Segment Information - Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, by Segment (Details)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Sep. 24, 2017 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($) entity	Sep. 24, 2017 USD ($)	Jan. 02, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)
Segment Information
Reportable segments, number | entity			5
Revenues	$ 364,007,000	$ 431,709,000	$ 1,199,335,000	$ 1,315,753,000
Income (loss) before income taxes	(19,953,000)	30,949,000	22,114,000	108,278,000
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(428,374,000)		(428,374,000)
Net property and equipment	224,510,000		224,510,000		$ 234,331,000	$ 234,331,000
Negative publicity and consumer sentiment
Segment Information
Special charges	24,800,000
Domestic Company-owned restaurants
Segment Information
Revenues	158,285,000	196,267,000	529,906,000	605,919,000
North America commissary
Segment Information
Revenues	146,240,000	164,028,000	461,408,000	495,427,000
North America franchising
Segment Information
Revenues	12,806,000	25,567,000	61,524,000	79,762,000
North America franchising | Negative publicity and consumer sentiment
Segment Information
Special charges	9,900,000		9,900,000
International
Segment Information
Revenues	25,653,000	28,771,000	84,836,000	81,638,000
Other segment
Segment Information
Revenues	21,023,000	17,076,000	61,661,000	53,007,000
Operating segments
Segment Information
Revenues	364,007,000	431,709,000	1,199,335,000	1,315,753,000
Operating segments | Domestic Company-owned restaurants
Segment Information
Revenues	158,285,000	196,267,000	529,906,000	605,919,000
Income (loss) before income taxes	(183,000)	8,449,000	15,350,000	39,486,000
Property and equipment, gross	231,817,000		231,817,000
Operating segments | North America commissary
Segment Information
Revenues	146,240,000	164,028,000	461,408,000	495,427,000
Income (loss) before income taxes	6,195,000	10,087,000	23,535,000	34,418,000
Property and equipment, gross	139,317,000		139,317,000
Transfer of expenses between unallocated corporate and segments	1,900,000		6,100,000
Operating segments | North America franchising
Segment Information
Revenues	12,806,000	25,567,000	61,524,000	79,762,000
Income (loss) before income taxes	9,394,000	22,858,000	53,133,000	71,732,000
Operating segments | International
Segment Information
Revenues	30,793,000	31,792,000	100,977,000	90,540,000
Income (loss) before income taxes	4,519,000	3,909,000	10,334,000	11,518,000
Property and equipment, gross	17,019,000		17,019,000
Operating segments | Other segment
Segment Information
Revenues	15,883,000	14,055,000	45,520,000	44,105,000
Income (loss) before income taxes	(2,501,000)	784,000	(5,139,000)	2,149,000
Property and equipment, gross	68,767,000		68,767,000
Transfer of expenses between unallocated corporate and segments	900,000		2,700,000
Elimination
Segment Information
Revenues	(53,506,000)	(64,860,000)	(178,702,000)	(196,554,000)
Income (loss) before income taxes	(331,000)	(27,000)	(599,000)	(447,000)
Elimination | North America commissary
Segment Information
Revenues	(46,023,000)	(60,364,000)	(153,389,000)	(181,302,000)
Elimination | North America franchising
Segment Information
Revenues	(464,000)	(709,000)	(2,499,000)	(2,224,000)
Elimination | International
Segment Information
Revenues	(70,000)	(71,000)	(213,000)	(202,000)
Elimination | Other segment
Segment Information
Revenues	(6,949,000)	(3,716,000)	(22,601,000)	(12,826,000)
Unallocated corporate
Segment Information
Income (loss) before income taxes	(37,046,000)	$ (15,111,000)	(74,500,000)	$ (50,578,000)
Property and equipment, gross	195,964,000		195,964,000
Transfer of expenses between unallocated corporate and segments	(3,400,000)		(10,600,000)
Unallocated corporate | Negative publicity and consumer sentiment
Segment Information
Special charges	$ 14,900,000		$ 14,900,000