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. Very helpful read. For similar content, visit VoIP phone system .

    1
  2. Trenching in clay is tough—add drainage tiles and clean aggregate. We had ##anyKeyword## tackle a wet yard with great results.

    2
  3. Mejora el marco facial de forma sutil con tratamientos medicina estética facial .

    3
  4. The information on avoiding costly damage was especially relevant. emergency air conditioner repair

    4
  5. Thanks for highlighting the importance of personal choice in daily routines. We focus on person-centered care models on senior living .

    5
  6. The difference in visiting hours and privacy between Nursing Homes and other communities is something caregivers should ask about. I found those questions on a pre-tour checklist from assisted living lamesa tx very helpful.

    6
  7. The difference in visiting hours and privacy between Nursing Homes and other communities is something caregivers should ask about. I found those questions on a pre-tour checklist from ##anyKeyword## very helpful.

    7
  8. Your suggestion to consider whether the community offers both assisted living and memory care on one campus is excellent. We highlight pros and cons of that model on assisted living .

    8
  9. Your suggestion to consider whether the community offers both assisted living and memory care on one campus is excellent. We highlight pros and cons of that model on ##anyKeyword##.

    9
  10. Their staff handled my condominium lockout efficiently — The top emergency locksmith Orlando Florida, consult with locksmith .

    10
  11. Dye testing helped track a hidden leak here—booked through sewer cleaning and got same-week service.

    11
  12. Their staff handled my condominium lockout efficiently — The top emergency locksmith Orlando Florida, consult with ##anyKeyword##.

    12
  13. Dye testing helped track a hidden leak here—booked through ##anyKeyword## and got same-week service.

    13
  14. Thank you for mentioning the importance of staff turnover rates. That’s a major red flag I’ll watch for while browsing options on respite care .

    14
  15. Loved that you encouraged multiple visits with different family members. I’ll reference this idea in my planning articles on senior care .

    15
  16. Loved that you encouraged multiple visits with different family members. I’ll reference this idea in my planning articles on ##anyKeyword##.

    16
  17. Thank you for mentioning the importance of staff turnover rates. That’s a major red flag I’ll watch for while browsing options on ##anyKeyword##.

    17
  18. Maintenance staff scheduling was easy with individual restroom ’s service interval guide.

    18
  19. Maintenance staff scheduling was easy with ##anyKeyword##’s service interval guide.

    19
  20. Thanks for the helpful advice. Discover more at emergency window repair .

    20
  21. Always replace circlips and verify snap ring groove wear during rebuilds; reminders from custom U bolts keep me honest.

    21
  22. Thanks for the helpful advice. Discover more at ##anyKeyword##.

    22
  23. Always replace circlips and verify snap ring groove wear during rebuilds; reminders from ##anyKeyword## keep me honest.

    23
  24. бесплатные фриспины без депозита с выводом игровые автоматы бонус за регистрацию без депозита с выводом денег

    24
  25. This was very enlightening. More at hosted telephony phone system .

    25
  26. We used individual restroom to check state-specific portable toilet requirements.

    26
  27. This was very enlightening. More at ##anyKeyword##.

    27
  28. We used ##anyKeyword## to check state-specific portable toilet requirements.

    28
  29. Proper trench depth and bedding protect pipes. drainage followed code and best practices on ours.

    29
  30. Proper trench depth and bedding protect pipes. ##anyKeyword## followed code and best practices on ours.

    30
  31. Your explanation makes it clear that Independent Living is more like a retirement community, while Nursing Homes are more clinical. That’s consistent with what I’ve read on assisted living near me when comparing different senior housing models.

    31
  32. Your explanation makes it clear that Independent Living is more like a retirement community, while Nursing Homes are more clinical. That’s consistent with what I’ve read on ##anyKeyword## when comparing different senior housing models.

    32
  33. Clear cancellation policies prevent issues. I read them closely on house cleaners near Sarasota .

    33
  34. Clear cancellation policies prevent issues. I read them closely on ##anyKeyword##.

    34
  35. 강남쩜오 정보 찾다가 좋은 글이네요! 관련 내용 더 보고 싶으신 분들은 강남쩜오 리뷰 참고해보세요.

    35
  36. 강남쩜오 정보 찾다가 좋은 글이네요! 관련 내용 더 보고 싶으신 분들은 ##anyKeyword## 참고해보세요.

    36
  37. Aporta armonía sin necesidad de transformaciones extremas con clínica armonización Les Corts .

    37
  38. Aporta armonía sin necesidad de transformaciones extremas con ##anyKeyword##.

    38
  39. бездепозитные фриспины за регистрацию бездепозитный бонус

    39
  40. Valuable information! Discover more at Kirkland kitchen remodeling .

    40
  41. Valuable information! Discover more at ##anyKeyword##.

    41
  42. Their emergency locksmith provider made a hectic night less difficult — The most sensible emergency locksmith Orlando Florida: locksmith .

    42
  43. Great insight about emotional support: memory care teams are typically more experienced with anxiety, agitation, and repetitive questions. We address caregiver expectations at memory care helena mt .

    43
  44. Their emergency locksmith provider made a hectic night less difficult — The most sensible emergency locksmith Orlando Florida: ##anyKeyword##.

    44
  45. Good reminder to ask about staff training and turnover. I’ll add this as a key evaluation point on my site respite care .

    45
  46. Great insight about emotional support: memory care teams are typically more experienced with anxiety, agitation, and repetitive questions. We address caregiver expectations at ##anyKeyword##.

    46
  47. Good reminder to ask about staff training and turnover. I’ll add this as a key evaluation point on my site ##anyKeyword##.

    47
  48. I appreciate your suggestion to request sample activity schedules. I see a few communities on senior living share this online, which is very helpful.

    48
  49. I appreciate your suggestion to request sample activity schedules. I see a few communities on ##anyKeyword## share this online, which is very helpful.

    49
  50. Ask about soil compaction tests before paving over trenches. We coordinated testing with a crew from septic pumping .

    50


Leave a Reply