<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001179110-16-023014
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20160411
<FILING-DATE>20160413
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20160413
<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>Newman Dexter
<CIK>0001671912
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-21625
<FILM-NUMBER>161568735
</FILING-VALUES>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>C/O FAMOUS DAVE'S OF AMERICA, INC.
<STREET2>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>2016-04-11</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001671912</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Newman Dexter</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O FAMOUS DAVE'S OF AMERICA, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>12701 WHITEWATER DRIVE, STE 200</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>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Options (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>5.67</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2016-04-11</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>70000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2026-04-11</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>70000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>70000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Options vest in installments of 1,458 option shares on first 47 monthly anniversaries of the date of grant (the first vesting date being on the one (1) month anniversary of the date of grant and 1,474 option shares on the 48th monthly anniversary of the date of grant.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Dexter Newman</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2016-04-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
