Business Summary and Basis of Presentation (Policies)	3 Months Ended
Business Summary and Basis of Presentation (Policies)	Apr. 03, 2018
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Business and Basis of Presentation	Business Noodles & Company (the “Company”), a Delaware corporation, develops and operates fast casual restaurants that serve globally inspired noodle and pasta dishes, soups, salads and appetizers. As of April 3, 2018, the Company had 411 company-owned restaurants and 65 franchise restaurants in 29 states and the District of Columbia. The Company operates its business as one operating and reportable segment. Basis of Presentation The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Noodles & Company and its subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The accompanying interim unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared by the Company pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Accordingly, they do not include all the information and footnotes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for complete financial statements. In the opinion of the Company, all adjustments considered necessary for the fair presentation of the Company’s results of operations, financial position and cash flows for the periods presented have been included and are of a normal, recurring nature. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. The results of operations for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of results for the full year. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in the Company’s annual consolidated financial statements on Form 10-K have been condensed or omitted. The condensed consolidated balance sheet as of January 2, 2018 was derived from audited financial statements. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and the related notes included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 2, 2018.
Fiscal year	Fiscal YearThe Company operates on a 52- or 53-week fiscal year ending on the Tuesday closest to December 31. Fiscal year 2018, which ends on January 1, 2019, and fiscal year 2017, which ended on January 2, 2018, both contain 52 weeks. The Company’s fiscal quarters each contain 13 operating weeks, with the exception of the fourth quarter of a 53-week fiscal year, which contains 14 operating weeks. The Company’s fiscal quarter that ended April 3, 2018 is referred to as the first quarter of 2018, and the fiscal quarter ended April 4, 2017 is referred to as the first quarter of 2017.
Reclassification
Recent Accounting Pronouncements	Recent Accounting Pronouncements In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, “Leases.” The pronouncement amends the existing accounting standards for lease accounting, including requiring lessees to recognize most leases on their balance sheet and making targeted changes to lessor accounting. This pronouncement will be effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018 (the Company’s first quarter of fiscal 2019), with early adoption permitted. The new lease standard requires a modified retrospective transition approach for all leases existing at, or entered into after, the date of initial application, with an option to use certain transition relief. The Company believes the adoption of ASU No. 2016-02 will have a significant impact on its consolidated balance sheets by significantly increasing its non-current assets and non-current liabilities in order to record the right of use assets and related lease liabilities for its existing operating leases. The Company is currently evaluating the impact the adoption of this accounting standard will have on its results of operations and cash flows and related disclosures. Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606),” which supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in Accounting Standards Codification 605, “Revenue Recognition.” This ASU is based on the principle that revenue is recognized to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The ASU also requires additional disclosure about the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from customer contracts, including significant judgments and changes in judgments and assets recognized from costs incurred to obtain or fulfill a contract. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-14, which deferred the effective date of the new revenue standard by one year, and allowed entities the option to early adopt the new revenue standard as of the original effective date. There have been multiple standards updates amending this guidance or providing corrections or improvements on issues in the guidance. The requirements for these standards relating to Topic 606 are effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017. This standard permitted adoption using one of two transition methods, either the retrospective or modified retrospective transition method. The Company adopted these standards at the beginning of the first quarter of fiscal 2018 using the modified retrospective method. The comparative information has not been restated and continues to be reported under the accounting standards in effect for those periods. The adoption of these standards did not have a material impact on the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations in the first quarter of 2018. The primary impact of adoption was the enhancement of the Company’s disclosures related to contracts with customers and revenue recognized from those performance obligations, which includes revenue related to initial fees charged to franchisees and revenue recognized related to gift cards. See disclosure in Note 11, Revenue Recognition.