<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-16-025776.txt : 20160531
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-16-025776.hdr.sgml : 20160531
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20160531191108
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-16-025776
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20160527
FILED AS OF DATE:		20160531
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20160531

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:			1230

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		26901 MALIBU HILLS RD
		CITY:			CALABASAS HILLS
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			91301
		BUSINESS PHONE:		818-871-3000

	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:		161687529
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2016-05-27</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>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2016-05-27</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>14000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>49.93</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>40844</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Trust</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>11500</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The price reported in column 4 is a weighted average price. These shares were sold in multiple transactions ranging from $49.80 to $50.08 inclusive. The reporting person understakes to provide to CAKE Corporation any security holder of CAKE Corporation, or the staff of the Securities and Exchange Comission, upon request, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each seperate price within the ranges set forth in footnote (1) to this Form 4.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Shares held by the Byfuglin Family Trust u/t/a 9/27/2003 of which the reporting person and his spouse are trustees.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Shares of restricted stock subject to forfeiture.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Max. S. Byfuglin by Debby Zurzolo, his attorney in fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2016-05-31</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
