<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001362118-16-000041
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20160503
<FILING-DATE>20160505
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20160505
<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>Wright Adam John
<CIK>0001592442
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-21625
<FILM-NUMBER>161623174
</FILING-VALUES>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>800 NICOLLET MALL, STE 2870
<CITY>MINNEAPOLIS
<STATE>MN
<ZIP>55402
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2016-05-03</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001592442</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Wright Adam John</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>800 NICOLLET MALL, STE 2870</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MINNEAPOLIS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MN</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>55402</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chief Executive Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>5.42</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2016-05-03</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2016-05-03</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">1,680 shares underlying options are immediately exercisable, the remaining 8,320 shares underlying the options will vest in equal monthly installments starting on May 31, 2016 and ending on December 31, 2017.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Adam J. Wright</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2016-05-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
