“If my kids ask me ‘Why do you work every day?’ I want to tell them ‘Because I have dreams.’”

That message, scrawled messily in big blue letters against a white wall, may be the only element of Yume Ga Arukara not specifically tied to the preparation and consumption of udon noodles. But it speaks volumes about the spirit that goes into making each bowl.

If all this talk of dreams and noodles sounds familiar, it’s because this small Porter Exchange food stall shares ownership with the endearingly eccentric Yume Wo Katare. Like its nearby ramen-serving sister spot, Yume Ga Arukara regularly draws lines (but its location in a miniature Japanese-style food hall means you won’t have to wait it out in the elements).

Just enter the Porter Exchange building and proceed directly to the hall’s end, where you’ll encounter a line of eager noodle seekers. Take your place and be patient: It moves quickly. You’ll need to figure out your order by the time you reach the front, but that shouldn’t be difficult. There are just three choices: Hot Udon, Niku Udon (served cold), and on certain days, a spicy version of Niku Udon. The truly famished can also opt for “extra noodles,” “extra extra noodles,” or to double (even triple) the beef portion in the bowl.

After ordering (and paying), you’ll be seated at either the open kitchen-facing bar or a long table below it. A sign prohibiting smartphone use goes unenforced, but follow it to enjoy the sights and smells of an udon assembly line to the fullest. Look closely and you may even catch the secret to how those noodles can be so pillowy-soft yet slurp-ably silky at the same time.