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 insights—this will help residents avoid common solar installation mistakes in Grass Valley. Learn at affordable solar installation Grass Valley .

    1
  2. Thanks for the insights—this will help residents avoid common solar installation mistakes in Grass Valley. Learn at ##anyKeyword##.

    2
  3. Appreciate the useful tips. For more, visit estancia en O Refuxio dos Cebreiros .

    3
  4. Top rated solution every time with The Master’s Lawn & Pest! They’re definitely the best landscaping in St Augustine. landscaping

    4
  5. I’m now not sure where you’re getting your info, however great topic.

    I needs to spend some time finding out more or figuring out more.
    Thanks for great information I used to be on the lookout for this info for my mission.

    5
  6. 8. Very helpful post. A lot of users are searching for ways to save TikTok videos efficiently, so content like this is useful. download TikTok videos HD

    6
  7. Keep up the great piece of work, I read few content on this web site and I believe that your web site is really interesting and has got circles of wonderful information.

    7
  8. Clayton Green says:

    This was a wonderful post. Check out מקום לברית קטן בירושלים for more.

    8
  9. Pretty! This has been a really wonderful post. Thank you for supplying this information.

    9
  10. Write more, thats all I have to say. Literally, it seems as though you relied on the video to make your point. You clearly know what youre talking about, why waste your intelligence on just posting videos to your site when you could be giving us something enlightening to read?

    10
  11. Great article! Going solar is easier when you work with experienced solar installers in Chico. solar installation company reviews

    11
  12. Great article! Going solar is easier when you work with experienced solar installers in Chico. ##anyKeyword##

    12
  13. A commercial move can impact productivity if not planned correctly. Businesses in Raleigh may want to look into experienced movers like Raleigh apartment movers to help manage the details.

    13
  14. A commercial move can impact productivity if not planned correctly. Businesses in Raleigh may want to look into experienced movers like ##anyKeyword## to help manage the details.

    14
  15. https://789club-3.com/ mang đến môi trường trực tuyến hiện đại với quy trình sử dụng đơn giản và bố cục thân thiện. Nền tảng được tối ưu về tốc độ tải trang, hiệu suất vận hành, tính bảo mật và khả năng duy trì kết nối ổn định.

    15
  16. https://789club-2.com/ là nền tảng trực tuyến được phát triển với giao diện rõ ràng, giúp người dùng dễ dàng tiếp cận các dịch vụ trên máy tính và thiết bị di động

    16
  17. https://789club-5.com/ cung cấp nền tảng trực tuyến có khả năng tương thích tốt với máy tính, điện thoại và máy tính bảng. Hệ thống ưu tiên thời gian phản hồi nhanh, cơ chế bảo mật dữ liệu và độ ổn định để mang lại trải nghiệm sử dụng liền mạch.

    17
  18. https://789club-4.com/ được xây dựng nhằm hỗ trợ người dùng thao tác thuận tiện và tìm kiếm nội dung nhanh chóng trên nhiều loại màn hình. Website tập trung cải thiện tốc độ xử lý, tăng cường bảo vệ thông tin và hạn chế tình trạng gián đoạn khi sử dụng

    18
  19. https://789club-6.com/ hướng đến trải nghiệm trực tuyến thuận tiện với giao diện được sắp xếp khoa học và dễ làm quen. Nền tảng chú trọng hiệu suất hệ thống, tốc độ truy cập, khả năng bảo vệ thông tin cá nhân và quá trình vận hành liên tục.

    19
  20. Honestly, the biggest obstacle with interactive screens in busy shared settings often comes down to more than just the tech, it’s calibration drift under harsh lighting interactive kiosk New York City

    20
  21. Honestly, the biggest obstacle with interactive screens in busy shared settings often comes down to more than just the tech, it’s calibration drift under harsh lighting

    21
  22. Lawn pest problems are common in warm coastal areas. If you are in Cape Coral, Lawn Pest Control Services Cape Coral FL may be useful for local pest control needs.

    22
  23. This really answered my drawback, thanks!

    23
  24. Lawn pest problems are common in warm coastal areas. If you are in Cape Coral, ##anyKeyword## may be useful for local pest control needs.

    24
  25. Muret construit magnifiquement, exactement ce qu’on avait imagine. paysagement boucherville​

    25
  26. Muret construit magnifiquement, exactement ce qu’on avait imagine.

    26
  27. Custom measurement meant everything fit perfectly, no gaps or leaks at all. Glass Shower Doors

    27
  28. Custom measurement meant everything fit perfectly, no gaps or leaks at all.

    28
  29. Rushton village here, glad to have found such reliable service. phone repair

    29
  30. Rushton village here, glad to have found such reliable service.

    30
  31. I liked your well balanced view on instead of making it seem also simple. Rise North Capital direct line

    31
  32. For classic or high-value vehicles, enclosed transport may be worth considering. Helpful topic for Oyster Bay drivers. Oyster Bay Auto Transport

    32
  33. I liked your well balanced view on instead of making it seem also simple.

    33
  34. For classic or high-value vehicles, enclosed transport may be worth considering. Helpful topic for Oyster Bay drivers. ##anyKeyword##

    34
  35. Very useful information for anyone comparing solar providers in Lodi. commercial solar companies

    35
  36. Very useful information for anyone comparing solar providers in Lodi. ##anyKeyword##

    36
  37. This was quite enlightening. Check out Washington IL roofing contractors for more.

    37
  38. This was quite enlightening. Check out ##anyKeyword## for more.

    38
  39. Thanks for the helpful article. More like this at dock building near me .

    39
  40. Thanks for the helpful article. More like this at ##anyKeyword##.

    40
  41. I like these moving suggestions because they focus on reducing stress. A reliable moving team can make apartment relocation faster and safer. Learn more at Santa Ana Movers .

    41
  42. I love adorning my house with one-of-a-kind flags! I stumbled on a incredible decision at UltimateFlags.com that I can’t wait to discover.

    42
  43. I love adorning my house with one-of-a-kind flags! I stumbled on a incredible decision at ##anyKeyword## that I can’t wait to discover.

    43
  44. Dental emergencies happen—does medical clinic in Bangkok have a partner dental unit or referrals for urgent cases?

    44
  45. Moving an office in New Orleans requires careful coordination, especially for companies that cannot afford long downtime. Professional commercial movers are definitely worth considering. Long distance movers New Orleans

    45
  46. Dental emergencies happen—does ##anyKeyword## have a partner dental unit or referrals for urgent cases?

    46
  47. I like these moving suggestions because they focus on reducing stress. A reliable moving team can make apartment relocation faster and safer. Learn more at ##anyKeyword##.

    47
  48. Moving an office in New Orleans requires careful coordination, especially for companies that cannot afford long downtime. Professional commercial movers are definitely worth considering. ##anyKeyword##

    48
  49. This was a great article. Check out download video tiktok to pc for more.

    49
  50. Layton home and the service was just as good as what neighbors in Ogden described. Plumber Near Me

    50


Leave a Reply