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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

[X] ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JANUARY 1, 1997
or
[ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD
FROM____ TO____

Commission File Number 0-10943

RYAN'S FAMILY STEAK HOUSES, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

South Carolina 57-0657895
(State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. employer
incorporation or organization) identification no.)

405 Lancaster Avenue, Greer, South Carolina 29650
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code (864) 879-1000

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

None None
(Title of class) (Name of each exchange
on which registered)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

Common Stock, $1.00 Par Value
(Title of class)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all
reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such
shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports),
and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90
days. Yes [ X ] No [ ]

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant
to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be
contained, to the best of the registrant's knowledge, in definitive
proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III
of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. [ X ]

The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-
affiliates (shareholders holding less than 5% of the outstanding
common stock, excluding directors and officers), computed by reference
to the average high and low prices of such stock, as of March 5, 1997,
was $350,595,000.

The number of shares outstanding of the registrant's Common Stock,
$1.00 Par Value, was 47,538,336 at March 5, 1997.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Incorporated Document Location in Form 10-K

Portions of 1996 Annual Report of Shareholders Parts I and II
Portions of Proxy Statement dated March 28, 1997 Part III

PART I


ITEM 1. BUSINESS.

General

Ryan's Family Steak Houses, Inc., the Registrant (together with its
subsidiaries referred to hereafter as the "Company"), is a South
Carolina corporation that operates a chain of restaurants located
principally in the southern and midwestern United States. At March 5,
1997, 258 Company-owned and 26 franchised Ryan's Family Steakhouse
restaurants (restaurants using the Ryan's Family Steakhouse format are
referred to hereafter as "Ryan's" or "Ryan's restaurant") were in
operation. The Company also operated 2 other test-concepts,
consisting of 2 restaurants in total, at March 5, 1997. However, both
restaurants are expected to be closed by mid-1997 (see "Expansion of
Company-Owned Restaurants - Test Concepts"). Systemwide sales, which
include sales by franchised restaurants, were approximately $604
million and $560 million in 1996 and 1995, respectively. Sales by all
Company-owned restaurants amounted to approximately $565 million in
1996 and $513 million in 1995. The Company, headquartered in Greer,
South Carolina, was organized in 1977 and completed its initial public
offering in 1982.

The following table indicates the number of Company-owned
restaurants opened each year, net of closings, and the total number of
Company-owned restaurants open at each year-end during the 5-year
period ending 1996:

All Concepts
Restaurant Total Open
Year Openings, Net at Year-End
1992 23 165
1993 29 194
1994 18 212
1995 19 231
1996 30 261

Operations - Ryan's

General. A Ryan's restaurant is a family-oriented restaurant
serving a wide variety of foods from its Mega Bar* as well as
traditional "steak house" entrees, such as charbroiled USDA Choice
steaks, hamburgers, chicken and seafood. The Mega Bar* includes, in
addition to fresh and pre-made salad items, soups, cheeses, a variety
of hot meats and vegetables, and hot yeast rolls prepared and baked
daily on site. All entree purchases include a trip to a bakery bar.
Bakery bars feature hot and fresh-from-the-oven cookies, brownies and
other bakery products as well as various dessert selections, such as
ice cream, frozen yogurt, fresh fruit, cakes, cobblers and several
dessert toppings. All Ryan's also offer a variety of non-alcoholic
beverages. All restaurants have their Mega Bars* in a scatter bar
format. This format breaks the Mega Bar* into five island bars for
easier customer access and more food variety. All new Ryan's since
mid-1993 have opened with scatter bars, and the conversion of existing
Ryan's to the scatter bar format was completed in early-1996.

Each Ryan's operates seven days a week. Typical hours of operation
are 11:00 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11:00 a.m. to
10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The average customer count per
restaurant during 1996 was approximately 7,280 per week, and the
average meal price (per person) was $6.10 (including beverage).
Management believes that the average table turns over every 30 to 45
minutes.

