Goodwill and Intangible Assets - Schedule of Finite-Lived and Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 26, 2025	Dec. 25, 2024
Intangible assets with indefinite lives:
Trade names	$ 79,687	$ 79,687
Liquor licenses	120	120
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Accumulated Amortization	7,764	7,806
Intangible assets, net	97,158	99,545
Reacquired franchise rights
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross Carrying Amount	9,135	9,135
Accumulated Amortization	6,385	6,188
Franchise agreements
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross Carrying Amount	8,216	10,603
Accumulated Amortization	$ 1,379	$ 1,618

Intangible Assets [Abstract]

No definition available.

Name:	denn_IntangibleAssetsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	denn_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Accumulated amount of amortization of assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount before amortization of assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 30
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 55
-Paragraph 40
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482640/350-30-55-40

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 30
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (d)(2)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482665/350-30-50-2

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 30
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (d)(1)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482665/350-30-50-2

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 30
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482686/350-30-45-1

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 30
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (a)(1)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482665/350-30-50-2

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 30
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (d)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482665/350-30-50-3

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 985
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147481283/985-20-50-2

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 926
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 5
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147483154/926-20-50-5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Carrying amount (original costs adjusted for previously recognized amortization and impairment) as of the balance sheet date for the capitalized costs to acquire rights under a license arrangement (for example, to sell specified products in a specified territory) having an indefinite period of benefit.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 30
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (b)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482665/350-30-50-2

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(15))
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147480566/210-10-S99-1

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedLicenseAgreements
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Carrying amount (original costs adjusted for previously recognized amortization and impairment) as of the balance sheet date for the rights acquired through registration of a trade name to gain or protect exclusive use thereof for a projected indefinite period of benefit.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedTradeNames
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount before accumulated amortization of intangible assets, excluding goodwill.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(15))
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147480566/210-10-S99-1

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsGrossExcludingGoodwill
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=us-gaap_FranchiseRightsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=denn_FranchiseAgreementsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: