PROPERTY, EQUIPMENT, ASSETS HELD FOR SALE, AND OPERATING LEASES (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Nov. 29, 2011		Nov. 29, 2011		Nov. 30, 2010	May 31, 2011
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment, gross	$ 1,607,467,000		$ 1,607,467,000			$ 1,597,447,000
Less accumulated depreciation	591,996,000		591,996,000			566,296,000
Property and equipment, net	1,015,471,000		1,015,471,000			1,031,151,000
Assets held for sale, noncurrent	20,700,000		20,700,000			23,300,000
Assets held for sale	2,429,000		2,429,000			1,340,000
Carrying values of assets disposed	1,500,000		1,500,000		900,000
Net (loss) gain on sale on disposal of assets	100,000		100,000		100,000
Proceeds from disposal of assets	1,527,000		1,527,000		959,000
Operating Leases [Abstract]
Percentage of restaurants located on leased properties (in hundredths)	51.00%		51.00%
Number of company owned restaurants	742		742
Percentage of restaurants located on leased land (in hundredths)	66.00%		66.00%
Percentage of restaurants located on leased land and building (in hundredths)	34.00%		34.00%
Expiration of operating leases (in years)			25Y
Land [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment, gross	256,730,000		256,730,000			256,761,000
Building [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment, gross	514,298,000		514,298,000			512,177,000
Leasehold Improvements [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment, gross	428,706,000		428,706,000			427,169,000
Equipment [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment, gross	285,836,000		285,836,000			279,319,000
Other Machinery and Equipment [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment, gross	95,468,000		95,468,000			93,944,000
Construction in Progress and Other [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment, gross	$ 26,429,000	[1]	$ 26,429,000	[1]		$ 28,077,000	[1]

[1] Included in Construction in progress and other as of November 29, 2011 and May 31, 2011 are $20.7 million and $23.3 million, respectively, of assets held for sale that are not classified as such in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as we do not expect to sell these assets within the next 12 months.