Each Company-owned Ryan's is located in a free-standing brick
building of approximately 10,000 to 11,500 square feet. While most
Ryan's have interior brick walls, the interiors of the newer
restaurants, commencing in August 1991, utilize sheet rock, wallpaper
and oak paneling. The interior of most restaurants contains two or
three dining rooms, seating approximately 300 to 500 persons in total,
a customer ordering area and a kitchen. The focal points of the
dining room are the centrally located scatter bars (referred to in the
restaurants as the Mega Bar*) and bakery bar. An average Ryan's has
parking for approximately 180 cars.

Restaurant Management and Supervision. The Company emphasizes
standardized operating and control systems together with comprehensive
recruiting and training programs in order to maintain food and service
quality. In each Ryan's restaurant, the management team consists of a
general manager, a manager and two assistant managers. Management
personnel begin employment at the manager trainee level and complete a
formal five-week training program at the Company's management training
center in Greer, South Carolina, prior to being placed in assistant
manager positions.

Each restaurant management team reports to an area supervisor.
Area supervisors normally oversee the operations of four to eight
restaurants and report to one of eight regional directors, a position
that may be at the Vice President level and, in any case, reports to
the Vice President-Operations. Communication and support from all
corporate office departments are designed to assist the area
supervisors and regional directors to respond promptly to local
concerns.

All regional directors, area supervisors, general managers and
managers participate in incentive bonus programs. Bonuses paid to
restaurant management are based principally upon the monthly sales
volume of their individual restaurant with deductions for excess
spending of key expense items, such as food cost, payroll and cash
shortages. The bonus program for area supervisors and regional
directors is based principally upon same-store sales, profitability,
"hidden shopper" (service feedback) scores and certain qualitative
factors.

Advertising. The Company has not relied extensively on
advertising, expending less than one percent of restaurant sales
during each of the years 1996, 1995 and 1994. Nevertheless,
advertising activities in 1996 were significantly increased from the
prior years' levels as the Company ran advertising campaigns,
consisting of both television and radio, in 11 markets covering 67
Ryan's. Newspaper ads and billboards were used in certain other
markets. Management believes that the restaurant industry has become
increasingly competitive over the past several years and that
advertising will become an important factor in the development and
retention of market share. Based on current budgets, an expansion of
advertising expenditures in 1997 is expected with media campaigns
planned for markets covering approximately 40% of all Company-owned
Ryan's.

Expansion of Company-Owned Restaurants

General. At March 5, 1997, the Company owned and operated 258
Ryan's and two "test-concept" restaurants for a total of 260
restaurants. During the remainder of 1997, 12 additional Ryan's are
scheduled to open, resulting in 15 new Company-owned Ryan's in 1997.
Target sites for these new restaurants are spread fairly evenly across
the Company's current 21-state operating area. The Company opened 30
restaurants during 1996 (all Ryan's), compared to 24 (21 Ryan's and
three test-concept) and 22 (20 Ryan's and two test-concept) during
1995 and 1994, respectively. During 1996, no restaurants were closed
compared to five and four closures during 1995 and 1994, respectively.

Test Concepts. Throughout all of 1996, the Company owned and
operated three different casual-dining concepts, consisting of five
restaurants in total. During the fourth quarter of 1996, management
decided to close all five restaurants over the next several months and
not expand the associated concepts due to unsatisfactory financial
performance. At March 5, 1997, three of the
restaurants had been closed with the other two closings expected by no
later than mid-1997. The anticipated losses resulting from their
future disposal were charged to 1996 results as part of a $13.3
million asset valuation charge recognized in accordance with Statement
of Financial Accounting Standards No. 121, "Accounting for the
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and for Long-Lived Assets to Be
Disposed of." Considerable management judgment is necessary to
estimate proceeds from disposal and, accordingly, actual proceeds
could vary significantly from such estimates. Management plans to
actively market the closed units, but currently cannot estimate their
expected disposal dates.

Site Selection. The Company employs a real estate manager and uses
independent real estate brokers to locate potential new sites and to
perform all preliminary site investigative work. Final approval is
made by the Company's executive management. Important factors in site
selection include population, demographics, proximity to both business
and residential areas, traffic count and site accessibility. In
addition, site selection for a Ryan's restaurant is also influenced by
the general proximity to other Ryan's in order to improve the
efficiency of the Company's area supervisors, advertising programs and
distribution network.

