There’s only a brief window of time that you can visit Dai Ho — between the hours of 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. every day except Mondays — but the effort is worth it for this no-nonsense noodle joint’s impeccable beef noodle soup, balanced dan dan mien loaded with sesame sauce, and a deli fridge full of Taiwanese side dishes like pickled mustard greens and black-hued soy sauce eggs. The food comes fast and lingering is strongly discouraged (there’s a “no reading books and newspaper sign” that serves as a reminder); order, eat, and pay with cash and you will be in and out in 20 minutes.
Due to limited hours, Dai Ho fills up fast and stays full. You may have to share a table with other guests, but you’ll be so focused on the food that the awkward proximity fades quickly.
Although it’s not explicitly stated on the menu, any of the noodle orders can be made spicy; just ask. The nuttiness of the sesame noodles are especially good with the addition of chile oil.