Contingencies (Details 2) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011 plaintiffs restaurants days Hours States violations cases
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of cases concerning meals and rest breaks at Taco Bell in California Supreme Court	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 restaurants 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
Number of hours worked per week after which overtime pay was allegedly not received	40
Number of hours worked per day after which overtime pay was allegedly not received	12
Number of days in which putative class members can elect to participate in the lawsuit	90
Financial standby letter of credit | Franchise Loan Pool Guarantees [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Loss contingency, amount of guarantee	23,000,000
Number of letters of credit provided	2
Franchise Lending Program Guarantees
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Loss contingency, amount of guarantee	17,000,000
Total loans outstanding	32,000,000
Guarantee of Indebtedness of Others
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Outstanding guarantees of lines of credit and loans for unconsolidated affiliates	0
Guarantee of Indebtedness of Others | Franchise Loan Pool Guarantees [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Loss contingency, amount of guarantee	14,000,000
Total loans outstanding	63,000,000
Additional amount under the franchisee loan pool available for lending	17,000,000
Guarantee of Indebtedness of Others | Unconsolidated Affiliate Guarantees
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Total revenues of unconsolidated affiliates	1,100,000,000
Total assets of unconsolidated affiliates	525,000,000
Total debt of unconsolidated affiliates	$ 75,000,000