Guarantees, Commitments and Contingencies (Details 2) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 24, 2012 restaurants Hours plaintiffs States violations cases	Dec. 31, 2011
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Liabilities recorded for property and casualty losses	$ 143,000,000	$ 140,000,000
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
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
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 guarantee
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Loss contingency, amount of guarantee	21,000,000
Total loans outstanding	40,000,000
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	62,000,000
Additional amount under the franchisee loan pool available for lending	$ 18,000,000