Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 25, 2016	Dec. 27, 2015	Dec. 28, 2014
Operating activities
Net income before attribution to noncontrolling interests	$ 109,092	$ 81,964	$ 77,697
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Provision for uncollectible accounts and notes receivable	409	1,232	1,795
Depreciation and amortization	40,987	40,307	39,965
Deferred income taxes	11,624	(6,246)	4,422
Stock-based compensation expense	10,123	9,423	8,712
Gain on refranchising	(11,572)
Impairment loss	1,350		979
Other	3,337	4,633	3,759
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:
Accounts receivable	1,557	(9,179)	(5,741)
Income taxes receivable	(2,100)	9,255	(9,527)
Inventories	(3,639)	4,967	(2,838)
Prepaid expenses	(3,826)	(2,425)	(4,394)
Other current assets	616	829	(387)
Other assets and liabilities	(6,269)	620	915
Accounts payable	(916)	4,804	3,171
Income and other taxes payable	9	(1,113)	5,233
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	(7,960)	21,201	(665)
Deferred revenue	1,235	40	(464)
Net cash provided by operating activities	144,057	160,312	122,632
Investing activities
Purchases of property and equipment	(55,554)	(38,972)	(48,655)
Loans issued	(3,210)	(4,741)	(6,816)
Repayments of loans issued	8,569	5,183	4,254
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(13,352)	(922)	(4,773)
Proceeds from divestitures of restaurants	16,844		400
Other	429	500	556
Net cash used in investing activities	(46,274)	(38,952)	(55,034)
Financing activities
Net proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	44,575	25,549	72,551
Cash dividends paid	(27,896)	(24,844)	(21,735)
Excess tax benefit on equity awards	6,200	10,151	10,282
Tax payments for equity award issuances	(6,024)	(10,965)	(9,235)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	7,060	5,197	5,837
Acquisition of Company common stock	(122,381)	(119,793)	(117,400)
Contributions from noncontrolling interest holders	690	684	1,086
Distributions to noncontrolling interest holders	(5,610)	(6,550)	(2,800)
Other	556	444	491
Net cash used in financing activities	(102,830)	(120,127)	(60,923)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(396)	(349)	(223)
Change in cash and cash equivalents	(5,443)	884	6,452
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	21,006	20,122	13,670
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 15,563	$ 21,006	$ 20,122