Total expenditures for additions to long-lived assets other than financial instruments, long-term customer relationships of a financial institution, mortgage and other servicing rights, deferred policy acquisition costs, and deferred tax assets of the reportable segment; if the amount: (a) is included in the determination of segment assets reviewed by the chief operating decision maker or (b) is otherwise regularly provided to the chief operating decision maker, even if not included in the determination of segment assets.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 131

-Paragraph 28

-Subparagraph b

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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The amount of expense recognized in the current period that reflects the allocation of the cost of tangible assets over the assets' useful lives. Includes production and non-production related depreciation.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 95

-Paragraph 28

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)

-Number 12

-Paragraph 5

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 28

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6943989&loc=d3e3602-108585

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No definition available.

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Aggregate revenue recognized during the period (derived from goods sold, services rendered, insurance premiums, or other activities that constitute an entity's earning process). For financial services companies, also includes investment and interest income, and sales and trading gains.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Article 5

-Section 03

-Paragraph 1

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6880815&loc=d3e20235-122688

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Segment Reporting (Summarized Financial Information Of Reportable Segments) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended						4 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Jul. 08, 2012	Apr. 15, 2012	Oct. 02, 2011	Jul. 10, 2011	Apr. 17, 2011	Jan. 22, 2012	Jan. 23, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Oct. 02, 2011	Oct. 03, 2010
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Consolidated revenues	$ 357,640	$ 362,981	$ 366,484	$ 366,960	$ 393,575	$ 383,773	$ 457,921	$ 518,031	$ 1,545,026	$ 1,662,339	$ 1,899,554
Consolidated earnings from operations	28,813	22,086	37,335	42,004	33,172	14,595	24,255	55,290	112,489	145,061	123,563
Expenditures for long-lived assets by segment									79,999	124,378	94,427
Consolidated depreciation expense									96,487	94,845	100,285
Jack In The Box [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Consolidated revenues									1,252,028	1,445,105	1,731,130
Consolidated earnings from operations									96,302	133,898	111,983
Expenditures for long-lived assets by segment									56,378	100,142	80,855
Consolidated depreciation expense									79,287	81,827	90,168
Qdoba [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Consolidated revenues									292,998	217,234	168,424
Consolidated earnings from operations									16,390	11,408	11,580
Expenditures for long-lived assets by segment									23,621	24,236	13,572
Consolidated depreciation expense									17,200	13,018	10,117
FFE Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Consolidated earnings from operations									$ (203)	$ (245)	$ 0