Retirement Plans	12 Months Ended
Jan. 01, 2023
Retirement Benefits [Abstract]
Compensation and Employee Benefit Plans [Text Block]	Retirement Plans The Company offers its salaried employees the option to participate in the Carrols Corporation Retirement Savings Plan (the "Retirement Plan"). The Retirement Plan includes a savings option pursuant to section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code in addition to a post-tax savings option. Participating employees may contribute up to 50% of their salary annually to either of the savings options, subject to other limitations. The employees may allocate their contributions to various investment options available under a trust established by the Retirement Plan. The Company may elect to contribute to the Retirement Plan on an annual basis. The Company's contribution is equal to 50% of the employee's contribution subject to a maximum annual amount and begins to vest after one year of service and fully vests after five years of service. A year of service is defined as a plan year during which an employee completes at least 1,000 hours of service. Expense recognized for the Company's contributions to the Retirement Plan was $1.9 million, $1.8 million and $1.9 million for the years ended January 1, 2023, January 2, 2022 and January 3, 2021, respectively. The Company also has an Amended and Restated Deferred Compensation Plan which permits employees not eligible to participate in the Retirement Plan because they have been excluded as "highly compensated" employees (as so defined in the Retirement Plan) to voluntarily defer portions of their base salary and annual bonus. All amounts deferred by the participants earn interest at 8% per annum. There is no Company matching on any portion of the funds. At January 1, 2023 and January 2, 2022, a total of $3.1 million and $4.9 million, respectively, was deferred under this plan, including accrued interest, which is included in accrued payroll and long-term other liabilities on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.

Retirement Plans

12 Months Ended

Jan. 01, 2023

Compensation and Employee Benefit Plans [Text Block]

Retirement Plans The Company offers its salaried employees the option to participate in the Carrols Corporation Retirement Savings Plan (the "Retirement Plan"). The Retirement Plan includes a savings option pursuant to section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code in addition to a post-tax savings option. Participating employees may contribute up to 50% of their salary annually to either of the savings options, subject to other limitations. The employees may allocate their contributions to various investment options available under a trust established by the Retirement Plan. The Company may elect to contribute to the Retirement Plan on an annual basis. The Company's contribution is equal to 50% of the employee's contribution subject to a maximum annual amount and begins to vest after one year of service and fully vests after five years of service. A year of service is defined as a plan year during which an employee completes at least 1,000 hours of service. Expense recognized for the Company's contributions to the Retirement Plan was $1.9 million, $1.8 million and $1.9 million for the years ended January 1, 2023, January 2, 2022 and January 3, 2021, respectively. The Company also has an Amended and Restated Deferred Compensation Plan which permits employees not eligible to participate in the Retirement Plan because they have been excluded as "highly compensated" employees (as so defined in the Retirement Plan) to voluntarily defer portions of their base salary and annual bonus. All amounts deferred by the participants earn interest at 8% per annum. There is no Company matching on any portion of the funds. At January 1, 2023 and January 2, 2022, a total of $3.1 million and $4.9 million, respectively, was deferred under this plan, including accrued interest, which is included in accrued payroll and long-term other liabilities on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.