VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES - Schedule of variable interest entities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jan. 01, 2022	Oct. 02, 2021	Jan. 02, 2021	Oct. 03, 2020
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 20,167	$ 19,171
Accounts receivable	4,009	4,113
Inventories	4,425	3,510
Prepaid and refundable income taxes	3,775	3,896
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	2,054	3,205
Fixed assets - net	35,584	36,174
Operating lease right-of-use assets - net	54,268	56,336
Other assets	2,254	2,270
TOTAL ASSETS	158,826	161,216
Accounts payable - trade	4,806	4,886
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	13,217	13,679
Current portion of operating lease liabilities	6,298	6,165
Current portion of notes payable	6,756	6,973
Operating lease liabilities, less current portion	50,504	52,552
Notes payable, less current portion	23,819	25,509
TOTAL LIABILITIES	105,400	109,764
Equity of variable interest entities	53,426	51,452	$ 36,442	$ 37,153
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	158,826	161,216
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	564	785
Accounts receivable	321	358
Inventories	40	35
Prepaid and refundable income taxes	278	278
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	121	277
Due from Ark Restaurants Corp. and affiliates	321	187
Fixed assets - net	220	218
Operating lease right-of-use assets - net	2,277	2,342
Other assets	82	82
TOTAL ASSETS	4,224	4,562
Accounts payable - trade	115	213
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	567	374
Current portion of operating lease liabilities	254	249
Current portion of notes payable	9	95
Operating lease liabilities, less current portion	2,128	2,193
Notes payable, less current portion	101	101
TOTAL LIABILITIES	3,174	3,225
Equity of variable interest entities	1,050	1,337
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	$ 4,224	$ 4,562