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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 INWlcvUaQXlHygNlVSn0uA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-04-000614.txt : 20040106
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-04-000614.hdr.sgml : 20040106
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040106192851
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-04-000614
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031231
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040106

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BYFUGLIN MAX S
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001208206

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-20574
		FILM NUMBER:		04511516

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		26950 AGOURA ROAD
		CITY:			CALABASAS HILLS
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			91301
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8188713000

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CHEESECAKE FACTORY INCORPORATED
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000887596
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-EATING PLACES [5812]
		IRS NUMBER:				510340466
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1229

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		26950 AGOURA RD
		CITY:			CALABASAS HILLS
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			91301
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8188809323

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		26950 AGOURA RD
		STREET 2:		26950 AGOURA RD
		CITY:			CALABASAS HILLS
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			91301
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2003-12-31</periodOfReport>
<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000887596</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CHEESECAKE FACTORY INCORPORATED</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CAKE</issuerTradingSymbol>
</issuer>
<reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001208206</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BYFUGLIN MAX S</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>26950 AGOURA ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CALABASAS HILLS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>91301</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector>
<isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
<isOther>0</isOther>
<officerTitle>Exec. V.P.  (Subsidiary)</officerTitle>
<otherText></otherText>
</reportingOwnerRelationship>
</reportingOwner>
<nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value>
</securityTitle>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>43875</value>
<footnoteId id="F2"></footnoteId>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeHolding>
</nonDerivativeTable>
<derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
</securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice><value>44.04</value>
</conversionOrExercisePrice>
<transactionDate><value>2003-12-31</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>25000</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare><value>44.04</value>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F1"></footnoteId>
</exerciseDate>
<expirationDate><value>2013-12-31</value>
</expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value>
</underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares><value>25000</value>
</underlyingSecurityShares>
</underlyingSecurity>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>176625</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</derivativeTransaction>
</derivativeTable>
<footnotes><footnote id="F1">The options vest in five equal annual installments beginning 12/31/04.</footnote>
<footnote id="F2">Of this amount, 30,875 shares are held by Mr. Byfuglin and his spouse, Alexis Byfuglin, as joint tenants and 13,000 shares are held by Mr. and Mrs. Byfuglin as trustees for the Byfuglin Trust. </footnote>
</footnotes>
<ownerSignature><signatureName>Jane Vallaire, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2004-01-06</signatureDate>
</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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