| Pay vs Performance Disclosure - USD ($) | 12 Months Ended |
| Dec. 31, 2023 | Dec. 25, 2022 | Dec. 26, 2021 | Dec. 27, 2020 |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure | | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure, Table | VALUE OF INITIAL FIXED $100 (5) FISCAL YEAR SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE TOTAL FOR CEO ($)(1) COMPENSATION ACTUALLY PAID TO CEO ($)(2) AVERAGE SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE TOTAL FOR NON-CEO NEOs ($)(3) AVERAGE COMPENSATION ACTUALLY PAID TO NON-CEO NEOs ($)(4) CHUY TOTAL SHAREHOLDER RETURN ($)(5) PEER GROUP TOTAL SHAREHOLDER RETURN ($)(6) NET INCOME (LOSS) ($ IN THOUSANDS) ADJUSTED EBITDA ($ IN THOUSANDS) (7) 2023 2,068,041 2,475,071 740,525 851,272 148.01 91.22 31,510 63,777 2022 1,634,927 1,497,433 649,238 589,216 112.20 74.49 20,855 52,765 2021 1,911,341 2,728,855 745,818 1,205,125 115.18 88.12 30,176 68,648 2020 1,499,496 1,866,188 588,524 677,407 108.13 102.20 (3,294) 40,893 | | | |
| Company Selected Measure Name | Adjusted EBITDA | | | |
| Named Executive Officers, Footnote | Mr. Hislop was our CEO for all the fiscal years shown above.The Non-CEO NEOs are comprised of Messrs. Howie, Mountford and Hatcher for the fiscal years 2022, 2021 and 2020. | | | |
| Peer Group Issuers, Footnote | Peer group consists of BJ's Restaurants, Inc., Bloomin' Brands, Inc., Brinker International, Inc., Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc., Denny's Corporation and Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. We removed Ruth's Hospitality Group, Inc. from our peer group as it was acquired by Darden Restaurants, Inc. in June 2023. | | | |
| PEO Total Compensation Amount | $ 2,068,041 | $ 1,634,927 | $ 1,911,341 | $ 1,499,496 |
| PEO Actually Paid Compensation Amount | $ 2,475,071 | 1,497,433 | 2,728,855 | 1,866,188 |
| Adjustment To PEO Compensation, Footnote | The table below reconciles the Summary Compensation Table Totals for our CEO to the Compensation Actually Paid to our CEO: FISCAL YEAR SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE TOTAL FOR CEO ($) LESS: SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE STOCK AWARDS ($) PLUS: YEAR END FAIR VALUE OF UNVESTED AWARDS GRANTED IN YEAR ($) PLUS: CHANGE IN FAIR VALUE OF OUTSTANDING UNVESTED AWARDS GRANTED IN PRIOR YEARS ($) PLUS: CHANGE IN FAIR VALUE OF AWARDS GRANTED IN PRIOR YEARS THAT VESTED/EXERCISED IN FISCAL YEAR ($) COMPENSATION ACTUALLY PAID TO CEO ($) 2023 2,068,041 559,088 582,396 251,258 132,464 2,475,071 2022 1,634,927 537,593 497,587 (23,941) (73,547) 1,497,433 2021 1,911,341 516,932 346,915 77,457 910,074 2,728,855 2020 1,499,496 497,051 944,397 72,515 (153,169) 1,866,188 | | | |
| Non-PEO NEO Average Total Compensation Amount | $ 740,525 | 649,238 | 745,818 | 588,524 |
| Non-PEO NEO Average Compensation Actually Paid Amount | $ 851,272 | 589,216 | 1,205,125 | 677,407 |
| Adjustment to Non-PEO NEO Compensation Footnote | The table below reconciles the Average Summary Compensation Table Totals for our Non-CEO NEOs to the Average Compensation Actually Paid for our Non-CEO NEOs: FISCAL YEAR SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE TOTAL FOR NON-CEO NEOs ($) LESS: SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE STOCK AWARDS ($) PLUS: YEAR END FAIR VALUE OF UNVESTED AWARDS GRANTED IN YEAR ($) PLUS: CHANGE IN FAIR VALUE OF OUTSTANDING UNVESTED AWARDS GRANTED IN PRIOR YEARS ($) PLUS: CHANGE IN FAIR VALUE OF AWARDS GRANTED IN PRIOR YEARS THAT VESTED/EXERCISED IN FISCAL YEAR ($) COMPENSATION ACTUALLY PAID TO NON-CEO NEOs ($) 2023 740,525 156,359 162,726 67,655 36,725 851,272 2022 649,238 163,751 151,565 (7,314) (40,522) 589,216 2021 745,818 154,239 103,511 34,148 475,887 1,205,125 2020 588,524 145,927 277,262 46,055 (88,507) 677,407 | | | |
| Compensation Actually Paid vs. Total Shareholder Return | The charts below reflect the relationship between the Compensation Actually Paid to our CEO and the Average Compensation Actually Paid to the Non-CEO NEOs in fiscal year 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 to each of (1) the cumulative TSR of the Company and our Peer Group, (2) net income (loss) and (3) Adjusted EBITDA. | | | |
