System Optimization (Losses) Gains, Net Summary of Disposition Activity (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Oct. 01, 2017 USD ($) Restaurant	Oct. 02, 2016 USD ($) Restaurant	Oct. 01, 2017 USD ($) Restaurant	Oct. 02, 2016 USD ($) Restaurant	Feb. 28, 2015
Property, Plant and Equipment
Future company-owned restaurant ownership percentage					5.00%
Gain on Sale of Restaurants
Proceeds from sales of restaurants			$ 80,058	$ 173,849
System optimization (losses) gains, net	$ (106)	$ 37,756	(39,749)	$ 48,106
Sale of Company-operated restaurants to franchisees and sale of other assets
Gain on Sale of Restaurants
System optimization (losses) gains, net			$ 3,385
Sale of franchise-operated restaurant to franchisee
Property, Plant and Equipment
Number of restaurants sold to franchisees | Restaurant			270
Sale of company-operated restaurants to franchisees
Property, Plant and Equipment
Number of restaurants sold to franchisees | Restaurant	0	156	0	211
Gain on Sale of Restaurants
Proceeds from sales of restaurants	$ 0	$ 124,765	$ 0	$ 164,380
Net assets sold	0	(58,227)	0	(75,282)
Goodwill related to sales of restaurants	0	(24,254)	0	(30,630)
Net unfavorable leases	0	(6,225)	0	(11,131)
Other	0	(726)	0	(1,521)
Loss on disposition of assets before post closing purchase price adjustments	0	35,333	0	45,816
Post-closing adjustments on sales of restaurants	418	(120)	1,345	(1,710)
System optimization (losses) gains, net	418	35,213	1,345	44,106
Favorable lease assets		2,114		2,297
Unfavorable lease liabilities		8,339		13,428
Cash payments from post closing adjustments, net of proceeds	333		33
Recognition of deferred gain on sale of property			312
Sale of Other Assets
Gain on Sale of Restaurants
Proceeds from sales of restaurants	2,411	4,006	9,403	9,469
System optimization (losses) gains, net	(539)	2,543	2,040	4,000
Recognition of deferred gain on sale of property			375
DavCo and NPC Transactions
Gain on Sale of Restaurants
System optimization (losses) gains, net	$ 15	$ 0	$ (43,134)	$ 0