RYAN'S FAMILY STEAK HOUSES, INC.
                REPORTS RECORD SALES RESULTS FOR
            DECEMBER, FOURTH QUARTER AND FISCAL 2001



GREER,  SOUTH  CAROLINA  -  - Ryan's Family  Steak  Houses,  Inc.
(NASDAQ:RYAN) today announced that average unit sales for the  4-
week  period ending January 2, 2002 ("December") set a new record
for  December sales periods, representing the ninth record  month
during  2001.  In addition, December's average unit sales  levels
contributed to new fourth quarter and fiscal year sales records.

Same-store sales for December and the fourth quarter amounted  to
+11.4%  and +4.8%, respectively.  Management noted that  December
2000  was  adversely  impacted  by  severe  winter  weather  that
affected  the  Company's  southern and midwestern  regions.   For
comparison purposes, same-store sales for December and the fourth
quarter 2000 were -5.2% and -2.2%, respectively.

Per the table below, it should be noted that the December and the
fourth  quarter  2001 periods were each one week  less  than  the
comparable  periods  in  2000.  These  differences  affect  total
sales,  but  do  not  affect either the same-store  or  all-store
amounts  as these calculations are based on average weekly  sales
over similar-week periods.

Other details regarding the sales results follow:

                                      (Unaudited)
                               December          4th
                                 2001          Quarter

Total sales (000's)           $54,700         $179,871
Change from prior year            -8%              +1%

			Dec. 2001 - 4 weeks   4Q 2001 - 13 weeks
			Dec. 2000 - 5 weeks   4Q 2000 - 14 weeks


Average unit sales:
Same stores (open at least 18 mos.) +11.4%        +4.8%
All stores (all Ryan's units)       +13.1%        +5.9%

At  January  2, 2002, the Company owned and operated  313  Ryan's
restaurants.

Financial  results for the fourth quarter 2001  and  fiscal  year
2001  are  expected  to  be released on  January  30,  2002.   In
addition,  the  Company's next accounting period  consists  of  5
weeks, ending on February 6, 2002.