Construction. The Company presently engages non-affiliated general
contractors to construct most of its restaurants on a lump-sum
contract basis. The Company requires performance and payment bonds on
certain building and site work contracts, depending on the size and
reputation of and Company history with the general contractor, and
closely supervises and monitors the progress of all construction
projects. Other new restaurants are built with the Company acting as
the general contractor. Management anticipates that the Company's
role as general contractor will increase in future years. New
restaurants are generally completed approximately three to four months
from the commencement of construction. The average cost of a new
Ryan's (land, building and equipment) constructed in 1996 was
approximately $2.2 million.

Restaurant Opening. When a new Ryan's is opened, all restaurant
management positions are staffed with personnel who have had prior
management experience in another of the Company's restaurants. Prior
to opening, all staff personnel at the new location undergo one week
of intensive training conducted by a new store opening team.

Franchising

While the Company has granted Ryan's franchises in the past,
management has not actively pursued new franchisees in recent years in
order to concentrate on the operation and development of Company-owned
restaurants. New franchises may be awarded to existing franchisees
having good operating results or to new franchisees proposing to
operate in regions significantly outside of the Company's existing or
contemplated operating areas.

The following table indicates the number of franchised restaurants
opened each year, net of closings, and the total number of franchised
restaurants open at each year-end during the 5-year period ending
1996:

Net
Restaurants Total Open
Year Opened (Closed)at Year-End
1992 0 35
1993 (1) 34
1994 (4) 30
1995 (4) 26
1996 (1) 25

The present franchise agreements have terms expiring in 2000 (one
restaurant) and 2010 (24 restaurants), with renewal options ranging
from 10 to 20 years, and provide for a continuing royalty to the
Company of three to four percent of gross receipts. The agreements
provide that the Company will furnish the franchisee all the necessary
information to construct, equip, manage and operate a restaurant under
the Ryan's Family Steak House name or derivative thereof. The
agreements generally provide for the construction and operation of one
restaurant with exclusive territorial protection within a one to five
mile radius.

The franchise agreement with Family Steak Houses of Florida, Inc.
("Family") provides for exclusive territorial protection in certain
Florida counties as long as Family opens a specified number of new
Ryan's. During the fourth quarter of 1993, Family informed the
Company that it would be unable to pay its royalty fees from August
through December 1993, and this nonpayment condition subsequently
continued through the second quarter of 1994. In July 1994, an
agreement was reached with Family regarding both past-due and future
royalty fees. This agreement provided for a $236,000 cash payment by
Family, the relinquishment of Family's exclusive development rights in
certain counties in South Florida and the Florida panhandle (subject
to first refusal and buy-back rights of Family), an $800,000 long-term
note payable to the Company and a reduction in the royalty fee rate
from 4.25% to 3% until December 31, 2001, at which time the rate will
increase to 4%. The relinquishment of development rights was valued
at $500,000 and treated as a partial write-off of Family's past-due
royalty fees. In addition, the agreement with Family decreased the
required number of Ryan's restaurants in operation to 24 through the
end of 1996 and to 25 at the end of 1997. Pursuant to the agreement,
the required number of restaurants in operation will then increase by
1 for each year after 1997. All required payments from Family to the
Company subsequent to the agreement have been received in a timely
manner. However, due to Family's payment history, the Company's
accounting policy regarding Family's royalty fees was changed during
1994 to a cash basis. Accordingly, all royalty fees received
thereafter, including payments required under the long-term note
payable, have been recognized as revenue when received. In January
1997, Family opened a new Ryan's, its 26th.

