<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>

<!--XBRL Document Created with Wdesk from Workiva-->
<!--Copyright 2021 Workiva-->
<!--r:7d393e47-362e-4615-970d-3f2d3a1c2d01,g:16419f45-5075-418d-b155-772c54806e2b-->
<link:linkbase xmlns:link="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/linkbase" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/linkbase http://www.xbrl.org/2003/xbrl-linkbase-2003-12-31.xsd">
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.dennys.com/role/CoverPage" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="denn-20210111.xsd#CoverPage"/>
  <link:presentationLink xlink:role="http://www.dennys.com/role/CoverPage" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_3a03c708-d1c2-4f12-a7f0-098d9d74e6b0" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_CoverAbstract"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_DocumentType_32b0f767-114b-4491-b8b2-b986d677dffc" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_DocumentType"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_3a03c708-d1c2-4f12-a7f0-098d9d74e6b0" xlink:to="loc_dei_DocumentType_32b0f767-114b-4491-b8b2-b986d677dffc" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate_5b3a7fad-20ec-4720-a360-89d94735d9f3" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="2" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_3a03c708-d1c2-4f12-a7f0-098d9d74e6b0" xlink:to="loc_dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate_5b3a7fad-20ec-4720-a360-89d94735d9f3" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityRegistrantName_66746664-ce61-4af9-8f0d-fb3ccaca65a7" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityRegistrantName"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="3" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_3a03c708-d1c2-4f12-a7f0-098d9d74e6b0" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityRegistrantName_66746664-ce61-4af9-8f0d-fb3ccaca65a7" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityCentralIndexKey_7d0a8672-08bc-45a9-8dde-ff12f04c6243" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityCentralIndexKey"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="4" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_3a03c708-d1c2-4f12-a7f0-098d9d74e6b0" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityCentralIndexKey_7d0a8672-08bc-45a9-8dde-ff12f04c6243" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_AmendmentFlag_5c7e6818-541a-4a57-8445-f0faa6f6e416" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_AmendmentFlag"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="5" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_3a03c708-d1c2-4f12-a7f0-098d9d74e6b0" xlink:to="loc_dei_AmendmentFlag_5c7e6818-541a-4a57-8445-f0faa6f6e416" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode_18a16f9b-e9f4-4273-938b-dcaca843c0bf" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="6" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_3a03c708-d1c2-4f12-a7f0-098d9d74e6b0" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode_18a16f9b-e9f4-4273-938b-dcaca843c0bf" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityFileNumber_c2bd459d-2800-4078-8077-5f19d8571607" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityFileNumber"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="7" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_3a03c708-d1c2-4f12-a7f0-098d9d74e6b0" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityFileNumber_c2bd459d-2800-4078-8077-5f19d8571607" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber_6cf021e1-eb29-44e8-bbae-b9832f60b80a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="8" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_3a03c708-d1c2-4f12-a7f0-098d9d74e6b0" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber_6cf021e1-eb29-44e8-bbae-b9832f60b80a" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1_a6f8a952-94cc-45fd-81ea-d68efe381d7d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="9" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_3a03c708-d1c2-4f12-a7f0-098d9d74e6b0" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1_a6f8a952-94cc-45fd-81ea-d68efe381d7d" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown_950e33ea-c3e5-43ba-8a5b-b9a455d3d98d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="10" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_3a03c708-d1c2-4f12-a7f0-098d9d74e6b0" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown_950e33ea-c3e5-43ba-8a5b-b9a455d3d98d" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince_946b3146-7c14-410d-b8d4-763aedfaed70" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="11" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_3a03c708-d1c2-4f12-a7f0-098d9d74e6b0" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince_946b3146-7c14-410d-b8d4-763aedfaed70" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode_52f0fade-8202-4060-851c-ac953275a155" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="12" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_3a03c708-d1c2-4f12-a7f0-098d9d74e6b0" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode_52f0fade-8202-4060-851c-ac953275a155" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_CityAreaCode_265e6de3-a6f9-4f44-a8c7-056a21e12149" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_CityAreaCode"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="13" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_3a03c708-d1c2-4f12-a7f0-098d9d74e6b0" xlink:to="loc_dei_CityAreaCode_265e6de3-a6f9-4f44-a8c7-056a21e12149" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_LocalPhoneNumber_2a182aaf-8a4a-4284-965a-6e109d45947a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_LocalPhoneNumber"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="14" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_3a03c708-d1c2-4f12-a7f0-098d9d74e6b0" xlink:to="loc_dei_LocalPhoneNumber_2a182aaf-8a4a-4284-965a-6e109d45947a" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_WrittenCommunications_38e91e34-ed11-4fb8-9eab-cb0a62e556bb" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_WrittenCommunications"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="15" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_3a03c708-d1c2-4f12-a7f0-098d9d74e6b0" xlink:to="loc_dei_WrittenCommunications_38e91e34-ed11-4fb8-9eab-cb0a62e556bb" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_SolicitingMaterial_3cfb0a61-e2c3-4011-8a6b-90e481b52949" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_SolicitingMaterial"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="16" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_3a03c708-d1c2-4f12-a7f0-098d9d74e6b0" xlink:to="loc_dei_SolicitingMaterial_3cfb0a61-e2c3-4011-8a6b-90e481b52949" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer_884e521a-a4bf-45c7-91fc-92cbb44b39b0" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="17" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_3a03c708-d1c2-4f12-a7f0-098d9d74e6b0" xlink:to="loc_dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer_884e521a-a4bf-45c7-91fc-92cbb44b39b0" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer_046ff980-6d78-4d90-ad82-d9868122974e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="18" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_3a03c708-d1c2-4f12-a7f0-098d9d74e6b0" xlink:to="loc_dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer_046ff980-6d78-4d90-ad82-d9868122974e" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_Security12bTitle_8935619d-73f2-4878-a819-d04c795328da" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_Security12bTitle"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="19" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_3a03c708-d1c2-4f12-a7f0-098d9d74e6b0" xlink:to="loc_dei_Security12bTitle_8935619d-73f2-4878-a819-d04c795328da" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_TradingSymbol_370d3553-b102-4e3c-8db0-349bead57639" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_TradingSymbol"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="20" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_3a03c708-d1c2-4f12-a7f0-098d9d74e6b0" xlink:to="loc_dei_TradingSymbol_370d3553-b102-4e3c-8db0-349bead57639" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_SecurityExchangeName_76ee8fd5-70dd-40f2-8c0c-ae57af505117" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_SecurityExchangeName"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="21" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_3a03c708-d1c2-4f12-a7f0-098d9d74e6b0" xlink:to="loc_dei_SecurityExchangeName_76ee8fd5-70dd-40f2-8c0c-ae57af505117" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany_e07c38f8-4f4f-4eed-9a45-288815c8de13" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="22" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_3a03c708-d1c2-4f12-a7f0-098d9d74e6b0" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany_e07c38f8-4f4f-4eed-9a45-288815c8de13" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
  </link:presentationLink>
</link:linkbase>
