Percentage points added to the reference rate to compute the variable rate on the debt instrument.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The total amount of the contingent obligation under letters of credit outstanding as of the reporting date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LettersOfCreditOutstandingAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The carrying value as of the balance sheet date of the current and noncurrent portions of long-term obligations drawn from a line of credit, which is a bank's commitment to make loans up to a specific amount. Examples of items that might be included in the application of this element may consist of letters of credit, standby letters of credit, and revolving credit arrangements, under which borrowings can be made up to a maximum amount as of any point in time conditional on satisfaction of specified terms before, as of and after the date of drawdowns on the line. Includes short-term obligations that would normally be classified as current liabilities but for which (a) postbalance sheet date issuance of a long term obligation to refinance the short term obligation on a long term basis, or (b) the enterprise has entered into a financing agreement that clearly permits the enterprise to refinance the short-term obligation on a long term basis and the following conditions are met (1) the agreement does not expire within 1 year and is not cancelable by the lender except for violation of an objectively determinable provision, (2) no violation exists at the BS date, and (3) the lender has entered into the financing agreement is expected to be financially capable of honoring the agreement.

+ 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(22))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(16))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(16))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The fee, expressed as a percentage of the line of credit facility, for the line of credit facility regardless of whether the facility has been used.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The effective interest rate during the reporting period.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityInterestRateDuringPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

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- Details

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- Details

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Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=ndls_TwoThousandandEighteenCreditFacilityMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableRateAxis=us-gaap_LondonInterbankOfferedRateLIBORMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

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- Details

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- Details

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Data Type:	na
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- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis=us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis=us-gaap_LetterOfCreditMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis=ndls_CreditSubfacilityMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
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- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis=ndls_SwinglineSubfacilityMember
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Long-Term Debt (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended
Long-Term Debt (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	May 09, 2018	Apr. 03, 2018
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Amount outstanding		$ 63.9
Letters of credit outstanding		$ 3.3
Minimum [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Interest rate		4.95%
Maximum [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Interest rate		7.25%
Subsequent Event \| 2018 Credit Facility
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity	$ 25.0
Subsequent Event \| 2018 Credit Facility \| Minimum [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Commitment fee percentage	0.30%
Subsequent Event \| 2018 Credit Facility \| Maximum [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Commitment fee percentage	0.50%
Subsequent Event \| 2018 Credit Facility \| LIBOR \| Minimum [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate	2.25%
Subsequent Event \| 2018 Credit Facility \| LIBOR \| Maximum [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate	3.25%
Subsequent Event \| 2018 Credit Facility \| Base Rate \| Minimum [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate	1.25%
Subsequent Event \| 2018 Credit Facility \| Base Rate \| Maximum [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate	2.25%
Subsequent Event \| 2018 Credit Facility \| Federal Funds Rate
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate	0.50%
Subsequent Event \| 2018 Credit Facility \| Prime Rate
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate	1.00%
Subsequent Event \| 2018 Credit Facility \| Revolving Credit Facility
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity	$ 65.0
Subsequent Event \| 2018 Credit Facility \| Letter of Credit
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity	75.0
Subsequent Event \| 2018 Credit Facility \| Credit Subfacility
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity	15.0
Subsequent Event \| 2018 Credit Facility \| Swingline Subfacility
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity	$ 10.0