Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2016	Sep. 29, 2015	Sep. 27, 2016	Sep. 29, 2015
Antidilutive securities
Anti-dilutive securities (in shares)		61	6	5,330
Earnings per share
Net income attributable to Texas Roadhouse, Inc. and subsidiaries	$ 25,675	$ 20,482	$ 94,873	$ 73,912
Basic EPS:
Weighted-average common shares outstanding (in shares)	70,477,000	70,117,000	70,338,000	69,995,000
Basic EPS (in dollars per share)	$ 0.36	$ 0.29	$ 1.35	$ 1.06
Diluted EPS:
Weighted-average common shares outstanding (in shares)	70,477,000	70,117,000	70,338,000	69,995,000
Dilutive effect of stock options and nonvested stock (in shares)	504,000	618,000	560,000	644,000
Shares - diluted (in shares)	70,981,000	70,735,000	70,898,000	70,639,000
Diluted EPS (in dollars per share)	$ 0.36	$ 0.29	$ 1.34	$ 1.05
Nonvested stock
Antidilutive securities
Anti-dilutive securities (in shares)		61	6	5,330