Recent Accounting Pronouncements - Income Statement (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 26, 2018	Jun. 27, 2017	Jun. 26, 2018	Jun. 27, 2017
Revenues
Revenue	$ 629,237	$ 566,262	$ 1,256,942	$ 1,133,948
Costs and expenses
Other operating	94,858	84,837	187,236	170,497
General and administrative	35,004	28,223	65,179	68,471
Provision for income taxes	8,466	15,126	16,923	28,113
Net income attributable to Texas Roadhouse, Inc. and subsidiaries	44,227	37,581	98,768	71,894
Balances Without Adoption of ASU 2014-09
Costs and expenses
Other operating	96,320		190,511
General and administrative	34,391		63,943
Provision for income taxes	8,455		16,923
Net income attributable to Texas Roadhouse, Inc. and subsidiaries	44,196		98,767
ASU 2014-09 | Adoption Impact of ASU 2014-09
Costs and expenses
Other operating	(1,462)		(3,275)
General and administrative	613		1,236
Provision for income taxes	11
Net income attributable to Texas Roadhouse, Inc. and subsidiaries	31		1
Restaurant and other sales
Revenues
Revenue	624,073	562,160	1,246,475	1,125,480
Restaurant and other sales | Balances Without Adoption of ASU 2014-09
Revenues
Revenue	625,535		1,249,750
Restaurant and other sales | ASU 2014-09 | Adoption Impact of ASU 2014-09
Revenues
Revenue	(1,462)		(3,275)
Franchise royalties and fees
Revenues
Revenue	5,164	$ 4,102	10,467	$ 8,468
Franchise royalties and fees | Balances Without Adoption of ASU 2014-09
Revenues
Revenue	4,509		9,230
Franchise royalties and fees | ASU 2014-09 | Adoption Impact of ASU 2014-09
Revenues
Revenue	$ 655		$ 1,237