Fast pho at Le Cheval
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”.
The 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
I am usually to running a blog and i actually admire your content. The article has actually peaks my interest. I’m going to bookmark your site and maintain checking for brand spanking new information.
1Thankyou for this post, I am a big fan of this web site would like to go along updated.
2I regard something really special in this internet site.
3I believe you have remarked some very interesting details , regards for the post.
4I am always looking online for posts that can facilitate me. Thank you!
5Whats up very cool website!! Man .. Beautiful .. Amazing .. I’ll bookmark your site and take the feeds additionally…I am happy to find a lot of useful information right here in the publish, we need work out more strategies in this regard, thank you for sharing.
6Nearly all of what you point out is astonishingly legitimate and that makes me ponder the reason why I hadn’t looked at this in this light previously. Your piece truly did switch the light on for me personally as far as this subject goes. But at this time there is actually just one factor I am not necessarily too cozy with and whilst I try to reconcile that with the central theme of your position, let me observe what all the rest of your subscribers have to say.Very well done.
7Great blog! Do you have any recommendations for aspiring writers? I’m planning to start my own blog soon but I’m a little lost on everything. Would you suggest starting with a free platform like WordPress or go for a paid option? There are so many choices out there that I’m totally overwhelmed .. Any ideas? Bless you!
8I have been checking out a few of your articles and i can state pretty clever stuff. I will definitely bookmark your website.
9certainly like your web-site but you need to take a look at the spelling on quite a few of your posts. Many of them are rife with spelling problems and I find it very bothersome to inform the truth then again I will surely come back again.
10Hi, i read your blog occasionally and i own a similar one and i was just wondering if you get a lot of spam remarks? If so how do you prevent it, any plugin or anything you can advise? I get so much lately it’s driving me crazy so any support is very much appreciated.
11I couldn’t resist commenting
12Hey there would you mind letting me know which hosting company you’re working with? I’ve loaded your blog in 3 completely different internet browsers and I must say this blog loads a lot quicker then most. Can you suggest a good web hosting provider at a reasonable price? Thanks a lot, I appreciate it!
13My programmer is trying to convince me to move to .net from PHP. I have always disliked the idea because of the costs. But he’s tryiong none the less. I’ve been using Movable-type on a number of websites for about a year and am worried about switching to another platform. I have heard fantastic things about blogengine.net. Is there a way I can import all my wordpress content into it? Any kind of help would be really appreciated!
14I like this post, enjoyed this one thankyou for putting up.
15Thank you for every other informative blog. Where else may I am getting that type of info written in such an ideal way? I have a mission that I am simply now working on, and I’ve been at the look out for such info.
16There are certainly a whole lot of details like that to take into consideration. That could be a nice level to deliver up. I provide the ideas above as common inspiration but clearly there are questions like the one you deliver up where an important thing will likely be working in trustworthy good faith. I don?t know if finest practices have emerged round things like that, but I’m certain that your job is clearly recognized as a fair game. Each boys and girls really feel the influence of only a second’s pleasure, for the rest of their lives.
17hello there and thank you for your info – I’ve certainly picked up anything new from right here. I did however expertise a few technical points using this web site, since I experienced to reload the website many times previous to I could get it to load correctly. I had been wondering if your web hosting is OK? Not that I am complaining, but slow loading instances times will very frequently affect your placement in google and can damage your quality score if ads and marketing with Adwords. Well I’m adding this RSS to my email and could look out for a lot more of your respective exciting content. Make sure you update this again soon..
18I’d perpetually want to be update on new blog posts on this internet site, saved to bookmarks! .
19Good write-up, I’m regular visitor of one’s site, maintain up the nice operate, and It is going to be a regular visitor for a lengthy time.
20I cherished up to you’ll obtain carried out right here. The cartoon is tasteful, your authored material stylish. nevertheless, you command get bought an impatience over that you would like be turning in the following. ill certainly come more previously once more since precisely the same nearly a lot frequently within case you defend this hike.
