
<TABLE> <S> <C>


<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
January 5, 1997 Financial Statements and is qualified in its entirety by
reference to such Financial Statements.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                         0000935226
<NAME>                        BENIHANA INC.
<MULTIPLIER>                  1,000
<CURRENCY>                    U.S. DOLLARS
       
<S>                             <C>            <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS          9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>               MAR-31-1996    MAR-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                  OCT-14-1996    APR-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                    JAN-05-1997    JAN-05-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                           1              1
<CASH>                                6,532          6,532
<SECURITIES>                              0              0
<RECEIVABLES>                           239            239
<ALLOWANCES>                             37             37
<INVENTORY>                           2,877          2,877
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                     11,471         11,471
<PP&E>                               24,377         24,377
<DEPRECIATION>                       28,058         28,058
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                       39,727         39,727
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                 8,717          8,717
<BONDS>                               9,657          9,657
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                     0              0
<PREFERRED>                               2              2
<COMMON>                                605            605
<OTHER-SE>                           20,746         20,746
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>         39,727         39,727
<SALES>                              19,573         63,996
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                     19,826         64,607
<CGS>                                 5,078         16,430
<TOTAL-COSTS>                        11,693         39,076
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                        784          3,162
<LOSS-PROVISION>                          0              0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                      209            725
<INCOME-PRETAX>                       2,062          5,214
<INCOME-TAX>                            660          1,668
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                   1,402          3,546
<DISCONTINUED>                            0              0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                           0              0
<CHANGES>                                 0              0
<NET-INCOME>                          1,402          3,546
<EPS-PRIMARY>                           .22            .57
<EPS-DILUTED>                           .22            .56
        


</TABLE>