Sources and Availability of Raw Materials

The Company has a centralized purchasing program which is designed
to ensure uniform product quality in all restaurants as well as
reduced food, beverage and supply costs. The Company's management
establishes contracts for approximately 90% of its food and other
products from a variety of major suppliers under competitive terms.
Purchases under these contracts are delivered to one of two warehouses
operated by the Company's principal distributor and then delivered to
the restaurants by the distributor. The remaining 10% of the
Company's products, (principally fresh produce) are purchased locally
by restaurant management. The beef used by the Company is obtained
from four western suppliers based on price and availability of
product. To ensure against interruption in the flow of beef supplies
due to unforeseen or catastrophic events and to take advantage of
favorable purchasing opportunities, the Company stockpiles four to
seven weeks supply of sirloin at the distributor. The Company
believes that satisfactory sources of supply are generally available
for all the items regularly used.

Working Capital Requirements

Working capital requirements for continuing operations are not
significant. The Company's restaurant sales are primarily derived
from cash sales, and inventories are purchased on credit and are
rapidly converted to cash. Therefore, the Company does not maintain
significant receivables or inventories.

Trademarks and Service Marks

The Company has registered various trademarks and service marks,
including "Ryan's Family Steak House" and "Mega Bar," and their
related designs with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
All trademarks and service marks have stated expiration dates ranging
from September 1997 to August 2002. However, they are renewable for
an unlimited number of additional 10-year terms at the option of the
Company.

Competition

The food service business is highly competitive and is often
impacted by changes in the taste and eating habits of the public,
economic conditions affecting spending habits, population and traffic
patterns. The principal bases of competition in the industry are the
quality and price of the food products offered. Location, speed of
service and attractiveness of facilities are also important factors.
Ryan's restaurants are in competition with many units operated or
franchised by national, regional and local restaurant companies that
offer steak or buffet-style meals. Although the Company believes that
its price/value to its customers places it in an excellent competitive
posture, it should be noted that during the last few years many
operators have upgraded their restaurants to more closely match the
Ryan's format and particularly the Mega Bar*. The Company is also in
competition with many specialty food outlets and other food vendors.

Seasonality

The Company's operations are subject to some seasonal fluctuations.
When compared to average annual sales levels, sales per restaurant
generally increase by approximately 5% during the second and third
quarters and decrease by approximately 5% during the first and fourth
quarters.

Research

The Company maintains ongoing research programs relating to the
development of new products and evaluation of marketing activities.
The Company's management staff includes a Director of Research and
Development, whose responsibilities include enhancing and updating the
Mega Bar* and entree selections. While research and development
activities are important to the Company, past expenditures have not
been and future expenditures are not expected to be material to the
Company's financial results.

Customers

No material part of the Company's business is dependent upon a
single customer or a specific group of customers.

Regulation

The Company is subject to the Fair Labor Standards Act which
regulates matters such as minimum wage requirements, overtime and
other working conditions. A large number of the Company's restaurant
personnel are paid at or near the minimum wage level, and,
accordingly, changes in the federal minimum wage affect the Company's
labor costs. Other changes to the minimum wage may also be legislated
at the state level. In July 1996, the U.S. Congress legislated an
increase in the Federal minimum wage from $4.25 per hour to $4.75 on
October 1, 1996 and then to $5.15 on September 1, 1997. The measure
effectively freezes the $2.13 rate for servers with the balance up to
minimum wage made up in tips. Management estimates that the $5.15
change will require rate changes for approximately 20% of the
Company's team members and plans menu price increases to cover the
higher payroll costs.

The Company's restaurants are constructed to meet local and state
building code requirements and are operated in material accordance
with state and local regulations relating to the preparation and
service of food.

The Company's franchise operations are subject to a variety of laws
regulating franchising. The Federal Trade Commission has adopted a
rule that imposes certain disclosure requirements on persons engaged
in the business of offering franchises. Various states in which the
Company has offered franchises have franchising laws that require
registration prior to offering franchises for sale and/or that
regulate the rights of franchisees, including the circumstances under
which franchises may be terminated. Management believes its
operations are in material compliance with all applicable franchising
laws and regulations.

Environmental Matters

While the Company is not aware of any federal, state or local
environmental regulations which will materially affect its operations
or competitive position or result in material capital expenditures, it
cannot predict the impact of possible future legislation or regulation
on its operations.

