cognitive decline, knowing when Assisted Living is still appropriate versus when a Nursing Home is needed is critical. I read some helpful guidelines on senior care that align with your points.

    34
  35. It’s helpful to think of Assisted Living as a bridge between Independent Living and Nursing Homes. That idea was reinforced by some of the infographics I saw on assisted living near me when we were planning care for my grandmother.

    35
  36. It’s helpful to think of Assisted Living as a bridge between Independent Living and Nursing Homes. That idea was reinforced by some of the infographics I saw on ##anyKeyword## when we were planning care for my grandmother.

    36
  37. For those of us caring for someone with mild cognitive decline, knowing when Assisted Living is still appropriate versus when a Nursing Home is needed is critical. I read some helpful guidelines on ##anyKeyword## that align with your points.

    37
  38. This was quite informative. For more, visit despacho de abogados en Santiago .

    38
  39. Thanks for the insightful write-up. More like this at Taxi Camino de Santiago Arzúa .

    39
  40. Thanks for the insightful write-up. More like this at ##anyKeyword##.

    40
  41. I’ll be sharing this guide with clients and including it as a recommended resource on respite care .

    41
  42. I’ll be sharing this guide with clients and including it as a recommended resource on ##anyKeyword##.

    42
  43. It’s interesting how Independent Living is more about lifestyle and amenities rather than medical support. This article reflects what I’ve learned while researching on senior living about active retirement options.

    43
  44. It’s interesting how Independent Living is more about lifestyle and amenities rather than medical support. This article reflects what I’ve learned while researching on ##anyKeyword## about active retirement options.

    44
  45. I didn’t know that some Assisted Living communities now offer memory care units, while Nursing Homes traditionally handle more advanced medical issues. I first read about this evolving model on assisted living during my research.

    45
  46. I didn’t know that some Assisted Living communities now offer memory care units, while Nursing Homes traditionally handle more advanced medical issues. I first read about this evolving model on ##anyKeyword## during my research.

    46
  47. For families living far away, knowing their loved one is in a small, attentive home can bring real peace of mind. Sites like senior living make it easier to understand how this model works.

    47
  48. For families living far away, knowing their loved one is in a small, attentive home can bring real peace of mind. Sites like ##anyKeyword## make it easier to understand how this model works.

    48
  49. Thanks for the valuable insights. More at honorarios abogado Santiago .

    49
  50. Thanks for the practical tips. More at albergue en Palas .

    50


Leave a Reply