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 advice on how to verify licensing and insurance for Sacramento solar companies. ##anyKeyword##

    1
  2. For any individual locked out in Barcelona, locksmith barcelona offers rapid 24-hour help.

    2
  3. Sensación de abandono o falta de higiene — tratamiento para quitar moho en paredes

    3
  4. The roof looks great and the house feels more comfortable inside. Glen Ellyn, IL— certified roofer Glen Ellyn .

    4
  5. This is exactly what I needed for comparing solar providers in Pleasanton. Check this out: free solar energy consultation

    5
  6. Thanks for sharing this! I found that working with a local solar provider in Danville helped me understand incentives better, through solar panel installation providers .

    6
  7. Thanks for sharing this! I found that working with a local solar provider in Danville helped me understand incentives better, through ##anyKeyword##.

    7
  8. Great reminder to evaluate warranties and monitoring. You can find suitable solar providers in Tracy via solar energy consultation appointment .

    8
  9. Great reminder to evaluate warranties and monitoring. You can find suitable solar providers in Tracy via ##anyKeyword##.

    10
  10. Tos persistente — ##anyKeyword##

    11
  11. Nice put up; for fast key chopping and 24/7 locksmith provider in Barcelona, see emergency locksmith .

    12
  12. Аварком Хабаровск телефон Аварком Хабаровск

    13
  13. Nice put up; for fast key chopping and 24/7 locksmith provider in Barcelona, see ##anyKeyword##.

    14
  14. Для местных объявлений и обсуждений в городе Комсомольск-на-Амуре: Местный чат Комсомольск-на-Амуре Присоединение к группе зависит от её текущих настроек.

    15
  15. Great content! Finding quality solar providers in Chico is easier with resources like local solar providers .

    16
  16. Great content! Finding quality solar providers in Chico is easier with resources like ##anyKeyword##.

    17
  17. Great info for anyone considering alcohol detox in Albuquerque. The safety-first approach is exactly what I needed to hear—check out medical detox specialists for alcohol

    18
  18. Great info for anyone considering alcohol detox in Albuquerque. The safety-first approach is exactly what I needed to hear—check out ##anyKeyword##

    19
  19. I found the guidance useful for choosing a solar installer in Yuba City. Learn more at local solar energy company .

    20
  20. I found the guidance useful for choosing a solar installer in Yuba City. Learn more at ##anyKeyword##.

    21
  21. Irritación de garganta — ##anyKeyword##

    23
  22. https://tipclub.loan/ – Cung cấp nhiều sản phẩm game trực tuyến hấp dẫn hàng đầu.

    24
  23. https://tipclub.blue/ là nền tảng giải trí trực tuyến với game bài, casino, nổ hũ, bắn cá, thể thao và xổ số

    25
  24. https://tipclub.host/ đã thu hút được hàng ngàn người chơi tham gia và trở thành điểm đến lý tưởng cho những ai yêu thích thử vận may và giải trí.

    26
  25. https://rikvips.me/ là cổng game hoạt động dưới hình thức cá nhân.

    27
  26. https://ricwin.stream/ – Thiên đường game bài đổi thưởng triệu đô sở hữu cộng đồng người chơi đông đảo nhất hiện nay, là nơi hội tụ những sảnh game đổi thưởng xanh chín và đẳng cấp nhất 2026

    28
  27. https://ricwin.beauty/ – Thiên đường game bài đổi thưởng triệu đô sở hữu cộng đồng người chơi đông đảo nhất hiện nay, là nơi hội tụ những sảnh game đổi thưởng xanh chín và đẳng cấp nhất 2026.

    29
  28. https://x8.london/ hiện là một trong những cổng game có lượng người chơi truy cập lớn nhất tại Việt Nam.

    30
  29. https://rikvips.app/ là cổng game hoạt động dưới hình thức cá nhân.

    31
  30. https://x8.christmas/ là từ khóa có thể được phát triển theo hướng giới thiệu một hệ thống giải trí trực tuyến với danh mục nội dung đa dạng.

    32
  31. https://x8.trading/ là cổng game bài uy tín được đông đảo người chơi chọn là điểm đến giải trí trực tuyến hàng đầu.

    33
  32. Informative and well-written—solar providers in Fairfield can be overwhelming. This helps a lot. Find more at affordable solar panel providers .

    34
  33. Informative and well-written—solar providers in Fairfield can be overwhelming. This helps a lot. Find more at ##anyKeyword##.

    35
  34. На этом сайте уйма полезной информации. https://sberbankon.ru/

    36
  35. I appreciate action steps; alcohol detox near me turns them into a one-page plan to print.

    37
  36. I appreciate action steps; ##anyKeyword## turns them into a one-page plan to print.

    38
  37. Great reassurance for people considering detox for the first time. alcohol detox treatment

    39
  38. Great reassurance for people considering detox for the first time. ##anyKeyword##

    40
  39. На странице обилие актуального контента. https://all-lux.blogspot.com/2026/10/7-liu-jo.html

    41
  40. https://x8o.com.de/ khẳng định vị thế dẫn đầu thị trường cá cược trực tuyến châu Á năm 2026 nhờ cơ chế trả thưởng minh bạch.

    42
  41. https://nhatvip1.co.com/ là cổng game bài đổi thưởng dẫn đầu với hơn 2.5 triệu tài khoản hoạt động

    43
  42. Sensación de abandono o falta de higiene — quitar moho paredes profesional Barcelona

    44
  43. Sensación de abandono o falta de higiene — ##anyKeyword##

    45
  44. https://tipclub1.in.net/ là địa chỉ giải trí trực tuyến an toàn bậc nhất hiện nay.

    46
  45. https://vinwin1.com.de/ khẳng định vị thế cổng game đổi thưởng uy tín bậc nhất châu Á.

    47
  46. https://v8club1.in.net/ chính thức dẫn đầu thị trường cá cược trực tuyến năm 2026 nhờ cơ chế nạp rút sòng phẳng dưới 60 giây.

    48
  47. For door lock emergencies in Barcelona, emergency locksmith gives you stable 24-hour fortify.

    49
  48. For door lock emergencies in Barcelona, ##anyKeyword## gives you stable 24-hour fortify.

    50


Leave a Reply