Le Regal – Old food, new taste
When asked about Vietnamese food, Americans usually think of phở busily churned out in small noodle houses crowded with plastic chairs and formica tables. Naturally, since most immigrants gather in their community, the variety of traditional food can only circulate in specific areas. A small fraction of the people have settled in a predominantly American neighborhood long enough and are acquainted with the system enough to set up a business, but they often target the young customers with adventurous taste. Meanwhile, most young customers can only afford low price, hence phở and other easily-made noodle dishes make their way to the top.
Careful circumspection would show that pasta alla carbonara requires no more effort than bún thịt nướng, so is it just a matter of gaudy names, flashy advertisement, and aging familiarity that brought one into fancy menus but not the other?
By no means do I want to sound like a snob, but every now and then I get cravings for a nice dinner in a restaurant aptly labeled “restaurant”. Ladles of this melting cheese and mounts of that grated cheese just no longer light the candle. A retouch of Far Eastern eloquence was much needed to make the aesthetic night.
The price is a little steep, but here are clothed tables, warm lights, an all-English menu, little to no disturbances from foreign chattering in the kitchen and among customers. A middle-aged woman, busy like a humming bird, scampered from kitchen to tables with plates in one hand, orders and bills in the other. For a restaurant with a fair size like Le Regal, one-person play seems a little overwhelming. But it works, our food was served within the time it took for us to make a few glances at the decor and exchange some daily news.
Fried rice is an easy dish, if you throw in some meat, some egg, some legumes, some salt and soy sauce, it can be called well done. Its volatility allows the cook to break free from shackles of recipes, and the eaters to relax from judging its missing-this or extra-that. There’s no fixed list of ingredients, no fixed standard other than appealing to the mouth, hence no objective criterion to rank a plate of fried rice among others. But if we were to nitpick, creativity would pump this one fried rice on top of all other Asian concoctions I’ve had, simply because of the addition of pineapple. There were only a few wedges in that mount, but pineapple is not one to be bullied by other ingredients, its tamed acidity seeps through every grain of rice, sweeter and more thorough than a squeeze of lemon. It helps lowering the guilt of consuming chicken, shrimp, scallops, pork, fried egg and zillions of molecules of saturated fat in frying oil. The rice also made tasty leftover for the next day.
As much as the cook was generous with the protein and the starch, they also gave us enough veggies for ten. At other Vietnamese restaurants, a small plate of sprouts topped with some basil is the usual allowance. Here came a basket of mounting garden goodies. I hadn’t seen any bunch of greens this big for years, especially since we weren’t asking for phở. Not sure what to do, we made lettuce wraps with bean sprout, a couple of leaves of basil and mint, and grilled beef from the other dish we ordered. Dipped in nuoc mam, the wraps were rad.
I’ve blogged about bánh hỏi thịt nướng before, so instead of blabbing about the lacy texture, I’d just say that this was delicious. Now clearly it’s a bit disproportionate, nowhere in Vietnam would you find so much meat accompanying so little banh hoi, the rice vermicelli must be the base. But the food pyramid seems to be upside down in America, where meat is vital in keeping you thin and at all cost one must say no to starch. The cook also went bizerk with deep fried shallots and crush peanuts, but those are easily brushed off if you’re not into contaminating grilled beef with relatives of vegetables.
Together with Tomatina, Alborz, some Mexican eatery, and Top Dog, Le Régal makes Center Street a road of international cuisine, of course an addition of kangaroo ragout and kitfo would be nice.
Bill before tip: $26.23 – dinner for two and leftover lunch for one.
Address:
Le Regal
2126 Center Street (between Oxford & Shattuck)
Berkeley, CA 94704
Can I just say what a relief to find someone who actually knows what theyre talking about on the internet. You definitely know how to bring an issue to light and make it important. More people need to read this and understand this side of the story. I cant believe youre not more popular because you definitely have the gift.
1Thanks for another wonderful post. Where else could anyone get that kind of information in such an ideal way of writing? I have a presentation next week, and I’m on the look for such information.
