
<TABLE> <S> <C>


<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the January
4, 1998 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-29-1998      MAR-29-1998
<PERIOD-START>                OCT-13-1997      MAR-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                  JAN-04-1998      JAN-04-1998
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                         1                1
<CASH>                              3,915            3,915
<SECURITIES>                            0                0
<RECEIVABLES>                         339              339
<ALLOWANCES>                            0                0
<INVENTORY>                         3,356            3,356
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                    8,558            8,558
<PP&E>                             32,101           32,101
<DEPRECIATION>                     30,160           30,160
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                     60,283           60,283
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>              12,193           12,193
<BONDS>                            20,946           20,946
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                   0                0
<PREFERRED>                             2                2
<COMMON>                              609              609
<OTHER-SE>                         26,533           26,533
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>       60,283           60,283
<SALES>                            23,939           72,383
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                   24,096           72,877
<CGS>                               6,353           18,850
<TOTAL-COSTS>                      13,746           43,118
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                    1,384            3,919
<LOSS-PROVISION>                        0                0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                    271              648
<INCOME-PRETAX>                     2,342            6,342
<INCOME-TAX>                          780            2,000
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                 1,562            4,342
<DISCONTINUED>                          0                0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                         0                0
<CHANGES>                               0                0
<NET-INCOME>                        1,562            4,342
<EPS-PRIMARY>                         .25              .69
<EPS-DILUTED>                         .24              .68
        


</TABLE>
