<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from Cooker
Restaurant Corporation 1998 Annual Report and is qualified in its entirety by
reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          JAN-03-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-28-1997
<CASH>                                       2,520,000
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  398,000
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                  1,650,000
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                             5,230,000
<PP&E>                                     171,861,000
<DEPRECIATION>                              27,836,000
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             153,267,000
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                       16,699,000
<BONDS>                                     82,712,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                    62,460,000
<OTHER-SE>                                (12,308,000)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>               153,267,000
<SALES>                                    160,546,000
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                           160,546,000
<CGS>                                      138,048,000
<TOTAL-COSTS>                              138,048,000
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                            10,104,000
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                           4,022,000
<INCOME-PRETAX>                              8,628,000
<INCOME-TAX>                                 2,601,000
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                          6,027,000
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                 6,027,000
<EPS-BASIC>                                       0.66
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.65