2I do agree with all of the ideas you have presented in your post. They’re very convincing and will definitely work. Still, the posts are too short for beginners. Could you please extend them a bit from next time? Thanks for the post.
3Hello my friend! I wish to say that this post is awesome, nice written and include almost all significant infos. I would like to peer extra posts like this.
4After all, what a great site and informative posts, I will upload inbound link – bookmark this web site? Regards, Reader.
5I am glad to be one of the visitors on this outstanding web site (:, regards for posting.
6An 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
7Some really great articles on this site, appreciate it for contribution.
8I got what you intend,saved to bookmarks, very nice web site.
9Good day! This is my first visit to your blog! We are a team of volunteers and starting a new initiative in a community in the same niche. Your blog provided us beneficial information to work on. You have done a extraordinary job!
10Very nice post. I just stumbled upon your weblog and wanted to say that I’ve truly enjoyed surfing around your blog posts. After all I will be subscribing to your feed and I hope you write again soon!
11I’m really enjoying the theme/design of your weblog. Do you ever run into any browser compatibility problems? A few of my blog visitors have complained about my blog not operating correctly in Explorer but looks great in Safari. Do you have any solutions to help fix this issue?
12Some truly fantastic info , Gladiolus I found this. “The historian must have some conceptions of how men who are not historians behave.” by Edward Morgan Forster.
13You have mentioned very interesting details! ps nice website . “Recompense injury with justice, and recompense kindness with kindness.” by Confucius.
14I’ll right away take hold of your rss as I can not in finding your email subscription hyperlink or e-newsletter service. Do you’ve any? Please permit me understand in order that I may subscribe. Thanks.
15I wanted to make a quick comment in order to say thanks to you for those lovely solutions you are writing on this site. My long internet research has at the end been honored with incredibly good facts to write about with my contacts. I ‘d suppose that most of us readers actually are extremely fortunate to exist in a perfect network with many perfect individuals with good things. I feel somewhat grateful to have used the webpage and look forward to tons of more enjoyable moments reading here. Thanks a lot once again for a lot of things.
16You have mentioned very interesting details! ps nice internet site.
17Howdy would you mind stating which blog platform you’re working with? I’m planning to start my own blog in the near future but I’m having a hard time choosing between BlogEngine/Wordpress/B2evolution and Drupal. The reason I ask is because your design and style seems different then most blogs and I’m looking for something completely unique. P.S Sorry for being off-topic but I had to ask!
18hello!,I like your writing very much! share we communicate more about your article on AOL? I require a specialist on this area to solve my problem. May be that’s you! Looking forward to see you.
19It’s hard to find knowledgeable people on this topic, but you sound like you know what you’re talking about! Thanks
20Hello my friend! I wish to say that this post is amazing, nice written and come with approximately all vital infos. I would like to peer more posts like this.
21I am often to blogging and i really appreciate your content. The article has really peaks my interest. I am going to bookmark your site and keep checking for new information.
22Hiya, I’m really glad I have found this info. Nowadays bloggers publish just about gossips and net and this is really irritating. A good blog with interesting content, that’s what I need. Thank you for keeping this web-site, I’ll be visiting it. Do you do newsletters? Can’t find it.
23Please let me know if you’re looking for a article writer for your weblog. You have some really good articles and I feel I would be a good asset. If you ever want to take some of the load off, I’d really like to write some content for your blog in exchange for a link back to mine. Please shoot me an email if interested. Thanks!
24I am happy that I noticed this blog, exactly the right information that I was searching for! .
25Hello. excellent job. I did not anticipate this. This is a remarkable story. Thanks!
26hello there and thanks to your information – I’ve definitely picked up anything new from right here. I did then again expertise a few technical points using this site, as I experienced to reload the site many occasions prior to I could get it to load correctly. I have been pondering if your web host is OK? Not that I am complaining, but sluggish loading instances times will very frequently have an effect on your placement in google and could damage your high-quality rating if ads and ***********|advertising|advertising|advertising and *********** with Adwords. Anyway I am including this RSS to my e-mail and could look out for much more of your respective intriguing content. Make sure you replace this once more very soon..
