PROPERTY, EQUIPMENT, ASSETS HELD FOR SALE, AND OPERATING LEASES (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Aug. 30, 2011		Aug. 31, 2010	May 31, 2011
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, by Type
Property and equipment, gross	$ 1,601,865,000			$ 1,597,447,000
Less accumulated depreciation	581,412,000			566,296,000
Property and equipment, net	1,020,453,000			1,031,151,000
Assets held for sale, noncurrent	20,700,000			23,300,000
Assets held for sale	3,839,000			1,340,000
Carrying value of assets disposed			900,000
Net (loss) gain on sale on disposal of assets			100,000
Proceeds from disposal of assets	32,000		959,000
Operating Leases [Abstract]
Percentage of restaurants located on leased properties (in hundredths)	51.00%
Number of company-owned restaurants	746
Percentage of restaurants located on leased land	66.00%
Percentage of restaurants located on leased land and building (in hundredths)	34.00%
Expiration of operating leases (in years)	25Y
Land [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, by Type
Property and equipment, gross	256,761,000			256,761,000
Building [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, by Type
Property and equipment, gross	513,108,000			512,177,000
Leasehold Improvements [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, by Type
Property and equipment, gross	429,535,000			427,169,000
Equipment [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, by Type
Property and equipment, gross	281,828,000			279,319,000
Other Machinery and Equipment [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, by Type
Property and equipment, gross	95,278,000			93,944,000
Construction in Progress and Other [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, by Type
Property and equipment, gross	$ 25,355,000	[1]		$ 28,077,000	[1]

[1] Included in Construction in progress and other as of August 30, 2011 and May 31, 2011 are $20.7 million and $23.3 million, respectively, of assets held for sale that are not classified as such in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as we do not expect to sell these assets within the next 12 months. These assets primarily consist of parcels of land upon which we have no intention to build restaurants.