<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains Summary Financial Information extracted from the Annual
Report for the 12 months ended December 31, 1997 of Carrols Corporation and is
qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statement.
</LEGEND>
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1997
<CASH>                                   $   2,252,000
<SECURITIES>                             $           0
<RECEIVABLES>                            $     748,000
<ALLOWANCES>                             $     130,000
<INVENTORY>                              $   3,355,000
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                         $  13,428,000
<PP&E>                                   $ 138,792,000
<DEPRECIATION>                          $ (67,908,000)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                           $ 215,328,000
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                    $  31,701,000
<BONDS>                                  $ 156,709,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                    $           0
<PREFERRED>                              $           0
<COMMON>                                 $          10
<OTHER-SE>                               $  17,447,000
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>             $ 215,328,000
<SALES>                                  $ 295,436,000
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                         $ 295,436,000
<CGS>                                    $  85,542,000
<TOTAL-COSTS>                            $ 251,782,000
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                         $           0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                         $           0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       $  15,581,000
<INCOME-PRETAX>                          $   2,813,000
<INCOME-TAX>                             $     655,000
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                      $   2,158,000
<DISCONTINUED>                           $           0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                          $           0
<CHANGES>                                $           0
<NET-INCOME>                             $   2,158,000
<EPS-PRIMARY>                            $           0
<EPS-DILUTED>                            $           0