Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 26, 2018	Jun. 27, 2017	Jun. 26, 2018	Jun. 27, 2017
Earnings per share
Net income attributable to Texas Roadhouse, Inc. and subsidiaries	$ 44,227	$ 37,581	$ 98,768	$ 71,894
Basic EPS:
Weighted-average common shares outstanding (in shares)	71,445,000	70,973,000	71,389,000	70,876,000
Basic EPS (in dollars per share)	$ 0.62	$ 0.53	$ 1.38	$ 1.01
Diluted EPS:
Weighted-average common shares outstanding (in shares)	71,445,000	70,973,000	71,389,000	70,876,000
Dilutive effect of stock options and nonvested stock (in shares)	452,000	464,000	464,000	522,000
Shares - diluted (in shares)	71,897,000	71,437,000	71,853,000	71,398,000
Diluted EPS (in dollars per share)	$ 0.62	$ 0.53	$ 1.37	$ 1.01
Nonvested stock
Antidilutive securities
Anti-dilutive securities (in shares)	1,231	17,691	7,937	31,136