Recent Accounting Pronouncements - Income Statement (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 25, 2018	Sep. 26, 2017	Sep. 25, 2018	Sep. 26, 2017
Revenue
Total revenue	$ 594,595	$ 540,507	$ 1,851,537	$ 1,674,455
Costs and expenses
Other operating	91,946	83,679	279,182	254,176
General and administrative	35,023	26,123	100,202	94,594
Provision for income taxes	5,398	13,046	22,321	41,159
Net income attributable to Texas Roadhouse, Inc. and subsidiaries	29,125	31,014	127,893	102,908
Balances Without Adoption of ASU 2014-09
Costs and expenses
Other operating	93,170		283,681
General and administrative	34,439		98,383
Provision for income taxes	5,396		22,317
Net income attributable to Texas Roadhouse, Inc. and subsidiaries	29,119		127,887
ASU 2014-09 | Adoption Impact of ASU 2014-09
Costs and expenses
Other operating	(1,224)		(4,499)
General and administrative	584		1,819
Provision for income taxes	2		4
Net income attributable to Texas Roadhouse, Inc. and subsidiaries	6		6
Restaurant and other sales
Revenue
Total revenue	589,704	536,341	1,836,179	1,661,821
Restaurant and other sales | Balances Without Adoption of ASU 2014-09
Revenue
Total revenue	590,928		1,840,678
Restaurant and other sales | ASU 2014-09 | Adoption Impact of ASU 2014-09
Revenue
Total revenue	(1,224)		(4,499)
Franchise royalties and fees
Revenue
Total revenue	4,891	$ 4,166	15,358	$ 12,634
Franchise royalties and fees | Balances Without Adoption of ASU 2014-09
Revenue
Total revenue	4,299		13,529
Franchise royalties and fees | ASU 2014-09 | Adoption Impact of ASU 2014-09
Revenue
Total revenue	$ 592		$ 1,829