Recent Accounting Pronouncements - Revenue (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 27, 2018	Mar. 28, 2017	Dec. 27, 2017	Dec. 26, 2017
Liabilities
Deferred tax liabilities, net	$ 8,401		$ 5,002	$ 5,301
Other liabilities, non-current	45,069		43,289	42,112
Equity
Retained earnings	638,309		601,621	$ 602,499
Revenues
Revenues	627,705	$ 567,686
Costs and expenses
Other operating	92,378	85,660
General and administrative	30,175	40,248
Provision for income taxes	8,457	12,987
Net income attributable to Texas Roadhouse, Inc. and subsidiaries	54,541	34,313
Balances Without Adoption of ASU 2014-09
Liabilities
Deferred tax liabilities, net	8,709
Other liabilities, non-current	43,852
Equity
Retained earnings	639,218
Costs and expenses
Other operating	94,192
General and administrative	29,553
Provision for income taxes	8,468
Net income attributable to Texas Roadhouse, Inc. and subsidiaries	54,572
ASU 2014-09 | Adoption Impact of ASU 2014-09
Liabilities
Deferred tax liabilities, net	(308)		(299)
Other liabilities, non-current	1,217		1,177
Equity
Retained earnings	(909)		$ (878)
Costs and expenses
Other operating	(1,814)
General and administrative	622
Provision for income taxes	(11)
Net income attributable to Texas Roadhouse, Inc. and subsidiaries	(31)
Restaurant and other sales
Revenues
Revenues	622,402	563,320
Restaurant and other sales | Balances Without Adoption of ASU 2014-09
Revenues
Revenues	624,216
Restaurant and other sales | ASU 2014-09 | Adoption Impact of ASU 2014-09
Revenues
Revenues	(1,814)
Franchise royalties and fees
Revenues
Revenues	5,303	$ 4,366
Franchise royalties and fees | Balances Without Adoption of ASU 2014-09
Revenues
Revenues	4,721
Franchise royalties and fees | ASU 2014-09 | Adoption Impact of ASU 2014-09
Revenues
Revenues	$ 582