Segment Information (Detail) (As Restated [Member], 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	27,520	26,053
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(272,822)
Net property and equipment	184,167		181,910
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 Others [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from external customers	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	(14,784)	(10,496)
Property and equipment, gross	133,452
Intersegment Elimination [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income (loss) before income taxes	$ 10	$ (703)