<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-10-23</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000039047</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>FRISCHS RESTAURANTS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>FRS</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001069419</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MAIER BLANCHE F</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>2800 GILBERT AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CINCINNATI</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>OH</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>45206</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>COMMON STOCK</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>7150</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>COMMON STOCK</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>761697</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>BY PARTNERSHIP WITH SPOUSE</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>COMMON STOCK</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>89170</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>VOTING TRUSTEE</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>COMMON STOCK</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>764197</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>VOTING TRUSTEE</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>COMMON STOCK</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>112171</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>VOTING TRUSTEE</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>COMMON STOCK</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>48119</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>VOTING TRUSTEE</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">620 SHARES WERE CONTRIBUTED TO JBM LIMITED PARTNERSHIP BY JACK C. MAIER AND REPORTED ON FORM 4 FILED BY EACH OF THEM.</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>BLANCHE F. MAIER BY W. GARY KING P.O.A.</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-10-23</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

