Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 01, 2023	Oct. 02, 2022	Oct. 03, 2021
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net earnings	$ 130,826	$ 115,781	$ 165,755
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	62,287	56,100	46,500
Amortization of franchise tenant improvement allowances and incentives	4,647	4,446	3,450
Amortization of debt issuance costs	5,040	5,496	5,595
Loss on extinguishment of debt	0	7,700	0
Tax deficiency (excess tax benefits) from share-based compensation arrangements	71	123	(1,160)
Deferred income taxes	(11,989)	7,857	8,008
Share-based compensation expense	11,205	7,122	4,048
Pension and postretirement expense	6,967	303	881
(Gains) losses on cash surrender value of company-owned life insurance	(7,346)	12,668	(12,753)
Gains on the sale of company-operated restaurants	(17,998)	(3,878)	(4,203)
Gains on the disposition of property and equipment	(8,171)	(30,533)	(6,888)
Impairment charges and other	6,217	8,219	2,889
Changes in assets and liabilities, excluding acquisitions and dispositions:
Accounts and other receivables	(4,048)	(18,143)	5,072
Inventories	1,367	304	(269)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(1,422)	(3,275)	(2,766)
Operating lease right-of-use assets and lease liabilities	2,364	2,593	(24,784)
Accounts payable	(1,692)	16,243	(3,091)
Accrued liabilities	47,459	(9,081)	28,990
Pension and postretirement contributions	(6,241)	(6,690)	(6,084)
Franchise tenant improvement allowance and incentive disbursements	(3,265)	(2,989)	(8,568)
Other	(1,272)	(7,484)	500
Cash flows provided by operating activities	215,006	162,882	201,122
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment	(74,954)	(46,475)	(41,008)
Proceeds from the sale and leaseback of assets	3,673	10,768	3,884
Acquisition of Del Taco, net of cash acquired	0	(580,793)	0
Proceeds from the sale of company-operated restaurants	(85,221)	(6,391)	(1,827)
Proceeds from the sale of property and equipment	25,214	31,161	11,742
Other	3,065	360	2,626
Cash flows provided by (used in) investing activities	42,219	(578,588)	(20,929)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings on revolving credit facilities	0	68,000	0
Repayments of borrowings on revolving credit facilities	(50,000)	(18,000)	(107,875)
Proceeds from issuance of debt	0	1,100,000	0
Principal repayments on debt	(30,109)	(588,064)	(829)
Debt issuance costs	0	(20,599)	0
Dividends paid on common stock	(35,890)	(36,987)	(37,322)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock	263	51	6,647
Repurchases of common stock	(90,029)	(25,000)	(200,000)
Payroll tax payments for equity award issuances	(1,593)	(1,223)	(4,166)
Cash flows (used in) provided by financing activities	(207,358)	478,178	(343,545)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and restricted cash	49,867	62,472	(163,352)
Cash and restricted cash at beginning of year	136,040	73,568	236,920
Cash and restricted cash at end of year	$ 185,907	$ 136,040	$ 73,568