VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES - Schedule of variable interest entities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jul. 03, 2021	Apr. 03, 2021	Oct. 03, 2020	Jun. 27, 2020	Mar. 28, 2020	Sep. 28, 2019
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 18,280		$ 16,886
Accounts receivable	3,997		1,738
Inventories	2,172		2,553
Prepaid and refundable income taxes	3,716		2,870
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	2,895		2,469
Fixed assets - net	36,338		37,682
Operating lease right-of-use assets - net	57,633		54,191
Other assets	2,549		2,432
TOTAL ASSETS	162,121		153,316
Accounts payable - trade	4,533		2,329
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	15,111		12,688
Current portion of operating lease liabilities	6,546		6,117
Current portion of notes payable	7,377		9,001
Operating lease liabilities, less current portion	54,626		49,960
Notes payable, less current portion	29,455		36,068
TOTAL LIABILITIES	117,648		116,163
Equity of variable interest entities	44,473	$ 41,219	37,153	$ 38,129	$ 40,830	$ 42,707
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	162,121		153,316
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	676		567
Accounts receivable	218		162
Inventories	29		27
Prepaid and refundable income taxes	278		274
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	47		13
Due from Ark Restaurants Corp. and affiliates	420		419
Fixed assets - net	219		241
Operating lease right-of-use assets - net	2,406		2,658
Other assets	82		82
TOTAL ASSETS	4,375		4,443
Accounts payable - trade	134		119
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	565		331
Current portion of operating lease liabilities	243		226
Current portion of notes payable	77		0
Operating lease liabilities, less current portion	2,257		2,442
Notes payable, less current portion	290		723
TOTAL LIABILITIES	3,566		3,841
Equity of variable interest entities	809		602
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	$ 4,375		$ 4,443