Document and Entity Information Document - shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2015	Nov. 02, 2015
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	NOODLES & Co
Entity Central Index Key	0001275158
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-29
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2015
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2015
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Amendment Flag	false
Common Class A [Member]
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		26,185,819
Common Class B [Member]
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		1,522,098