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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 PuZI2AeEqBvwQE0XHU22sDL2XIsql8qUS/QWaOpmrjh5PR3wrD8KS4Fh7hT050cH
 10YPH8gWdvDjn7rEyEZvpw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-09-005600.txt : 20090325
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-09-005600.hdr.sgml : 20090325
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090325171906
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-09-005600
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090319
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090325
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090325

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SLOMANN CHERYL
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001109366

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-20574
		FILM NUMBER:		09704708

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6450 VIA REAL
		CITY:			CURPINTERIA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			93013

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:			0101

	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
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-03-19</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001109366</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SLOMANN CHERYL</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>Principal Accounting Officer</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-03-19</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>13</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>11.3169</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>6163</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Of this amount, 3,350 restricted stock award vests on 1/4/2010, 1,500 restricted stock award vests on 2/5/2012, 500 restricted stock award vests on each 2/5/2013 and 2/5/2014, 300 shares are held in the Mark D. &amp; Cheryl M. Slomann 1997 Trust and 13 shares in Ms Slomann's broker managed IRA account.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Cheryl Slomann</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-03-25</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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