
<TABLE> <S> <C>


<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the October
11, 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            6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>             MAR-28-1999      MAR-28-1999
<PERIOD-START>                JUL-20-1998      MAR-30-1998
<PERIOD-END>                  OCT-11-1998      OCT-11-1998
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                         1                1
<CASH>                                605              605
<SECURITIES>                            0                0
<RECEIVABLES>                         531              531
<ALLOWANCES>                            0                9
<INVENTORY>                         3,552            3,552
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                    5,496            5,496
<PP&E>                             34,627           34,627
<DEPRECIATION>                     32,240           32,240
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                     58,819           58,819
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>              11,588           11,588
<BONDS>                            16,727           16,727
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                   0                0
<PREFERRED>                             1                1
<COMMON>                              609              609
<OTHER-SE>                         29,895           29,895
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>       58,819           58,819
<SALES>                            26,184           60,729
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                   26,347           61,165
<CGS>                               6,966           16,122
<TOTAL-COSTS>                      15,984           37,651
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                    1,338            3,122
<LOSS-PROVISION>                        0                0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                    384              925
<INCOME-PRETAX>                     1,675            3,345
<INCOME-TAX>                          530            1,032
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                 1,145            2,313
<DISCONTINUED>                          0                0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                         0                0
<CHANGES>                               0                0
<NET-INCOME>                        1,145            2,313
<EPS-PRIMARY>                         .19              .37
<EPS-DILUTED>                         .18              .36
        


</TABLE>
