Segment Information (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 25, 2012	Mar. 27, 2011	Dec. 25, 2011
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from external customers	$ 331,276	$ 312,467
Intersegment revenues	45,161	66,367
Income (loss) before income taxes	27,138	26,780
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(272,822)
Net property and equipment	184,167		185,132	[1]
Domestic Company-owned Restaurants [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from external customers	143,815	138,671
Income (loss) before income taxes	12,321	10,883
Property and equipment, gross	177,423
Domestic Commissaries [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from external customers	137,610	127,672
Intersegment revenues	41,537	38,100
Income (loss) before income taxes	11,166	9,554
Property and equipment, gross	87,014
North America Franchising [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from external customers	20,740	19,916
Intersegment revenues	549	548
Income (loss) before income taxes	18,140	18,009
International [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from external customers	16,853	12,761
Intersegment revenues	54	47
Income (loss) before income taxes	272	(816)
Property and equipment, gross	18,047
All Other Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Other sales	12,258	13,447
Intersegment revenues	3,021	2,555
Income (loss) before income taxes	395	(378)
Property and equipment, gross	41,053
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Intersegment revenues		25,117
Unallocated Amount to Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income (loss) before income taxes	(15,166)	(9,769)
Property and equipment, gross	133,452
Intersegment Elimination [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income (loss) before income taxes	$ 10	$ (703)

[1] The balance sheet at December 25, 2011 has been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements at that date, but does not include all information and footnotes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for a complete set of financial statements.