<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED
FROM COOKER RESTAURANT CORPORATION 1997 ANNUAL REPORT AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BYREFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>  0000832412
<NAME> COOKER RESTAURANT CORPORATION 

                              
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>               DEC-28-1997
<PERIOD-START>                  DEC-30-1996
<PERIOD-END>                    DEC-28-1997
<CASH>                          4,685,000 
<SECURITIES>                    0
<RECEIVABLES>                   759,000
<ALLOWANCES>                    0
<INVENTORY>                     1,509,000 
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                7,306,000
<PP&E>                          155,964,000
<DEPRECIATION>                  21,774,000
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                  142,921,000
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>           11,586,000 
<BONDS>                         42,917,000 
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>           0
<PREFERRED>                     0
<COMMON>                        63,039,000
<OTHER-SE>                      23,433,000 
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>    142,921,000
<SALES>                         135,458,000
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                135,458,000
<CGS>                           114,101,000 
<TOTAL-COSTS>                   114,101,000 
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                9,854,000 
<LOSS-PROVISION>                0 
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>              1,788,000 
<INCOME-PRETAX>                 9,814,000
<INCOME-TAX>                    3,362,000
<INCOME-CONTINUING>             6,452,000
<DISCONTINUED>                  0 
<EXTRAORDINARY>                 0
<CHANGES>                       496,000
<NET-INCOME>                    5,956,000
<EPS-PRIMARY>                   0.59 
<EPS-DILUTED>                   0.58