<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from Cooker
Restaurant Corporation 1997 Annual Report and is qualified in its entirety by
reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-28-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-30-1996
<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-BASIC>                                       0.59
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.58