VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES - Schedule of variable interest entities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jan. 02, 2021	Oct. 03, 2020	Dec. 28, 2019	Sep. 28, 2019
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 10,813	$ 16,886
Accounts receivable	2,433	1,738
Inventories	2,373	2,553
Prepaid and refundable income taxes	4,596	2,870
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	2,284	2,469
Fixed assets - net	37,337	37,682
Operating lease right-of-use asset	59,876	54,191
Other assets	2,582	2,432
TOTAL ASSETS	158,750	153,316
Accounts payable - trade	2,476	2,329
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	12,060	12,688
Current portion of operating lease liabilities	5,851	6,117
Current portion of notes payable	4,059	9,001
Operating lease liabilities, less current portion	56,512	49,960
Notes payable, less current portion	41,350	36,068
TOTAL LIABILITIES	122,308	116,163
Equity of variable interest entities	36,442	37,153	$ 43,443	$ 42,707
Total liabilities and equity	158,750	153,316
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	455	567
Accounts receivable	140	162
Inventories	27	27
Prepaid and refundable income taxes	274	274
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	13	13
Due from Ark Restaurants Corp. and affiliates	422	419
Fixed assets - net	236	241
Operating lease right-of-use asset	2,594	2,658
Other assets	82	82
TOTAL ASSETS	4,243	4,443
Accounts payable - trade	80	119
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	259	331
Current portion of operating lease liabilities	232	226
Current portion of notes payable	52	0
Operating lease liabilities, less current portion	2,382	2,442
Notes payable, less current portion	671	723
TOTAL LIABILITIES	3,676	3,841
Equity of variable interest entities	567	602
Total liabilities and equity	$ 4,243	$ 4,443