Business Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 28, 2011	Jun. 29, 2010	Jun. 28, 2011	Jun. 29, 2010	Dec. 28, 2010
Revenues:
Total revenues	$ 451,080	$ 378,124	$ 873,180	$ 742,334
Segment profit:
Total segment profit	101,817	86,618	199,959	169,733
Depreciation and amortization	19,707	16,915	38,801	33,924
Unallocated general and administrative expenses	23,423	22,720	48,519	46,390
Pre-opening expenses	1,555	880	2,533	1,156
Interest expense	197	165	422	333
Other (income) expense, net	(176)	3,010	(980)	3,316
Income before income taxes	57,111	42,928	110,664	84,614
Depreciation and amortization:
Corporate administration	1,097	1,004	2,203	1,988
Total depreciation and amortization	19,707	16,915	38,801	33,924
Capital expenditures:
Corporate administration	238	2,782	845	3,528
Total capital expenditures	25,892	13,328	47,782	23,793
Segment Assets
Trade accounts receivable, net	22,961		22,961		20,378
Property and equipment, net	460,414		460,414		444,094
Deposits and other	7,325		7,325		6,958
Total other assets	181,572		181,572		149,802
Total assets	989,171		989,171		924,581
Business Segment Information (Textuals) [Abstract]
Number of business segments			3
Maximum delivered cost on fresh dough based on the retail value of the end product			27.00%
Company bakery cafe operations [Member]
Revenues:
Total revenues	394,525	322,424	760,104	634,924
Segment profit:
Total segment profit	75,465	60,105	146,685	117,688
Depreciation and amortization:
Depreciation and amortization	16,903	13,990	33,147	28,105
Capital expenditures:
Capital expenditures	25,022	9,572	46,088	18,766
Segment Assets
Total assets	645,969		645,969		581,193
Franchise operations [Member]
Revenues:
Total revenues	23,022	21,641	45,604	42,504
Segment profit:
Total segment profit	21,444	20,256	42,451	39,776
Segment Assets
Total assets	6,835		6,835		6,679
Fresh dough and other product operations [Member]
Revenues:
Total revenues	67,676	66,809	133,701	120,551
Segment profit:
Total segment profit	4,908	6,257	10,823	12,269
Depreciation and amortization:
Depreciation and amortization	1,707	1,921	3,451	3,831
Capital expenditures:
Capital expenditures	632	974	849	1,499
Segment Assets
Total assets	45,860		45,860		48,393
Intercompany sales eliminations [Member]
Revenues:
Total revenues	(34,143)	(32,750)	(66,229)	(55,645)
Unallocated Amount to Segment [Member]
Segment Assets
Trade accounts receivable, net	2,858		2,858		9,409
Property and equipment, net	21,505		21,505		19,798
Deposits and other	4,373		4,373		4,549
Total other assets	261,771		261,771		254,560
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Assets
Total assets	$ 698,664		$ 698,664		$ 636,265