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. It’s reassuring to see a balanced approach that covers budget and dignity. I’ll be citing this from my cost breakdown page on assisted living near me .

    1
  2. https://sunwin20.study hướng đến niềm đam mê bóng đá thông qua những chủ đề về sự phát triển của các giải vô địch quốc gia, những cuộc cạnh tranh đầy kịch tính và phong cách thi đấu đặc trưng của từng đội bóng

    2
  3. Really well written. Check out seo services brisbane for more.

    3
  4. Thanks for breaking down the difference between assisted living and nursing homes. That’s a topic we discuss in depth on assisted living near me too.

    4
  5. Personalized bathing schedules, preferred hygiene products, and familiar routines are easier to honor in a small home setting. That kind of individual attention is what drew me to respite care .

    5
  6. The biggest benefit I’ve noticed with small dementia care homes is consistency. Fewer staff changes and a stable routine seem to help with orientation. Families can explore this type of care starting with resources like assisted living .

    6
  7. Asking how they handle end-of-life care in assisted living is difficult but necessary. We discuss having those conversations on assisted living .

    7
  8. Asking how they handle end-of-life care in assisted living is difficult but necessary. We discuss having those conversations on ##anyKeyword##.

    8
  9. https://rikvipgame.homes mang đến góc nhìn về vai trò của tinh thần đồng đội trong bóng đá, nơi sự phối hợp giữa các vị trí quyết định hiệu quả của toàn bộ hệ thống chiến thuật

    9
  10. Nicely detailed. Discover more at brisbane seo.

    10
  11. Very informative article. For similar content, visit seo consultant brisbane.

    11
  12. For older adults who value privacy, small homes can often provide private or semi-private rooms while still delivering close, supportive care. It’s the model that senior living seems to champion.

    12
  13. For older adults who value privacy, small homes can often provide private or semi-private rooms while still delivering close, supportive care. It’s the model that ##anyKeyword## seems to champion.

    13
  14. I enjoyed this read. For more, visit brisbane seo.

    14
  15. The section on understanding what’s included in the base price vs add-ons is very clear. We’ve had many questions about that on memory care .

    15
  16. The section on understanding what’s included in the base price vs add-ons is very clear. We’ve had many questions about that on ##anyKeyword##.

    16
  17. I like how you suggested creating a written checklist. We offer a printable checklist on senior living that follows a similar structure.

    17
  18. Personalized support with activities of daily living is often the deciding factor in quality of life. Small homes like the ones highlighted by senior living can really bridge that gap.

    18
  19. I like that you highlight family involvement and visiting policies. For my family, ease of visiting was a big factor. We used mapping and distance tools on senior care to narrow down suitable communities.

    19
  20. I like how you suggested creating a written checklist. We offer a printable checklist on ##anyKeyword## that follows a similar structure.

    20
  21. I like that you highlight family involvement and visiting policies. For my family, ease of visiting was a big factor. We used mapping and distance tools on ##anyKeyword## to narrow down suitable communities.

    21
  22. Personalized support with activities of daily living is often the deciding factor in quality of life. Small homes like the ones highlighted by ##anyKeyword## can really bridge that gap.

    22
  23. Appreciate the comprehensive advice. For more, visit seo brisbane.

    23
  24. https://b52clubsss.com là thương hiệu gắn với lĩnh vực trò chơi và giải trí trực tuyến, hướng đến nhu cầu tìm hiểu các hình thức giải trí trên nền tảng số

    24
  25. https://iwinclub.christmas/ Khám phá các giải đấu thể thao hấp dẫn và những cuộc tranh tài đầy kịch tính

    25
  26. https://hitclubvn1.org là website giới thiệu thương hiệu giải trí trực tuyến, tập trung vào lĩnh vực trò chơi và trải nghiệm trên nền tảng internet. Nội dung được định hướng giúp người truy cập tìm hiểu về thương hiệu và các hoạt động giải trí kỹ thuật số

    26
  27. https://rikvipgame.homes/ Khám phá thế giới bóng đá quốc tế với những trận đấu hấp dẫn và thông tin thể thao nổi bật

    27
  28. This was quite helpful. For more, visit brisbane seo consultant.

    28
  29. https://b52live.com là website mang tên thương hiệu giải trí trực tuyến B52CLUB, hướng đến người dùng quan tâm đến các trò chơi trên internet. Nền tảng được giới thiệu theo định hướng cung cấp thông tin về hoạt động giải trí kỹ thuật số

    29
  30. When caregivers aren’t overloaded, they can also provide meaningful social interaction while assisting with everyday tasks. That companionship is a hidden benefit described on assisted living near me .

    30
  31. https://nhatvip.studio/ Tổng hợp tin tức bóng đá mới nhất cùng những khoảnh khắc đáng nhớ trên sân cỏ

    31
  32. When caregivers aren’t overloaded, they can also provide meaningful social interaction while assisting with everyday tasks. That companionship is a hidden benefit described on ##anyKeyword##.

    32
  33. https://manclub.forum/ Cập nhật những trận cầu đỉnh cao và diễn biến nổi bật của bóng đá thế giới

    33
  34. Thanks for the great information. More at seo services brisbane.

    34
  35. One big advantage of a small senior home is the calmer environment. It’s easier for staff to notice when someone needs help with walking, toileting, or eating. That’s why I’m interested in options like assisted living .

    35
  36. One big advantage of a small senior home is the calmer environment. It’s easier for staff to notice when someone needs help with walking, toileting, or eating. That’s why I’m interested in options like ##anyKeyword##.

    36
  37. https://hitclub01.club là website hướng đến lĩnh vực giải trí trực tuyến, giới thiệu thương hiệu và các nội dung liên quan đến trò chơi trên nền tảng số. Trang web được định hướng phục vụ người dùng muốn tìm hiểu thông tin về dịch vụ giải trí trực tuyến

    37
  38. https://sunwin20.study/ Theo dõi lịch thi đấu, kết quả bóng đá và phong độ các đội bóng hàng đầu

    38
  39. Awesome article! Discover more at ##anyKeyword##.

    40
  40. Because there are fewer residents to manage, small assisted living homes can often respond faster when someone presses a call button or asks for help. assisted living gallup nm is a helpful place to learn about these differences.

    41
  41. Appreciate the detailed insights. For more, visit read more .

    42
  42. Because there are fewer residents to manage, small assisted living homes can often respond faster when someone presses a call button or asks for help. ##anyKeyword## is a helpful place to learn about these differences.

    43
  43. Appreciate the detailed insights. For more, visit ##anyKeyword##.

    44
  44. Pets and personal belongings can make a huge difference. We encourage families to ask about that on senior living .

    45
  45. Pets and personal belongings can make a huge difference. We encourage families to ask about that on ##anyKeyword##.

    46
  46. Thanks for putting this together. Discover more at brisbane seo.

    47
  47. I love that many small senior homes encourage residents to move around and participate, instead of doing everything for them. That balance of help and independence, highlighted at senior care , is so important.

    48
  48. I love that many small senior homes encourage residents to move around and participate, instead of doing everything for them. That balance of help and independence, highlighted at ##anyKeyword##, is so important.

    49
  49. Valuable information! Find more at seo services brisbane.

    50


Leave a Reply