SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                    WASHINGTON, DC 20549

                         FORM 12b-25

                             Commission File Number  0-10943
 (Check one)

[X]  Form 10-K and Form 10-KSB          [ ] Form 11-K

[ ]  Form 20-F                          [ ]  Form 10-Q
                                             and Form 1-QSB
[ ] Form N-SAR

For period ended:  December 29, 1999

[ ]     Transition Report on Form 10-K and Form 10-KSB

[ ]     Transition Report on Form 20-F

[ ]     Transition Report on Form 11-K

[ ]     Transition Report on Form 10-Q and Form 10-QSB

[ ]     Transition Report on Form N-SAR

For the transition period ended:

____________________

                     PART I

             REGISTRANT INFORMATION

Full name of registrant:  RYAN'S FAMILY STEAK HOUSES, INC.

Former name if applicable:

Address of principal executive office:  405 LANCASTER AVENUE

City, state and zip code: GREER, SOUTH CAROLINA, 29650

                           PART II

                   RULE 12b-25(b) AND (c)

(a)  The reasons described in reasonable detail in Part III
          of this form could not be eliminated without
          unreasonable effort or expense;





     (b)  The subject annual report, semi-annual report,
          transition report on Form 10-K, 10-KSB, 20-F, 11-
          K of Form NSAR, or portion thereof will be filed
          on or before the 15th calendar day following the
          prescribed due date; or the subject
[X]       quarterly report or transition report on Form 10-
          Q, 10-QSB, or portion thereof will be filed on or
          before the fifth calendar day following the
          prescribed due date; and

     (c)  The accountant's statement of other exhibit
          required by Rule 12b-25(c) has been attached if
          applicable.

                    PART III

                    NARRATIVE

The registrant is unable to timely file the
portions of its annual report incorporated by
reference into its Form 10-K for the fiscal year
ended December 29, 1999.  The reason for this
failure is that the financial printer
responsible for EDGARizing this information has
an extremely high volume of work and is unable
to complete the EDGARization process before
March 29, 2000.  We anticipate filing this
information on or before March 30, 2000.

                     PART IV

                OTHER INFORMATION

(1)  Name and telephone number of person to
contact in regard to this notification:

     Janet J. Gleitz    (864) 879-1000
     (Name)             (Area Code and Phone Number)

(2)  Have all other periodic reports required
under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 or Section 30 of the
Investment Company Act of 1940 during the
preceding 12 months or for such shorter period
that the registrant was required to file such
report(s) been filed? If the answer is no,
identify report(s).

                                        [X] Yes
                                        [ ] No

(3)  Is it anticipated that any significant
change in results of operations from the
corresponding period for the last fiscal year
will be reflected by the earnings statements to
be included in the subject report or portion
thereof?

                                        [ ] Yes
                                        [X] No

        RYAN'S FAMILY STEAK HOUSES, INC.

  (Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

Has caused this notification to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly
authorized.

Date:     March 28, 2000
By:       /s/ Janet J. Gleitz