| Compensation Actually Paid vs. Net Income | The charts below reflect the relationship between the Compensation Actually Paid to our CEO and the Average Compensation Actually Paid to the Non-CEO NEOs in fiscal year 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 to each of (1) the cumulative TSR of the Company and our Peer Group, (2) net income (loss) and (3) Adjusted EBITDA. | | | |
| Compensation Actually Paid vs. Company Selected Measure | The charts below reflect the relationship between the Compensation Actually Paid to our CEO and the Average Compensation Actually Paid to the Non-CEO NEOs in fiscal year 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 to each of (1) the cumulative TSR of the Company and our Peer Group, (2) net income (loss) and (3) Adjusted EBITDA. | | | |
| Total Shareholder Return Vs Peer Group | The charts below reflect the relationship between the Compensation Actually Paid to our CEO and the Average Compensation Actually Paid to the Non-CEO NEOs in fiscal year 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 to each of (1) the cumulative TSR of the Company and our Peer Group, (2) net income (loss) and (3) Adjusted EBITDA. | | | |
| Tabular List, Table | Adjusted EBITDA | | | |
| Total Shareholder Return Amount | $ 148.01 | 112.20 | 115.18 | 108.13 |
| Peer Group Total Shareholder Return Amount | 91.22 | 74.49 | 88.12 | 102.20 |
| Net Income (Loss) | $ 31,510,000 | $ 20,855,000 | $ 30,176,000 | $ (3,294,000) |
| Company Selected Measure Amount | 63,777,000 | 52,765,000 | 68,648,000 | 40,893,000 |
| PEO Name | Mr. Hislop | | | |
| Additional 402(v) Disclosure | Total Shareholder Return (“TSR”) is cumulative for the measurement period beginning on December 29, 2019 and calculated on the last day in fiscal year 2023, 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively. | | | |
| Measure:: 1 | | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure | | | | |
| Name | Adjusted EBITDA | | | |
| Non-GAAP Measure Description | Adjusted EBITDA is the Company’s selected financial performance measure. Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure and is calculated as net income (loss) plus adjustments for tax expense, interest (income) expense, depreciation expense, impairment, closure and other costs, gain on insurance settlements and stock-based compensation for the fiscal years shown above. | | | |
| PEO | Summary Compensation Table Stock Awards [Member] | | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure | | | | |
| Adjustment to Compensation, Amount | $ (559,088) | $ (537,593) | $ (516,932) | $ (497,051) |
| PEO | Year End Fair Value Of Unvested Awards Granted In Year [Member] | | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure | | | | |
| Adjustment to Compensation, Amount | 582,396 | 497,587 | 346,915 | 944,397 |
| PEO | Change In Fair Value Of Outstanding Unvested Awards Granted In Prior Years [Member] | | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure | | | | |
| Adjustment to Compensation, Amount | 251,258 | (23,941) | 77,457 | 72,515 |
| PEO | Change In Fair Value Of Awards Granted In Prior Years That Vested Or Exercised In Fiscal Year [Member] | | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure | | | | |
| Adjustment to Compensation, Amount | 132,464 | (73,547) | 910,074 | (153,169) |
| Non-PEO NEO | Summary Compensation Table Stock Awards [Member] | | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure | | | | |
| Adjustment to Compensation, Amount | (156,359) | (163,751) | (154,239) | (145,927) |
| Non-PEO NEO | Year End Fair Value Of Unvested Awards Granted In Year [Member] | | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure | | | | |
| Adjustment to Compensation, Amount | 162,726 | 151,565 | 103,511 | 277,262 |
| Non-PEO NEO | Change In Fair Value Of Outstanding Unvested Awards Granted In Prior Years [Member] | | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure | | | | |
| Adjustment to Compensation, Amount | 67,655 | (7,314) | 34,148 | 46,055 |
| Non-PEO NEO | Change In Fair Value Of Awards Granted In Prior Years That Vested Or Exercised In Fiscal Year [Member] | | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure | | | | |
| Adjustment to Compensation, Amount | $ 36,725 | $ (40,522) | $ 475,887 | $ (88,507) |
