Accounting Policies, by Policy (Policies)	9 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012
Consolidation, Policy [Policy Text Block]	PRINCIPLES OF CONSOLIDATION - The consolidated condensed interim financial statements include the accounts of Ark Restaurants Corp. and all of its wholly-owned subsidiaries, partnerships and other entities in which it has a controlling interest. Also included in the consolidated condensed interim financial statements are certain variable interest entities. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Reclassification, Policy [Policy Text Block]	RECLASSIFICATIONS - Certain reclassifications of prior period balances have been made to conform to the current period presentation. In connection with the planned or actual sale or closure of various restaurants, the operations of these businesses have been presented as discontinued operations in the consolidated condensed financial statements. Accordingly, the Company has reclassified its statements of operations and cash flows for the prior periods presented. These dispositions are discussed below in "Recent Restaurant Dispositions."
Seasonality [Policy Text Block]	SEASONALITY - The Company has substantial fixed costs that do not decline proportionally with sales. The first and second fiscal quarters, which include the winter months, usually reflect lower customer traffic than in the third and fourth fiscal quarters. In addition, sales in the third and fourth fiscal quarters can be adversely affected by inclement weather due to the significant amount of outdoor seating at the Company's restaurants.
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Policy [Policy Text Block]	CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS - Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand, deposits with banks and highly liquid investments generally with original maturities of three months or less. Outstanding checks in excess of account balances, typically vendor payments, payroll and other contractual obligations disbursed after the last day of a reporting period are reported as a current liability in the accompanying consolidated condensed balance sheets.
Available For Sale Securities [Policy Text Block]	AVAILABLE-FOR-SALE SECURITIES - Available-for-sale securities consist primarily of US Treasury Bills and Notes, all of which have a high degree of liquidity and are reported at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses recorded in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income. The cost of investments in available-for-sale securities is determined on a specific identification basis. Realized gains or losses and declines in value judged to be other than temporary, if any, are reported in Other (Income) Expense, Net. The Company evaluates its investments periodically for possible impairment and reviews factors such as the length of time and extent to which fair value has been below cost basis and the Company's ability and intent to hold the investment for a period of time which may be sufficient for anticipated recovery in market value.
Supplier Concentration [Policy Text Block]	SUPPLIER CONCENTRATION - For the 39-weeks ended June 30, 2012 and July 2, 2011, the Company made purchases from one vendor that accounted for approximately 12% and 13%, respectively, of total purchases. For the 13-weeks ended June 30, 2012 and July 2, 2011, no vendor accounted for more than 10% of total purchases.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments, Policy [Policy Text Block]	FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS - The carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents, investments, receivables, accounts payable and accrued expenses approximate fair value due to the immediate or short-term maturity of these financial instruments. The fair value of notes payable is determined using current applicable rates for similar instruments as of the balance sheet date and approximates the carrying value of such debt.
Segment Reporting, Policy [Policy Text Block]	SEGMENT REPORTING - As of June 30, 2012, the Company owned and operated 21 restaurants and bars, 22 fast food concepts and catering operations, exclusively in the United States, that have similar economic characteristics, nature of products and service, class of customers and distribution methods. The Company believes it meets the criteria for aggregating its operating segments into a single reporting segment in accordance with applicable accounting guidance.
Recently Adopted Accounting Standards [Policy Text Block]	RECENTLY ADOPTED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS - In May 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the "FASB") issued guidance that amends GAAP to conform it with fair value measurement and disclosure requirements in International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS"). The amendments changed the wording used to describe the requirements in U.S. GAAP for measuring fair value and for disclosing information about fair value measurements. The provisions of this guidance, which were adopted effective for the Company's quarter ended March 31, 2012, did not have a material impact on the Company's results of operations, financial condition or disclosures.
New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block]	NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARDS NOT YET ADOPTED - In June 2011, the FASB issued new accounting guidance on the presentation of other comprehensive income. The new guidance eliminates the current option to present the components of other comprehensive income as part of the statement of changes in equity. Instead, an entity has the option to present the total of comprehensive income, the components of net income and the components of other comprehensive income either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. The new accounting guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011, with early adoption permitted. Full retrospective application is required. As the new accounting guidance will only amend the presentation requirements of other comprehensive income, the Company does not expect the adoption to have a significant impact on its financial condition or results of operations. In September 2011, the FASB issued new accounting guidance intended to simplify how an entity tests goodwill for impairment. The guidance will allow an entity to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is necessary to perform the two-step quantitative goodwill impairment test. An entity no longer will be required to calculate the fair value of a reporting unit unless the entity determines, based on a qualitative assessment, that it is more likely than not that its fair value is less than its carrying amount. The new accounting guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011, with early adoption permitted. The Company does not expect the adoption of this guidance to have any impact on its financial condition or results of operations. In December 2011, the FASB issued amended standards to increase the prominence of offsetting assets and liabilities reported in financial statements. These amendments require an entity to disclose information about offsetting and the related arrangements to enable users of its financial statements to understand the effect of those arrangements on its financial position. These amendments will enhance disclosures by requiring improved information about financial instruments and derivative instruments that are either offset or subject to an enforceable master netting arrangement or similar agreement. This information will enable users of an entity's financial statements to evaluate the effect or potential effect of netting arrangements on an entity's financial position, including the effect or potential effect of rights of setoff associated with certain financial instruments and derivative instruments. These revised standards are effective for annual reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2013, and interim periods within those annual periods. An entity should provide the disclosures required by those amendments retrospectively for all comparative periods presented. These amended standards may require additional footnote disclosures for these enhancements, however they will not affect our financial position or results of operations.