Yume Ga Arakura

If you’ve been to this noodle shop’s Cambridge location, you know the drill: long line, short menu, quick service, and deeply delicious bowls of udon served to just 16 diners at a time. It’s mostly the same at their new Seaport spot, but the experience feels a little less rushed, more efficient, and extremely friendly, with all the same delicious noodles. Lunch at the bar is the move here—they’ll take your order when you’re in line if it’s busy—where you can watch the busy chefs pull long strings of fresh udon, slice and plop some fatty beef into your bowl, and drop in a perfect soft-boiled egg. It’s the perfect under $20 lunch in an area where that same amount of money will probably only get you half of a lobster roll (if you’re lucky).