Impairment and other charges, net (Details) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
		Jul. 03, 2016 USD ($)	Jul. 05, 2015 USD ($)	Apr. 12, 2015 USD ($) litigation	Jul. 03, 2016 USD ($)	Jul. 05, 2015 USD ($)
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring costs		$ 7,744	$ 10		$ 7,744	$ 29
Costs of closed restaurants (primarily lease obligations) and other		914	886		2,489	2,645
Accelerated depreciation		673	2,610		1,531	4,749
Losses (gains) on the disposition of property and equipment, net					2,295	1,074
Restaurant impairment charges		551	24		551	65
Impairment and other charges, net		10,519	3,758		14,598	8,068
Accelerated Depreciation Related to Beverage Equipment Upgrades [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Accelerated depreciation			2,200
Other Restructuring [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring costs		410			410
Employee Severance [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring costs		6,487			6,487
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Balance at end of period		4,600			4,600
Facility Closing [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring costs		847			847
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period					9,707
Additions					310
Cash payments					(4,044)
Balance at end of period	[1]	7,764			7,764
Shared Services [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring costs					1,500
Jack in the box brand restaurant operations [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring costs					1,800
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Number of Closed Restaurants Related to Eminent Domain Proceeds in Current Period | litigation				1
Jack in the box brand restaurant operations [Member] | Gains from Eminent Domain [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Losses (gains) on the disposition of property and equipment, net				$ 900
Qdoba brand restaurant operations [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring costs					4,400
Restaurant impairment charges					600
Continuing Operations [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Losses (gains) on the disposition of property and equipment, net		637	$ 228		2,283	$ 580
Impairment and other charges, net [Member] | Facility Closing [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring costs	[2]				707
Interest Expense [Member] | Facility Closing [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring costs					$ 1,084
Weighted Average [Member] | Facility Closing [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
WeightedAverageRemainingLeaseTermCommitments					5 years
Scenario, Forecast [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring and Related Cost, Expected Cost		10,000			$ 10,000
Scenario, Forecast [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring and Related Cost, Expected Cost		$ 13,000			$ 13,000

[1] (2)The weighted average remaining lease term related to these commitments is approximately five years.

[2] (1)Adjustments relate primarily to revisions of certain sublease and cost assumptions. Our estimates related to our future lease obligations, primarily the sublease income we anticipate, are subject to a high degree of judgment and may differ from actual sublease income due to changes in economic conditions, desirability of the sites and other factors.