Segment Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Jan. 01, 2019	Oct. 02, 2018	Jul. 03, 2018	Apr. 03, 2018	Jan. 02, 2018	Oct. 03, 2017	Jul. 04, 2017	Apr. 04, 2017	Jan. 01, 2019	Jan. 02, 2018	Jan. 03, 2017
Segment Information
Revenues	$ 585,155	$ 575,160	$ 587,319	$ 584,697	$ 571,815	$ 555,392	$ 569,869	$ 563,426	$ 2,332,331	$ 2,260,502	$ 2,275,719
Income/(loss) from operations	19,359	33,495	34,543	$ 31,551	22,747	$ 34,317	50,218	43,563	118,948	152,845	200,993
Depreciation and amortization									95,976	92,729	88,010
Capital expenditures									102,909	120,779	115,821
Total assets	1,314,133				1,333,060				1,314,133	1,333,060	1,293,319
Impairment of assets and lease terminations									17,861	10,343	114
The Cheesecake Factory restaurants
Segment Information
Revenues									2,127,347	2,057,816	2,078,083
Income/(loss) from operations									252,210	263,581	308,058
Depreciation and amortization									80,646	76,186	74,861
Capital expenditures									71,880	101,142	99,817
Total assets	928,345				937,512				928,345	937,512	950,372
Impairment of assets and lease terminations	15,000	$ 300	$ 2,600		9,100		$ 400	$ 800	6,600	2,500	100
Other
Segment Information
Revenues									204,984	202,686	197,636
Income/(loss) from operations									8,993	17,547	27,623
Depreciation and amortization									10,438	11,717	8,469
Capital expenditures									28,324	16,885	13,783
Total assets	164,972				167,096				164,972	167,096	157,842
Impairment of assets and lease terminations									11,300	7,800
Corporate
Segment Information
Income/(loss) from operations									(142,255)	(128,283)	(134,688)
Depreciation and amortization									4,892	4,826	4,680
Capital expenditures									2,705	2,752	2,221
Total assets	$ 220,816				$ 228,452				$ 220,816	$ 228,452	$ 185,105