Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Cash flows provided from operating activities:
Net income (loss)	$ (11,457)	$ (9,980)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	0	(42)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided from operating activities of continuing operations:
Loss on disposals of property and equipment	272	97
Stock-based compensation	899	588
Impairment and other lease charges	3,907	252
Depreciation and amortization	24,990	18,537
Amortization of deferred financing costs	752	526
Amortization of unearned income	(100)	0
Amortization of deferred gains from sale-leaseback transactions	(1,349)	(1,326)
Deferred income taxes	(4,438)	(4,201)
Change in refundable income taxes	(4,269)	(618)
Loss on extinguishment of debt	0	(1,509)
Changes in other operating assets and liabilities	6,975	18,347
Net cash provided from operating activities of continuing operations	16,182	23,689
Cash flows used for investing activities of continuing operations:
New restaurant development	(582)	0
Restaurant remodeling	(31,574)	(10,618)
Other restaurant capital expenditures	(5,724)	(3,861)
Corporate and restaurant information systems	(2,478)	(9,232)
Total capital expenditures	40,358	23,711
Proceeds from sale-leaseback transactions	0	1,177
Proceeds from sales of restaurant properties	0	2,082
Acquisition of restaurants from BKC, net of cash acquired	0	12,135
Increase in restricted cash balance	0	20,000
Net cash used for investing activities of continuing operations	(40,358)	(52,587)
Cash flows provided from (used for) financing activities of continuing operations:
Proceeds from issuance of senior secured second lien notes	0	150,000
Cash of Fiesta Restaurant Group deconsolidated as a result of spin-off	0	5,490
Borrowings on prior revolving credit facilities	0	19,200
Repayments on prior revolving credit facilities	0	(23,200)
Repayments of term loans under prior credit facilities	0	(63,375)
Capital contribution to Fiesta Restaurant Group	0	(2,500)
Principal payments on capital leases	(789)	(330)
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation	0	825
Financing costs associated with issuance of debt	(8)	(5,931)
Proceeds from stock option exercises	0	295
Net cash provided from (used for) financing activities of continuing operations	(797)	69,494
Net decrease in cash from continuing operations	(24,973)	40,596
Net cash provided from operating activities of discontinued operations	0	3,835
Net cash provided used for investing activities of discontinued operations	0	(15,007)
Net cash provided from financing activities of discontinued operations	0	3,318
Net decrease in cash from discontinued operations	0	(7,854)
Net increase (decrease) in cash	(24,973)	32,742
Cash, beginning of period	38,290	24,661
Cash, end of period	$ 13,317	$ 57,403