<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001193805-04-000432
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20040304
<FILING-DATE>20040305
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>BENIHANA INC
<CIK>0000935226
<ASSIGNED-SIC>5812
<IRS-NUMBER>650538630
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>0328
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>8685 NW 53RD TERRACE
<CITY>MIAMI
<STATE>FL
<ZIP>33166
<PHONE>3055930770
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>8685 NW 53RD TERRACE
<CITY>MIAMI
<STATE>FL
<ZIP>33166
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</ISSUER>
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>TRUST UNDER THE WILL OF VINCENT TERRANOVA
<CIK>0000924976
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-26396
<FILM-NUMBER>04651096
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>33 SOUTH PARK TERRACE
<CITY>CONGERS
<STATE>NY
<ZIP>10920
<PHONE>9142686827
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>33 SOUTH PARK TERRACE
<CITY>CONGERS
<STATE>NY
<ZIP>10920
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>e400232_ex.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-03-04</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000935226</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BENIHANA INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BNHN</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000924976</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>TRUST UNDER THE WILL OF VINCENT TERRANOVA</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>33 SOUTH PARK TERRACE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CONGERS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10920</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $0.10 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-03-04</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5900</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>16.9508</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>321136</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Robert Becht, Trustee</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-03-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
