Benihana Inc. Reports Comparable Restaurant Sales for the Third Four-Week Period Up 3.9%

Benihana Inc.

, operator of the nation's largest chain of Japanese theme and sushi restaurants, today reported total restaurant sales and comparable restaurant sales for the third four-week period (December 6, 2010 – January 2, 2011) and the twelve-week period (October 11, 2010 – January 2, 2011) of the third fiscal quarter 2011. For the third four-week period, total restaurant sales increased 3.4% to $26.9 million from $26.0 million, while Company-wide comparable restaurant sales increased 3.9% representing the eleventh consecutive period of comparable restaurant sales increases. By concept, comparable restaurant sales increased 5.6% at Benihana Teppanyaki and 0.5% at RA Sushi, but decreased 1.4% at Haru. There were a total of 388 store-operating weeks in the third four-week period of the third fiscal quarter 2011 compared to a total of 392 store-operating weeks in the third four-week period of the third fiscal quarter 2010. For the twelve-week period, total restaurant sales increased 3.6% to $72.6 million in the third fiscal quarter 2011 from $70.1 million in the third fiscal quarter 2010, while Company-wide comparable restaurant sales increased 4.4%, representing the fourth consecutive quarter of comparable restaurant sales increases. By concept, comparable restaurant sales increased 7.3% at Benihana Teppanyaki, but decreased 1.5% at RA Sushi and 1.1% at Haru. There were a total of 1,158 store-operating weeks in the third fiscal quarter 2011 compared to a total of 1,176 store-operating weeks in the third fiscal quarter 2010.