Guarantees, Commitments and Contingencies (Details 2) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 03, 2011 days violations weeks restaurants cases plaintiffs	Dec. 25, 2010
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Liabilities recorded for property and casualty losses	$ 147,000,000	$ 150,000,000
Motion to stay proceedings until rulings on other California Supreme Court cases concerning meal and rest breaks, number of cases	2
Number of company-owned restaurants that may be in the class	220
Minimum statutory damages per offense under Unruh Act	4,000
Minimum statutory damages per offense under California Disabled Persons Act	1,000
Number of individuals contended by plaintiffs that may be in the class	100,000
Number of restaurant to be subject of trial on ADA claims	1
Number of alleged violations of ADA and state law tried	12
Number of states that assert state-law class action claims	16
Minimum number of hours worked per week after which overtime pay was not received	40
Minimum number of hours worked per day after which overtime pay was not received	12
Guarantee of indebtedness of others
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Amount of possible loss for contingencies	14,000,000
Total loans outstanding	63,000,000
Additional amount under the franchisee loan pool available for lending	37,000,000
Financial standby letter of credit
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Amount of possible loss for contingencies	23,000,000
Franchisee financing programs
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Amount of possible loss for contingencies	20,000,000
Total loans outstanding	$ 25,000,000