21It’s really a great and useful piece of info. I am glad that you shared this helpful info with us. Please keep us informed like this. Thanks for sharing.
22Very interesting subject, thanks for putting up.
23Wohh exactly what I was looking for, thanks for putting up.
24This is a very good tips especially to those new to blogosphere, brief and accurate information… Thanks for sharing this one. A must read article.
25You are my breathing in, I have few blogs and infrequently run out from to brand.
26Simply a smiling visitant here to share the love (:, btw outstanding style and design. “Treat the other man’s faith gently it is all he has to believe with.” by Athenus.
27Sweet site, super design and style, real clean and utilise friendly.
28Wonderful blog! I found it while browsing on Yahoo News. Do you have any suggestions on how to get listed in Yahoo News? I’ve been trying for a while but I never seem to get there! Thanks
29Hi my friend! I want to say that this post is awesome, nice written and include almost all vital infos. I would like to see more posts like this.
30I regard something truly special in this website.
31Hi, i believe that i noticed you visited my weblog so i came to “go back the desire”.I am attempting to find things to enhance my web site!I guess its ok to use some of your concepts!!
32Yeah bookmaking this wasn’t a bad conclusion outstanding post! .
33Thanks for another excellent post. Where else could anybody get that kind of info in such a perfect way of writing? I have a presentation next week, and I am on the look for such info.
34I like this site very much, Its a real nice office to read and find information.
35Fantastic beat ! I wish to apprentice at the same time as you amend your web site, how could i subscribe for a blog website? The account aided me a acceptable deal. I were tiny bit acquainted of this your broadcast offered vibrant transparent concept
36After study a few of the blog posts on your website now, and I truly like your way of blogging. I bookmarked it to my bookmark website list and will be checking back soon. Pls check out my web site as well and let me know what you think.
37I have been surfing online greater than 3 hours today, but I never found any fascinating article like yours. It’s lovely price sufficient for me. In my opinion, if all webmasters and bloggers made good content as you probably did, the web shall be a lot more useful than ever before. “When the heart speaks, the mind finds it indecent to object.” by Milan Kundera.
38I’m really enjoying the theme/design of your weblog. Do you ever run into any internet browser compatibility issues? A couple of my blog audience have complained about my blog not working correctly in Explorer but looks great in Firefox. Do you have any advice to help fix this issue?
39I’ve been absent for a while, but now I remember why I used to love this blog. Thanks , I will try and check back more often. How frequently you update your website?
40Very clean site, appreciate it for this post.
41you have a great blog here! would you like to make some invite posts on my blog?
42I am not positive the place you’re getting your information, but good topic. I needs to spend a while finding out much more or understanding more. Thanks for magnificent information I was searching for this info for my mission.
43Hello there, I found your blog via Google while searching for a related topic, your web site came up, it looks good. I have bookmarked it in my google bookmarks.
44I loved as much as you’ll receive carried out right here. The sketch is attractive, your authored material stylish. nonetheless, you command get bought an impatience over that you wish be delivering the following. unwell unquestionably come further formerly again as exactly the same nearly very often inside case you shield this increase.
45Hello I am so glad I found your blog, I really found you by mistake, while I was looking on Askjeeve for something else, Nonetheless I am here now and would just like to say many thanks for a incredible post and a all round interesting blog (I also love the theme/design), I don’t have time to read through it all at the minute but I have saved it and also included your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be back to read a great deal more, Please do keep up the superb work.
46I like what you guys are up also. Such intelligent work and reporting! Carry on the excellent works guys I’ve incorporated you guys to my blogroll. I think it’ll improve the value of my site 🙂
47An interesting discussion is worth comment. I think that you should write more on this topic, it might not be a taboo subject but generally people are not enough to speak on such topics. To the next. Cheers
48I love the efforts you have put in this, appreciate it for all the great posts.
49Thank you for the good writeup. It if truth be told was once a enjoyment account it. Glance complicated to more added agreeable from you! However, how can we be in contact?
50