<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001179110-18-006910
<TYPE>3
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20180515
<FILING-DATE>20180516
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20180516
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>Haeg Peter O.
<CIK>0001740585
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>3
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-21625
<FILM-NUMBER>18841032
</FILING-VALUES>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>12701 WHITEWATER DR
<STREET2>SUITE 190
<CITY>MINNETONKA
<STATE>MN
<ZIP>55343
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<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>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 3 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0206</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2018-05-15</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001740585</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Haeg Peter O.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>3033 EXCELSIOR BOULEVARD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 560</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MINNEAPOLIS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MN</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>55416</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>418169</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By FS Special Opportunities I, L.P.</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Held by FS Special Opportunities I, L.P. (&quot;FS I&quot;) and indirectly by Farnam Street Capital, Inc. as General Partner of FS I and Peter Haeg as President and Secretary of Farnam Street Capital, Inc. (&quot;Farnam Street&quot;).  Farnam Street and Mr. Haeg disclaim beneficial ownership of these securities except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein. Mr. Haeg was elected to the Board of Directors at the direction of FS I; therefore, FS I and Farnam Street may be considered directors of the issuer by deputization.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">As reported in the Schedule 13D filed by the Reporting Persons on November 20, 2017, the Reporting Persons share beneficial ownership of the 418,169 shares with another group that includes PW Partners, LLC (the &quot;PW Group&quot;). Because of their shared beneficial ownership of the shares, the Reporting Persons and PW Group may together be considered a &quot;group&quot; for purposes of Rule 13d-1. The Reporting Persons disclaim beneficial ownership of any shares of the issuer held by PW Group other than the 418,169 shares and disclaims the existence of any such Section 13(d) &quot;group&quot;.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Peter O. Haeg</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2018-05-16</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
