Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 26, 2017	Sep. 27, 2016	Sep. 26, 2017	Sep. 27, 2016
Earnings per share
Net income attributable to Texas Roadhouse, Inc. and subsidiaries	$ 31,014	$ 25,675	$ 102,908	$ 94,873
Basic EPS:
Weighted-average common shares outstanding (in shares)	71,067,000	70,477,000	70,939,000	70,338,000
Basic EPS (in dollars per share)	$ 0.44	$ 0.36	$ 1.45	$ 1.35
Diluted EPS:
Weighted-average common shares outstanding (in shares)	71,067,000	70,477,000	70,939,000	70,338,000
Dilutive effect of stock options and nonvested stock (in shares)	465,000	504,000	510,000	560,000
Shares - diluted (in shares)	71,532,000	70,981,000	71,449,000	70,898,000
Diluted EPS (in dollars per share)	$ 0.43	$ 0.36	$ 1.44	$ 1.34
Nonvested stock
Antidilutive securities
Anti-dilutive securities (in shares)			7,960	6
Stock Options
Antidilutive securities
Anti-dilutive securities (in shares)	0	0	0	0