Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended			0 Months Ended	12 Months Ended						3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Oct. 01, 2013	Jul. 02, 2013	Apr. 02, 2013	Jan. 01, 2013	Oct. 02, 2012	Jul. 03, 2012	Apr. 03, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Jan. 01, 2013 item	Jan. 03, 2012 item	Apr. 02, 2013 Grand Lux Cafe item	Dec. 31, 2013 Grand Lux Cafe item	Jan. 01, 2013 Grand Lux Cafe item	Jan. 03, 2012 Grand Lux Cafe item	Dec. 31, 2013 Corporate	Jan. 01, 2013 Corporate	Jan. 03, 2012 Corporate	Jan. 01, 2013 The Cheesecake Factory restaurants item	Jan. 03, 2012 The Cheesecake Factory restaurants item	Dec. 31, 2013 The Cheesecake Factory restaurants item	Jan. 01, 2013 The Cheesecake Factory restaurants item	Jan. 03, 2012 The Cheesecake Factory restaurants item	Dec. 31, 2013 Other	Jan. 01, 2013 Other	Jan. 03, 2012 Other	Dec. 31, 2013 Other Grand Lux Cafe item	Jan. 03, 2013 Other Grand Lux Cafe	Jan. 03, 2012 Other Grand Lux Cafe
Segment information
Revenues	$ 475,075	$ 469,699	$ 470,118	$ 463,018	$ 464,695	$ 453,819	$ 454,749	$ 435,754	$ 1,877,910	$ 1,809,017	$ 1,757,624										$ 1,688,036	$ 1,604,825	$ 1,543,040	$ 189,874	$ 204,192	$ 214,584
Income from operations	44,366	38,631	41,170	36,787	28,186	39,324	40,970	30,219	160,954	138,699	133,450					(109,261)	(98,078)	(91,023)			250,230	225,920	208,449	19,985	10,857	16,024
Total assets	1,124,114				1,092,167				1,124,114	1,092,167	1,022,570					155,103	162,685	125,795	764,208	746,683	813,780	764,208	746,683	155,231	165,274	150,092
Capital expenditures									106,289	86,442	76,746					4,008	10,779	2,615			98,660	60,300	64,960	3,621	15,363	9,171
Depreciation and amortization									78,558	74,433	71,958					4,495	4,264	4,177			63,549	60,358	58,170	10,514	9,811	9,611
Number of previously impaired locations										1	3				1				1	2		1	2
Pre-tax impairment expense									(1,204)	5,469	643		643	4,067	904
Number of restaurants discontinued												3		3
Number of restaurants for which impairment and lease termination expenses/(income) were recorded													4								7						4
Pre-tax impairment and lease termination expenses	$ (3,807)	$ 1,097	$ 1,505	$ 644	$ 9,536				$ (561)	$ 9,536	$ 1,547										$ (1,204)	$ 5,469	$ 643				$ 643	$ 4,067	$ 904