-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 PhqOeRlu97fwP1kX+bGfjFV5JY4kcmwr5clcRh1jvXBHSuQWDAdiAtpdRvOUYmIi
 Qk1KHAxOxFwWm4Yfqfdu6A==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-08-000815.txt : 20080107
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-08-000815.hdr.sgml : 20080107
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080107210541
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-08-000815
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080103
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080107
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080107

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CHEESECAKE FACTORY INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000887596
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-EATING PLACES [5812]
		IRS NUMBER:				510340466
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0102

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		26901 MALIBU HILLS RD
		CITY:			CALABASAS HILLS
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			91301
		BUSINESS PHONE:		818 871-8342

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		26901 MALIBU HILLS RD
		CITY:			CALABASAS HILLS
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			91301

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	CHEESECAKE FACTORY INCORPORATED
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19930328

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:		08516466

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		26950 AGOURA ROAD
		CITY:			CALABASAS HILLS
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			91301
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8188713000
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-01-03</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000887596</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CHEESECAKE FACTORY INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CAKE</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001208206</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BYFUGLIN MAX S</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>26901 MALIBU HILLS 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>President (Subsidiary)</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>75812</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option to purchase</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>21.17</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-01-03</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>30000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2018-01-03</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>30000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>30000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Of this amount, 10,000 shares represent a restricted stock award vesting on January 4, 2010, 46,312 shares are held by Mr. Byfuglin and his spouse as joint tenants, and 19,500 shares are held by Mr. Byfuglin and his spouse as trustees for the Byfuglin Trust.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The option vests in five equal annual installments beginning January 3, 2009.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Cheryl M. Slomann</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-01-07</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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