================================================================================

                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                               ___________________


                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT
                       PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
                       THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

                Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):
                                December 9, 2004


                       THE CHEESECAKE FACTORY INCORPORATED
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)


       Delaware                        0-20574                      51-0340466
(State or other jurisdiction     (Commission File Number)         (IRS Employer
     of incorporation)                                       Identification No.)

                                26950 Agoura Road
                        Calabasas Hills, California 91301
               (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

               Registrant's telephone number, including area code:
                                 (818) 871-3000

                                 Not Applicable
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

|_|  Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act
     (17 CFR 230.425)

|_|  Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act
     (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

|_|  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the
     Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14.d-2(b))

|_|  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the
     Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

================================================================================



SECTION 8 - OTHER EVENTS

ITEM 8.01     OTHER EVENTS

     On December 9, 2004, The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated announced the
opening of Grand Lux Cafe in Houston, Texas. A copy of the press release is
attached as Exhibit 99.1.


SECTION 9- FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

ITEM 9.01     FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

(c)      Exhibits

           99.1     Press release dated December 9, 2004 entitled "The
                    Cheesecake Factory Opens Grand Lux Cafe in Houston, Texas".


                                       2

                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Date:    December 9, 2004      THE CHEESECAKE FACTORY INCORPORATED



                               By:  /s/ MICHAEL J. DIXON
                                    --------------------------------------------
                                    Michael J. Dixon
                                    Senior Vice President and Chief Financial
                                    Officer

                                       3



                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

      Exhibit           Description
--------------------    --------------------------------------------------------
       99.1             Press Release dated December 9, 2004 entitled "The
                        Cheesecake Factory Opens Grand Lux Cafe in Houston,
                        Texas".

                                       4