Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Total	Total Texas Roadhouse, Inc. and Subsidiaries	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in-Capital	Retained Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Noncontrolling Interests
Balance at Dec. 29, 2009	$ 422,950	$ 420,372	$ 70	$ 231,564	$ 188,719	$ 19	$ 2,578
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 29, 2009			70,384,915
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Net income	60,689	58,289			58,289		2,400
Unrealized gain (loss) on derivatives, net of tax of $0.1 million, $0.8 million and $0.9 million for the year 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively	(1,357)	(1,357)				(1,357)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(2,212)						(2,212)
Minority interest liquidation adjustments	69	69		69
Shares issued under stock option plan including tax effects	14,385	14,385	1	14,384
Shares issued under stock option plan including tax effects (in shares)			1,397,832
Settlement of restricted stock units			1	(1)
Settlement of restricted stock units (in shares)			649,443
Indirect repurchase of shares for minimum tax withholdings	(2,828)	(2,828)		(2,828)
Indirect repurchase of shares for minimum tax withholdings (in shares)			(209,199)
Share-based compensation	7,686	7,686		7,686
Balance at Dec. 28, 2010	499,382	496,616	72	250,874	247,008	(1,338)	2,766
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 28, 2010			72,222,991
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Net income	66,427	63,964			63,964		2,463
Unrealized gain (loss) on derivatives, net of tax of $0.1 million, $0.8 million and $0.9 million for the year 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively	(1,271)	(1,271)				(1,271)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(2,270)						(2,270)
Minority interest contribution	959						959
Minority interest liquidation adjustments	(37)	(37)		(37)
Dividends declared and paid ($0.27 and $0.24 per share for the year 2012 and 2011, respectively)	(17,012)	(17,012)			(17,012)
Dividends declared ($0.19 and $0.08 per share for the year 2012 and 2011, respectively)	(5,535)	(5,535)			(5,535)
Shares issued under stock option plan including tax effects	7,283	7,283		7,283
Shares issued under stock option plan including tax effects (in shares)			477,525
Repurchase of shares of common stock	(59,147)	(59,147)	(4)	(59,143)
Repurchase of shares of common stock (in shares)			(3,972,100)
Settlement of restricted stock units			1	(1)
Settlement of restricted stock units (in shares)			674,392
Indirect repurchase of shares for minimum tax withholdings	(3,482)	(3,482)		(3,482)
Indirect repurchase of shares for minimum tax withholdings (in shares)			(215,841)
Share-based compensation	10,525	10,525		10,525
Balance at Dec. 27, 2011	495,822	491,904	69	206,019	288,425	(2,609)	3,918
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 27, 2011	69,186,967		69,186,967
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Net income	73,801	71,170			71,170		2,631
Unrealized gain (loss) on derivatives, net of tax of $0.1 million, $0.8 million and $0.9 million for the year 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively	148	148				148
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(2,712)						(2,712)
Minority interest contribution	1,816						1,816
Minority interest liquidation adjustments	(368)	(368)		(368)
Dividends declared and paid ($0.27 and $0.24 per share for the year 2012 and 2011, respectively)	(18,951)	(18,951)			(18,951)
Dividends declared ($0.19 and $0.08 per share for the year 2012 and 2011, respectively)	(13,135)	(13,135)			(13,135)
Shares issued under stock option plan including tax effects	14,277	14,277	1	14,276
Shares issued under stock option plan including tax effects (in shares)			1,115,278
Repurchase of shares of common stock	(29,421)	(29,421)	(2)	(29,419)
Repurchase of shares of common stock (in shares)			(1,786,855)
Settlement of restricted stock units			1	(1)
Settlement of restricted stock units (in shares)			683,614
Indirect repurchase of shares for minimum tax withholdings	(3,733)	(3,733)		(3,733)
Indirect repurchase of shares for minimum tax withholdings (in shares)			(221,959)
Share-based compensation	13,193	13,193		13,193
Balance at Dec. 25, 2012	$ 530,737	$ 525,084	$ 69	$ 199,967	$ 327,509	$ (2,461)	$ 5,653
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 25, 2012	68,977,045		68,977,045