Acquisitions and Dispositions (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended												3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Oct. 02, 2011	Jan. 01, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012 Pisces Acquisition [Member]	Jul. 01, 2012 Pisces Acquisition [Member]	Jun. 11, 2012 Pisces Acquisition [Member] Restaurants years		Jun. 11, 2012 Pisces Acquisition [Member] Ground Lease [Member] Restaurants	Jun. 11, 2012 Pisces Acquisition [Member] Building Lease [Member] Restaurants	Jul. 13, 2012 Double Cheese Acquisition [Member] Restaurants years		Jul. 13, 2012 Double Cheese Acquisition [Member] Building Lease [Member] Restaurants	Apr. 01, 2012 Franchised Units [Member] stores	Oct. 02, 2011 Franchised Units [Member] stores	Sep. 30, 2012 Promissory Notes [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Sale of Company-Owned Restaurants to Franchiees [Member] stores	Oct. 02, 2011 Sale of Company-Owned Restaurants to Franchiees [Member] stores	Sep. 30, 2012 Sale of Restaurant to Unrelated Third Party [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Franchisees Exercising Options to Purchase Previously Subleased Properties [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Surplus Properties [Member]	Oct. 02, 2011 Surplus Properties [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Other Dispositions [Member]	Oct. 02, 2011 Other Dispositions [Member]
Significant Acquisitions and Disposals [Line Items]
Weighted average amortization period, acquired territory rights						13				12
Significant Changes, Franchises Sold																3	3
Proceeds from Sale of Property, Plant, and Equipment	$ 6,273	$ 2,865													$ 400	$ 2,293	$ 1,125	$ 1,874	$ 1,591	$ 199	$ 899	$ 316	$ 841
Gain (Loss) on Sale of Property Plant Equipment	974	744
Number of Restaurants						30				24
Number of restaurants with lease agreements attached						23
Number of restaurants with lease assumption								5	2			12
Cash						58				27				55
Inventories						149				163
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Property, Plant, and Equipment						12,485				12,783
Deferred taxes and other assets						1,773
Other assets										33
Acquired territory rights						18,390	[1]			5,350	[2]
Favorable ground leases						222				1,147
Capitalized lease obligations	(15,342)					(14,394)				(948)
Deferred vendor incentives						(332)	[3]			(249)	[3]
Unfavorable leases						(992)				(533)
Other liabilities						(952)				(744)
Total identifiable net assets						16,407				17,029
Goodwill (preliminary)	876,643		870,431	2,549	2,654	2,549	[4]			2,100	[5]		485	3,689
Significant Changes, Franchises Assumed During Period														4
Consideration for acquisition before post-closing adjustments						18,956				19,129
Acquisition, cash paid	40,594	6,613												6,613
Significant changes, franchises purchased during period													2	9
Business Acquisition, Cost of Acquired Entity, Purchase Price													2,594	7,673
Acquisition, note payable issued														$ 1,060

[1] The acquired territory rights have a weighted average amortization period of 13 years.

[2] The acquired territory rights have a weighted average amortization period of 12 years.

[3] Included in “Deferred income.”

[4] This goodwill is not deductible or amortizable for income tax purposes.

[5] Goodwill is partially amortizable for income tax purposes.