VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES - Schedule of variable interest entities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2022	Oct. 01, 2022	Jan. 01, 2022	Oct. 02, 2021
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 19,427	$ 23,439
Accounts receivable	4,188	3,185
Inventories	3,453	3,707
Prepaid and refundable income taxes	1,675	1,778
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	1,255	1,523
Fixed assets - net	34,448	34,682
Operating lease right-of-use assets - net	99,720	101,720
Other assets	2,514	2,524
Total assets	203,633	209,534
Accounts payable - trade	4,746	4,466
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	12,331	16,312
Current portion of operating lease liabilities	7,866	7,530
Operating lease liabilities, less current portion	95,419	97,444
Notes payable, less current portion	15,979	17,089
Total liabilities	141,984	149,416
Equity of variable interest entities	61,649	60,118	$ 53,426	$ 51,452
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	203,633	209,534
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	790	834
Accounts receivable	151	140
Inventories	38	38
Prepaid and refundable income taxes	278	278
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	9	17
Due from Ark Restaurants Corp. and affiliates	396	400
Fixed assets - net	216	212
Operating lease right-of-use assets - net	2,008	2,076
Other assets	11	11
Total assets	3,897	4,006
Accounts payable - trade	85	135
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	369	417
Current portion of operating lease liabilities	278	272
Operating lease liabilities, less current portion	1,850	1,921
Notes payable, less current portion	0	0
Total liabilities	2,582	2,745
Equity of variable interest entities	1,315	1,261
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	$ 3,897	$ 4,006