Consolidated Statements of Income (USD $) Share data in Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 25, 2011	Dec. 26, 2010	Dec. 27, 2009
Total revenues	$ 1,217,882,000	$ 1,126,397,000	$ 1,078,550,000
Income from the franchise cheese-purchasing program, net of noncontrolling interest		(5,634,000)	(18,079,000)
General and administrative expenses	111,608,000	109,954,000	111,361,000
Other general expenses	9,767,000	9,030,000	14,346,000
Depreciation and amortization	32,681,000	32,407,000	31,446,000
Total costs and expenses	1,130,865,000	1,039,653,000	983,332,000
Operating income	87,017,000	86,744,000	95,218,000
Investment income	755,000	875,000	629,000
Interest expense	(1,497,000)	(5,338,000)	(5,653,000)
Income before income taxes	86,275,000	82,281,000	90,194,000
Income tax expense	26,888,000	26,856,000	28,985,000
Net income, including noncontrolling interests	59,387,000	55,425,000	61,209,000
Less: income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(3,732,000)	(3,485,000)	(3,756,000)
Net income, net of noncontrolling interests	55,655,000	51,940,000	57,453,000
Basic earnings per common share	$ 2.22	$ 1.97	$ 2.07
Earnings per common share - assuming dilution	$ 2.20	$ 1.96	$ 2.06
Basic weighted average shares outstanding	25,043	26,328	27,738
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding	25,310	26,468	27,909
Supplemental data (see Note 14):
Revenues - affiliates	28,078,000	24,290,000	22,473,000
Other income - affiliates			57,000
Domestic Company-owned Restaurant [Member]
Revenue from external customers	525,841,000	503,272,000	503,818,000
Cost of sales	126,887,000	111,010,000	100,863,000
Salaries and benefits	142,093,000	137,840,000	146,116,000
Advertising and related costs	49,035,000	47,174,000	45,593,000
Occupancy costs	32,278,000	32,343,000	31,685,000
Other operating expenses	75,558,000	72,997,000	69,946,000
Total costs and expenses	425,851,000	401,364,000	394,203,000
North America [Member]
Franchise royalties	73,694,000	69,631,000	62,083,000
Franchise and development fees	722,000	610,000	912,000
Other sales	50,912,000	51,951,000	54,045,000
Domestic Commissaries [Member]
Revenue from external customers	508,155,000	454,506,000	417,689,000
International [Member]
Royalties and franchise and development fees	16,327,000	13,265,000	11,780,000
Operating expenses	35,674,000	29,429,000	24,356,000
International Restaurant and Commissaries [Member]
Revenue from external customers	42,231,000	33,162,000	28,223,000
Domestic Commissary and Other [Member]
Cost of sales	426,955,000	382,150,000	348,265,000
Salaries and benefits	35,141,000	34,063,000	33,839,000
Other operating expenses	53,188,000	46,890,000	43,595,000
Total costs and expenses	$ 515,284,000	$ 463,103,000	$ 425,699,000