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Commitments and Contingencies (Narrative) (Details) $ in Thousands |  | 12 Months Ended |
--- | --- | --- | ---
Jan. 26, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) period | Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Percentage of gross sales of restaurants |  | 5.00% |  |
Initial royalty period |  | 10 years |  |
Number of subsequent payment periods | period |  | 2 |  |
Reinvestment plan term |  | 3 years |  |
Required minimum fixed charge coverage ratio |  | 1.50 |  |
Maximum leverage ratio |  | 4.25 |  |
Temporary royalty waivers |  |  | $ 6,100 |
Provision for contingencies |  | $ 18,112 |  | $ 20,578
Provision for contingencies, current |  | 764 |  | 512
Provision for contingencies, noncurrent |  | 17,348 |  | $ 20,066
Damage sought |  |  | 30,000 |
McDonald’s Corporation’s indemnification for contingencies |  | 5,170 |  |
Standby Letters of Credit [Member] |  |  |  |
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Standby letters of credit with an aggregate drawing amount |  | 80,000 |  |
Amounts have been drawn |  | 0 |  |
Puerto Rican Franchisees Lawsuit [Member] |  |  |  |
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Damage sought |  | 66,700 |  |
Puerto Rico Owner Operator's Association [Member] |  |  |  |
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Damage sought |  |  | $ 31,000 |
Minimum [Member] |  |  |  |
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Tax law, estimate of possible loss |  | 89,000 |  |
Maximum [Member] |  |  |  |
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Tax law, estimate of possible loss |  | $ 122,000 |  |
Next Five Years [Member] |  |  |  |
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Royalty fee, percentage |  | 6.00% |  |
Subsequent period of the agreement |  | 5 years |  |
Last Five Years [Member] |  |  |  |
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Royalty fee, percentage |  | 7.00% |  |
Subsequent period of the agreement |  | 5 years |  |
Subsequent Event [Member] |  |  |  |
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Franchise reinvestment plan period | 3 years |  |  |

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- Definition The carrying value as of the balance sheet date of the current and noncurrent portions of long-term obligations drawn from a line of credit, which is a bank's commitment to make loans up to a specific amount. Examples of items that might be included in the application of this element may consist of letters of credit, standby letters of credit, and revolving credit arrangements, under which borrowings can be made up to a maximum amount as of any point in time conditional on satisfaction of specified terms before, as of and after the date of drawdowns on the line. Includes short-term obligations that would normally be classified as current liabilities but for which (a) postbalance sheet date issuance of a long term obligation to refinance the short term obligation on a long term basis, or (b) the enterprise has entered into a financing agreement that clearly permits the enterprise to refinance the short-term obligation on a long term basis and the following conditions are met (1) the agreement does not expire within 1 year and is not cancelable by the lender except for violation of an objectively determinable provision, (2) no violation exists at the BS date, and (3) the lender has entered into the financing agreement is expected to be financially capable of honoring the agreement. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(22)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(16)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(16)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878 + Details
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