-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 B/31NnT8GOQiN49ggYRCWw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000935226-03-000040.txt : 20031014
<SEC-HEADER>0000935226-03-000040.hdr.sgml : 20031013
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031014153718
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000935226-03-000040
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031010
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031014

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BENIHANA INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000935226
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-EATING PLACES [5812]
		IRS NUMBER:				650538630
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0328

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		8685 NW 53RD TERRACE
		CITY:			MIAMI
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33166
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3055930770

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		8685 NW 53RD TERRACE
		CITY:			MIAMI
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33166

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			AOKI KEVIN
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001248648

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-26396
		FILM NUMBER:		03939457

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		8685 NW 53 TERRACE STE 201
		CITY:			MIAMI
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33166
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3055930770

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		8685 NW 53 TERRACE STE 201
		CITY:			MIAMI
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33166
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>kevinaoki_ex.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<!-- - EDGAR Ease Plus 1.0                                   07/25/03  TT    -->
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
   <periodOfReport>2003-10-10</periodOfReport>
   <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000935226</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BENIHANA INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BNHN/BNHNA</issuerTradingSymbol>
   </issuer>
   <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001248648</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>AOKI KEVIN</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>8685 NW 53 TERRACE STE 201</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MIAMI</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>33166</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
         <isDirector>1</isDirector>
         <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
         <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
         <isOther>0</isOther>
         <officerTitle>Vice President of Marketing</officerTitle>
      </reportingOwnerRelationship>
   </reportingOwner>
 <nonDerivativeTable>
   <nonDerivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Common Stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <transactionDate>
         <value>2003-07-02</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
         <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
         <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
         <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            <footnoteId id="F3"/>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
         <transactionShares>
           <value>0</value>
         </transactionShares>
         <transactionPricePerShare>
           <value>0</value>
         </transactionPricePerShare>
         <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
           <value>A</value>
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      </transactionAmounts>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>50</value>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
            <value>D</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeTransaction>
   <nonDerivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Common Stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <transactionDate>
         <value>2003-07-02</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
         <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
         <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
         <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            <footnoteId id="F3"/>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
         <transactionShares>
           <value>0</value>
         </transactionShares>
         <transactionPricePerShare>
           <value>0</value>
         </transactionPricePerShare>
         <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
           <value>A</value>
            <footnoteId id="F3"/>
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      </transactionAmounts>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>1535668</value>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
            <value>I</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
         <natureOfOwnership>
            <value>I</value>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
         </natureOfOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeTransaction>
   <nonDerivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <transactionDate>
         <value>2003-10-10</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
         <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
         <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
         <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
         <transactionShares>
           <value>100</value>
         </transactionShares>
         <transactionPricePerShare>
           <value>10.78</value>
         </transactionPricePerShare>
         <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
           <value>D</value>
         </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>189221</value>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
            <value>I</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
         <natureOfOwnership>
            <value>I</value>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
         </natureOfOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeTransaction>
   <nonDerivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <transactionDate>
         <value>2003-10-10</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
         <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
         <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
         <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
         <transactionShares>
           <value>15608</value>
         </transactionShares>
         <transactionPricePerShare>
           <value>10.75</value>
         </transactionPricePerShare>
         <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
           <value>D</value>
         </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>173613</value>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
            <value>I</value>
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            <value>I</value>
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      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeTransaction>
 </nonDerivativeTable>
 <derivativeTable>
   <derivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Employee Stock Option</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
         <value>9.8913</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <transactionDate>
         <value>1999-05-07</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
         <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
         <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
         <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            <footnoteId id="F3"/>
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      <transactionAmounts>
         <transactionShares>
           <value>0</value>
         </transactionShares>
         <transactionPricePerShare>
           <value>0</value>
         </transactionPricePerShare>
         <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
           <value>A</value>
            <footnoteId id="F3"/>
         </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <exerciseDate>
         <value>1999-05-07</value>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
         <value>2019-05-07</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
         <underlyingSecurityTitle>
           <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
         </underlyingSecurityTitle>
         <underlyingSecurityShares>
           <value>11500</value>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
         </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>11500</value>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
           <value>D</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeTransaction>
   <derivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Employee Stock Option</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
         <value>16.7826</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <transactionDate>
         <value>2002-06-07</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
         <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
         <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
         <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            <footnoteId id="F3"/>
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      <transactionAmounts>
         <transactionShares>
           <value>0</value>
         </transactionShares>
         <transactionPricePerShare>
           <value>0</value>
         </transactionPricePerShare>
         <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
           <value>A</value>
            <footnoteId id="F3"/>
         </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <exerciseDate>
         <value>2002-06-07</value>
            <footnoteId id="F2"/>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
         <value>2012-06-07</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
         <underlyingSecurityTitle>
           <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
         </underlyingSecurityTitle>
         <underlyingSecurityShares>
           <value>34500</value>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
         </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>34500</value>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
           <value>D</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeTransaction>
   <derivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Employee Stock Option</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
         <value>11.7391</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <transactionDate>
         <value>2000-05-12</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
         <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
         <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
         <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            <footnoteId id="F3"/>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
         <transactionTotalValue>
           <value>0</value>
         </transactionTotalValue>
         <transactionPricePerShare>
           <value>0</value>
         </transactionPricePerShare>
         <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
           <value>A</value>
            <footnoteId id="F3"/>
         </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <exerciseDate>
         <value>2000-05-12</value>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
         <value>2010-05-12</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
         <underlyingSecurityTitle>
           <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
         </underlyingSecurityTitle>
         <underlyingSecurityShares>
           <value>28750</value>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
         </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>28750</value>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
           <value>D</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeTransaction>
   <derivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Employee Stock Option</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
         <value>7.4435</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <transactionDate>
         <value>2002-04-24</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
         <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
         <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
         <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            <footnoteId id="F3"/>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
         <transactionTotalValue>
           <value>0</value>
         </transactionTotalValue>
         <transactionPricePerShare>
           <value>0</value>
         </transactionPricePerShare>
         <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
           <value>A</value>
            <footnoteId id="F3"/>
         </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <exerciseDate>
         <value>2002-04-24</value>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
         <value>2011-04-24</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
         <underlyingSecurityTitle>
           <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
         </underlyingSecurityTitle>
         <underlyingSecurityShares>
           <value>23000</value>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
         </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>23000</value>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
           <value>D</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeTransaction>
 </derivativeTable>
   <footnotes>
      <footnote id="F1"> Owned by Benihana of Tokyo, Inc. which is wholly owned by a trust of which Kevin Aoki is a trustee and beneficiary.</footnote>

      <footnote id="F2"> Two-thirds currently exercisable; one-third exercisable 6/7/04.</footnote>

      <footnote id="F3"> Transaction previously reported.</footnote>
   </footnotes>
   <ownerSignature>
      <signatureName>Kevin Aoki</signatureName>
      <signatureDate>2003-10-14</signatureDate>
   </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----