System Optimization (Gains) Losses, Net Summary of Disposition Activity (Details) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Nov. 09, 2016 USD ($) Restaurant	Oct. 02, 2016 USD ($) Restaurant	Sep. 27, 2015 USD ($) Restaurant	Oct. 02, 2016 USD ($) Restaurant	Sep. 27, 2015 USD ($) Restaurant	Jan. 03, 2016 Restaurant	Dec. 28, 2014 Restaurant	Dec. 29, 2013 Restaurant	Feb. 28, 2015 Restaurant
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Significant Changes, Planned Franchises to Sell | Restaurant		98		98					540
Future company-owned restaurant ownership percentage									5.00%
Gain on Sale of Restaurants [Abstract]
Proceeds from sale				$ 173,849	$ 46,357
System optimization gains, net		$ 37,756	$ (98)	$ 48,106	$ 14,751
Sale of Company-Owned Restaurants to Franchisees [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Number of restaurants sold to franchisees | Restaurant		156	9	211	109	327	255	244
Gain on Sale of Restaurants [Abstract]
Proceeds from sale		$ 124,765	$ 3,084	$ 164,380	$ 39,133
Net assets sold		(58,227)	(1,867)	(75,282)	(19,247)
Goodwill related to sales of restaurants		(24,254)	(483)	(30,630)	(8,346)
Net favorable (unfavorable) leases		(6,225)	(1,506)	(11,131)	5,889
Other		(726)	0	(1,521)	(3,224)
Gain on sales of restaurants, net, before post-closing adjustments		35,333	(772)	45,816	14,205
Post-closing adjustments on sales of restaurants		(120)	(495)	(1,710)	(1,134)
System optimization gains, net		35,213	(1,267)	44,106	13,071
Favorable Lease Assets		2,114	185	2,297	25,992
Unfavorable Lease Liabilities		8,339	1,691	$ 13,428	20,103
Deferred Gain on Sale of Property			2,658		$ 2,658
Franchises Sold, Deferred Gain on Sale | Restaurant					14
Recognition of Note Receivable on Sale of Property					$ 1,801
Franchises Sold, Recognition of Note Receivable | Restaurant					16
Recognition of Gain on Sale of Property					$ 2,450
Sale of franchise-operated restaurant to franchisee [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Number of restaurants sold to franchisees | Restaurant				144
Sale of Other Assets [Member]
Gain on Sale of Restaurants [Abstract]
Proceeds from sale		4,006	4,576	$ 9,469	7,174
System optimization gains, net		$ 2,543	$ 1,169	$ 4,000	$ 1,680
Subsequent Event [Member] | Sale of Company-Owned Restaurants to Franchisees [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Number of restaurants sold to franchisees | Restaurant	52
Gain on Sale of Restaurants [Abstract]
Proceeds from sale	$ 36,600