Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows (USD $)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Oct. 02, 2011
Cash flows provided from (used for) operating activities:
Net income (loss)	$ (10,471,000)	$ 11,159,000
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent	(42,000)	(11,334,000)
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided from operating activities:
Loss on disposals of property and equipment	97,000	(40,000)
Stock-based compensation	588,000	795,000
Impairment and other lease charges (Note 3)	252,000	1,028,000
Depreciation and amortization	19,215,000	11,712,000
Amortization of deferred financing costs	526,000	453,000
Amortization of deferred gains from sale-leaseback transactions	(1,326,000)	(1,333,000)
Accretion of interest on lease financing obligations	3,000	2,000
Increase (Decrease) in Deferred Income Taxes	(4,201,000)	2,297,000
Write off of Deferred Debt Issuance Cost	1,509,000	733,000
Changes in other operating assets and liabilities	17,539,000	10,242,000
Net cash provided from operating activities	23,689,000	25,714,000
Cash flows used for investing activities:
New restaurant development	0	(1,619,000)
Restaurant remodeling	(10,618,000)	(6,193,000)
Other restaurant capital expenditures	(3,861,000)	(4,658,000)
Corporate and restaurant information systems	(9,232,000)	(2,700,000)
Total capital expenditures	23,711,000	15,170,000
Properties purchased for sale-leaseback	0	(2,058,000)
Proceeds from sale-leaseback transactions	1,177,000	0
Proceeds from sales of other properties	2,082,000	572,000
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired	(12,135,000)	0
Increase (Decrease) in Restricted Cash	(20,000,000)	0
Net cash used for investing activities	(52,587,000)	(16,656,000)
Cash flows provided from (used for) financing activities:
Proceeds from Issuance of Senior Long-term Debt	150,000,000	0
Proceed from Fiesta Restaurant Group financing	0	192,307,000
Cash Divested from Deconsolidation	(5,490,000)	0
Term loan borrowings from Carrols LLC credit facility	0	65,000,000
Borrowings on previous revolving credit facilities	19,200,000	32,700,000
Repayments on previous revolving credit facilities	(23,200,000)	(32,700,000)
Principal pre-payments on term loans	(61,750,000)	(80,214,000)
Repayments of prior Carrols senior subordinated notes	0	(165,000,000)
Scheduled principal payments on term loans under prior credit facility	(1,625,000)	(7,036,000)
Payments of Distributions to Affiliates	(2,500,000)	0
Principal payments on capital leases	(330,000)	(2,000)
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation	825,000	0
Financing costs associated with issuance of debt	(5,931,000)	(1,821,000)
Proceeds from stock option exercises	295,000	271,000
Net cash provided from (used for) financing activities	69,494,000	3,505,000
Net increase (decrease) in cash from continuing operations	40,596,000	12,563,000
Net cash provided from (used for) operating activities of discontinued operations	3,835,000	14,598,000
Net cash provided from (used for) investing activities of discontinued operations	(15,007,000)	(9,914,000)
Net cash provided from (used for) financing activities of discontinued operations	3,318,000	1,841,000
Net increase (decrease) in cash from discontinued operations	(7,854,000)	6,525,000
Net increase (decrease) in cash	32,742,000	19,088,000
Cash, beginning of period	24,661,000	3,144,000
Cash, end of period	57,403,000	22,232,000
Supplemental disclosures:
Interest paid on long-term debt	1,571,000	17,078,000
Interest paid on lease financing obligations	75,000	76,000
Accruals for capital expenditures	571,000	1,054,000
Income taxes refunded, net	4,000	(440,000)
Capital lease obligations incurred	$ 10,870,000	$ 0