Significant Accounting Policies (Joint Venture Arrangements) (Detail)	Dec. 25, 2011 Location		Dec. 26, 2010 Location	Dec. 27, 2009 Location
Star Papa LP [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of Restaurants	76	[1]	75	75
Papa John's Ownership	51.00%	[1]
Noncontrolling Interest Ownership	49.00%	[1]
Colonel's Limited LLC [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of Restaurants	52	[1]	52	52
Papa John's Ownership	70.00%	[1]
Noncontrolling Interest Ownership	30.00%	[1]

[1] The ownership percentages for both joint ventures were the same for the years presented in the accompanying consolidated financial statements. There were 75 Star Papa, LP restaurants in 2010 and 2009 and 52 Colonel's Limited, LLC restaurants for all three years presented.