SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              
                              
                    Washington, DC 20549
                              
                              
                              
                              
                          FORM 8-K
                              
                              
                       CURRENT REPORT
                              
                              
                              
                              
           Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
               Securities Exchange Act of 1934
                              
                              
                              
Date of Report (Date of earliest event report):  November 9,
                            1998




              RYAN'S FAMILY STEAK HOUSES, INC.
   (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
                              
                              
                              
                              
South Carolina            0-10943               57-0657895
(State or other         (Commission          (IRS Employer
jurisdiction of         File Number)        Identification
incorporation)                                        No.)


                405 Lancaster Avenue (29650)
                     Post Office Box 100
                       Greer, SC 29652

     (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
                              
                              
 Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  (864)
                          879-1000
                              
                              
                              
                        (No change)
    (Former name or former address, if changed since last
                           report)
Item 5.                    Other Events.

On November 9, 1998, Ryan's Family Steak Houses, Inc. (the
"Company") released to both sell-side and buy-side analysts
on the Company's internal facsimile list information on
restaurant sales results for the 5-week period ended
November 4, 1998 (referred to therein as the month of
(October), which information is incorporated herein by
reference.

Item 7.                    Financial Statements and
Exhibits.

   (c) Exhibits

       20.1 October sales information issued November 9,
1998.
                              
                              
                          SIGNATURE
                              
                              
   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 hereunto duly
authorized.

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

                               By:    /s/Fred T. Grant, Jr.

                               Name:  Fred T. Grant, Jr.

                               Title: Vice President-Finance

                               Date:  November 9, 1998