Supplemental Balance Sheet Information (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 08, 2012	Sep. 03, 2011	Sep. 08, 2012 days		Sep. 03, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011
Accounts and Notes Receivable [Abstract]
Number of days from the period in which the corresponding sales occur that trade receivables are generally due			30
Accounts and notes receivable	$ 321		$ 321			$ 308
Allowance for doubtful accounts	(19)		(19)			(22)
Accounts and notes receivable, net	302		302			286
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	7,338		7,338			7,267
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(3,219)		(3,219)			(3,225)
Property, plant and equipment, net	4,119		4,119			4,042
Assets Held-for-sale, Long Lived	32		32			24
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Noncontrolling interests, beginning of period			93
Net Income - noncontrolling interests	7	6	12		15
Foreign currency translation adjustment			(2)
Dividends declared			(22)
Noncontrolling interest, end of period	97		97
Little Sheep Group Limited [Member]
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Noncontrolling interest - Little Sheep			$ 16	[1]

[1] Represents restaurant-level noncontrolling interests of Little Sheep's consolidated subsidiaries.