<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4/A</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-01-07</periodOfReport>

    <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2004-02-05</dateOfOriginalSubmission>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000929994</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ASSISTED LIVING CONCEPTS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>aslc</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001102946</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MACKENZIE PATTERSON FULLER INC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1></rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity></rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState></rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode></rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-01-07</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1800</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>8.7</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>761933</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>securities owned by affiliated funds managed by reporting person</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <remarks>The number of shares disposed of on 1/7/2004 at $8.70 per share was incorrectly reported as 2,300.  The correct number disposed of was 1,800.  The number of shares beneficially owned after each transaction listed on the 2/5/04 filing was also 444 too low.  The number mentioned below is the correct number as of 2/5/04.  The number of shares beneficially owned after each of the other transactions should be 444 more.  Thus, as of 2/4/04 the number of shares beneficially owned was 726,993.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Chip Patterson</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-06-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

