Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2021	Sep. 29, 2020	Sep. 28, 2021	Sep. 29, 2020
Earnings per share
Net (loss) income attributable to Texas Roadhouse, Inc. and subsidiaries	$ 52,606	$ 29,230	$ 192,236	$ 11,706
Basic EPS:
Weighted-average common shares outstanding (in shares)	69,808,000	69,446,000	69,745,000	69,410,000
Basic EPS (in dollars per share)	$ 0.75	$ 0.42	$ 2.76	$ 0.17
Diluted EPS:
Weighted-average common shares outstanding (in shares)	69,808,000	69,446,000	69,745,000	69,410,000
Dilutive effect of nonvested stock (in shares)	338,000	452,000	403,000	420,000
Shares-diluted (in shares)	70,146,000	69,898,000	70,148,000	69,830,000
Diluted EPS (in dollars per share)	$ 0.75	$ 0.42	$ 2.74	$ 0.17
Nonvested stock
Antidilutive securities
Anti-dilutive securities (in shares)	8,003	4,570	5,527	21,957