Significant Accounting Policies - Noncontrolling Interest and Joint Ventures (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 26, 2021 USD ($) entity restaurant	Sep. 27, 2020 USD ($) entity restaurant	Sep. 26, 2021 USD ($) entity restaurant	Sep. 27, 2020 USD ($) entity restaurant
Noncontrolling Interests
Percentage of domestic restaurants franchised	80.00%		80.00%
Number of Joint Ventures Having Noncontrolling Interests | entity	4	4	4	4
Income Amounts Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Disclosures
Net income attributable to the Company	$ 29,256	$ 15,708	$ 95,393	$ 44,765
Joint ventures
Noncontrolling Interests
Number of Restaurants | restaurant	188	192	188	192
Income Amounts Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Disclosures
Papa John's International, Inc.	$ 2,171	$ 1,292	$ 6,816	$ 4,743
Noncontrolling interests	1,285	689	4,021	2,576
Net income attributable to the Company	$ 3,456	$ 1,981	$ 10,837	$ 7,319