<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<FilingSummary xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xmlns:xsd="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema">
  <Version>2.4.0.6</Version>
  <ProcessingTime />
  <ReportFormat>Html</ReportFormat>
  <ContextCount>43</ContextCount>
  <ElementCount>174</ElementCount>
  <EntityCount>1</EntityCount>
  <FootnotesReported>false</FootnotesReported>
  <SegmentCount>5</SegmentCount>
  <ScenarioCount>0</ScenarioCount>
  <TuplesReported>false</TuplesReported>
  <UnitCount>3</UnitCount>
  <MyReports>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R1.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0001000 - Document - DEI Document</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.carrols.com/role/DeiDocument</Role>
      <ShortName>DEI Document</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R2.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0001000 - Document - Document And Entity Information</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.carrols.com/role/DocumentAndEntityInformation</Role>
      <ShortName>Document And Entity Information</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>true</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R3.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>1001000 - Statement - Consolidated Balance Sheets</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.carrols.com/role/ConsolidatedBalanceSheets</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Balance Sheets</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R4.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>1001501 - Statement - Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.carrols.com/role/ConsolidatedBalanceSheetsParenthetical</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R5.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>1002000 - Statement - Consolidated Statements Of Operations</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.carrols.com/role/ConsolidatedStatementsOfOperations</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Statements Of Operations</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R6.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>1002501 - Statement - Consolidated Statements Of Operations (Parenthetical)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.carrols.com/role/ConsolidatedStatementsOfOperationsParenthetical</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Statements Of Operations (Parenthetical)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R7.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>1003000 - Statement - Consolidated Statements Of Changes In Stockholders' Equity</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.carrols.com/role/ConsolidatedStatementsOfChangesInStockholdersEquity</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Statements Of Changes In Stockholders' Equity</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R8.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>1003501 - Statement - Consolidated Statements Of Changes In Stockholders' Equity (Parenthetical)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.carrols.com/role/ConsolidatedStatementsOfChangesInStockholdersEquityParenthetical</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Statements Of Changes In Stockholders' Equity (Parenthetical)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R9.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>1004000 - Statement - Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.carrols.com/role/ConsolidatedStatementsOfCashFlows</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R10.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2101100 - Disclosure - Description Of Business And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.carrols.com/role/DescriptionOfBusinessAndSummaryOfSignificantAccountingPolicies</Role>
      <ShortName>Description Of Business And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R11.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2102100 - Disclosure - Discontinued Operations</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.carrols.com/role/DiscontinuedOperations</Role>
      <ShortName>Discontinued Operations</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R12.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2103100 - Disclosure - Property And Equipment</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.carrols.com/role/PropertyAndEquipment</Role>
      <ShortName>Property And Equipment</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R13.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2104100 - Disclosure - Goodwill And Franchise Rights</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.carrols.com/role/GoodwillAndFranchiseRights</Role>
      <ShortName>Goodwill And Franchise Rights</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R14.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2105100 - Disclosure - Impairment Of Long-Lived Assets And Other Lease Charges</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.carrols.com/role/ImpairmentOfLongLivedAssetsAndOtherLeaseCharges</Role>
      <ShortName>Impairment Of Long-Lived Assets And Other Lease Charges</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R15.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2106100 - Disclosure - Other Liabilities, Long-Term</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.carrols.com/role/OtherLiabilitiesLongTerm</Role>
      <ShortName>Other Liabilities, Long-Term</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R16.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2107100 - Disclosure - Leases</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.carrols.com/role/Leases</Role>
      <ShortName>Leases</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R17.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2108100 - Disclosure - Long-Term Debt</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.carrols.com/role/LongTermDebt</Role>
      <ShortName>Long-Term Debt</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R18.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2109100 - Disclosure - Lease Financing Obligations</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.carrols.com/role/LeaseFinancingObligations</Role>
      <ShortName>Lease Financing Obligations</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R19.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2110100 - Disclosure - Other Income</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.carrols.com/role/OtherIncome</Role>
      <ShortName>Other Income</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R20.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2111100 - Disclosure - Income Taxes</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.carrols.com/role/IncomeTaxes</Role>
      <ShortName>Income Taxes</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R21.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2113100 - Disclosure - Stockholders' Equity</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.carrols.com/role/StockholdersEquity</Role>
      <ShortName>Stockholders' Equity</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R22.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2114100 - Disclosure - Commitments And Contingencies</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.carrols.com/role/CommitmentsAndContingencies</Role>
      <ShortName>Commitments And Contingencies</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R23.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2115100 - Disclosure - Retirement Plans</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.carrols.com/role/RetirementPlans</Role>
      <ShortName>Retirement Plans</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R24.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2116100 - Disclosure - Postretirement Benefits</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.carrols.com/role/PostretirementBenefits</Role>
      <ShortName>Postretirement Benefits</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R25.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2117100 - Disclosure - Net Income Per Share</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.carrols.com/role/NetIncomePerShare</Role>
      <ShortName>Net Income Per Share</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R26.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2118100 - Disclosure - Selected Quarterly Financial And Earnings Data</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.carrols.com/role/SelectedQuarterlyFinancialAndEarningsData</Role>
      <ShortName>Selected Quarterly Financial And Earnings Data</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R27.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2119100 - Disclosure - Schedule I - Condensed Financial Information Of Carrols Restaurant Group, Inc. (Parent Company Only)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.carrols.com/role/ScheduleICondensedFinancialInformationOfCarrolsRestaurantGroupIncParentCompanyOnly</Role>
      <ShortName>Schedule I - Condensed Financial Information Of Carrols Restaurant Group, Inc. (Parent Company Only)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R28.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2120100 - Disclosure - Schedule II - Valuation And Qualifying Accounts</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.carrols.com/role/ScheduleIiValuationAndQualifyingAccounts</Role>
      <ShortName>Schedule II - Valuation And Qualifying Accounts</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <LongName>All Reports</LongName>
      <ReportType>Book</ReportType>
      <ShortName>All Reports</ShortName>
    </Report>
  </MyReports>
  <Logs>
    <Log type="Info">'Shares' elements on report '1002000 - Statement - Consolidated Statements Of Operations' had a mix of different decimal attribute values.</Log>
    <Log type="Info">'Monetary' elements on report '1004000 - Statement - Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows' had a mix of different decimal attribute values.</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 1001000 - Statement - Consolidated Balance Sheets</Log>
    <Log type="Info">	Process Flow-Through: Removing column 'Jan. 03, 2010'</Log>
    <Log type="Info">	Process Flow-Through: Removing column 'Dec. 28, 2008'</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 1001501 - Statement - Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical)</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 1002000 - Statement - Consolidated Statements Of Operations</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 1002501 - Statement - Consolidated Statements Of Operations (Parenthetical)</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 1003501 - Statement - Consolidated Statements Of Changes In Stockholders' Equity (Parenthetical)</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 1004000 - Statement - Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows</Log>
  </Logs>
  <InputFiles>
    <File>tast-20121108.xml</File>
    <File>tast-20121108.xsd</File>
    <File>tast-20121108_cal.xml</File>
    <File>tast-20121108_def.xml</File>
    <File>tast-20121108_lab.xml</File>
    <File>tast-20121108_pre.xml</File>
  </InputFiles>
  <SupplementalFiles />
  <BaseTaxonomies />
  <HasPresentationLinkbase>true</HasPresentationLinkbase>
  <HasCalculationLinkbase>true</HasCalculationLinkbase>
</FilingSummary>
