Final
                                                    03/28/03
                                                        6077

                                                Exhibit 23.1










               Consent Of Independent Auditors


The Board of Directors
Ryan's Family Steak Houses, Inc.:

We  consent  to incorporation by reference in the  following
Registration  Statements  of our report  dated  January  31,
2003,  with  respect to the consolidated balance  sheets  of
Ryan's  Family Steak Houses, Inc. as of January 1, 2003  and
January 2, 2002, and the related consolidated statements  of
earnings and cash flows for each of the years in the  three-
year   period  ended  January  1,  2003,  which  report   is
incorporated by reference in the 2002 annual report on  Form
10-K of Ryan's Family Steak Houses, Inc.

Form S-8

No.  33-15924   -    Ryan's Family Steak Houses,  Inc.  1987
                     Stock Option Plan

No.  33-53834   -    Ryan's Family Steak Houses,  Inc.  1991
                     Stock Option Plan

No.  333-67165  -    Ryan's Family Steak Houses,  Inc.  1998
                     Stock Option Plan













Greenville, South Carolina
March 28, 2003