Supplemental Financial Information (Prepaid Expenses and Other Assets) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Supplemental Financial Information [Abstract]
Prepaid occupancy related costs	$ 4,135ndls_PrepaidOccupancyExpenseCurrent	$ 3,318ndls_PrepaidOccupancyExpenseCurrent
Other prepaid expenses	1,997us-gaap_OtherPrepaidExpenseCurrent	1,917us-gaap_OtherPrepaidExpenseCurrent
Other current assets	139us-gaap_OtherAssetsCurrent	75us-gaap_OtherAssetsCurrent
Prepaid expenses and other assets	$ 6,271	$ 5,310

Prepaid Occupancy Expense, Current

No definition available.

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Balance Type:	debit
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- Details

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- Definition

Aggregate carrying amount, as of the balance sheet date, of current assets not separately disclosed in the balance sheet. Current assets are expected to be realized or consumed within one year (or the normal operating cycle, if longer).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.8)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 8

-Article 5

+ Details

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- Definition

Amount of asset related to consideration paid in advance for other costs that provide economic benefits within a future period of one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (g)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28358313&loc=d3e6676-107765

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28358313&loc=d3e6787-107765

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OtherPrepaidExpenseCurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of asset related to consideration paid in advance for costs that provide economic benefits in future periods, and amount of other assets that are expected to be realized or consumed within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 8

-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28358313&loc=d3e6676-107765

+ Details

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