VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES - Schedule of variable interest entities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Apr. 01, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Oct. 01, 2022	Apr. 02, 2022	Jan. 01, 2022	Oct. 02, 2021
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 17,890		$ 23,439
Accounts receivable	3,676		3,185
Inventories	3,305		3,707
Prepaid and refundable income taxes	319		1,778
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	1,787		1,523
Fixed assets - net	34,638		34,682
Operating lease right-of-use assets - net	97,694		101,720
Other assets	2,154		2,524
Total assets	193,312		209,534
Accounts payable - trade	4,137		4,466
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	12,987		16,312
Current portion of operating lease liabilities	8,022		7,530
Operating lease liabilities, less current portion	93,356		97,444
Total liabilities	132,744		149,416
Equity of variable interest entities	60,568	$ 61,649	60,118	$ 54,119	$ 53,426	$ 51,452
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	193,312		209,534
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	560		834
Accounts receivable	154		140
Inventories	44		38
Prepaid and refundable income taxes	279		278
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	24		17
Due from Ark Restaurants Corp. and affiliates	471		400
Fixed assets - net	231		212
Operating lease right-of-use assets - net	1,938		2,076
Other assets	11		11
Total assets	3,712		4,006
Accounts payable - trade	211		135
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	353		417
Current portion of operating lease liabilities	285		272
Operating lease liabilities, less current portion	1,776		1,921
Total liabilities	2,625		2,745
Equity of variable interest entities	1,087		1,261
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	$ 3,712		$ 4,006