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. Thanks for the great content. More at ##anyKeyword##.

    1
  2. I usually judge a pizza parlor by its plain cheese slice. It tells me what the crust and sauce are like on their own

    2
  3. When I search for “Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) Houston TX,” I want to know how the first consultation is structured.
    A “Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) Houston TX” guide would help me prepare if it listed the topics a clinician might ask about Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) Houston TX

    3
  4. My search for “Trt replacement therapy near me” turned up pages about treatment packages. I’d like to learn more about the evaluation itself Trt replacement therapy near me

    4
  5. When I search for “hot dogs Pueblo CO,” I look for a menu that describes the sausage and bun as well as the toppings.
    A “hot dogs Pueblo CO” roundup would be more useful if it compared griddled and grilled dogs hot dogs Pueblo CO

    5
  6. When I search for “Carpet Cleaning Fort Collins CO,” I look for someone who can assess a muddy entryway before quoting the whole house.
    A “Carpet Cleaning Fort Collins CO” guide could explain what to ask about road salt tracked in during winter Carpet Cleaning Fort Collins CO

    6
  7. I usually judge a pizza parlor by its plain cheese slice. It tells me what the crust and sauce are like on their own pizza parlor

    7
  8. When I search for “Carpet Cleaning Fort Collins CO,” I look for someone who can assess a muddy entryway before quoting the whole house.
    A “Carpet Cleaning Fort Collins CO” guide could explain what to ask about road salt tracked in during winter

    8
  9. I usually judge a pizza parlor by its plain cheese slice. It tells me what the crust and sauce are like on their own

    9
  10. When I search for “Carpet Cleaning Greeley CO,” I look for a clear description of what a standard appointment includes.
    A “Carpet Cleaning Greeley CO” guide would help me compare quotes if it explained how rooms are counted Carpet Cleaning Greeley CO

    10
  11. When I search for “hot dogs Pueblo CO,” I look for a menu that describes the sausage and bun as well as the toppings.
    A “hot dogs Pueblo CO” roundup would be more useful if it compared griddled and grilled dogs hot dogs Pueblo CO

    11
  12. When I search for “Carpet Cleaning Greeley CO,” I look for a clear description of what a standard appointment includes.
    A “Carpet Cleaning Greeley CO” guide would help me compare quotes if it explained how rooms are counted

    12
  13. This was a fantastic resource. Check out best driveway cleaning near me for more.

    13
  14. This was a fantastic resource. Check out ##anyKeyword## for more.

    14
  15. Thanks for the clear advice. More at experienced moving contractors .

    15
  16. Thanks for the clear advice. More at ##anyKeyword##.

    16
  17. When I search for “Trt replacement therapy near me,” I want to know what the first appointment actually covers.
    A “Trt replacement therapy near me” guide would help me compare clinics if it explained who conducts the initial evaluation Trt replacement therapy near me

    17
  18. When I search for “Trt replacement therapy near me,” I want to know what the first appointment actually covers.
    A “Trt replacement therapy near me” guide would help me compare clinics if it explained who conducts the initial evaluation

    18
  19. This was a wonderful guide. Check out furniture delivery and moving for more.

    19
  20. This was a wonderful guide. Check out ##anyKeyword## for more.

    20
  21. This was a fantastic resource. Check out driveway stain removal for more.

    21
  22. This was a fantastic resource. Check out ##anyKeyword## for more.

    22
  23. When I search for “Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) Houston TX,” I want to know how the first consultation is structured.
    A “Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) Houston TX” guide would help me prepare if it listed the topics a clinician might ask about Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) Houston TX

    23
  24. When I search for “Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) Houston TX,” I want to know how the first consultation is structured.
    A “Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) Houston TX” guide would help me prepare if it listed the topics a clinician might ask about

    24
  25. I usually judge a pizza parlor by its plain cheese slice. It tells me what the crust and sauce are like on their own pizza parlor

    25
  26. My search for “Trt replacement therapy near me” turned up pages about treatment packages. I’d like to learn more about the evaluation itself Trt replacement therapy near me

    26
  27. My search for “Trt replacement therapy near me” turned up pages about treatment packages. I’d like to learn more about the evaluation itself

    27
  28. When I search for “Carpet Cleaning Fort Collins CO,” I look for someone who can assess a muddy entryway before quoting the whole house.
    A “Carpet Cleaning Fort Collins CO” guide could explain what to ask about road salt tracked in during winter Carpet Cleaning Fort Collins CO

    28
  29. I usually judge a pizza parlor by its plain cheese slice. It tells me what the crust and sauce are like on their own

    29
  30. When I search for “Carpet Cleaning Fort Collins CO,” I look for someone who can assess a muddy entryway before quoting the whole house.
    A “Carpet Cleaning Fort Collins CO” guide could explain what to ask about road salt tracked in during winter

    30
  31. When I search for “hot dogs Pueblo CO,” I look for a menu that describes the sausage and bun as well as the toppings.
    A “hot dogs Pueblo CO” roundup would be more useful if it compared griddled and grilled dogs hot dogs Pueblo CO

    31
  32. When I search for “hot dogs Pueblo CO,” I look for a menu that describes the sausage and bun as well as the toppings.
    A “hot dogs Pueblo CO” roundup would be more useful if it compared griddled and grilled dogs

    32
  33. When I search for “Carpet Cleaning Greeley CO,” I look for a clear description of what a standard appointment includes.
    A “Carpet Cleaning Greeley CO” guide would help me compare quotes if it explained how rooms are counted Carpet Cleaning Greeley CO

    33
  34. Useful advice! For more, visit ##anyKeyword##.

    35
  35. When I search for “Carpet Cleaning Greeley CO,” I look for a clear description of what a standard appointment includes.
    A “Carpet Cleaning Greeley CO” guide would help me compare quotes if it explained how rooms are counted

    36
  36. This is quite enlightening. Check out affordable lawn care Ellisville MO for more.

    37
  37. This is quite enlightening. Check out ##anyKeyword## for more.

    38
  38. This was highly educational. For more, visit local lawn care services .

    39
  39. This was highly educational. For more, visit ##anyKeyword##.

    40
  40. Thanks for the helpful article. More like this at ##anyKeyword##.

    42
  41. When I search for “Trt replacement therapy near me,” I want to know what the first appointment actually covers.
    A “Trt replacement therapy near me” guide would help me compare clinics if it explained who conducts the initial evaluation Trt replacement therapy near me

    43
  42. When I search for “Trt replacement therapy near me,” I want to know what the first appointment actually covers.
    A “Trt replacement therapy near me” guide would help me compare clinics if it explained who conducts the initial evaluation

    44
  43. стейк казино стейк казино вход на официальный сайт — это услуга где вдохновение встречается с игрой. Здесь поклонники могут наслаждаться премиальными стейками предлагая изумительный опыт.

    45
  44. When I search for “Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) Houston TX,” I want to know how the first consultation is structured.
    A “Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) Houston TX” guide would help me prepare if it listed the topics a clinician might ask about Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) Houston TX

    46
  45. Appreciate the thorough insights. For more, visit full article .

    47
  46. Appreciate the thorough insights. For more, visit ##anyKeyword##.

    48
  47. I usually judge a pizza parlor by its plain cheese slice. It tells me what the crust and sauce are like on their own pizza parlor

    49
  48. My search for “Trt replacement therapy near me” turned up pages about treatment packages. I’d like to learn more about the evaluation itself Trt replacement therapy near me

    50


Leave a Reply