Document And Entity Information (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 01, 2012	Mar. 30, 2012	Jul. 01, 2011
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]
Document Type	10-K
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Jan. 01, 2012
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2011
Entity Registrant Name	ALEXANDERS J CORP
Entity Central Index Key	0000103884
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--01-01
Entity Filer Category	Smaller Reporting Company
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		5,994,453
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Public Float			$ 35,360,536
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No