We went here sans kids as we heard the line could be long. We went on a summer day (Saturday) around 12pm. It was a little confusing at first but we were directed to first order at the cash register and then to go back in line. We luckily didn't have too much of a wait in the line, about 20 mins. The dining area is small where there's either shared benches, small stools or the kitchen counter. The food came out fairly quickly after being seated. The menu is small and focused on udon. My husband and I enjoyed a hot and cold spicy version of the udon. We thought the spice was manageable as we both regularly enjoy a little spice(it's not numbing or tingling type, in my opinion). My husband is not usually a fan of udon but he really thought the broth was flavorful for the hot soup. I enjoyed mine and we both could see why the place was so popular. We were lucky and were able to find street/metered parking. We were in the area earlier in the winter and the crowd was not as big as the summer. It looked like there was parking for Lesley University but wasn't sure how much it was.
Waffled between 4 and 5 since I do have some nitpicks, but I always come here whenever I'm in town so... *shrug*. My favorite order: spicy or regular cold, and convince someone generous to get the spicy hot so you can slurp some of that amazing broth. Been here quite a few times now, and still always stop by whenever I can. Love the chewy texture of the cold udon noodles, and it's nice that you can see them making them right in front of you if you sit at the bar. The spicy hot udon's broth is also *chef's kiss* perfection. Even if the line is around-the-corner long, they seem to get through it pretty quickly, so stay strong, and you'll probably be seated in ~20 minutes. My nitpicks: the hot soup udon's texture is too soft. If they could just plonk the cold noodles in the hot broth it would be perfect. If you want to order takeout, you actually need to just cut in front of the line at the front to do so, which is confusing and may make other people shoot you dirty looks, but alas, this is what the staff said to do, okay. The store's hours are also nebulous around holidays; they were closed on the 4th of July but their online ordering system was up, but Google said they were closed but Yelp said they were open... ultimately they were closed :') Your best guess is to trust their Google hours, or see if they have some little piece of paper taped up somewhere announcing special hours. My top tips: get the extra noodles, especially if you're ordering one of the cold options; portion size here is on the smaller side. If you want to save money, maybe consider skipping the beef, which I found to be a little dry during recent visits. I also like getting extra daikon when ordering the regular cold, which they kindly offer at no extra cost!
I love Yume ga Arukara! As someone who's been to Japan multiple times and loves udon, I thought their noodles and broth was amazing. The noodles are perfectly cooked, chewy and flavorful, and the meat was delicious. I will say their portions are more "Japan sized" ie, smaller portion sizes, but it was still delicious. If I'm ever craving udon I'll come here. While there can be a long line for this hole in the wall udon spot, the line moves rather quickly. The staff makes sure food comes out relatively quickly. I also appreciate that they have allergen info noted on the menu, which is helpful for those with food allergies. Highly recommend!
This is hands down the best cold udon I've tried in the greater Boston area and I imagine it's gonna be very hard beating this place. I constantly find myself craving a bowl because it's filling but leaves me feeling refreshed, especially during the summer! Food: The udon was cooked to the perfect texture leaving it with a very pleasant chew and incredible slurp. The broth coated the noodles well and imparted it's deep beef flavor. The beef on the side was the nice and tender and was the best accompaniment to the noodles because the noodles were undoubtedly the star. I got the spicy cold niko noodles and it was the perfect level of heat that didn't impede on the flavor of the broth and beef. The spice coated each noodle so well and made the dish a touch more savory. Service: Service is quick and food gets to your stomach so fast, but if you stop by at a busy time be prepared for an intimidating line. But even with the potential line it's well worth the wait! Atmosphere: The vibe is very casual and I think it's perfect for maximizing the accessibility of these great noodles.
Tasty udon shop located in Lesley University's food court. My favorite is the cold niku udon which is perfect for a hot day! The meal is super refreshing. The udon is bouncy and the thinly sliced beef is tender and flavorful. The broth is an explosion of savory, sweet, and umami and the lemon adds a little bit of citrus to balance it all. After ordering, you have to stand in line for available seating. The shop seats around 15-20 people, so the line can get long, but service is quick and the food is definitely worth the wait!
I loved the noodles here! I got the cold udon, which was delicious and very refreshing. However, there are things to keep in mind with this location. It's very popular and has a tiny storefront in the Porter Square food court, so the line can build up a lot. You order and pay at the cash register _before_ getting in line, so you're committed. The line does move quickly, but that's because there is a fairly limited menu and there's a bit of time pressure when eating--this is not a place to bring picky friends or those with restrictions, or dawdle and catch up with friends over a meal. With all that in mind, if you just want to slam down some delicious udon, definitely stop by!
Noodles are worth the hype and line! Both the cold and hot udon noodles were perfection - chewy noodles with balanced broth / soy sauce and chewy beef goodness. Each bowl is very filling and you can't beat the price for the quality you get. Note one of the dishes we ordered contained small shrimp in it so heads up if you have a shellfish allergy. The space is a literal hole in the wall with 15-20 seats inside. The experience feels like you are being transported back into Japan. You will be crammed in a small communal space where lingering isn't encouraged. We did take out since we were in a hurry but it still took about 15 min for the food to be ready. It looked like they did food and seating in waves. The restaurant is in a small food court located inside a Leslie University building so it can be tricky to find. Street parking is your best bet as well. Can't recommend enough.
If you're visiting Boston, this is worth the trip up to Cambridge! I don't usually order udon in any restaurant, but I had to make an exception here. The cold noodles were so tasty and chewy in the broth. I got the spicy version and it was just the right heat level for me. The portion size was also just enough for lunch. On top of that, the dish presentation was superb. I got here about 10 minutes before open and waited behind one other party in line. The space is truly small, but cozy. I got a seat at the bar and loved watching the noodle-making process. It was great to see all the work that went into making such a lovely meal!
Must try if you're in Boston and craving cold Japanese noodles. This place is so tasty. It's unbelievable: cold, spicy noodles that really hit the spot on a hot day. I've never had cold udon done quite like this before, and I was extremely impressed by the service and the tastiness of the noodles. They are very chewy. Haylie was so kind and provided attentive service. We had a number of stupid questions among people in our group and she was so patient with us. They rate you at the end of your meal: perfect, well done, good try. The more you finish, the better the rating. It's pretty funny.
The hype is reeeal! Honestly, this place has probably become my favorite place ever to get udon now. The space is extremely small, and probably only sits close to 15 people at a time. Lines are long but it moves quickly! For the process: you order first, then queue in line for a table. Once it's your time to be seated, you hand your receipt with your order. They bring out your food a few moments later. They're known for their cold udon noodles, so of course I had to get the spicy one! The udon was SO refreshing and the beef was perfectly marinated. The spicy wasn't as spicy as I would've thought. For an extra $2, you can also add an egg! They also do this cute thing where they hype you up if you finish your meal lol. Finish the entire bowl to get a "perfect" or if you still have broth left, they tell you "good job"! Would highly recommend to anyone in the Boston area- it's conveniently close to Harvard for any tourists as well!