VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES - Schedule of variable interest entities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 30, 2024	Dec. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2023	Apr. 01, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Oct. 01, 2022
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 10,412		$ 13,415
Accounts receivable	4,042		3,313
Inventories	2,362		3,093
Prepaid and refundable income taxes	247		212
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	2,648		1,569
Fixed assets - net	32,843		34,314
Operating lease right-of-use assets - net	92,331		96,459
Other assets	2,161		2,161
Total assets	169,551		176,956
Accounts payable - trade	4,538		4,058
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	12,468		13,829
Current portion of operating lease liabilities	8,079		7,988
Operating lease liabilities, less current portion	88,227		92,232
Liabilities	119,485		125,234
Equity of variable interest entities	50,066	$ 52,278	51,722	$ 60,568	$ 61,649	$ 60,118
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	169,551		176,956
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	154		564
Accounts receivable	242		169
Inventories	42		47
Prepaid and refundable income taxes	16		204
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	39		31
Fixed assets - net	253		216
Operating lease right-of-use assets - net	1,650		1,796
Other assets	11		11
Total assets	2,428		3,096
Accounts payable - trade	138		93
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	237		331
Current portion of operating lease liabilities	311		298
Operating lease liabilities, less current portion	1,465		1,623
Liabilities	2,151		2,345
Equity of variable interest entities	277		751
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	2,428		3,096
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary | Related Party
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Due from Ark Restaurants Corp. and affiliates	$ 21		$ 58