Employees

At March 5, 1997, the Company employed approximately 18,000
persons, of whom approximately 17,800 were restaurant personnel. The
Company strives to maintain low turnover by offering all full-time
employees a very competitive benefit package, which includes life and
health insurance, vacation pay and a defined contribution retirement
plan. Part-time employees who work at least 15 hours per week are
eligible to participate in the Company's life and health insurance
plans and also receive vacation pay.

None of the Company's employees are represented by a union. The
Company has experienced no work stoppages attributable to labor
disputes and considers its employee relations to be good.

Information as to Classes of Similar Products or Services

The Company operates in only one industry segment. All significant
revenues and pre-tax earnings relate to retail sales of food to the
general public through either Company-operated or franchised
restaurants. At March 5, 1997, the Company had no operations outside
the continental United States.

Information regarding the Company's restaurant sales and assets is
included in the Company's financial statements, which are incorporated
by reference into Part II, Item 8 of this Form 10-K.


ITEM 2. PROPERTIES.

The Company owns substantially all of its restaurant properties,
each of which is a free-standing brick building that covers
approximately 10,000 to 11,500 square feet, with seating for
approximately 300 to 500 persons and parking for approximately 150 to
250 cars on sites of approximately 75,000 to 130,000 square feet. At
March 5, 1997, all restaurant sites, except 11 properties under land
leases, were owned by the Company.

A listing of the number of Ryan's restaurant locations by state as
of March 5, 1997 appears on page 2 of the Company's 1996 Annual Report
to Shareholders and is incorporated herein by reference. A detailed
listing of Ryan's restaurant locations may be obtained without charge
by writing to the Company's principal executive offices, Attention:
Corporate Secretary.

The Company's corporate offices consist of two office buildings
(30,000 square feet and 16,000 square feet) and a 20,000 square foot
warehouse facility. These properties (land and building) are owned by
the Company and located in Greer, SC.

From time to time, the Company offers for sale excess land that was
acquired in connection with its restaurant properties. Also, at March
5, 1997, six closed restaurant properties were offered for sale. The
Company believes that the eventual disposition or nondisposition of
all such properties will not materially affect its business or
financial condition, taken as a whole.


ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.

From time to time, the Company is a defendant in legal actions
arising in the normal course of its business. The Company believes
that, as a result of its legal defenses and insurance arrangements,
none of these actions, if decided adversely, would have a material
effect on its business or financial condition, taken as a whole.


ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS.

None.


PART II


ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER
MATTERS.

The information regarding trading of the Company's common stock,
quarterly market prices and dividends appears under "Common Stock
Data" and "Market Price of Common Stock" on page 23 of the Company's
1996 Annual Report to Shareholders and is incorporated herein by
reference.

At March 5, 1997, the Company's common stock was held by
approximately 20,000 stockholders of record through nominee or street
name accounts with brokers.

The Company is party to a long-term credit agreement, expiring in
June 2003, with a group of banks that contains, among other
provisions, requirements for the Company to maintain a minimum net
worth level and certain financial ratios. While not specifically
prohibiting the payment of dividends, the aforementioned provisions
represent a limitation on the Company's ability to do so. At January
1, 1997, the Company exceeded the most restrictive minimum net worth
covenant by approximately $58.1 million.


ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA.

Selected financial data for the last five years is included in the
"Five Year Financial Summary" on page 10 of the Company's 1996 Annual
Report to Shareholders and is incorporated herein by reference.


ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.

"Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations" is included on pages 5 through 9 of the
Company's 1996 Annual Report to Shareholders and is incorporated
herein by reference.


ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA.

The Company's financial statements, unaudited quarterly financial
information and the independent auditors' report are included on pages
11 through 21 of the Company's 1996 Annual Report to Shareholders and
are incorporated herein by reference.


ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING
AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE.

None.


PART III


ITEM 10.DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT.

The information required under this item is incorporated herein by
reference to the Ryan's Family Steak Houses, Inc. Proxy Statement for
the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held May 1, 1997 under the
headings "Election of Directors" and "Executive Officers."


ITEM 11.EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION.

