Document and Entity Information Document	6 Months Ended
	Jul. 02, 2013	Aug. 09, 2013 Common Class A [Member]	Aug. 09, 2013 Common Class B [Member]
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	NOODLES & Co
Entity Central Index Key	0001275158
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Jul. 02, 2013
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2013
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		23,107,010	6,292,640