Consolidating Financial Information (Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Franchise and restaurant revenues	$ 131,795	$ 128,329
Rental revenues	30,753	31,003
Financing revenues	4,653	3,837
Total segment revenues	167,201	163,169
Franchise and restaurant expenses	45,678	44,476
Rental expenses	23,866	24,269
Financing expenses	585	0
General and administrative expenses	34,185	34,032
Interest expense	24,969	25,295
Amortization of intangible assets	3,071	3,071
Closure and impairment charges	200	838
Loss (gain) on disposition of assets	927	(318)
Loss on extinguishment of debt	6	20
Debt modification costs	0	1,296
Intercompany dividend	0	0
Income before income taxes	33,714	30,190
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	(12,890)	(11,951)
Net income	20,824	18,239
Total comprehensive income	20,818	18,235
Parent
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Franchise and restaurant revenues	700	700
Rental revenues	0	0
Financing revenues	0	0
Total segment revenues	700	700
Franchise and restaurant expenses	700	800
Rental expenses	0	0
Financing expenses	0
General and administrative expenses	9,200	9,200
Interest expense	24,600	25,000
Amortization of intangible assets	0	0
Closure and impairment charges	0	0
Loss (gain) on disposition of assets	0	0
Debt modification costs		1,300
Intercompany dividend	(46,800)	(39,800)
Income before income taxes	12,900	4,200
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	7,900	(14,100)
Net income	20,800	18,200
Total comprehensive income	20,800	18,200
Combined Guarantor Subsidiaries
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Franchise and restaurant revenues	130,800	127,300
Rental revenues	30,800	31,000
Financing revenues	4,700	3,800
Total segment revenues	166,300	162,100
Franchise and restaurant expenses	45,000	43,600
Rental expenses	23,900	24,300
Financing expenses	600
General and administrative expenses	24,900	24,500
Interest expense	400	300
Amortization of intangible assets	3,100	3,100
Closure and impairment charges	100	700
Loss (gain) on disposition of assets	900	(100)
Debt modification costs		0
Intercompany dividend	0	0
Income before income taxes	67,500	65,700
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	(20,800)	26,000
Net income	46,800	39,700
Total comprehensive income	46,800	39,700
Combined Non-guarantor Subsidiaries
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Franchise and restaurant revenues	300	300
Rental revenues	0	0
Financing revenues	0	0
Total segment revenues	300	300
Franchise and restaurant expenses	0	0
Rental expenses	0	0
Financing expenses	0
General and administrative expenses	100	300
Interest expense	0	0
Amortization of intangible assets	0	0
Closure and impairment charges	100	100
Loss (gain) on disposition of assets	0	(300)
Debt modification costs		0
Intercompany dividend	0	0
Income before income taxes	100	100
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	0	0
Net income	100	100
Total comprehensive income	100	100
Eliminations and Reclassification
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Franchise and restaurant revenues	0	0
Rental revenues	0	0
Financing revenues	0	0
Total segment revenues	0	0
Franchise and restaurant expenses	0	0
Rental expenses	0	0
Financing expenses	0
General and administrative expenses	0	0
Interest expense	0	0
Amortization of intangible assets	0	0
Closure and impairment charges	0	0
Loss (gain) on disposition of assets	0	0
Debt modification costs		0
Intercompany dividend	46,800	39,800
Income before income taxes	(46,800)	(39,800)
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	0	0
Net income	(46,800)	(39,800)
Total comprehensive income	$ (46,800)	$ (39,800)