The information required under this item is incorporated herein by
reference to the Ryan's Family Steak Houses, Inc. Proxy Statement for
the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held May 1, 1997 under the
headings "Election of Directors - Compensation of Directors",
"Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation",
"Executive Compensation and Other Information", "Report of the
Compensation Committee and Stock Option Committee" and "Performance
Graph."


ITEM 12.SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND
MANAGEMENT.

The information required under this item is incorporated herein by
reference to the Ryan's Family Steak Houses, Inc. Proxy Statement for
the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held May 1, 1997 under the
headings "Election of Directors", "Certain Beneficial Owners of Common
Stock" and "Executive Officers."


ITEM 13.CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS.

The information required under this item is incorporated herein by
reference to the Ryan's Family Steak Houses, Inc. Proxy Statement for
the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held May 1, 1997 under the
headings "Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation"
and "Executive Compensation and Other Information - Deferred
Compensation - Salary Continuation Agreement."


PART IV


ITEM 14.EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-
K.

(a)1-2Financial statements filed as part of this Form 10-K are
listed in the "Index to Financial Statements", at page 12.

(a)3 Exhibits (numbered in accordance with Item 601 of Regulation
S-K):

Exhibit # Description

3.1 Articles of Incorporation, as amended
through April 24, 1986, and Bylaws of the Company:
Incorporated by reference to Exhibits 4(a) and 4(b)
from the Registration Statement of the Company filed
with the SEC on Form S-3 (Commission file no. 33-
7245).

3.2 Articles of Amendment to the Articles of
Incorporation, dated April 22, 1987: Incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Annual Report on Form
10-K for the period ended January 1, 1992 (Commission
file no. 0-10943) (the "1991 10-K").

3.3 Amendment to By-Laws of the Company, dated
October 25, 1990: Incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 3.3 to the 1991 10-K.

3.4 Articles of Amendment to the Articles of
Incorporation, dated May 25, 1989: Incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the Registration
Statement of the Company filed with the SEC on Form S-
8 (Commission file no. 33-53834).

4.1 Specimen of Company common stock
certificate: Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1
to the 1991 10-K.

4.2 See Exhibits 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4 and 4.1.

4.3 See Exhibit 10.18.

*10.1 Ryan's Family Steak Houses, Inc. Incentive
Stock Option Plan: Incorporated by reference to the
Registration Statement of the Company filed with the
SEC on Form S-8 (Commission file no. 2-83987).

*10.2 Ryan's Family Steak Houses, Inc. 1987
Stock Option Plan: Incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 4 to the Registration Statement of the
Company filed with the SEC on Form S-8 (Commission
file no. 33-15924).

*10.3 Ryan's Family Steak Houses, Inc. 1991
Stock Option Plan: Incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 4.4 to the Registration Statement of the
Company filed with the SEC on Form S-8 (Commission
file no. 33-53834).

*10.4 Ryan's Employee Retirement Savings Plan,
dated March 1, 1992: Incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.4 to the 1991 10-K.

*10.5 Salary Continuation Agreement, dated April
22, 1987, between the Company and Alvin A. McCall,
Jr.; as amended on October 26, 1989: Incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the 1991 10-K.

*10.6 Deferred Compensation - Salary
Continuation Agreement, dated April 22, 1987, between
the Company and Charles D. Way: Incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the 1991 10-K.

*10.7 Agreement and Plan of Restructuring:
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit A to the Proxy
Statement of the Company, dated March 25, 1993, filed
with respect to the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to
be held on April 28, 1993 (Commission file no. 0-
10943).

*10.8 Split Dollar Agreement by and between the
Company and Charles D. Way dated September 1, 1993:
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 to the
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended
December 29, 1993 (Commission file no. 0-10943) (the
"1993 10-K").

*10.9 Split Dollar Agreement by and between the
Company and G. Edwin McCranie dated November 12,
1993: Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9 to
the 1993 10-K.

*10.10 Split Dollar Agreement by and between the
Company and John C. Jamison dated November 12, 1993:
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.10 to the
1993 10-K.

