Consolidating Financial Information Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013		Jun. 30, 2012
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Franchise and restaurant revenues	$ 124,153	$ 196,261	$ 252,482		$ 405,555
Rental revenues	30,731	29,171	61,734		61,176
Financing revenues	3,230	3,959	7,067		8,242
Total segment revenues	158,114	229,391	321,283		474,973
Franchise and restaurant expenses	42,308	105,920	86,784		217,735
Rental expenses	24,535	24,301	48,804		48,838
Financing expenses	245	916	245		1,571
General and administrative expenses	35,641	37,239	69,673		76,871
Interest expense	24,956	29,650	50,251		59,871
Amortization of intangible assets	3,069	3,075	6,140		6,150
Impairment and closure	324	122	1,162		844
Loss (gain) on disposition of assets	64	741	(254)		(15,992)
Loss on extinguishment of debt	16	0	36	[1]	2,611	[1]
Debt modification costs	0	0	1,296		0
Intercompany dividend	0	0	0		0
Income before income taxes	26,956	27,427	57,146		76,474
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	(10,019)	(10,489)	(21,970)		(28,192)
Net income	16,937	16,938	35,176		48,282
Total comprehensive income	16,933	16,935	35,168		48,421
Parent
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Franchise and restaurant revenues	700	600	1,400		1,300
Rental revenues	0	0	0		0
Financing revenues	0	0	0		0
Total segment revenues	700	600	1,400		1,300
Franchise and restaurant expenses	600	600	1,500		1,200
Rental expenses	0	0	0		0
Financing expenses	0	0	0		0
General and administrative expenses	9,500	6,100	18,700		13,100
Interest expense	24,600	27,000	49,600		54,400
Amortization of intangible assets	0	0	0		0
Impairment and closure	0	0	0		0
Loss (gain) on disposition of assets	0	0	0		0
Loss on extinguishment of debt					2,600
Debt modification costs			1,300
Intercompany dividend	(37,600)	(37,000)	(77,400)		(91,100)
Income before income taxes	3,600	3,900	7,800		21,100
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	13,300	12,800	27,400		27,200
Net income	16,900	16,900	35,200		48,300
Total comprehensive income	16,900	16,900	35,200		48,200
Guarantor Subsidiaries
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Franchise and restaurant revenues	123,100	195,400	250,500		403,800
Rental revenues	30,700	29,100	61,700		61,200
Financing revenues	3,300	4,000	7,100		8,200
Total segment revenues	157,100	228,500	319,300		473,200
Franchise and restaurant expenses	41,700	105,300	85,300		216,600
Rental expenses	24,500	24,300	48,800		48,800
Financing expenses	200	900	200		1,600
General and administrative expenses	25,800	30,600	50,300		62,700
Interest expense	300	2,700	700		5,500
Amortization of intangible assets	3,100	3,100	6,100		6,100
Impairment and closure	300	100	1,000		500
Loss (gain) on disposition of assets	300	1,200	300		(15,200)
Loss on extinguishment of debt					0
Debt modification costs			0
Intercompany dividend	0	0	0		0
Income before income taxes	60,800	60,300	126,500		146,600
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	(23,400)	(23,300)	(49,400)		(55,300)
Net income	37,400	36,900	77,100		91,300
Total comprehensive income	37,400	36,900	77,100		91,400
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Franchise and restaurant revenues	300	300	600		500
Rental revenues	0	0	0		0
Financing revenues	0	0	0		0
Total segment revenues	300	300	600		500
Franchise and restaurant expenses	0	0	0		0
Rental expenses	0	0	0		0
Financing expenses	0	0	0		0
General and administrative expenses	300	500	700		1,000
Interest expense	0	0	0		0
Amortization of intangible assets	0	0	0		0
Impairment and closure	0	0	100		400
Loss (gain) on disposition of assets	(300)	(400)	(500)		(800)
Loss on extinguishment of debt					0
Debt modification costs			0
Intercompany dividend	0	0	0		0
Income before income taxes	200	200	300		(100)
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	0	0	0		0
Net income	200	100	300		(100)
Total comprehensive income	200	100	300		(100)
Consolidation, Eliminations
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Franchise and restaurant revenues	0	0	0		0
Rental revenues	0	0	0		0
Financing revenues	0	0	0		0
Total segment revenues	0	0	0		0
Franchise and restaurant expenses	0	0	0		0
Rental expenses	0	0	0		0
Financing expenses	0	0	0		0
General and administrative expenses	0	0	0		0
Interest expense	0	0	0		0
Amortization of intangible assets	0	0	0		0
Impairment and closure	0	0	0		0
Loss (gain) on disposition of assets	0	0	0		0
Loss on extinguishment of debt					0
Debt modification costs			0
Intercompany dividend	37,600	37,000	77,400		91,100
Income before income taxes	(37,600)	(37,000)	(77,400)		(91,100)
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	0	0	0		0
Net income	(37,600)	(37,000)	(77,400)		(91,100)
Total comprehensive income	$ (37,600)	$ (37,000)	$ (77,400)		$ (91,100)

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