RYAN'S FAMILY STEAK HOUSES, INC.
                  JANUARY SALES INFORMATION
                              
                      -----------------

Ryan's   Family  Steak  Houses,  Inc.  (NASDAQ:RYAN)   today
announced that same-store sales for the 5-week period  ended
February  3,  1999 ("January") decreased by  0.4%.   Details
follow:

                                      January 1999
                                      (Unaudited)

  Total sales                       $55,640,000
  Increase from prior year                +2.1%
  
  Average unit sales:
  Same-store (open at least 18 mos.)      -0.4%
  All-store (all Ryan's units)            -1.4%

Management  noted  that  January's  results  were  adversely
impacted  by  severe winter weather throughout much  of  the
Company's  operating regions during the first two  weeks  of
the  period.   In addition, Super Bowl Sunday  affected  the
fifth  week of January 1999 compared to the fourth  week  of
January   1998.   Accordingly,  available  data   makes   it
virtually  impossible  to extrapolate a  "normal"  operating
trend for the month.

At  February  3,  1999, the Company owned and  operated  280
Ryan's.

The  Company's next accounting period consists of  4  weeks,
ending on March 3, 1999.