Significant Accounting Policies (Joint Venture Arrangements) (Detail)	Sep. 25, 2011		Sep. 26, 2010
Star Papa LP [Member]
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Number of Restaurants	75		75
Papa John's Ownership	51.00%	[1]
Noncontrolling Interest Ownership	49.00%	[1]
Colonel's Limited LLC [Member]
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Number of Restaurants	52		52
Papa John's Ownership	70.00%	[1]
Noncontrolling Interest Ownership	30.00%	[1]

[1] The ownership percentages were the same for both the 2011 and 2010 periods presented in the accompanying consolidated financial statements.