<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001179110-16-022715
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20160401
<FILING-DATE>20160405
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20160405
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>FAMOUS DAVES OF AMERICA INC
<CIK>0001021270
<ASSIGNED-SIC>5812
<IRS-NUMBER>411782300
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>MN
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1229
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>12701 WHITEWATER DRIVE
<STREET2>SUITE 200
<CITY>MINNETONKA
<STATE>MN
<ZIP>55343
<PHONE>952-294-1300
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>12701 WHITEWATER DRIVE
<STREET2>SUITE 200
<CITY>MINNETONKA
<STATE>MN
<ZIP>55343
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</ISSUER>
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>Pawlowski Richard A.
<CIK>0001609699
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-21625
<FILM-NUMBER>161553141
</FILING-VALUES>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>12701 WHITEWATER DRIVE, SUITE 200
<CITY>MINNETONKA
<STATE>MN
<ZIP>55343
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<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>2016-04-01</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001021270</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>FAMOUS DAVES OF AMERICA INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>DAVE</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001609699</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Pawlowski Richard A.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>12701 WHITEWATER DRIVE, SUITE 200</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MINNETONKA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MN</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>55343</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chief Financial Officer</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1959</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Spouse</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Options (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>5.90</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2016-04-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2017-04-01</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">On January 15, 2016, the Reporting Person was granted an option to purchase 6,000 shares of common stock.  The option vests in three equal installments based on meeting certain performance criteria.  The performance criteria for the third installment has been met, resulting in the vesting of the option as to 2,000 shares.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Richard A. Pawlowski</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2016-04-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
