Consolidating Financial Information (Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Franchise and restaurant revenues	$ 126,444	$ 124,153	$ 258,239	$ 252,482
Rental revenues	30,709	30,731	61,462	61,734
Financing revenues	3,368	3,230	8,021	7,067
Total segment revenues	160,521	158,114	327,722	321,283
Franchise and restaurant expenses	42,155	42,308	87,833	86,784
Rental expenses	23,653	24,535	47,519	48,804
Financing expenses	240	245	825	245
General and administrative expenses	34,816	35,641	69,001	69,673
Interest expense	24,942	24,956	49,911	50,251
Amortization of intangible assets	3,070	3,069	6,141	6,140
Closure and impairment charges	637	324	837	1,162
(Gain) loss on disposition of assets	(130)	64	797	(254)
Loss on extinguishment of debt	6	16	12	36
Debt modification costs	0	0	0	1,296
Intercompany dividend	0	0	0	0
Income before income tax provision	31,132	26,956	64,846	57,146
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	(11,965)	(10,019)	(24,855)	(21,970)
Net income	19,167	16,937	39,991	35,176
Total comprehensive income	19,281	16,933	40,099	35,168
Parent
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Franchise and restaurant revenues	700	700	1,400	1,400
Rental revenues	0	0	0	0
Financing revenues	0	0	0	0
Total segment revenues	700	700	1,400	1,400
Franchise and restaurant expenses	600	600	1,300	1,500
Rental expenses	0	0	0	0
Financing expenses	0	0	0	0
General and administrative expenses	9,800	9,500	19,000	18,700
Interest expense	24,600	24,600	49,200	49,600
Amortization of intangible assets	0	0	0	0
Closure and impairment charges	0	0	0	0
(Gain) loss on disposition of assets	0	0	0	0
Debt modification costs				1,300
Intercompany dividend	(45,400)	(37,600)	(92,200)	(77,400)
Income before income tax provision	11,100	3,600	24,000	7,800
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	8,100	13,300	16,000	27,400
Net income	19,200	16,900	40,000	35,200
Total comprehensive income	19,200	16,900	40,000	35,200
Combined Guarantor Subsidiaries
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Franchise and restaurant revenues	125,400	123,100	256,200	250,500
Rental revenues	30,700	30,700	61,400	61,700
Financing revenues	3,400	3,300	8,000	7,100
Total segment revenues	159,500	157,100	325,600	319,300
Franchise and restaurant expenses	41,500	41,700	86,500	85,300
Rental expenses	23,600	24,500	47,500	48,800
Financing expenses	300	300	800	200
General and administrative expenses	25,000	25,800	49,800	50,300
Interest expense	300	300	700	700
Amortization of intangible assets	3,100	3,100	6,100	6,100
Closure and impairment charges	100	300	200	1,000
(Gain) loss on disposition of assets	(100)	300	800	(300)
Debt modification costs				0
Intercompany dividend	0	0	0	0
Income before income tax provision	65,800	60,800	133,300	126,500
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	(20,100)	(23,400)	(40,800)	(49,400)
Net income	45,700	37,400	92,500	77,100
Total comprehensive income	45,800	37,400	92,600	77,100
Combined Non-guarantor Subsidiaries
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Franchise and restaurant revenues	300	300	600	600
Rental revenues	0	0	0	0
Financing revenues	0	0	0	0
Total segment revenues	300	300	600	600
Franchise and restaurant expenses	0	0	0	0
Rental expenses	0	0	0	0
Financing expenses	0	0	0	0
General and administrative expenses	100	300	100	700
Interest expense	0	0	0	0
Amortization of intangible assets	0	0	0	0
Closure and impairment charges	500	0	700	100
(Gain) loss on disposition of assets	0	(300)	0	500
Debt modification costs				0
Intercompany dividend	0	0	0	0
Income before income tax provision	(300)	200	(200)	300
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	0	0	0	0
Net income	(300)	200	(200)	300
Total comprehensive income	(300)	200	(200)	300
Eliminations and Reclassification
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Franchise and restaurant revenues	0	0	0	0
Rental revenues	0	0	0	0
Financing revenues	0	0	0	0
Total segment revenues	0	0	0	0
Franchise and restaurant expenses	0	0	0	0
Rental expenses	0	0	0	0
Financing expenses	0	0	0	0
General and administrative expenses	0	0	0	0
Interest expense	0	0	0	0
Amortization of intangible assets	0	0	0	0
Closure and impairment charges	0	0	0	0
(Gain) loss on disposition of assets	0	0	0	0
Debt modification costs				0
Intercompany dividend	45,400	37,600	92,200	77,400
Income before income tax provision	(45,400)	(37,600)	(92,200)	(77,400)
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	0	0	0	0
Net income	(45,400)	(37,600)	(92,200)	(77,400)
Total comprehensive income	$ (45,400)	$ (37,600)	$ (92,200)	$ (77,400)