Supplemental Financial Information - Accrued Expense and Other Liabilities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jan. 03, 2023	Dec. 28, 2021
Supplemental Financial Information [Abstract]
Gift card liability	$ 2,430	$ 2,850
Occupancy related	1,001	1,615
Utilities	1,612	1,302
Current portion of finance lease liability	2,210	1,956
Liabilities held for sale	0	1,671
Accrued interest	70	271
Insurance liabilities	415	393
Other restaurant expense accruals	1,128	995
Other corporate expense accruals	2,139	2,738
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	$ 11,005	$ 13,791

Accrued Occupancy Liability, Current

No definition available.

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Namespace Prefix:	ndls_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Contract With Customer, Gift Card Liability, Current

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ndls_ContractWithCustomerGiftCardLiabilityCurrent
Namespace Prefix:	ndls_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Operating Lease Liabilities, Current, Held For Sale

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ndls_OperatingLeaseLiabilitiesHeldForSale
Namespace Prefix:	ndls_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Other Accrued Restaurant Expense, Current

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	ndls_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Supplemental Financial Information [Abstract]

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of obligations incurred through that date and payable to insurance entities to mitigate potential loss from various risks or to satisfy a promise to provide certain coverage's to employees. Used to reflect the current portion of the liabilities (due within one year or within the normal operating cycle if longer).

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.20)
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120391452&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

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

- Definition

Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of obligations incurred and payable, pertaining to costs that are statutory in nature, are incurred on contractual obligations, or accumulate over time and for which invoices have not yet been received or will not be rendered. Examples include taxes, interest, rent and utilities. Used to reflect the current portion of the liabilities (due within one year or within the normal operating cycle if longer).

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of obligations incurred through that date and payable for utilities, such as electrical power, heating oil, natural gas, and water. Used to reflect the current portion of the liabilities (due within one year or within the normal operating cycle if longer).

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

Present value of lessee's discounted obligation for lease payments from finance lease, classified as current.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 842
-SubTopic 20
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123391704&loc=SL77918627-209977

+ Details

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

- Definition

Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of [accrued] interest payable on all forms of debt, including trade payables, that has been incurred and is unpaid. Used to reflect the current portion of the liabilities (due within one year or within the normal operating cycle if longer).

+ References

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of expenses incurred but not yet paid classified as other, due within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer.

+ References

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant