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. I learned to factor in event duration and alcohol service—##anyKeyword## made the restroom math easy and reliable.

    1
  2. What questions should someone bring to a first Tummy Tuck consultation?
    This Tummy Tuck overview makes the terminology easier to understand.
    I appreciate Tummy Tuck resources that discuss expectations without making promises Tummy Tuck

    2
  3. Appreciate the detailed post. Find more at permeable paver patio installation .

    3
  4. This was a wonderful post. Check out residential glazier Richmond for more.

    4
  5. I appreciated this post. Check out local glazier in Staines for more.

    5
  6. Thanks for the useful suggestions. Discover more at glazing contractors Feltham .

    6
  7. Thanks for the useful suggestions. Discover more at ##anyKeyword##.

    7
  8. Nicely detailed. Discover more at hosted office phone system .

    8
  9. Downspouts should discharge at least 10 feet away. We extended ours into a pop-up emitter via drainage .

    9
  10. Nicely detailed. Discover more at ##anyKeyword##.

    10
  11. Downspouts should discharge at least 10 feet away. We extended ours into a pop-up emitter via ##anyKeyword##.

    11
  12. Very informative article. For similar content, visit local glazier edgware .

    12
  13. сервисы вишлистов Вишлист помогает рассказать близким о своих желаниях и избавляет их от необходимости гадать с подарком. В статье собрали сервисы для создания списков желаний сравнили их возможности особенности и преимущества чтобы помочь выбрать подходящий.

    13
  14. Very informative article. For similar content, visit ##anyKeyword##.

    14
  15. Shops should blue-check splines for contact pattern when rebuilding; I learned to ask thanks to truck parts .

    15
  16. We used portable toilet supplier to choose between freshwater flush and standard units based on guest expectations.

    16
  17. Shops should blue-check splines for contact pattern when rebuilding; I learned to ask thanks to ##anyKeyword##.

    17
  18. We used ##anyKeyword## to choose between freshwater flush and standard units based on guest expectations.

    18
  19. Puede complementar un estilo de cuidado personal y bienestar con cuánto cuesta armonización facial .

    19
  20. Puede complementar un estilo de cuidado personal y bienestar con ##anyKeyword##.

    20
  21. Te guía para elegir una sesión basada en tus necesidades y no solo en promociones: sesión masaje de drenaje precio

    21
  22. Te guía para elegir una sesión basada en tus necesidades y no solo en promociones: ##anyKeyword##

    22
  23. What documents should an owner prepare before requesting Practice Valuation Services La Jolla?
    This overview of Practice Valuation Services La Jolla raises useful questions about the scope of an engagement Practice Valuation Services La Jolla

    23
  24. What documents should an owner prepare before requesting Practice Valuation Services La Jolla?
    This overview of Practice Valuation Services La Jolla raises useful questions about the scope of an engagement

    24
  25. This was very enlightening. For more, visit energy efficient double glazing .

    25
  26. This was very enlightening. For more, visit ##anyKeyword##.

    26
  27. What should someone bring to a first consultation with a Bus Accident Lawyer Denver?
    This Bus Accident Lawyer Denver overview raises useful questions about passenger injuries Bus Accident Lawyer Denver

    27
  28. What should someone bring to a first consultation with a Bus Accident Lawyer Denver?
    This Bus Accident Lawyer Denver overview raises useful questions about passenger injuries

    28
  29. Jerome Adams says:

    Great tips! For more, visit Hounslow glazing services .

    29
  30. Expert technicians and activate arrival — The top of the line emergency locksmith Orlando Florida, info at locksmith .

    30
  31. Expert technicians and activate arrival — The top of the line emergency locksmith Orlando Florida, info at ##anyKeyword##.

    31
  32. Alarms with text alerts give peace of mind when traveling. Installed by a provider found on drain cleaning .

    32
  33. Alarms with text alerts give peace of mind when traveling. Installed by a provider found on ##anyKeyword##.

    33
  34. This was quite informative. For more, visit window glass repair northwood .

    34
  35. This was quite informative. For more, visit ##anyKeyword##.

    35
  36. I found this very interesting. Check out pensión en Arzúa for more.

    36
  37. For mixed-age crowds, portable toilets reminded us to add family units and changing tables.

    37
  38. For mixed-age crowds, ##anyKeyword## reminded us to add family units and changing tables.

    38
  39. I found this very interesting. Check out ##anyKeyword## for more.

    39
  40. Appreciate the thorough insights. For more, visit asistencia a mayores Santiago .

    40
  41. What should a new patient ask when researching Dental Fillings Plano TX?
    This Dental Fillings Plano TX overview explains the consultation process clearly.
    I appreciate Dental Fillings Plano TX resources that define unfamiliar restoration terms Dental Fillings Plano, TX

    41
  42. Appreciate the thorough insights. For more, visit ##anyKeyword##.

    42
  43. What should a new patient ask when researching Dental Fillings Plano TX?
    This Dental Fillings Plano TX overview explains the consultation process clearly.
    I appreciate Dental Fillings Plano TX resources that define unfamiliar restoration terms

    43
  44. Very helpful read. For similar content, visit stone paver patio installation .

    44
  45. 익숙한 일상에 새로운 취향을 더하는 여기여. 감각적인 공간과 다채로운 이야기, 오래 기억할 발견을 만나보세요. 나만의 속도로 머물며 당신에게 어울리는 특별한 순간을 찾아갑니다.

    45
  46. Very helpful read. For similar content, visit ##anyKeyword##.

    46
  47. Carltonpop says:

    Odpovědné hraní představuje disciplinovaný model k online sázení jenž zdůrazňuje bezpečí a pohodu uživatele. Pomáhá hráče aby si určili osobní hranice na čas a plánovali včasné přestávky od hry. https://wazamba-cs-cz.com/ Dále podporuje sebeuvědomění a pomáhá uživatelům pochopit rané signály rizikového sázení a v případě potřeby vyhledat podporu. Smyslem bezpečného i-gamingu je aby hraní zůstalo příjemnou zábavou v mezích hráčových limitů a osobní kontroly a nestalo se příčinou problémů.

    47
  48. I found this very helpful. For additional info, visit residential paver patio services .

    48
  49. I found this very helpful. For additional info, visit ##anyKeyword##.

    49
  50. What should parents ask when researching Children’s Dentistry Aurora for a first visit?
    This Children’s Dentistry Aurora overview makes appointment planning easier to understand Children’s Dentistry Aurora

    50


Leave a Reply