Long-Term Debt Senior Secured Second Lien Notes (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended			3 Months Ended
	Dec. 30, 2012 Rate	Jan. 01, 2012	Jan. 02, 2011	Dec. 30, 2012 Repayment of Borrowings [Member]	Dec. 30, 2012 Net acquisition payments [Member]	Dec. 30, 2012 Remainder of debt proceeds [Member]	Dec. 30, 2012 Payment of financing costs [Member]	Dec. 30, 2012 Cash collateral funding [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Carrols Restaurant Group 11.25% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes	$ 150,000,000
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	11.25%
Proceeds from issuance of senior secured second lien notes	150,000,000	0	0	64,800,000	12,100,000	48,600,000	4,500,000	20,000,000
Senior Notes, Redemption Price, Year Three	105.625%
Senior Notes, Redemption Price, Year Four	102.813%
Senior Notes, Redemption Price, Year Five	100.00%
Senior Notes, Redemption Price, Year One and Two	100.00%
Senior Notes, Amount Redeemable with Proceeds from Equity Offerings	35.00%
Collateral exclusion for material subsidiaries, percentage of Senior Notes	20.00%
Senior Notes, Cross Default Provision, Minimum Debt Principal Amount	$ 15,000,000