<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001209191-12-042995
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20120821
<FILING-DATE>20120823
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20120823
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>Gray Adam
<CIK>0001454123
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-26396
<FILM-NUMBER>121052348
</FILING-VALUES>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>767 THIRD AVENUE
<STREET2>35TH FLOOR
<CITY>NEW YORK
<STATE>NY
<ZIP>10017
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>BENIHANA INC
<CIK>0000935226
<ASSIGNED-SIC>5812
<IRS-NUMBER>650538630
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>0330
</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>Coliseum Capital Management, LLC
<CIK>0001409751
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-26396
<FILM-NUMBER>121052349
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>METRO CENTER
<STREET2>1 STATION PLACE, 7TH FLOOR SOUTH
<CITY>STAMFORD
<STATE>CT
<ZIP>06902
<PHONE>203-883-0100
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>METRO CENTER
<STREET2>1 STATION PLACE, 7TH FLOOR SOUTH
<CITY>STAMFORD
<STATE>CT
<ZIP>06902
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c29750_4x0.xml
<DESCRIPTION>MAIN DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2012-08-21</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001409751</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Coliseum Capital Management, LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>METRO CENTER</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1 STATION PLACE, 7TH FLOOR SOUTH</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>STAMFORD</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>06902</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001454123</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Gray Adam</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>METRO CENTER</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1 STATION PLACE, 7TH FLOOR SOUTH</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>STAMFORD</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>06902</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-08-21</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2617563</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>16.30</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option to buy</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>11.04</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-08-21</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>5.26</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2022-01-10</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnotes</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option to buy</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>7.55</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-08-21</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3333</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>8.75</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2020-09-28</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>3333</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnotes</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">These securities were held directly by (a) Coliseum Capital Partners, L.P., an investment limited partnership of which Coliseum Capital, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company ('CC'), is general partner and for which Coliseum Capital Management, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company ('CCM'), serves as investment adviser, and (b) Blackwell Partners, LLC ('Blackwell'), a separate account investment advisory client of CCM. Christopher Shackelton and Adam Gray manage CCM and CC. Each of Christopher Shackelton, Adam Gray, Blackwell, CCP, CC and CCM disclaims beneficial ownership of these securities except to the extent of that person's pecuniary interest therein.  Adam Gray was a member of the board of directors of Benihana (as defined below).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">On August 21, 2012, Benihana Inc. ('Benihana'), Safflower Holdings Corp., a Delaware corporation ('Parent'), and Safflower Acquisition Corp. ('Merger Sub') entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the 'Merger Agreement'), which provided for a merger in which Merger Sub was merged with and into Benihana, with Benihana continuing as the surviving corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent (the 'Merger'). The Merger became effective on August 21, 2012. At the effective time of the Merger, each outstanding share of Benihana common stock converted into the right to receive $16.30 in cash without interest and net of any taxes required to be withheld therefrom (the 'Merger Consideration').</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">These options were received by Coliseum Capital Partners, L.P. ('CCP') pursuant to an agreement under which Adam Gray assigned to CCP the right to receive all compensation (including equity compensation) that Mr. Gray would otherwise had received as a director of Benihana.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, this option, one-third exercisable on 7/10/2012, one-third exercisable on 1/10/2013 and one-third exercisable on 1/10/2014, was cancelled in exchange for a cash payment of $52,600.00, representing the difference between the Merger Consideration and the exercise price of the option multiplied by the number of unvested or unexercised shares subject to the option ($16.30 - $11.04 = $5.26 per share).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, this option, one-third exercisable on 3/28/2011, one-third exercisable on 9/28/2011 and one-third exercisable on 9/28/2012, was cancelled in exchange for a cash payment of $29,163.75, representing the difference between the Merger Consideration and the exercise price of the option multiplied by the number of unvested or unexercised shares subject to the option ($16.30 - $7.55 = $8.75 per share).</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Adam Gray, Manager</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2012-08-23</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
