Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Cash flows provided from operating activities:
Net income	$ 11,218	$ 11,916	$ 21,835
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided from operating activities:
Loss on disposals of property and equipment	388	612	121
Stock-based compensation	2,779	1,651	1,411
Impairment and other lease charges	4,037	7,323	2,771
Depreciation and amortization	33,522	32,459	32,520
Amortization of deferred financing costs	1,358	948	991
Amortization of unearned purchase discounts			(2,149)
Amortization of deferred gains from sale-leaseback transactions	(3,521)	(3,347)	(3,178)
Gain on settlements of lease financing obligations			(133)
Accretion of interest on lease financing obligations	7	62	47
Deferred income taxes	5,594	299	5,010
Loss on extinguishment of debt	1,455
Changes in other operating assets and liabilities:
Refundable income taxes	(1,370)	316	(1,185)
Accounts payable	960	(2,199)	(2,399)
Accrued interest	325	(27)	(862)
Accrued payroll, related taxes and benefits	2,292	(1,950)	6,023
Accrued income taxes			(2,099)
Other	(4,544)	(1,315)	1,964
Net cash provided from operating activities	54,500	46,748	60,688
Cash flows used for investing activities:
New restaurant development	(14,333)	(14,079)	(9,696)
Restaurant remodeling	(12,968)	(12,226)	(12,404)
Other restaurant capital expenditures	(17,672)	(9,355)	(10,664)
Corporate and restaurant information systems	(5,663)	(1,387)	(4,180)
Total capital expenditures	(50,636)	(37,047)	(36,944)
Properties purchased for sale-leaseback	(2,058)	(3,735)	(2,906)
Proceeds from sale-leaseback transactions	10,601	12,442	8,662
Proceeds from insurance recovery	477
Proceeds from sales of other properties	573		819
Net cash used for investing activities	(41,043)	(28,340)	(30,369)
Cash flows provided from (used for) financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of Fiesta Restaurant Group senior secured second lien notes	200,000
Term loan borrowings from new Carrols LLC credit facility	65,000
Borrowings on Carrols LLC revolving credit facility	27,100
Repayments on Carrols LLC revolving credit facility	(23,100)
Borrowings on prior revolving credit facility	32,700	97,100	102,300
Repayments on prior revolving credit facility	(32,700)	(99,000)	(118,400)
Repayments of term loans under prior credit facility	(80,214)
Repayments of prior Carrols senior subordinated notes	(165,000)
Scheduled principal payments on term loans under prior credit facility	(7,036)	(11,727)	(12,000)
Scheduled principal payments on Carrols LLC term loans	(1,625)
Principal pre-payments on term loans		(6,023)
Principal payments on capital leases	(58)	(80)	(102)
Proceeds from lease financing obligations	1,736		835
Settlement of lease financing obligations			(1,945)
Financing costs associated with issuance of lease financing obligations	(89)		(4)
Financing costs associated with issuance of debt	(9,357)
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation	152
Proceeds from stock option exercises	551	64
Net cash provided from (used for) financing activities	8,060	(19,666)	(29,316)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	21,517	(1,258)	1,003
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year	3,144	4,402	3,399
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	24,661	3,144	4,402
Supplemental disclosures:
Interest paid on long-term debt	18,335	16,908	18,433
Interest paid on lease financing obligations	1,006	914	1,163
Accruals for capital expenditures	468	613	453
Income taxes paid (refunded), net	(147)	5,124	10,877
Capital lease obligations incurred		123
Non-cash reduction of assets under lease financing obligations			2,362
Non-cash reduction of lease financing obligations	$ 1,740		$ 3,713