Employee Benefit Plans	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2013
Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]
Employee Benefit Plans	Employee Benefit Plans Defined Contribution Plan In October 2003, the Company adopted a defined contribution plan, The Noodles & Company 401(k) Plan (the "401(k) Plan"). Company employees with six months of service, aged 21 or older, are eligible to participate in the 401(k) Plan. Under the provisions 12. Employee Benefit Plans (continued) of the plan, the Company may, at its discretion, make contributions to the 401(k) Plan. Participants are 100% vested in their own contributions. The Company made no contributions during 2013, 2012 and 2011. Deferred Compensation Plan The Company's deferred compensation plan, under which compensation deferrals began in 2013, is a non-qualified deferred compensation plan which allows highly compensated employees to defer a portion of their base salary and variable compensation each plan year. To offset its obligation, the Company purchases Company-owned whole-life insurance contracts on certain team members. As of December 31, 2013, $581,000 and $599,000 was included in other assets, net and other long term liabilities, which represent the carrying value of the liability for deferred compensation and the cash surrender value of the associated life insurance policy, respectively. Employee Stock Purchase Plan In 2013, the Company adopted an Employee Stock Purchase Plan under which eligible team members may voluntarily contribute up to 15% of their salary, subject to limitations, to purchase common stock at a price equal to 85% of the fair market value of a share of the Company's common stock on the first day of each offering period or 85% of the fair market value of a share of the Company's common stock on the last day of each offering period, whichever amount is less. In general, all of the Company's officers and team members who have been employed by the Company for at thirty days prior to the offering period and who are regularly scheduled to work more than twenty hours per week and for more than five months in any calendar year, are eligible to participate in this plan which operates in-line with the Company's fiscal quarters. A total of 750,000 shares of common stock are available for issuance under this plan. The Company has issued a total of 18,356 shares under this plan, which were all issued in 2013. A total of 731,644 shares remain available for future issuance. For 2013, in accordance with the guidance for accounting for stock compensation, the Company estimated the fair value of the stock purchase plan using the Black-Scholes multiple-option pricing model. The average assumptions used in the model included a zero percent risk-free interest rate; three month expected life; expected volatility of 14.3%; and a zero percent dividend yield. The weighted average fair value per share at grant date was $3.55. In 2013 the Company recognized $65,000 of compensation expense related to this plan.

Employee Benefit Plans

Defined Contribution Plan

In October 2003, the Company adopted a defined contribution plan, The Noodles & Company 401(k) Plan (the "401(k) Plan"). Company employees with six months of service, aged 21 or older, are eligible to participate in the 401(k) Plan. Under the provisions

12. Employee Benefit Plans (continued)

of the plan, the Company may, at its discretion, make contributions to the 401(k) Plan. Participants are 100% vested in their own contributions. The Company made no contributions during 2013, 2012 and 2011.

Deferred Compensation Plan

The Company's deferred compensation plan, under which compensation deferrals began in 2013, is a non-qualified deferred compensation plan which allows highly compensated employees to defer a portion of their base salary and variable compensation each plan year. To offset its obligation, the Company purchases Company-owned whole-life insurance contracts on certain team members. As of December 31, 2013, $581,000 and $599,000 was included in other assets, net and other long term liabilities, which represent the carrying value of the liability for deferred compensation and the cash surrender value of the associated life insurance policy, respectively.

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

In 2013, the Company adopted an Employee Stock Purchase Plan under which eligible team members may voluntarily contribute up to 15% of their salary, subject to limitations, to purchase common stock at a price equal to 85% of the fair market value of a share of the Company's common stock on the first day of each offering period or 85% of the fair market value of a share of the Company's common stock on the last day of each offering period, whichever amount is less. In general, all of the Company's officers and team members who have been employed by the Company for at thirty days prior to the offering period and who are regularly scheduled to work more than twenty hours per week and for more than five months in any calendar year, are eligible to participate in this plan which operates in-line with the Company's fiscal quarters. A total of 750,000 shares of common stock are available for issuance under this plan. The Company has issued a total of 18,356 shares under this plan, which were all issued in 2013. A total of 731,644 shares remain available for future issuance. For 2013, in accordance with the guidance for accounting for stock compensation, the Company estimated the fair value of the stock purchase plan using the Black-Scholes multiple-option pricing model. The average assumptions used in the model included a zero percent risk-free interest rate; three month expected life; expected volatility of 14.3%; and a zero percent dividend yield. The weighted average fair value per share at grant date was $3.55. In 2013 the Company recognized $65,000 of compensation expense related to this plan.