Acquisitions and Dispositions (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended			9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended		12 Months Ended		9 Months Ended							3 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended			3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 30, 2012	Sep. 29, 2013 Franchised Units [Member] stores	Sep. 30, 2012 Franchised Units [Member] stores	Dec. 30, 2012 Pisces Acquisition [Member]	Jun. 11, 2012 Pisces Acquisition [Member] stores	Dec. 30, 2012 Double Cheese Acquisition [Member]	Jul. 13, 2012 Double Cheese Acquisition [Member] stores	Sep. 30, 2012 Sale of Company-Owned Restaurants to Franchiees [Member] stores	Sep. 29, 2013 Surplus Properties [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Surplus Properties [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Notes Receivable [Member]	Sep. 29, 2013 Franchisees Exercising Options to Purchase Previously Subleased Properties [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Sale of Restaurant to Unrelated Third Party [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Property, Plant and Equipment [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Japan JV [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Japan JV [Member]	Sep. 29, 2013 Japan JV [Member] Wendy's [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Japan JV [Member] Wendy's [Member]	Sep. 29, 2013 Japan JV [Member] Wendy's [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Japan JV [Member] Wendy's [Member]	Sep. 29, 2013 Japan JV [Member] Higa Partners [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Japan JV [Member] Higa Partners [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Japan JV [Member] Higa Partners [Member]	Sep. 29, 2013 System Optimization [Member] Sale of Company-Owned Restaurants to Franchiees [Member] stores	Sep. 29, 2013 System Optimization [Member] Sale of Company-Owned Restaurants to Franchiees [Member] stores
Significant Acquisitions and Disposals [Line Items]
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage																		49.00%
Total Amount To Be Funded Under Plan To Finance Future Cash Requirements																						$ 3,000			$ 657
Amount Funded During The Period Under Plan To Finance Future Cash Requirements																			1,000	1,000	2,000		219	219
Noncontrolling Interest, Ownership Percentage by Parent																			66.80%		66.80%
Profit Distribution Percentage																			62.20%		62.20%		37.80%
Noncontrolling Interest, Ownership Percentage by Noncontrolling Owners																							33.20%
Cash Acquired from Acquisition																	188
Significant Changes, Franchises Purchased During Period				1	2
Number of Restaurants							30		24
Business Acquisition, Cost of Acquired Entity, Cash Paid						18,915		19,181
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired	1,812	40,594			2,594
Goodwill	868,057		876,201		485
Proceeds from Sale of Property, Plant, and Equipment	18,384	6,273								2,293	9,731	515	400	8,653	1,874	1,591										22,871	25,671
Gain (Loss) on Sale of Property Plant Equipment	$ 4,771	$ 974
Significant Changes, Franchises Sold										3																53	61