Consolidating Financial Information (Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Franchise and restaurant revenues	$ 129,334	$ 127,137	$ 387,573	$ 379,619
Rental revenues	30,761	30,990	92,223	92,724
Financing revenues	2,758	3,156	10,779	10,223
Total segment revenues	162,853	161,283	490,575	482,566
Franchise and restaurant expenses	47,570	44,091	135,403	130,875
Rental expenses	23,654	24,149	71,173	72,953
Financing expenses	0	0	825	245
General and administrative expenses	33,835	35,331	102,836	105,004
Interest expense	24,984	24,979	74,895	75,230
Amortization of intangible assets	3,071	3,072	9,212	9,212
Closure and impairment charges	192	(392)	1,029	770
(Gain) loss on disposition of assets	(205)	(72)	592	(326)
Loss on extinguishment of debt	1	0	13	36
Debt modification costs	0	0	0	1,296
Intercompany dividend	0	0	0	0
Income before income tax provision	29,751	30,125	94,597	87,271
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	(10,864)	(11,395)	(35,719)	(33,365)
Net income	18,887	18,730	58,878	53,906
Total comprehensive income	18,878	18,733	58,977	53,901
Parent
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Franchise and restaurant revenues	700	700	2,100	2,100
Rental revenues	0	0	0	0
Financing revenues	0	0	0	0
Total segment revenues	700	700	2,100	2,100
Franchise and restaurant expenses	700	600	2,000	2,100
Rental expenses	0	0	0	0
Financing expenses	0	0	0	0
General and administrative expenses	10,300	9,000	29,300	27,700
Interest expense	24,700	24,600	73,900	74,200
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	(44,600)	(39,200)	(136,900)	(116,600)
Income before income tax provision	9,700	5,600	33,700	13,400
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	9,200	13,100	25,200	40,500
Net income	18,900	18,700	58,900	53,900
Total comprehensive income	18,900	18,700	58,900	53,900
Combined Guarantor Subsidiaries
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Franchise and restaurant revenues	128,100	126,100	384,300	376,500
Rental revenues	30,800	31,000	92,200	92,700
Financing revenues	2,800	3,200	10,800	10,200
Total segment revenues	161,600	160,200	487,300	479,400
Franchise and restaurant expenses	46,900	43,500	133,400	128,800
Rental expenses	23,700	24,100	71,100	72,900
Financing expenses	0	0	800	200
General and administrative expenses	23,500	26,000	73,300	76,300
Interest expense	300	300	1,000	1,000
Amortization of intangible assets	3,100	3,100	9,200	9,200
Closure and impairment charges	100	(500)	300	500
(Gain) loss on disposition of assets	(200)	100	600	400
Debt modification costs				0
Intercompany dividend	0	0	0	0
Income before income tax provision	64,300	63,500	197,600	190,000
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	(20,100)	(24,500)	(60,900)	(73,900)
Net income	44,200	39,000	136,700	116,100
Total comprehensive income	44,200	39,000	136,800	116,100
Combined Non-guarantor Subsidiaries
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Franchise and restaurant revenues	500	400	1,100	1,000
Rental revenues	0	0	0	0
Financing revenues	0	0	0	0
Total segment revenues	500	400	1,100	1,000
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	200	900
Interest expense	0	0	0	0
Amortization of intangible assets	0	0	0	0
Closure and impairment charges	100	100	700	200
(Gain) loss on disposition of assets	0	(200)	0	(700)
Debt modification costs				0
Intercompany dividend	0	0	0	0
Income before income tax provision	400	200	100	500
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	0	0	0	0
Net income	400	200	100	500
Total comprehensive income	400	200	100	500
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	44,600	39,200	136,900	116,600
Income before income tax provision	(44,600)	(39,200)	(136,900)	(116,600)
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	0	0	0	0
Net income	(44,600)	(39,200)	(136,900)	(116,600)
Total comprehensive income	$ (44,600)	$ (39,200)	$ (136,900)	$ (116,600)