Business Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 25, 2012	Sep. 27, 2011	Sep. 25, 2012	Sep. 27, 2011	Dec. 27, 2011
Revenues:
Total revenues	$ 529,338	$ 453,087	$ 1,558,508	$ 1,326,267
Segment profit:
Total segment profit	115,214	96,229	356,267	296,188
Depreciation and amortization	23,828	20,068	67,290	58,869
Unallocated General and Administrative Expenses	30,891	28,844	88,402	80,516
Pre-opening expenses	2,130	1,283	6,217	3,816
Interest expense	263	194	675	616
Other (income) expense, net	692	837	1,418	(143)
Income before income taxes	59,044	46,576	197,465	157,240
Capital expenditures:
Capital Expenditures	40,588	20,953	105,285	67,935
Segment Assets
Unallocated trade and other accounts receivable	33,548		33,548		30,700
Unallocated property and equipment	543,959		543,959		492,022
Total assets	1,198,275		1,198,275		1,027,322
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Assets
Total assets	828,946		828,946		737,458
Company bakery cafe operations [Member]
Revenues:
Total revenues	466,369	397,271	1,374,229	1,157,375
Segment profit:
Total segment profit	87,920	71,269	274,420	217,954
Depreciation and amortization	19,985	17,195	57,764	50,342
Capital expenditures:
Capital Expenditures	29,906	17,936	84,797	59,719
Segment Assets
Total assets	763,847		763,847		682,246
Franchise operations [Member]
Revenues:
Total revenues	25,321	22,677	74,900	68,281
Segment profit:
Total segment profit	23,687	21,104	69,700	63,555
Segment Assets
Total assets	10,970		10,970		7,502
Fresh dough and other product operations [Member]
Revenues:
Total revenues	79,338	68,064	229,170	201,765
Segment profit:
Total segment profit	3,607	3,856	12,147	14,679
Depreciation and amortization	1,708	1,690	5,018	5,141
Capital expenditures:
Capital Expenditures	4,270	1,106	8,246	3,454
Segment Assets
Total assets	54,129		54,129		47,710
Intersegment Elimination [Member]
Revenues:
Total revenues	(41,690)	(34,925)	(119,791)	(101,154)
Segment profit:
Depreciation and amortization	2,135	1,183	4,508	3,386
Capital expenditures:
Capital Expenditures	6,412	1,911	12,242	4,762
Unallocated Amount to Segment [Member]
Segment profit:
Unallocated General and Administrative Expenses	29,257	27,271	83,202	75,790
Segment Assets
Unallocated trade and other accounts receivable	1,510		1,510		3,359
Unallocated property and equipment	28,539		28,539		21,565
Unallocated deposits and other	4,044		4,044		4,234
Other unallocated assets	$ 335,236		$ 335,236		$ 260,706