Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Business and Fiscal Year) (Details) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 05, 2013 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Dec. 30, 2014 restaurant $ / shares shares	Oct. 01, 2013 $ / shares shares	Oct. 01, 2013 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Dec. 29, 2015 segment restaurant state $ / shares	Dec. 30, 2014 restaurant $ / shares	Dec. 31, 2013 restaurant
Organization [Line Items]
Number of states in which Noodles & Company operates | state					35
Number of operating segments | segment					1
Number of reportable segments | segment					1
Common stock, par value (USD per share)		$ 0.01			$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Repayments of long term debt | $				$ 200
Number of weeks in fiscal year					364 days	364 days	71 days
Minimum [Member]
Organization [Line Items]
Number of weeks in fiscal year					364 days
Maximum [Member]
Organization [Line Items]
Number of weeks in fiscal year					371 days
Company-Owned [Member]
Organization [Line Items]
Number of restaurants | restaurant					422
Franchise [Member]
Organization [Line Items]
Number of restaurants | restaurant		53			70	53	62
IPO [Member]
Organization [Line Items]
Issuance of common stock, net of transaction expenses | $				$ 100,200
Over-Allotment Option [Member]
Organization [Line Items]
Issuance of common stock, net of transaction expenses, shares | shares				803,571
Follow On [Member]
Organization [Line Items]
Issuance of common stock, net of transaction expenses, shares | shares	108,267	108,267
Payments for initial public offering | $	$ 696
Class A Common Stock [Member]
Organization [Line Items]
Common stock, par value (USD per share)					$ 0.01
Class A Common Stock [Member] | IPO [Member]
Organization [Line Items]
Share price (USD per share)			$ 18.00	$ 18.00
Issuance of common stock, net of transaction expenses, shares | shares			6,160,714
Common stock, par value (USD per share)			$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Class A Common Stock [Member] | Follow On [Member]
Organization [Line Items]
Share price (USD per share)	$ 39.50
Issuance of common stock, net of transaction expenses, shares | shares	4,500,000