-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 B99B01L+UlUqX5PaRxkWX7QLaQ93hjFeKhpaRSju4FkWXZgSWfSQXwEutxHF3CpU
 D3JqX4jKhCWFSVWRFicK1A==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000932214-04-000055.txt : 20040628
<SEC-HEADER>0000932214-04-000055.hdr.sgml : 20040628
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040628115626
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000932214-04-000055
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4/A
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040615
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040628

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SCHEDLER DONALD P
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001208658

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4/A
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-03189
		FILM NUMBER:		04883763

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		NATHAN'S FAMOUS INC
		STREET 2:		1400 OLD COUNTRY RD.
		CITY:			WESTBURY
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			11590

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NATHANS FAMOUS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000069733
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-EATING PLACES [5812]
		IRS NUMBER:				113166443
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0329

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1400 OLD COUNTRY RD
		CITY:			WESTBURY
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			11590
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5163388500

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1400 OLD COUNTRY RD
		STREET 2:		STE 400
		CITY:			WESTBURY
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			11590
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4/A
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4/A</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-06-15</periodOfReport>

    <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2004-06-16</dateOfOriginalSubmission>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000069733</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NATHANS FAMOUS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NATH</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001208658</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SCHEDLER DONALD P</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1400 OLD COUNTRY ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WESTBURY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>11590</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Vice President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>2002 Stock Incentive Plan (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>5.62</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-06-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-06-15</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-06-14</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Options vest 33 1/3% on each of 06/15/05, 06/15/06 and 06/15/07.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Does not include options to purchase 10,000 shares under the 2001 Stock Option Plan, 10,000 shares under the 1998 Stock Option Plan and 10,000 shares under the 1992 Stock Option Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Correction to expiration date.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Donald P. Schedler</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-06-24</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
