Quarterly Financial Data - Asset impairment (unaudited) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Oct. 01, 2019	Jul. 02, 2019	Apr. 02, 2019	Jan. 01, 2019	Oct. 02, 2018	Jul. 03, 2018	Apr. 03, 2018	Dec. 31, 2019	Jan. 01, 2019	Jan. 02, 2018
Asset impairment
Revenues	$ 694,030	$ 586,536	$ 602,645	$ 599,481	$ 585,155	$ 575,160	$ 587,319	$ 584,697	$ 2,482,692	$ 2,332,331	$ 2,260,502
Income/(loss) from operations	6,387	26,964	40,099	30,148	19,359	33,495	34,543	31,551	103,598	118,948	152,845
Net income/(loss)	48,709	16,090	$ 35,510	$ 26,984	16,178	28,475	28,353	$ 26,029	127,293	99,035	157,392
Acquisition-related costs									5,270
Impairment of assets and lease terminations									18,247	17,861	10,343
The Cheesecake Factory restaurants
Asset impairment
Revenues									2,180,882	2,127,347	2,057,816
Income/(loss) from operations									258,374	270,829	281,715
Impairment of assets and lease terminations	18,200				15,000	300	2,600		$ 8,900	$ 6,600	$ 2,500
Impact of impairment and lease termination expenses on net income	13,500				$ 11,100	$ 200	$ 1,900
Acquisition | The Cheesecake Factory restaurants
Asset impairment
Revenues	92,000
Income/(loss) from operations	(2,100)
Net income/(loss)	(1,500)
Acquisition-related costs	3,100	3,200
Acquisition related cost impact on net income loss	$ 2,300	$ 2,400