Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Business and Fiscal Year) (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 01, 2019 segment restaurant state $ / shares	Jan. 02, 2018 restaurant $ / shares	Jan. 03, 2017 restaurant
Description of business and summary of significant accoutning policies
Number of states in which Noodles & Company operates | state	29
Number of operating segments | segment	1
Number of reportable segments | segment	1
Common stock, par value (USD per share) | $ / shares	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Duration of fiscal period	371 days	364 days	364 days
Minimum
Description of business and summary of significant accoutning policies
Duration of fiscal period	364 days
Maximum
Description of business and summary of significant accoutning policies
Duration of fiscal period	371 days
Company-Owned [Member]
Description of business and summary of significant accoutning policies
Number of restaurants | restaurant	394
Franchise [Member]
Description of business and summary of significant accoutning policies
Number of restaurants | restaurant	65	66	75
Class A Common Stock [Member]
Description of business and summary of significant accoutning policies
Common stock, par value (USD per share) | $ / shares	$ 0.01