Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive (Loss) Income (Unaudited) (Parenthetical) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Jun. 15, 2018 USD ($) restaurant	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Apr. 01, 2018 USD ($)	Sep. 24, 2017 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Sep. 24, 2017 USD ($)
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Unaudited)
Net Interest expense		$ 5,963		$ 2,566	$ 16,580	$ 6,135
Income tax effects		(7,359)		8,280	4,663	30,728
Stores in Beijing and Tianjin, China
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Unaudited)
Number of restaurants divested | restaurant	34
Reversal of accumulated other comprehensive income related to foreign currency translation	$ 1,300
Reversal of deferred tax related to foreign currency translation on refranchised stores	$ 300
Amount reclassified from AOCL | ASU 2018-02
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Unaudited)
Income tax effects			$ 450
Qualifying as hedges | Interest rate swap | Amount reclassified from AOCL
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Unaudited)
Net Interest expense		19		54	216	378
Income tax effects		$ 4		$ 20	$ 50	$ 140