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. Helpful and efficient: cheap transponder key programming took care of my Orlando dwelling lock emergency.

    1
  2. If you’re are looking for basement waterproofing near me, this is a enormous useful resource for evaluating suggestions and getting estimates quick—payment out basement waterproofing near me to study greater.

    2
  3. “Very clear and helpful. Proper garage door maintenance can extend the life of both the door and the opener.” garage door service

    3
  4. Lee McBride says:

    I found this very interesting. For more, visit Dryer Vent Cleaning .

    4
  5. Solid post. Bookmarking this for later. More of this please.

    5
  6. Alvin Sandoval says:

    Thanks for the thorough analysis. More info at Ready Roof Inc. .

    6
  7. Lora Padilla says:

    Thanks for the helpful advice. Discover more at Air Duct Cleaning near me .

    7
  8. https://haywin8.in.net là nền tảng giải trí trực tuyến hướng đến việc xây dựng không gian trải nghiệm hiện đại, giao diện thân thiện và khả năng sử dụng linh hoạt trên nhiều thiết bị

    8
  9. https://top88in.com.de là nền tảng giải trí trực tuyến hướng đến việc cung cấp môi trường trải nghiệm đa dạng với thiết kế giao diện trực quan, bố cục khoa học và thao tác dễ dàng

    9
  10. If you’re looking for basement waterproofing close to me, it’s a great source for comparing answers and getting estimates instant—inspect out basement waterproofing near me to be told more.

    10
  11. If you’re looking for basement waterproofing close to me, it’s a great source for comparing answers and getting estimates instant—inspect out ##anyKeyword## to be told more.

    11
  12. Including laundry saves me hours. I found a cleaner who offers it via professional home cleaning Sarasota .

    12
  13. Including laundry saves me hours. I found a cleaner who offers it via ##anyKeyword##.

    13
  14. Te sugiere preguntar si el masaje puede combinarse con otros tratamientos terapéuticos: masaje drenaje linfatico

    14
  15. Te sugiere preguntar si el masaje puede combinarse con otros tratamientos terapéuticos: ##anyKeyword##

    15
  16. If you’re on the lookout for basement waterproofing close to me, this is a top notch aid for evaluating strategies and getting estimates instant—investigate out basement waterproofing near me to gain knowledge of more.

    16
  17. If you’re locked out in Orlando, key fob replacement near me gives you speedy and friendly information.

    17
  18. If you’re seeking basement waterproofing close me, here’s a sizable resource for evaluating suggestions and getting estimates rapid—assess out basement waterproofing near me to read more.

    18
  19. If you’re on the lookout for basement waterproofing close to me, this is a top notch aid for evaluating strategies and getting estimates instant—investigate out ##anyKeyword## to gain knowledge of more.

    19
  20. If you’re locked out in Orlando, ##anyKeyword## gives you speedy and friendly information.

    20
  21. If you’re seeking basement waterproofing close me, here’s a sizable resource for evaluating suggestions and getting estimates rapid—assess out ##anyKeyword## to read more.

    21
  22. If you’re are seeking basement waterproofing close me, here is a brilliant source for comparing solutions and getting estimates quick—assess out basement waterproofing near me to be trained more.

    22
  23. Irene Powers says:

    Thanks for the insightful write-up. More like this at Ready Roof .

    23
  24. If you’re are seeking basement waterproofing close me, here is a brilliant source for comparing solutions and getting estimates quick—assess out ##anyKeyword## to be trained more.

    24
  25. Patrick Floyd says:

    Fantastic post! Discover more at Ready Roof .

    25
  26. If you’re looking for basement waterproofing close me, it is a major source for comparing recommendations and getting estimates swift—inspect out basement waterproofing near me to be taught greater.

    26
  27. If you’re looking for basement waterproofing close me, it is a major source for comparing recommendations and getting estimates swift—inspect out ##anyKeyword## to be taught greater.

    27
  28. If you’re on the lookout for basement waterproofing close to me, it’s a amazing useful resource for evaluating ideas and getting estimates instant—payment out basement waterproofing near me to be informed extra.

    28
  29. If you’re on the lookout for basement waterproofing close to me, it’s a amazing useful resource for evaluating ideas and getting estimates instant—payment out ##anyKeyword## to be informed extra.

    29
  30. If you’re in Orlando and need a locksmith speedy, touch key fob replacement programming .

    30
  31. If you’re in Orlando and need a locksmith speedy, touch ##anyKeyword##.

    31
  32. Te ayuda a detectar si el centro ofrece una valoración previa seria y profesional: tratamiento drenaje linfático

    32
  33. Te ayuda a detectar si el centro ofrece una valoración previa seria y profesional: ##anyKeyword##

    33
  34. If you’re shopping for basement waterproofing close to me, this is often a notable source for evaluating ideas and getting estimates immediate—determine out basement waterproofing near me to research more.

    34
  35. If you’re shopping for basement waterproofing close to me, this is often a notable source for evaluating ideas and getting estimates immediate—determine out ##anyKeyword## to research more.

    35
  36. If you’re are looking for basement waterproofing close to me, that is a important useful resource for comparing recommendations and getting estimates instant—check out basement waterproofing near me to study greater.

    36
  37. Clear communication reduces rework. I use the notes feature on affordable home cleaning Sarasota .

    37
  38. Clear communication reduces rework. I use the notes feature on ##anyKeyword##.

    38
  39. I’m not sure where you are getting your information, but good topic. I needs to spend some time learning much more or understanding more. Thanks for fantastic info I was looking for this info for my mission.

    39
  40. Evaluate the condition of welded connections through testing of welds suited to your inspection priorities. Helpful hints

    40
  41. Evaluate the condition of welded connections through testing of welds suited to your inspection priorities.

    41
  42. This is quite enlightening. Check out glazier in Plumstead for more.

    42
  43. This is quite enlightening. Check out ##anyKeyword## for more.

    43
  44. Helen Wolfe says:

    This is quite enlightening. Check out Ready Roof Inc. for more.

    44
  45. If you’re attempting to find basement waterproofing close to me, this is often a really good resource for evaluating solutions and getting estimates instant—assess out basement waterproofing near me to be told extra.

    45
  46. If you’re attempting to find basement waterproofing close to me, this is often a really good resource for evaluating solutions and getting estimates instant—assess out ##anyKeyword## to be told extra.

    46
  47. If you’re seek basement waterproofing close me, this is often a fine resource for evaluating solutions and getting estimates quickly—money out basement waterproofing near me to read greater.

    47
  48. If you’re seek basement waterproofing close me, this is often a fine resource for evaluating solutions and getting estimates quickly—money out ##anyKeyword## to read greater.

    48
  49. This was a fantastic resource. Check out Penge sash window repair for more.

    49
  50. This was a fantastic resource. Check out ##anyKeyword## for more.

    50


Leave a Reply