<ARTICLE>                     5


<CIK>                         0000883976
<NAME>                        RARE HOSPITALITY INTERNATIONAL, ICN.
<MULTIPLIER>                                                               1,000
<CURRENCY>                                                                 blank

                                                                  
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                              9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                                    DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-START>                                                       DEC-27-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                                          OCT-1-2000
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                                                1
<CASH>                                                                     2,996
<SECURITIES>                                                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                                              5,195
<ALLOWANCES>                                                                   0
<INVENTORY>                                                               10,516
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                          31,868
<PP&E>                                                               210,147
<DEPRECIATION>                                                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                           265,133
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                                     44,377
<BONDS>                                                                   60,932
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                          0
<PREFERRED>                                                                    0
<COMMON>                                                                 122,132
<OTHER-SE>                                                                36,222
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                             265,133
<SALES>                                                                  343,278
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                                         343,567
<CGS>                                                                    123,043
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                                            287,176
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                                          26,100
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                           1,000
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                         3,063
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                           24,969
<INCOME-TAX>                                                               8,255
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                                       16,714
<DISCONTINUED>                                                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                                0
<CHANGES>                                                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                                              16,714
<EPS-BASIC>                                                                 0.92
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                               0.87


<F1>ASSET VALUES REPRESENT NET AMOUNTS.