*10.11 Split Dollar Agreement by and between the
Company and James R. Hart dated August 8, 1993:
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.11 to the
1993 10-K.

*10.12 Split Dollar Agreement by and between the
Company and Fred T. Grant, Jr. dated November 12,
1993: Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.12 to
the 1993 10-K.

*10.13 Split Dollar Agreement by and between the
Company and Alan E. Shaw dated November 12, 1993:
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.13 to the
1993 10-K.

*10.14 Executive Bonus Plan, commencing in 1994:
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.14 to the
1993 10-K.

*10.15 Executive Bonus Plan, commencing in fiscal
year 1997.

10.16 Agreement between Ryan's Properties, Inc.
and Family Steak Houses of Florida, Inc. dated July
11, 1994 and as amended on October 17, 1994:
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.15 to the
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended
December 28, 1994 (Commission file no. 0-10943).

10.17 Ryan's Family Steak Houses, Inc. and
Wachovia Bank of North Carolina, N.A., as Rights
Agent, Shareholder Rights Agreement dated as of
January 26, 1995: Incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 2 to the report on Form 8-K filed with the
Commission on February 9, 1995 (Commission file no. 0-
10943).

10.18 Credit Agreement dated as of June 5, 1996
among Ryan's Family Steak Houses, Inc., Wachovia Bank
of Georgia, N.A., as Agent, and certain other banks.

13.1 Ryan's Family Steak Houses, Inc. 1996
Report to Shareholders.

21.1 Subsidiaries of the Company.

23.1 Consent of Independent Auditors' with
respect to Form S-8.

27 Financial Data Schedule (electronic filing
only).

99.1 Ryan's Family Steak Houses, Inc. Proxy
Statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders,
dated March 28, 1997.

* This is a management contract or
compensatory plan or arrangement.

(b) On November 13, 1996, the Company filed a report on Form 8-K
regarding the Company's unit growth and stock repurchase
plans (referred to therein as "Focus 2000") and a one-time
charge to be taken during the fourth quarter of 1996 in
accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards
No. 121, "Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
and for Long-Lived Assets to Be Disposed of."

(c) The response to this portion of Item 14 is submitted as a
separate section of this report.

(d) The response to this portion of Item 14 is submitted as a
separate section of this report.


SIGNATURES


Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this
report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized.

RYAN'S FAMILY STEAK HOUSES, INC.
March 28, 1997

By:/s/Fred T. Grant, Jr.
Fred T. Grant, Jr.
Vice President - Finance
(Principal Financial
and Accounting Officer)

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on
behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates
indicated.

Signature Title Date

/s/Charles D. Way Chairman, President and March 28, 1997
Charles D. Way Chief Executive Officer

/s/G. Edwin McCranie Director and Executive March 28, 1997
G. Edwin McCranie Vice President

/s/James D. Cockman Director March 28, 1997
James D. Cockman

/s/Barry L. Edwards Director March 28, 1997
Barry L. Edwards

/s/Brian S. MacKenzie Director March 28, 1997
Brian S. MacKenzie

/s/Harold K. Roberts, Jr. Director March 28, 1997
Harold K. Roberts, Jr.

/s/James M. Shoemaker, Jr. Director March 28, 1997
James M. Shoemaker, Jr.

/s/Fred T. Grant, Jr. Vice President - Finance March 28, 1997
Fred T. Grant, Jr. (Principal Financial and
Accounting Officer)


RYAN'S FAMILY STEAK HOUSES, INC.

INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The following financial statements of the Registrant included in
the Annual Report to Shareholders for the year ended January 1, 1997,
are incorporated herein by reference. With the exception of the pages
listed below and other information incorporated in this report on Form
10-K, the 1996 Annual Report to Shareholders is not deemed "filed" as
part of this report.

Page Reference
in Annual Report

Independent Auditors' Report 21

Statements of Earnings 11

Balance Sheets 12

Statements of Cash Flows 13

Notes to Financial Statements 14-21


All financial statement schedules have been omitted since the
required information is not applicable or the information required is
included in the financial statements or the notes thereto.