Consolidated Statement of Stockholders' Equity (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data	Total	Common Stock [Member]	Preferred Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]
Balance at Jan. 03, 2010	$ 31,404	$ 216	$ 0	$ 1,759	$ 27,907	$ 1,663	$ (141)
Common stock, shares outstanding at Jan. 03, 2010		21,611,707
Stock-based compensation	1,651	0	0	1,651	0	0	0
Exercise of stock options, value	64	0	0	64	0	0	0
Exercise of stock options, shares		15,422
Vesting of non-vested shares and excess tax benefits	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Vesting of non-vested shares		5,273
Net income (loss)	11,916	0	0	0	11,916	0	0
Change in valuation of interest rate swap	0
Change in postretirement benefit obligations	(128)	0	0	0	0	(128)	0
Balance at Jan. 02, 2011	44,907	216	0	3,474	39,823	1,535	(141)
Common stock, shares outstanding at Jan. 02, 2011		21,632,402
Stock-based compensation	2,779	0	0	2,779	0	0	0
Exercise of stock options, value	551	1	0	550	0	0	0
Exercise of stock options, shares		97,376
Vesting of non-vested shares and excess tax benefits	152	1	0	151	0	0	0
Vesting of non-vested shares		20,459
Net income (loss)	11,218	0	0	0	11,218	0	0
Change in valuation of interest rate swap	(68)	0	0	0	0	(68)	0
Change in postretirement benefit obligations	(382)	0	0	0	0	(382)	0
Balance at Jan. 01, 2012	59,157	218	0	6,954	51,041	1,085	(141)
Common stock, shares outstanding at Jan. 01, 2012	21,750,237	21,750,237
Stock-based compensation	2,169	0	0	2,169	0	0	0
Exercise of stock options, value	295	0	0	295	0	0	0
Exercise of stock options, shares	(69,824,000)	69,824
Conversion of stock options, shares		666,090
Conversion of stock options, value	0	7	0	(7)	0	0	0
Vesting of non-vested shares and excess tax benefits	936	2	0	934	0	0	0
Vesting of non-vested shares		262,090
Issuance of preferred stock	57,711	0	0	57,711	0	0	0
Distribution Fiesta Restaurant Group's net assets	(10,791)	0	0	0	(10,791)	0	0
Net income (loss)	(18,888)	0	0	0	(18,888)	0	0
Change in valuation of interest rate swap	68	0	0	0	0	68	0
Change in postretirement benefit obligations	(484)	0	0	0	0	(484)	0
Balance at Dec. 30, 2012	$ 90,173	$ 227	$ 0	$ 68,056	$ 21,362	$ 669	$ (141)
Common stock, shares outstanding at Dec. 30, 2012	22,748,241	22,748,241