8-K

               SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                      Washington, DC 20549


                            FORM 8-K


                         CURRENT REPORT


             Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                 Securities Exchange Act of 1934


  Date of Report (Date of earliest event report):  May 14, 2001



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


South Carolina           0-10943             57-0657895
(State or other      (Commission              (IRS Employer
jurisdiction of       File Number)           Identification
incorporation)                               No.)


                  405 Lancaster Avenue (29650)
                       Post Office Box 100
                         Greer, SC 29652

       (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

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


                           (No change)
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Item 5.  Other Events.

On May 14, 2001 Ryan's Family Steak Houses, Inc. (the "Company")
released to both sell-side and buy-side analysts on the Company's
internal facsimile list information on restaurant sales results
for the period ended May 9, 2001, (referred to therein as the
month of April), which information is incorporated herein by
reference.

Item 7.Financial Statements and Exhibits.
     (c) Exhibits

         20.1  April sales information issued May 14, 2001.

                            SIGNATURE

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed
on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

               RYAN'S FAMILY STEAK HOUSES, INC.
               (Registrant)
               By:  /s/Fred T. Grant, Jr.

               Name:  Fred T. Grant, Jr.

               Title: Senior Vice President-Finance

               Date:  May 14, 2001

EX-20

                RYAN'S FAMILY STEAK HOUSES, INC.
                 REPORTS APRIL SALES INFORMATION

                        -----------------

Ryan's  Family  Steak Houses, Inc. (NASDAQ:RYAN) today  announced
that  same-store sales for the 5-week period ended  May  9,  2001
("April") decreased by 1.5%.  Details follow:

                                       April 2001
                                      (Unaudited)
                                 
  Total sales                       $71,430,000
  Increase from prior year                  +3%

  Average unit sales ("AUS"):
  Same-store (open at least 18 mos.)      -1.5%
  All-store (all Ryan's units)            -0.3%

Management noted that sales strengthened at the end of the  month
and  was  encouraged  by strong Mothers' Day sales  (included  in
May's sales results).

At May 9, 2001, the Company owned and operated 305 Ryan's.

The  Company's next accounting period consists of 4 weeks, ending
on June 6, 2001.