System Optimization Losses (Gains), Net Summary of Disposition Activity (Details) CAD in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended				12 Months Ended
	Jul. 02, 2017 USD ($)	Jan. 01, 2017 USD ($)	Oct. 02, 2016 USD ($)	Apr. 03, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) Restaurant	Dec. 31, 2017 CAD Restaurant	Jan. 01, 2017 USD ($) Restaurant	Jan. 03, 2016 USD ($) Restaurant	Dec. 28, 2014 Restaurant	Feb. 28, 2015
Property, Plant and Equipment
Future company-owned restaurant ownership percentage										5.00%
System optimization losses (gains), net
Proceeds from sales					$ 81,516		$ 262,173	$ 204,388
System optimization (losses) gains, net	$ (41,050)	$ 23,825	$ 37,756	$ 8,426	$ (39,076)		$ 71,931	$ 74,009
Sale of Company-Owned Restaurants to Franchisees
System optimization losses (gains), net
Number of restaurants sold to franchisees | Restaurant					0	0	310	327
Proceeds from sales					$ 0		$ 251,446	$ 193,860
Net assets sold					0		(115,052)	(86,493)
Goodwill related to sales of restaurants					0		(41,561)	(29,970)
Net unfavorable leases					0		(24,592)	(846)
Other					0		3,103	5,499
Gain on sales of restaurants, net, before post-closing adjustments					0		67,138	71,052
Post-closing adjustments on sales of restaurants					2,541		(1,411)	1,285
System optimization (losses) gains, net					2,541		65,727	72,337
Favorable Lease Assets							7,612	34,437
Unfavorable Lease Liabilities							$ 32,204	35,283
Deferred Gain on Sale of Property								$ 4,568
Franchises Sold, Deferred Gain on Sale | Restaurant								17
Cash Payments from Post Closing Adjustments, Net of Proceeds					294
Recognition of deferred gain on sale of property					$ 312
Recognition of Gain on Sale of Property								$ 4,492
Sale of franchise-operated restaurant to franchisee
System optimization losses (gains), net
Number of restaurants sold to franchisees | Restaurant					400	400	144	71
Sale of Company-operated restaurants to franchisees and sale of other assets
System optimization losses (gains), net
System optimization (losses) gains, net					$ 4,559
Sale of Other Assets
System optimization losses (gains), net
Proceeds from sales					10,534		$ 10,727	$ 10,478
System optimization (losses) gains, net					2,018		$ 6,204	1,672
Recognition of deferred gain on sale of property					375
Guarantee Obligations | Sale of Company-Owned Restaurants to Franchisees
System optimization losses (gains), net
Franchises Sold, Deferred Gain on Sale | Restaurant									8
Recognition of deferred gain on sale of property					$ 1,822
Canada, Dollars | Guarantee Obligations | Sale of Company-Owned Restaurants to Franchisees
System optimization losses (gains), net
Recognition of deferred gain on sale of property | CAD						CAD 2,300
System Optimization
System optimization losses (gains), net
Goodwill, Transfers								$ 11,429