FORM 10-Q

               SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                     Washington, D.C. 20549


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

               For the Quarter ended April 4, 2001

                   Commission File No. 0-10943


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

        South Carolina                No. 57-0657895
 (State or other jurisdiction        (I.R.S. Employer
      of incorporation)            Identification No.)


                  405 Lancaster Avenue (29650)
                          P. O. Box 100
                   Greer, South Carolina 29652
                 (Address of principal executive
                  offices, including zip code)

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

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


Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has  filed
all reports required to be filed by Sections 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 ________

The number of shares outstanding of each of the registrant's
classes of common stock as of April 4, 2001:

       30,486,000 shares of common stock, $1.00 Par Value


                RYAN'S FAMILY STEAK HOUSES, INC.

                              INDEX

Part I -  Financial Information

     Consolidated Statements of Earnings (Unaudited) -
     Quarters Ended April 4, 2001 and March 29, 2000       3
     Consolidated Balance Sheets -
     April 4, 2001 (Unaudited) and January 3, 2001         4
     Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) -
     Three Months Ended April 4, 2001 and March 29, 2000
                                                           5
     Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity
     (Unaudited) -
     Three Months Ended April 4, 2001 and March 29, 2000
                                                           6
     Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
                                                           7
     Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
     Condition
     and Results of Operations                          8 - 11

Part II - Other Information                               11

Signatures                                                12

PART I.  FINANCIAL INFORMATION

                RYAN'S FAMILY STEAK HOUSES, INC.

               CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
                           (Unaudited)

              (In thousands, except per share data)

                                           Quarter Ended
                                     April 4,      March 29,
                                       2001           2000
                                               
Restaurant sales                    $ 183,896        168,272

Operating expenses:
 Food and beverage                     68,470         63,280
 Payroll and benefits                  55,047         50,583
 Depreciation                           7,054          6,725
 Other operating expenses              25,366         21,486
   Total operating expenses           155,937        142,074
   Operating profit                    27,959         26,198

General and administrative expenses     8,877          8,301
Interest expense                        3,366          3,080
Revenues from franchised restaurants    (350)          (298)
Other income, net                       (778)          (762)
Earnings before income taxes           16,844         15,877
Income taxes                            6,063          5,779

   Net earnings                     $  10,781         10,098

Net earnings per common share:
 Basic                              $     .35            .29
 Diluted                                  .34            .29

Weighted-average shares:
 Basic                                 31,062         34,992
 Diluted                               31,625         35,291


See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

                RYAN'S FAMILY STEAK HOUSES, INC.

                   CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                         (In thousands)

                                    April 4,    January 3,
                                      2001           2001
ASSETS                          (Unaudited)
Current assets:
                                               
 Cash and cash equivalents         $   12,494          2,098
 Receivables                            3,987          3,631
 Inventories                            5,126          5,085
 Deferred income taxes                  4,806          4,806
 Prepaid expenses                       1,146            820
   Total current assets                27,559         16,440

Property and equipment:
 Land and improvements                128,418        126,362
 Buildings                            365,861        358,415
 Equipment                            197,895        193,013
 Construction in progress              37,835         37,054
                                     730,009        714,844
 Less accumulated depreciation        189,769        182,379
   Net property and equipment         540,240        532,465
Other assets                            7,368          7,156
                                  $  575,167        556,061

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
 Accounts payable                      14,505         11,003
 Income taxes payable                   8,001          3,263
 Accrued liabilities                   32,183         33,806
   Total current liabilities           54,689         48,072
Long-term debt                        201,000        192,000
Deferred income taxes                  30,689         30,628
Other long-term liabilities             3,325          2,932
   Total liabilities                  289,703        273,632

Shareholders' equity:
 Common stock of $1.00 par value; authorized
   100,000,000 shares; issued 30,486,000 in
   2001 and 31,192,000 shares in 2000  30,486         31,192
 Additional paid-in capital                 2             89
 Retained earnings                    254,976        251,148
   Total shareholders' equity         285,464        282,429
Commitments
                                   $  575,167        556,061

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.


                RYAN'S FAMILY STEAK HOUSES, INC.

              CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                           (Unaudited)

                         (In thousands)

                                                    Three  Months
Ended
                                              April 4,  March 29,
                                                2001       2000
                                                  
Cash flows from operating activities:
 Net earnings                               $10,781     10,098
 Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to
  net cash provided by operating activities:
   Depreciation and amortization              7,458      7,143
   Gain on sale of property and equipment        (1)       (72)
   Increase in:
     Receivables                               (356)        (4)
     Inventories                                (41)      (466)
     Prepaid expenses                          (326)      (653)
     Other assets                              (280)      (736)
   Increase (decrease) in:
     Accounts payable                          3,502      2,391
     Income taxes payable                      4,738      4,844
     Accrued liabilities                      (1,623)      (103)
     Deferred income taxes                        61         58
     Other long-term liabilities                 393        921

Net cash provided by operating activities     24,306     23,421

Cash flows from investing activities:
 Proceeds from sale of property and equipment    110      2,993
  Capital expenditures                       (15,274)   (13,557)

Net  cash used in investing activities       (15,164)   (10,564)

Cash flows from financing activities:
 Net repayment of notes payable                   -     (91,000)
 Repayment of long-term debt                      -     (81,375)
 Proceeds from issuance of senior notes           -      75,000
 Net proceeds from revolving credit facility   9,000    119,000
 Debt issuance costs                              -      (1,551)
 Proceeds from issuance of common stock          805        336
  Purchases of common stock                   (8,551)   (32,306)

Net cash provided by (used in) financing
activities                                     1,254    (11,896)

Increase in cash and cash equivalents         10,396        961

Cash  and cash equivalents -
  beginning of period                          2,098        642

Cash and cash equivalents -
  end of period                              $12,494      1,603


See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.


                RYAN'S FAMILY STEAK HOUSES, INC.

         CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
                           (Unaudited)

                         (In thousands)


          I.  For the Three Months ended April 4, 2001

                          $1 Par ValueAdditional
                             Common    Paid-In   Retained
                             Stock     Capital   Earnings    Total
                                               
Balances at January 3, 2001   $31,192      89     251,148  282,429

  Net earnings                    -        -       10,781   10,781
  Issuance of common stock
   under Stock Option Plans      121      684          -       805
  Purchases of common stock    (827)     (771)     (6,953)  (8,551)

Balances at April 4, 2001    $30,486        2     254,976  285,464


         II.  For the Three Months ended March 29, 2000

                          $1 Par Value Additional
                              Common   Paid-In   Retained
                             Stock     Capital   Earnings    Total

Balances at December 29, 1999 $35,855     703     246,835  283,393

  Net earnings                    -        -       10,098   10,098
  Issuance of common stock
   under Stock Option Plans       43      293          -       336
  Purchases of common stock   (3,434)    (996)    (27,876) (32,306)

Balances at March 29, 2000    $32,464      -      229,057  261,521


See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

                RYAN'S FAMILY STEAK HOUSES, INC.

           NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                          April 4, 2001
                           (Unaudited)

Note 1.  Description of Business

Ryan's  Family  Steak Houses, Inc. operates a single-concept
restaurant  chain  consisting of 306  Company-owned  and  22
franchised  restaurants located principally in the  southern
and  midwestern  United States.  The Company,  organized  in
1977, opened its first restaurant in 1978 and completed  its
initial  public  offering in 1982.   The  Company  does  not
operate  or  franchise any international units  and  has  no
individually significant customers.

Note 2.  Basis of Presentation

The  consolidated financial statements include the financial
statements  of  Ryan's  Family Steak Houses,  Inc.  and  its
wholly-owned  subsidiaries.  All intercompany  balances  and
transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements
have  been prepared in accordance with accounting principles
generally  accepted  in  the United States  of  America  for
interim  financial information and the instructions to  Form
10-Q and do not include all of the information and footnotes
required by accounting principles generally accepted in  the
United  States of America for complete financial statements.
In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of
normal  recurring accruals) considered necessary for a  fair
presentation  have  been  included.  Consolidated  operating
results  for  the three months ended April 4, 2001  are  not
necessarily  indicative of the results that may be  expected
for  the  fiscal year ending January 2, 2002.   For  further
information, refer to the consolidated financial  statements
and  footnotes  included in the Company's annual  report  on
Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2001.

Note 3.  New Accounting Pronouncement

In  June  1998,  the  Financial Accounting  Standards  Board
issued  Statement of Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS")
No.  133, "Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging
Activities".  This statement standardizes the accounting for
derivative  instruments,  including  derivative  instruments
embedded  in other contracts.  Under SFAS No. 133,  entities
are  required to carry all derivative instruments as  either
assets  or  liabilities on the balance sheet at fair  value.
The  accounting for changes in the fair value  (i.e.,  gains
and  losses)  of  a  derivative instrument  depends  on  its
intended  use.  The provisions of SFAS No. 133 were  adopted
at  the  beginning of 2001 with no resulting impact  on  the
Company's financial condition or results of operations.   As
noted in "Liquidity and Capital Resources", the Company  was
not  a  party to any interest rate derivative agreements  at
April  4,  2001.  The Company does not enter into derivative
instrument agreements for trading or speculative purposes.

             MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
          FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS


RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Quarter ended April 4, 2001 versus March 29, 2000

Restaurant sales during the first quarter of 2001  increased
by  9.3%  over  the comparable quarter of  2000.   Principal
factors affecting the 2001 sales growth include (a) the 4.4%
unit growth of Company-owned restaurants, which totaled  306
at  April  4,  2001 and 291 at March 29, 2000,  (b)  a  2.5%
increase  in  same-store sales, and (c) the absence  of  the
week  containing New Year's Day 2001 from the 2001  amounts.
This  week, which traditionally is a slower sales week,  was
included  in the results for the fourth quarter of 2000  due
to its January 3, 2001 ending date.  The week containing New
Year's  Day 2000 was included in the results for  the  first
quarter  of  2000.  The Company calculates same-store  sales
using average unit sales in units that have been open for at
least 18 months and operating during comparable weeks during
the  current and prior year.  The 2001 sales results compare
well  to  the  1.1%  same-store sales  increase  experienced
during the first quarter of 2000.  Same-store sales in  2001
were   affected   principally  by  more  favorable   weather
conditions  during  January 2001, new product  introductions
and menu price increases.

Total   costs  and  expenses  of  Company-owned  restaurants
include  food  and  beverage,  payroll,  payroll  taxes  and
employee   benefits,  depreciation,  repairs,   maintenance,
utilities, supplies, advertising, insurance, property  taxes
and  licenses.  Such costs, as a percentage of  sales,  were
84.8% during the first quarter of 2001 compared to 84.4%  in
2000.   Food and beverage costs decreased to 37.2% of  sales
in  2001  from  37.6% in 2000 due to lower  dairy,  poultry,
vegetable and soybean-based product costs, partially  offset
by  higher  beef costs.  Payroll and benefits  decreased  to
29.9% of sales in 2001 from 30.1% in 2000 due principally to
lower hourly payroll costs, partially offset by higher  team
member  benefit  and workers' compensation costs.   Although
the  Company continues to experience wage pressures  at  the
store   level,   hourly  payroll  cost  decreased   due   to
inefficiencies arising from severe weather in January  2000.
All other operating costs, including depreciation, increased
to 17.7% of sales in 2001 from 16.7% in 2000 due principally
to  higher  natural gas and store closing costs.   Based  on
these  factors,  the  Company's  operating  profit  at   the
restaurant level increased by 6.7%, amounting to  15.2%  and
15.6%  of  sales  for the first quarters of 2001  and  2000,
respectively.

General  and administrative expenses decreased  to  4.8%  of
sales in 2001 compared to 4.9% in 2000 due to the leveraging
effect  of  higher sales volumes on this heavily fixed  cost
category.

Interest  expense for the first quarters of  2001  and  2000
amounted  to  1.8%  of sales for both  years.   Due  to  the
Company's  stock  repurchase  program  (see  "Liquidity  and
Capital  Resources"),  total  debt  increased  from   $194.0
million at March 29, 2000 to $201.0 million  at
April   4,  2001.   The  effective  average  interest   rate
increased to 8.1% during the first quarter of 2001 from 7.8%
in  2000,  resulting principally from higher credit  spreads
charged in connection with new credit facilities that closed
in January 2000.  At April 4, 2001, approximately 63% of the
Company's  outstanding  debt  was  variable-rate  debt  with
interest  rates  based  generally on  the  London  Interbank
Offered  Rate ("LIBOR").  Based on current LIBOR swap  rates
and  recent  actions by the Federal Reserve Bank, management
expects  a  more favorable interest rate environment  during
2001.

Effective income tax rates of 36.0% and 36.4% were used  for
the  first  quarters  of 2001 and 2000,  respectively.   The
lower  rate  in 2001 resulted from the favorable  impact  of
various tax-planning strategies.

Net earnings for the first quarter amounted to $10.8 million
in  2001 compared to $10.1 million in 2000.  Due to a  10.4%
reduction  in  weighted-average shares  (diluted)  resulting
from  the Company's stock repurchase program (see "Liquidity
and   Capital  Resources"),  earnings  per  share  (diluted)
increased 17.2% to 34 cents in 2001 compared to 29 cents  in
2000.


LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

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

At  April 4, 2001, the Company's working capital was a $27.1
million  deficit  compared  to a $31.6  million  deficit  at
January  3,  2001.   The  Company does  not  anticipate  any
adverse effects from the current working capital deficit due
to  significant  cash  flow provided  by  operations,  which
amounted to $24.3 million for the first three months of 2001
and $79.4 million for the year ended January 3, 2001.

Total  capital  expenditures for the first three  months  of
2001  amounted  to $15.3 million.  The Company  opened  five
Ryan's  restaurants during the first three months  of  2001,
including  one relocation.  Management defines a  relocation
as  a  restaurant  opened  within 18  months  after  closing
another restaurant in the same marketing area.  A relocation
represents  a redeployment of assets within a  market.   For
all of 2001, the Company plans to open a total of 16 Ryan's,
including five relocations.  Total capital expenditures  for
2001  are  estimated at $63 million.  Expansion of  Company-
owned  restaurants  is expected to occur  in  states  either
within  or  contiguous  to  the Company's  current  22-state
operating area.  The Company is currently concentrating  its
efforts  on Company-owned units and is not actively pursuing
any  additional  franchised locations,  either  domestic  or
international.

The  Company began a stock repurchase program in March  1996
and  is  currently authorized to repurchase a total of  30.0
million   shares  of  the  Company's  common  stock  through
December 2002.  Repurchases may be made from time to time on
the  open market or in privately negotiated transactions  in
accordance with applicable securities regulations, depending
on market conditions, share price and other factors.  During
the  first  three  months  of 2001,  the  Company  purchased
827,000 shares at an aggregate cost of $8.6 million.   Since
the  beginning  of the program in March 1996,  approximately
24.4 million shares, or 46% of total shares available at the
beginning of the program, had been purchased at an aggregate
cost  of $230.5 million.  Management intends to proceed with
the repurchase program during 2001, subject to the continued
availability  of  capital  and the other  factors  described
below in "Forward-Looking Information".

The  extent  of the Company's external funding  requirements
for  2001  is  dependent upon the level of stock  repurchase
transactions during the year.  Based on current target  debt
levels,   a   maximum  repurchase  scenario  would   require
approximately  $31  million of additional borrowings  during
the  remainder of 2001.  All other funding needs,  including
capital  expenditures, are expected to be met by  internally
generated   cash   from  operations.   The  Company's   debt
structure at April 4, 2001 consisted of $75 million of 9.02%
senior  notes and $126 million in outstanding notes under  a
$200  million  revolving credit facility.  The senior  notes
are  due in 2008 with principal payments commencing in 2005.
The  revolving  credit facility is due  in  2005  and  bears
interest  at various floating interest rates plus a variable
spread  currently  set  at  1.375%.   After  allowances  for
letters  of  credit and other items, there was approximately
$65  million  in funds available under the revolving  credit
facility.  However, the Company's ability to draw  on  these
funds  may be limited by restrictions in the loan agreements
governing  both  the senior notes and the  revolving  credit
facility.   The  loan agreements contain minimum  net  worth
requirements  and  maximum  leverage  ratios  as   well   as
restrictions on future stock repurchases, dividends, capital
expenditures, investments and sales of assets.  As of  April
4,  2001, the Company exceeded the most restrictive  minimum
net  worth  requirement in the agreements by $41.4  million.
Both  loans are secured by the stock of the Company and  its
wholly-owned subsidiaries.

Management  believes that its current capital  structure  is
sufficient  to  meet its capital requirements through  2002.
Interest  rates for the revolving credit facility  have  not
been  fixed and generally change in response to LIBOR.   The
Company  has entered into interest rate hedging transactions
in  the  past and, although no such agreements are currently
outstanding,  management intends to continue monitoring  the
interest   rate   environment  and  may  enter   into   such
transactions in the future if deemed advantageous.


IMPACT OF INFLATION

The  Company's  operating  costs that  may  be  affected  by
inflation  consist principally of food, payroll and  utility
costs.   A  significant  number of the Company's  restaurant
team  members  are  paid at the Federal  minimum  wage  and,
accordingly, legislated changes to the minimum  wage  affect
the  Company's  payroll  costs.  Although  no  minimum  wage
increases  have been signed into law, potential  legislation
proposing to increase the minimum wage by $1.00 to $6.15 per
hour  has  recently  been discussed in  the  U.S.  Congress.
Another proposal that increases the minimum wage by $1.50 to
$6.55  per  hour has also been introduced.  The  Company  is
typically able to increase menu prices to offset most of the
payroll rate increases.

The Company considers its current price structure to be very
competitive.   This factor, among others, is  considered  by
the Company when passing cost increases on to its customers.
Annual menu price increases have generally ranged from 3% to
5%.


QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURE ABOUT MARKET RISK

The  Company's exposure to market risk relates primarily  to
changes in interest rates.  Foreign currencies are not  used
in  the  Company's operations, and commodities used  in  the
preparation  of  food at the Company's restaurants  are  not
under purchase contract for more than one year in advance.

The Company is exposed to interest rate risk on its variable-
rate  debt,  which is composed entirely of outstanding  debt
under   the   Company's  revolving  credit   facility   (see
"Liquidity and Capital Resources").  At April 4, 2001, there
was  $126  million in outstanding debt under this  facility.
Interest rates for the facility generally change in response
to LIBOR.  Management estimates that a one-percent change in
interest  rates throughout the quarter ended April  4,  2001
would  have  impacted interest expense by $251,000  and  net
earnings by $160,000.

While  the Company has entered into interest rate derivative
agreements  in  the  past,  there were  no  such  agreements
outstanding as of April 4, 2001.  The Company does not enter
into   financial  instrument  agreements  for   trading   or
speculative purposes.


FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

In  accordance  with  the safe harbor  provisions  of  the
Private  Securities Litigation Reform  Act  of  1995,  the
Company  cautions that the statements in this  report  and
elsewhere,  which  are forward-looking and  which  provide
other  than  historical  information,  involve  risks  and
uncertainties that may impact the Company's actual results
of  operations.  All statements other than  statements  of
historical  fact  that  address  activities,   events   or
developments that the Company expects or anticipates  will
or  may  occur  in the future, including  such  things  as
deadlines  for  completing  projects,  expected  financial
results   and   other  such  matters  are  forward-looking
statements.   The words "estimate", "plans", "anticipate",
"expects",  "intends", "believes", and similar expressions
are  intended to identify forward-looking statements.  All
forward-looking  information reflects the  Company's  best
judgment based on current information.  However, there can
be  no  assurance that other factors will not  affect  the
accuracy of such information.  While it is not possible to
identify  all  factors, the following could  cause  actual
results  to  differ materially from expectations:  general
economic  conditions; competition; developments  affecting
the  public's perception of buffet-style restaurants; real
estate availability; food and labor supply costs; food and
labor  availability; weather fluctuations;  interest  rate
fluctuations; stock market conditions; and other risks and
factors  described  from time to  time  in  the  Company's
reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
including the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the
fiscal  year  ended January 3, 2001.  The ability  of  the
Company  to open new restaurants depends upon a number  of
factors,  including its ability to find suitable locations
and negotiate acceptable land acquisition and construction
contracts,  its  ability to attract and retain  sufficient
numbers  of restaurant managers and team members, and  the
availability of reasonably priced capital.  The extent  of
the  Company's  stock repurchase program during  2001  and
future years depends upon the financial performance of the
Company's restaurants, the investment required to open new
restaurants,  share price, the availability of  reasonably
priced  capital, the financial covenants contained in  the
agreements  governing  both  the  senior  notes  and   the
revolving  credit  facilities, and the  maximum  debt  and
share  repurchase levels authorized by the Company's Board
of Directors.

PART II.  OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.   Legal Proceedings.

          None reportable.

Item 2.   Changes in Securities.

          None.

Item 3.   Defaults Upon Senior Securities.

          None.

Item 4.   Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

          None reportable.

Item 5.   Other Information.

          None.

Item 6.   Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K.

          (a)None.
          (b)On  January  9, 2001, the Company filed  a  report
             on  Form  8-K  regarding  sales  information  for
             December 2000.
             On  February 12, 2001, the Company filed a  report
             on  Form  8-K  regarding  sales  information  for
             January 2001.
             On  March 12, 2001, the Company filed a report  on
             Form   8-K   regarding  sales   information   for
             February 2001.
             On  April  9, 2001, the Company filed a report  on
             Form  8-K  regarding sales information for  March
             2001.
             On  May  14,  2001, the Company filed a report  on
             Form  8-K  regarding sales information for  April
             2001.

     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 thereunto duly
authorized.

                RYAN'S FAMILY STEAK HOUSES, INC.
                          (Registrant)




May 21, 2001             /s/Charles D. Way
                         Charles D. Way
                         Chairman, President and Chief
                         Executive Officer




May 21, 2001             /s/Fred T. Grant, Jr.
                         Fred T. Grant, Jr.
                         Senior Vice President-Finance and
                         Treasurer




May 21, 2001             /s/Richard D. Sieradzki
                         Richard D. Sieradzki
                         Controller