System Optimization (Gains) Losses, Net Summary of Disposition Activity (Details) $ in Thousands, $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
	May 31, 2017 USD ($)	Jan. 03, 2021 number_of_restaurants	Dec. 29, 2019 USD ($) number_of_restaurants	Dec. 30, 2018 USD ($) number_of_restaurants	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) number_of_restaurants	Dec. 31, 2017 CAD ($) number_of_restaurants	Dec. 28, 2014 number_of_restaurants	Jan. 01, 2017
Property, Plant and Equipment
Company-operated restaurant ownership percentage								5.00%
System optimization (gains) losses, net
Proceeds from sales			$ 3,448	$ 3,223	$ 81,516
System optimization gains (losses), net			$ 1,283	$ 463	$ (39,076)
Sale of franchise-operated restaurants to franchisees
System optimization (gains) losses, net
Number of restaurants sold to franchisees | number_of_restaurants			37	96	400	400
Sale of company-owned restaurants to franchisees
System optimization (gains) losses, net
Number of restaurants sold to franchisees | number_of_restaurants			0	3	0	0
Proceeds from sales			$ 0	$ 1,436	$ 0
Net assets sold			0	(1,370)	0
Goodwill related to sales of restaurants			0	(208)	0
Net favorable leases			0	220	0
Other			0	11	0
Gain on sales of restaurants, net, before post-closing adjustments			0	89	0
Post-closing adjustments on sales of restaurants			1,087	445	2,541
System optimization gains (losses), net			1,087	534	2,541
Recognition of deferred gain on sale of property			911	1,029	312
Cash Proceeds from Post Closing Adjustments, Net of Payments				6	294
Sale of other assets
System optimization (gains) losses, net
Proceeds from sales			3,448	1,781	10,534
System optimization gains (losses), net			196	(71)	2,018
Recognition of deferred gain on sale of property					375
NPC Disposition
System optimization (gains) losses, net
Proceeds from sales	$ 70,688				70,688
Net assets sold					(70,688)
Goodwill related to sales of restaurants					(65,961)
Net favorable leases					24,034
Other					(1,708)
System optimization gains (losses), net			$ 0	$ 0	(43,635)
Guarantee Obligations | Sale of company-owned restaurants to franchisees
System optimization (gains) losses, net
Recognition of deferred gain on sale of property					$ 1,822
Franchises Sold, Deferred Gain on Sale | number_of_restaurants							8
Canada, Dollars | Guarantee Obligations | Sale of company-owned restaurants to franchisees
System optimization (gains) losses, net
Recognition of deferred gain on sale of property						$ 2,300
Scenario, Forecast | Sale of company-owned restaurants to franchisees
System optimization (gains) losses, net
Number of restaurants sold to franchisees | number_of_restaurants		43