Consolidating Financial Information Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013		Mar. 31, 2012
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Franchise and restaurant revenues	$ 128,329,000		$ 209,294,000
Rental revenues	31,003,000		32,005,000
Financing revenues	3,837,000		4,283,000
Total segment revenues	163,169,000		245,582,000
Franchise and restaurant expenses	44,476,000		111,815,000
Rental expenses	24,269,000		24,537,000
Financing expenses	0		655,000
General and administrative	34,032,000		39,632,000
Interest expense	25,295,000		30,221,000
Amortization of intangible assets	3,071,000		3,075,000
Impairment and closure	838,000		722,000
(Gain) loss on disposition of assets	(318,000)		(16,733,000)
Loss on extinguishment of debt	20,000	[1]	2,611,000	[1]
Debt modification costs	1,296,000		0
Intercompany dividend	0		0
Income before income taxes	30,190,000		49,047,000
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	(11,951,000)		(17,703,000)
Net income	18,239,000		31,344,000
Total comprehensive income	18,235,000		31,486,000
Parent
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Franchise and restaurant revenues	700,000		600,000
Rental revenues	0		0
Financing revenues	0		0
Total segment revenues	700,000		600,000
Franchise and restaurant expenses	800,000		600,000
Rental expenses	0		0
Financing expenses	0		0
General and administrative	9,200,000		7,100,000
Interest expense	25,000,000		27,400,000
Amortization of intangible assets	0		0
Impairment and closure	0		0
(Gain) loss on disposition of assets	0		0
Loss on extinguishment of debt	0		2,600,000
Debt modification costs	1,300,000
Intercompany dividend	(39,800,000)		(54,100,000)
Income before income taxes	4,200,000		17,000,000
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	14,100,000		14,300,000
Net income	18,200,000		31,300,000
Total comprehensive income	18,200,000		31,300,000
Guarantor Subsidiaries
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Franchise and restaurant revenues	127,300,000		208,400,000
Rental revenues	31,000,000		32,000,000
Financing revenues	3,800,000		4,300,000
Total segment revenues	162,100,000		244,700,000
Franchise and restaurant expenses	43,600,000		111,200,000
Rental expenses	24,300,000		24,500,000
Financing expenses	0		700,000
General and administrative	24,500,000		32,100,000
Interest expense	300,000		2,800,000
Amortization of intangible assets	3,100,000		3,100,000
Impairment and closure	700,000		400,000
(Gain) loss on disposition of assets	(100,000)		(16,400,000)
Loss on extinguishment of debt	0		0
Debt modification costs	0
Intercompany dividend	0		0
Income before income taxes	65,700,000		86,300,000
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	(26,000,000)		(32,000,000)
Net income	39,700,000		54,300,000
Total comprehensive income	39,700,000		54,500,000
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Franchise and restaurant revenues	300,000		300,000
Rental revenues	0		0
Financing revenues	0		0
Total segment revenues	300,000		300,000
Franchise and restaurant expenses	0		0
Rental expenses	0		0
Financing expenses	0		0
General and administrative	300,000		500,000
Interest expense	0		0
Amortization of intangible assets	0		0
Impairment and closure	100,000		300,000
(Gain) loss on disposition of assets	(300,000)		(300,000)
Loss on extinguishment of debt	0		0
Debt modification costs	0
Intercompany dividend	0		0
Income before income taxes	100,000		(200,000)
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	0		0
Net income	100,000		(200,000)
Total comprehensive income	100,000		(200,000)
Consolidation, Eliminations
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Franchise and restaurant revenues	0		0
Rental revenues	0		0
Financing revenues	0		0
Total segment revenues	0		0
Franchise and restaurant expenses	0		0
Rental expenses	0		0
Financing expenses	0		0
General and administrative	0		0
Interest expense	0		0
Amortization of intangible assets	0		0
Impairment and closure	0		0
(Gain) loss on disposition of assets	0		0
Loss on extinguishment of debt	0		0
Debt modification costs	0
Intercompany dividend	39,800,000		54,100,000
Income before income taxes	(39,800,000)		(54,100,000)
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	0		0
Net income	(39,800,000)		(54,100,000)
Total comprehensive income	$ (39,800,000)		$ (54,100,000)

[1] Including write-off of the discount and deferred financing costs related to the debt retired.