Document and Entity Information - shares	6 Months Ended
	Jul. 02, 2019	Jul. 29, 2019
Document and Entity Information
Document Type	10-Q
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Transition Report	false
Document Period End Date	Jul. 02, 2019
Entity File Number	0-20574
Entity Registrant Name	THE CHEESECAKE FACTORY INCORPORATED
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	51-0340466
Entity Address, Address Line One	26901 Malibu Hills Road
Entity Address, City or Town	Calabasas Hills
Entity Address, State or Province	CA
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	91301
City Area Code	818
Local Phone Number	871-3000
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, par value $.01 per share
Trading Symbol	CAKE
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		44,631,522
Entity Central Index Key	0000887596
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2019
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2
Amendment Flag	false