27I am not sure where you are getting your info, but great topic. I needs to spend some time finding out much more or understanding more. Thanks for magnificent information I was looking for this info for my mission.
28I like this site very much, Its a really nice situation to read and receive info . “I’d better get off the phone now, I’ve already told you more than I heard myself.” by Loretta Lockhorn.
29I’m not that much of a internet reader to be honest but your blogs really nice, keep it up! I’ll go ahead and bookmark your site to come back down the road. Many thanks
30you’re really a good webmaster. The website loading speed is incredible. It seems that you’re doing any unique trick. Furthermore, The contents are masterpiece. you’ve done a great job on this topic!
31I’m not sure why but this web site is loading incredibly slow for me. Is anyone else having this issue or is it a issue on my end? I’ll check back later on and see if the problem still exists.
32Do you have a spam issue on this blog; I also am a blogger, and I was wondering your situation; many of us have created some nice practices and we are looking to swap methods with others, why not shoot me an e-mail if interested.
33I liked up to you’ll obtain performed proper here. The comic strip is tasteful, your authored subject matter stylish. however, you command get bought an shakiness over that you want be turning in the following. ill certainly come more earlier once more as exactly the similar just about a lot continuously inside of case you shield this hike.
34As soon as I observed this internet site I went on reddit to share some of the love with them.
35I have recently started a website, the info you provide on this web site has helped me tremendously. Thank you for all of your time & work.
36Lovely just what I was searching for.Thanks to the author for taking his clock time on this one.
37so much good information on here, :D.
38Hi, i read your blog occasionally and i own a similar one and i was just wondering if you get a lot of spam comments? If so how do you protect against it, any plugin or anything you can recommend? I get so much lately it’s driving me insane so any assistance is very much appreciated.
39I would like to express my thanks to you for rescuing me from this type of situation. As a result of checking throughout the the net and getting basics which are not beneficial, I assumed my entire life was gone. Being alive without the approaches to the difficulties you’ve solved as a result of your site is a serious case, as well as ones which could have adversely damaged my entire career if I had not encountered your web page. Your expertise and kindness in dealing with all the things was tremendous. I don’t know what I would’ve done if I hadn’t come across such a subject like this. I can also at this moment look forward to my future. Thanks so much for your specialized and sensible help. I won’t hesitate to recommend your web sites to anyone who would like guidance on this subject matter.
40I don’t even know the way I stopped up right here, but I thought this publish was once great. I do not know who you’re but definitely you are going to a famous blogger should you aren’t already 😉 Cheers!
41I’ve been exploring for a little for any high-quality articles or blog posts on this sort of area . Exploring in Yahoo I at last stumbled upon this website. Reading this info So i’m happy to convey that I’ve a very good uncanny feeling I discovered exactly what I needed. I most certainly will make certain to do not forget this site and give it a look on a constant basis.
42Hello! I could have sworn I’ve been to this blog before but after browsing through some of the post I realized it’s new to me. Anyways, I’m definitely happy I found it and I’ll be book-marking and checking back frequently!
43I like this weblog very much, Its a rattling nice berth to read and find information. “The mark of a good action is that it appears inevitable in retrospect.” by Robert Louis Stephenson.
44Heya! I just wanted to ask if you ever have any problems with hackers? My last blog (wordpress) was hacked and I ended up losing months of hard work due to no back up. Do you have any methods to protect against hackers?
45I’d have to examine with you here. Which is not one thing I usually do! I take pleasure in reading a post that may make folks think. Additionally, thanks for permitting me to comment!
46Hi there! This post couldn’t be written any better! Reading through this post reminds me of my previous room mate! He always kept talking about this. I will forward this article to him. Pretty sure he will have a good read. Thank you for sharing!
47Keep up the great work, I read few articles on this site and I believe that your site is real interesting and contains lots of wonderful information.
48Appreciate it for helping out, excellent info .
49I like this web site so much, saved to my bookmarks.
50