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. For quickly emergency locksmith companies in Orlando, I continuously call replacement car key programming .

    1
  2. Julia Fletcher says:

    Appreciate the detailed post. Find more at K&K Air Duct & Dryer Vent Cleaning .

    2
  3. Mike Flowers says:

    This was a great help. Check out roofing company near me for more.

    3
  4. This was very enlightening. For more, visit wood floor restoration.

    4
  5. Essie Garza says:

    Nicely done! Discover more at Air Duct Cleaning Company .

    5
  6. Nicely detailed. Discover more at wood floor restoration.

    6
  7. Your move-out cleaning advice saved me time. I found a specialist via residential home cleaning Sarasota .

    7
  8. Your move-out cleaning advice saved me time. I found a specialist via ##anyKeyword##.

    8
  9. “The maintenance checklist was a nice touch. Lubrication, balance testing, and visual inspections can make a big difference in door performance.” garage door repair

    9
  10. “The maintenance checklist was a nice touch. Lubrication, balance testing, and visual inspections can make a big difference in door performance.”

    10
  11. Appreciate the comprehensive advice. For more, visit wood floor restoration.

    11
  12. Efficient lock restore and brilliant customer service from replacement car keys programming in Orlando.

    12
  13. Efficient lock restore and brilliant customer service from ##anyKeyword## in Orlando.

    13
  14. I found this very helpful. For additional info, visit wood floor restoration.

    14
  15. Thanks for putting this together. The part about preparation is what most people skip. Looking forward to the next one.

    15
  16. Thanks for the clear breakdown. More info at wood floor restoration.

    16
  17. Solid post. Bookmarking this for later. More of this please.

    17
  18. Birdie Thomas says:

    Thanks for the clear breakdown. Find more at Ready Roof .

    18
  19. This is highly informative. Check out wood floor restoration for more.

    19
  20. “This article explains things in a way that homeowners can actually understand. That makes it much easier to know when to call for help.” garage door repair near me

    20
  21. “This article explains things in a way that homeowners can actually understand. That makes it much easier to know when to call for help.”

    21
  22. Solid advice here. For more, visit wood floor restoration.

    22
  23. Appreciate the insightful article. Find more at residential window repair Rotherhithe .

    23
  24. Appreciate the insightful article. Find more at ##anyKeyword##.

    24
  25. Te orienta para preguntar qué cuidados seguir después del drenaje linfático manual: tratamiento drenaje linfatico

    25
  26. Te orienta para preguntar qué cuidados seguir después del drenaje linfático manual: ##anyKeyword##

    26
  27. I liked this article. For additional info, visit same day window repair Elephant and Castle .

    27
  28. Jerome Thornton says:

    I liked this article. For additional info, visit roof replacement Deer Creek IL .

    28
  29. I liked this article. For additional info, visit ##anyKeyword##.

    29
  30. If you’re trying to find basement waterproofing close to me, here’s a giant aid for comparing suggestions and getting estimates immediate—look at various out basement waterproofing near me to learn extra.

    30
  31. If you’re trying to find basement waterproofing close to me, here’s a giant aid for comparing suggestions and getting estimates immediate—look at various out ##anyKeyword## to learn extra.

    31
  32. This was quite useful. For more, visit wood floor restoration.

    32
  33. Appreciate the detailed post. Find more at wood floor restoration.

    33
  34. This was a great help. For more, visit wood floor restoration.

    34
  35. This was a fantastic resource. Check out wood floor restoration for more.

    35
  36. If you’re are seeking basement waterproofing close me, this can be a mammoth resource for evaluating ideas and getting estimates immediate—examine out basement waterproofing near me to analyze more.

    36
  37. Locked out close downtown Orlando— mobile car locksmith service arrived quickly and resolved it professionally.

    37
  38. If you’re are seeking basement waterproofing close me, this can be a mammoth resource for evaluating ideas and getting estimates immediate—examine out ##anyKeyword## to analyze more.

    38
  39. This post helped me craft a scope of work. I shared it with my house cleaners near Sarasota hire.

    39
  40. Locked out close downtown Orlando—##anyKeyword## arrived quickly and resolved it professionally.

    40
  41. This post helped me craft a scope of work. I shared it with my ##anyKeyword## hire.

    41
  42. Jacob Saunders says:

    Appreciate the detailed insights. For more, visit roofing services .

    42
  43. I found this very interesting. For more, visit residential glazier Woolwich .

    43
  44. I found this very interesting. For more, visit ##anyKeyword##.

    44
  45. Ayuda a saber si puedes resolver dudas antes y después de la sesión sin presión: drenaje linfático en Les Corts

    45
  46. Ayuda a saber si puedes resolver dudas antes y después de la sesión sin presión: ##anyKeyword##

    46
  47. Very interesting information!Perfect just what I was searching for!

    47
  48. If you’re searching for basement waterproofing close to me, this can be a quality useful resource for comparing suggestions and getting estimates quick—verify out basement waterproofing near me to be taught extra.

    48
  49. If you’re are looking for basement waterproofing close me, it is a widespread useful resource for evaluating options and getting estimates fast—fee out basement waterproofing near me to research extra.

    49
  50. If you’re are looking for basement waterproofing close me, it is a widespread useful resource for evaluating options and getting estimates fast—fee out ##anyKeyword## to research extra.

    50


Leave a Reply