Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities (Details) - USD ($)		1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 12, 2016	Jun. 28, 2015	Jun. 28, 2015	Dec. 25, 2016	Dec. 27, 2015
Salaries, benefits and bonuses				$ 26,623,000	$ 24,124,000
Insurance reserves, current				16,993,000	13,382,000
Purchases				13,909,000	10,504,000
Customer loyalty program				3,339,000	2,734,000
Rent				3,073,000	1,940,000
Marketing				1,883,000	1,977,000
Deposits				1,771,000	2,953,000
Utilities				1,420,000	1,621,000
Consulting and professional fees				999,000	1,324,000
Legal costs				675,000	13,163,000
Other				6,104,000	7,196,000
Total				76,789,000	80,918,000
Balance sheet related disclosures
Legal settlement expense			$ 8,000,000	(898,000)	$ 12,278,000
Perrin v. Papa John's International, Inc. and Papa John's USA, Inc.
Balance sheet related disclosures
Legal settlement expense	$ (900,000)	$ 12,300,000		$ 900,000