Benihana Inc. Reports Total Restaurant Sales and Comparable Restaurant Sales for...

Benihana Inc. Reports Total Restaurant Sales and Comparable Restaurant Sales for the Fourth Fiscal Quarter 2008

MIAMI--(Business Wire)--
Benihana Inc. (NASDAQ: BNHNA; BNHN), operator of the nation's
largest chain of Japanese theme and sushi restaurants, today reported
total restaurant sales as well as comparable restaurant sales for the
twelve-week fourth fiscal quarter and fifty-two week fiscal 2008 year
ended March 30, 2008.

Total restaurant sales for the twelve-week period ended March 30,
2008 decreased 2.0% to $69.8 million from $71.2 million in the
thirteen-week period ended April 1, 2007. During the prior fiscal
year, the Company realized an additional 75 store-operating weeks
during the fourth fiscal quarter, as a result of a 53-week fiscal
year. Excluding the additional operating week in fiscal 2007, which
resulted in $5.5 million in restaurant sales, total revenues increased
6.2% over the fourth quarter a year ago. For the fourth fiscal quarter
2008, Benihana teppanyaki represented approximately 71% of
consolidated restaurant sales, while RA Sushi and Haru accounted for
17% and 12% of consolidated restaurant sales, respectively. There were
a total of 971 store-operating weeks in the fourth fiscal quarter of
2008 compared to 975 store-operating weeks in the fourth fiscal
quarter of 2007 (900 store-operating weeks excluding the additional
operating week in the fourth quarter last year).

For the fourth fiscal quarter 2008, on a comparable twelve-week
basis, Company-wide comparable restaurant sales were (2.2%), including
(0.6%) at Benihana teppanyaki, (8.4%) at RA Sushi, and (2.9%) at Haru.

Total restaurant sales for the fifty-two week fiscal year ended
March 30, 2008 increased 8.9% to $295.2 million from $271.1 million in
the fifty-three week fiscal year ended April 1, 2007. During the prior
fiscal year, the Company realized an additional 75 store-operating
weeks during the fiscal year, as a result of a 53-week fiscal year.
Excluding the additional operating week in fiscal 2007, which resulted
in $5.5 million in restaurant sales, total revenues increased 11.1%
over the year ago period. For fiscal 2008, Benihana teppanyaki
represented approximately 73% of consolidated restaurant sales, while
RA Sushi and Haru accounted for 15% and 12% of consolidated restaurant
sales, respectively. There were a total of 4,115 store-operating weeks
in fiscal 2008 compared to 3,832 store-operating weeks in fiscal 2007
(3,757 store-operating weeks excluding the additional operating week
in the fiscal year).

For fiscal 2008, on a comparable fifty-two week basis,
Company-wide comparable restaurant sales increased 2.4%, including
2.9% at Benihana teppanyaki, (1.0%) at RA Sushi, and 3.6% at Haru.

"While total restaurant sales exceeded our guidance, we continue
to operate in a very challenging economic environment, as evidenced by
the negative comparable sales during the fourth quarter. In view of
the generally difficult environment, we do not foresee the additional
top-line sales resulting in incremental benefits to our bottom-line,
and therefore reiterate our previous cost guidance for the fiscal
year," said Joel A. Schwartz, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.

About Benihana

Benihana Inc. (NASDAQ: BNHNA; BNHN) operates 87 restaurants
nationwide, including 60 Benihana teppanyaki restaurants, nine Haru
sushi restaurants, and eighteen RA Sushi Bar restaurants. Under
development at present are sixteen restaurants - eight Benihana
teppanyaki restaurants and eight RA Sushi restaurants. In addition, 18
franchised Benihana teppanyaki restaurants are operating in the U.S.,
Latin America and the Caribbean.

To learn more about the Company and its three Japanese theme and
sushi restaurant concepts, please view the corporate video at
www.benihana.com/company_profile.asp

ICR
Raphael Gross or Tom Ryan, 203-682-8200

Copyright Business Wire 2008