Supplemental Financial Information - Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Oct. 03, 2023	Jan. 03, 2023
Supplemental Financial Information [Abstract]
Gift card liability	$ 1,805	$ 2,430
Occupancy related	1,190	1,001
Utilities	1,253	1,612
Current portion of finance lease liability	2,351	2,210
Insurance liabilities	266	415
Other restaurant expense accruals	1,539	1,128
Other corporate expense accruals	3,652	2,209
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	$ 12,056	$ 11,005

Accrued Occupancy Liability, Current

No definition available.

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Balance Type:	credit
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- Definition

Contract With Customer, Gift Card Liability, Current

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	ndls_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
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- 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
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.20)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147480566/210-10-S99-1

+ 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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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
-Topic 842
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147479041/842-20-45-1

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
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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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
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Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant